Aside from the long list of mini-games, there are random encounters called Substories. These put you in direct contact with the inhabitants of Japan as you help them with day-to-day life or fulfill wacky requests such as protecting a certain king of pop from the living dead during a video shoot. It’s a mixed bag of experiences, but some of them will legitimately have you laughing out loud at how weird things can get and what Kiryu and Majima are willing to do for strangers.

The ’80s Japan backdrop really lends itself to the experience as well. It makes the world somehow pop a bit more than something set in the modern world would. The music you hear blaring from buildings, the sharp suits signifying new money as everyone flocks to major cities that have become the business centers of the nation, and the gaudy nature of those who don’t know how to spend their riches. There’s a fight waiting around every corner, but there’s also the possibility to meet someone funny or find a game to play. It’s also pretty to look at. Granted, it’s not the best-looking game on the PS4, but it all feels perfect for the story being told. While it has the look, though, calling it an open world is a bit of a stretch.

There are two main areas you’ll get to explore, and each is filled with plenty to do. But after a few hours, I felt the walls closing in. While the story and the side activities found within the bustling streets were certainly a joy, there wasn’t enough variety to the world. It’s open in the sense that you can fool around instead of heading to your next objective, but many activities aren’t unlocked until you progress the story to a certain point. With recent releases such as Watch Dogs 2, GTA V, and The Witcher 3 really upping the ante on what it means to be an open world game, this sticks out like a sore thumb, even if it is in line with the Yakuza series as a whole. Next to those more modern open worlds, Yakuza 0 brings a more linear touch to the experience which may bother players depending on what they’re wanting to get out of it.

Still, Yakuza 0 managed to keep me locked in. This is in no small way due to the gripping narrative that starts off slow and seemingly unimportant, before ramping up and leaving players on the edge of their seats. Yakuza 0’s dual protagonists keep things interesting thanks to the varied approach they bring to gameplay as a whole. Admittedly, if you aren’t already a Yakuza fan, getting through the opening acts may feel like a bit of a challenge, even though the payoff later on is a solid, fun experience. Honestly, if I wasn’t somewhat used to the series in any way, I may have stopped long before I learned the ins and outs of Yakuza 0’s world, but I’m happy that I did.

While it’s far from perfect, Yakuza 0 is a game that fans of the franchise should definitely play. It has the challenging combat and wacky humor that you’d expect, and the story is top-notch. Also, who can pass up on a chance to see Majima while he’s still relatively sane? If you’ve never tried one, it may be a bit weird to you at first, but if you’re willing to wade through it all, there’s an enjoyable experience to be had.

Score: 3/5 – Fair