Topic: Yakuza 0

@Ralizah I love Japanese games a lot, for they almost always offer something very unique. But for the life of me I can't figure out why Japanese games always have terrible camera. Does the government require games to have this bad camera?

That's one technical issue that really bothers me. The fact that some textures have a really low resolution makes the game look like a PS3 game, but I don't care too much for it in this game. The fact that you have a loading screen when entering a shop is a pity (Yakuza 6 fixed this fortunately!), and also the sometimes awkward switch between cgi graphics, voice acting in-game and text within one conversation is pretty awkward.

I'm pretty naive. I was playing Yakuza 0, and was searching for phone cards, as they provide a nice amount of money early on in the game. And I'm a completionist.

This being my first Yakuza game I had no idea who the people on the phone cards were. I figured they might be Yakuza characters (especially because some of the names sounded similar to some girls I had met) or at least famous singers in Japan. Well, I should have browsed in private, because Google was eager to provide me some adult entertainment. :')

@Kidfried absolutely terrible at Shogi, to be expected as its Japanese chess with even more potential move combinations so dont feel too bad. Some of the games bamboozle me, the game were you announce chi or pon with the tiles. No idea what was going on there.

The good thing is, if you want to learn its a good starting point. I play a version of the dice pot gambling game with my daughter for fun all thanks to Yakuza!

I love how diverse the side-scenarios are in this game. The one with the dominatrix was hilarious, and definitely my favorite so far.

Also enjoy the befuddled "nani?" Kiryu utters every time a situation starts to get ridiculous.

@Ralizah For most part, I agree. I love how most of them are just purely funny. Recently Ive seen some repetition in a few side quests, but for the most part the diversity is very good. Compared to GTA5, this one is a lot more surprising.

@themcnoisy Haven't played the dice game yet. Still need to find it I guess.

So I started Yakuza 0 this weekend and thought I’d drop some first impressions.
Overall I’m liking the game. I’m only on Chapter 2 so this is very early. I can’t say it’s ‘hooked’ me yet, but I think I’ll enjoy it. I actually wish I could play the game with English dubbing. Although there is some value in hearing the native Japanese, the constant reading kind of wears me out a little.
The combat is more fun and satisfying than I thought it would be. I can tell there will be a lot more depth the longer I get into it.
The story is good so far. A nice set up and has built good tension.
All the famous side quests and mini-games haven’t really opened up yet, so I know I’ve got a long ways to go.
I do have to agree that the graphics are a strange combination of excellent facial rendering and wonderful vivid colors and detail in the streets and signs... yet there is some textures that are just awful. For example the hair is often poorly rendered and especially some of the the thugs will sometimes have the shiny short curly dew that looks like a greasy bad wig. It’s a stark contrast to the excellent detail down to facial scars and pores on the skin that you can see on the main characters. The lesser graphics don’t bother me too much but it’s just sometimes shocking and even a little unintentionally hilarious looking.

@Th3solution Can't wait to hear your impressions as you progress. From here on out the game is going to get increasingly better. Story wise, but also the way in which the world opens up to you and... you will see. You've scratched the surface, soon you will get sucked in!

Good to hear you've started this one!

On Chapter 3 and I continue to enjoy the game. I’m finally growing accustomed to the subtitles, although I get tired head a little quicker having to read so much. This game has a lot more story than I realized! I wasn’t expecting this many cut scenes and dialog. I thought it would be more about running around in am open world, chasing collectibles and side quests and occasionally doing a main quest for a minute before going back into the open world to roam around. On the contrary, so far it feels like the roaming around is the smaller portion. I am still early, so maybe the frequent cut scenes and long dialog will cool off later in the game after all the characters and story is established. I’m not complaining, in fact I quite enjoy the story and I just love Kiryu and Majima, but I was just not expecting this.
One thing that I do not like and can not get tolerant of is the weird save protocols. The fact that saving the game takes me out of the game screen and onto the PS4 save screen not once, but twice to watch the processing bar go across and then beep at me twice is just plain annoying. But it’s a small thing in an otherwise fun game so far.

@Th3solution I've put 100 hours into this game, of which only 15 hours into stories. You'll see the further in the game you get, the more the game will open up.

Is there an option not to have subtitles and English voices?

@JohnnyShoulder Nope!

Honestly, I think subtitles are just fine. But maybe it's just that I, as a non native English speaker, am rather used to subtitles on my media.

@JohnnyShoulder Yeah, I’m not used to subtitles, and so it took some getting used to. It’s great to hear the Japanese actors inflection though, because the way they make their voice go up or down with questions and exclamations is different than English speakers. There’s some very heavy Japanese culture involved in this game. It does add some to the experience, but it’s a fair bit of reading.

@Th3solution @Kidfried I dont mind subtitles either. However that may be due to watching Anime when I was younger. The voice acting is great in the game imo even though I dont know what they are saying.

This game has had me laughing out loud on many occasions. I love how over the top it can be with all the unnecessary swearing. Like Noisy said, i think the acting is top notch even though i can't understand japanese.

The cabaret club mini game is one of the best mini games I've played. I was hooked on that alone for hours on end.

@ApostateMage It is hilarious. The Pizza side story mission. That had me laughing my head off and funnily it was taking the mickey out of interpretation.

@themcnoisy That was ace that one. I loved how proud the pizza delivery guy was at the end when they were all enjoying the pizza.

@ApostateMage I dont know if we are talking about the same side mission. Its called Passport to Pizza.

I dont want to spoil it for th3solution. But you are tasked with getting something and kiryu brings back a pizza as he mishears.

@themcnoisy Yeah man, that's the one.

I also love the side mission where Kiryu is trying to teach that punk boy-band how to live up to their image.

@ApostateMage Its a boss game. Cant wait for Kiwami 2!

@KratosMD Thee are still more powerful scenes like that to come!

I think I've put in 150 hours into the game so far. I'm close to the ending of the main story, which isn't that long frankly, but I've spent so much time on the mini games and side quests. I think I'm at about 90% total completion, though I don't suspect I'll ever 100% this one. It was just funny doing all the minigames and such.