Whoa. Okay, so there I was, just hanging out, maybe sipping on a cold drink, and bam! Like A Dragon hits the Nintendo Switch 2 next month. Yeah, that’s Yakuza we’re talking about. I mean, sure, the Wii U got a taste, and the Switch grabbed Yakuza Kiwami, so naturally, Switch 2 is like, “Hey, me too!” And this time it’s Yakuza 0. Managed to get a sneak peek. Lucky me.
Now if you’ve been living under a rock—no judgment—Yakuza 0 is celebrating a whole decade over in Japan. Released originally on PlayStation 3 & 4, now gallivanting onto the Switch 2 with this fancy label: Director’s Cut. Sounds impressive, even though the director and main producer have said bye-bye to SEGA. New tricks up its sleeve? English voices, extra scenes, and this mode called Red Light Raid. No idea if that name sticks, but here we are.
Played around with the docked game for a good 45 minutes. Honestly? Smooth as butter. Or like, smoother than my morning coffee. It’s cruising at a bold 60 frames per second. Not totally sure about 4K visuals—my eyesight isn’t what it used to be—but it definitely looked crisp. At least 1440p, like the PS4 Pro style. Oh, asked about HDR, got a ‘meh’—so, no dice.
Yakuza 0? Perfect launchpad for newbies, seriously. It’s got this epic tale filled with humor and feels. Mini-games galore! Imagine belting out karaoke or hitting up arcade classics and batting cages. So much beat ‘em up action with varied fighting techniques. And, wandering through 1980s Japan? It’s a whole vibe. Can’t wait to dive back into that story mode magic—PS4 nostalgia incoming.
The Red Light Raid mode—hmm, mixed bag for me. Gotta admit, my Yakuza combat skills aren’t exactly legendary, and this mode’s a classic survival thing. Waves of baddies, bosses showing up uninvited—typical horde deal. Tried going solo, though you can squad up with computer allies or buddies locally/online. Picked Ginger Chapman first. Picture Chucky as a dude—yeah, that’s him. Mostly slashing away with a knife. Entertaining? Yes, but kinda same-y.
Playing as a Kazuma Kiryu variant spiced things up. Unlike the story mode’s four styles, here you pick one and stick with it. Win some cash, level up, maybe buy new characters—rinse and repeat. Honestly? Solo was fun for a bit, but I bet it’s way cooler with friends.
Yakuza 0: Director’s Cut is probably my numero uno for the Switch 2 debut. Sure, I’ve played it, but English dub curiosity is real! Can stick with Japanese if that’s your jam too. Still on the fence about Red Light Raid, but definitely giving it another whirl when it drops next month.
