7 reasons to punch and dance your way through Yakuza 0

Yakuza 0 takes the series back to its roots in 1980s Japan against a backdrop of glitzy nightlife and sleazy gangster politics. As this is a prequel, there’s no need to worry about catching up with the game’s complex plotlines and inter-family drama before you head in. You’ll get to experience the origin stories of two of the series’ recurring protagonists: low-ranking Yakuza member Kazuma Kiryu, and the exiled Majima Goro. The game’s chapters alternate in focus between the pair as they become entangled in a sinister gangland power struggle. The multiple factions that make up the underbelly of Japan’s crime organisations are disputing who has ownership of the last ‘empty lot’ in the seedy district of Kamurocho - a fictionalised interpretation of Tokyo’s red light district, Kabukicho. A plot centered on a prime piece of real estate doesn’t sound like it could be captivating but that’s where Yakuza 0 will surprise you. It wastes no time in absorbing you in its drama, and if its opening minutes aren’t enough to convince you, we’ve chosen six components of the game that make Yakuza 0 worth playing.