Acting as a prequel to the rest of the franchise, Yakuza 0 serves as the perfect place to start your journey into the acclaimed franchise. And today see’s that franchises first release on Xbox One and Xbox Game Pass.
Set in Japan in 1988, action revolves around two protagonists, Kazuma Kiryu and Goro Majima. Unbeknownst to them, their worlds are about to collide in ways that will shake up the entire Japanese criminal underworld for years to come. Kiryu is framed for a murder he didn’t commit on a plot of land that holds the key to ownership of the various Yakuza clans, and Majima just can’t seem to keep his head down after a botched job has left him stranded in a strange town.
Yakuza 0 takes place across fictional Japanese cities Kamurocho and Sōtenbori, but these cities are full to the brim with life and things to do. As well as the more traditional Yakuza elements of rich storytelling and beating up thugs on every street corner, you can also partake in a huge amount of side content that the series is as equally famous for. Alongside the 100 side missions you can visit the SEGA arcade to play such classics as Out Run, Fantasy Zone and Space Harrier amongst others. Then there are more traditional Japanese game such as Mahjong and Shogi to enjoy.
A word of caution though: If subtitles aren’t your thing, best to give Yakuza a wide berth. But you’d be a fool to do so.
Yakuza 0 represents the first of three planned Yakuza releases coming to Game Pass in 2020. Coming soon Xbox gamers will soon also have Yakuza Kiwami and Yakuza Kiwami 2; full remakes of the first two games in the franchise that originally released on PlayStation 2.
So, interested? Yakuza 0 releases priced at £14.99, but is also available at launch on Xbox Game Pass. Have we mentioned how essential Game Pass is nowadays for Xbox owners? It’s a game we are very excited for here at TXH Towers so expect a full review soon but hit us up in the comments section if you have any further questions!
Game Description:
The glitz, glamor, and unbridled decadence of the 80s are back in Yakuza 0. Fight like hell through Tokyo and Osaka with protagonist Kazuma Kiryu and series regular Goro Majima. Play as Kazuma Kiryu and discover how he finds himself in a world of trouble when a simple debt collection goes wrong and his mark winds up murdered. Then, step into the silver-toed shoes of Goro Majima and explore his “normal” life as the proprietor of a cabaret club. Switch between three different fighting styles instantaneously and beat up all manner of goons, thugs, hoodlums, and lowlifes. Take combat up a notch by using environmental objects such as bicycles, sign posts, and car doors for bone-crunching combos and savage take-downs. Fighting is not the only way to kill time in 1988’s Japan: from discos and hostess clubs to classic SEGA arcades, there are tons of distractions to pursue in the richly detailed, neon-lit world.
