Yakuza 0: Director’s Cut – First Look Review

Alright, so here’s the scoop: Yakuza’s making another big splash, this time on the Nintendo Switch 2. Yeah, you heard me. I mean, remember that time the Wii U got a taste? And then the Switch welcomed Yakuza Kiwami like a long-lost friend? Well, now say hello to Yakuza 0, all dressed up for the new console launch. Grabbing the gamepad, I had some hands-on fun.

Yakuza 0 just hit the big 1-0 years in Japan. Crazy, right? Back then, it strutted its stuff on PlayStation 3 & 4. Now there’s a so-called director’s cut, though the original big shots left SEGA — go figure. So, what’s fresh here? English voices, more story scenes, and something called Red Light Raid. Sounds fancy, doesn’t it?

Playing it on Switch 2 was smooth. Like, really smooth. 60 frames per second, no jitters whatsoever. Is it 4K? No clue, but 1440p seems about right, like on the PS4 Pro kind of right. Asked a SEGA guy about HDR — got a big nope. Bummer.

New to Yakuza? 0 is perfect, like a doorway into the chaos. You’ve got a wild plot, quirky humor, mini-games galore, and good old beat ’em up action. Oh, and exploring the 80s Japan is a blast. Can’t wait to dive back in, even after the PlayStation 4 days.

Red Light Raid though… meh. Look, my combat skills aren’t great, so maybe it’s me. It’s survival mode, fighting waves of enemies and bosses. Tried it solo with some AI pals. You can play with buddies too, locally or online. Picked Ginger Chapman, but felt like an evil Chucky wannabe with just a knife. Stabby-stabby, rinse and repeat — not my jam.

But then came Kazuma Kiryu, the hero we didn’t deserve. One style only, unlike the story mode’s four. Winning cash here lets you level up or snag new characters. Solo was fine for a quick bash, but I’ll bet playing with friends is way cooler.

So yeah, Yakuza 0: Director’s Cut is one of my top picks for Switch 2’s premier party. Played it before, but the English dub… kind of curious, you know? Still, Red Light Raid’s not reeling me in just yet. Who knows, maybe I’ll love it. Catch me there next month!