Yakuza 0: Director’s Cut – In-Depth First Look

So here we go again. Another Yakuza game is jumping onto a Nintendo console. First, there was that one on the Wii U, then Switch got Yakuza Kiwami pretty recently, and now Yakuza 0 is making its grand entrance on the Nintendo Switch 2. Can’t believe it took this long, but yeah, I got some hands-on time with it.

A little geeky fact — Yakuza 0 hit its 10-year mark in Japan, where it started on PlayStation 3 and 4. Now, Switch 2 is calling it a director’s cut. Funny, right? Especially since the original director and producer left SEGA. Whatever that means. This version throws in English voiceovers, fresh cutscenes, and something called Red Light Raid. Fancy.

Anyway — actually, wait — yeah, so I spent 45 minutes with it docked. Smooth as butter on Switch 2, they say it holds a steady 60 fps. Can’t pin down if it’s pure 4K, but looks at least 1440p — pretty spot-on to the PS4 Pro vibe. Asked a SEGA guy about HDR. Guess what? Nope, nothing.

Yakuza 0’s perfect for newbies. It’s got a mix — thrilling tales, humor, and heart. Plus, mini-games are a blast. Ever tried karaoke or vintage SEGA arcades? It’s a must. The beat ‘em up style is a hoot with various combat techniques. And just wandering around ’80s Japan? Total time travel. Can’t wait to dive back into the story (played it ages ago on PlayStation 4).

But then there’s Red Light Raid. Hmm. Not my forte — Yakuza combat is not my jam and this is survival mode, waves of baddies and boss fights. Went solo, but you can rope in friends locally or online. Tried a sneaky guy named Ginger Chapman (picture Chucky, but make it human). Felt kind of rutty, just swinging a knife and all.

Switched to Kazuma Kiryu, our main dude. Sadly, no four-style combo here, just picking one. You earn cash fighting, then use it on upgrades or new peeps. One-player is fun for a bit, but playing with pals? Probably a different story.

So, Yakuza 0: Director’s Cut is high on my wishlist for Switch 2 debut. Played it before but really want to see how English sounds — Japanese option’s still there too. Not sure about Red Light Raid, but hey, why not give it another whirl next month?