Yakuza 0

Yakuza 0
龍が如く0 誓いの場所(Ryū Ga Gotoku 0: Chikai no Basho)
General Information
Developer	Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio
Publisher	SEGA
Platforms	PlayStation 3WP PlayStation 4WP PCWP Xbox OneWP Amazon LunaWP
Distribution	PS3, PS4 Blu-ray, Digital PC, XB1, Luna Digital
Release	PlayStation 3 March 12th, 2015 (JP) PlayStation 4 March 12th, 2015 (JP) January 24th, 2017 (WW) PC August 1st, 2018 (WW) Xbox One February 26th, 2020 (WW) Amazon Luna June 24th, 2021 (WW)
Ratings	ESRBWP: Mature 17+ Blood, Intense Violence, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Use of Alcohol PEGIWP: 18 Violence, Bad Language, Gambling ACBWP: MA 15+ Strong themes, violence and sexual references USKWP: 18 CEROWP: D (17+) ClassIndWP: 18
Genre	Action-Adventure, Beat 'em Up
Mode	Single-player, multiplayer
Credits
Executive Director	Toshihiro NagoshiWP
Directors	Kazuki Hosokawa
Producers	Masayoshi Yokoyama Mitsuhiro Shimano
Writers	Masayoshi Yokoyama Tsuyoshi Furuta
Programmers	Yutaka Ito
Designers	Koji Yoshida
Artists	Saizo Nagai
Composers	Hidenori ShojiWP
Music
Opening Theme	Bubble (JP) Western Opening
Ending Theme	Kurenai (JP) Western Ending
Other
Engine	Kiwami Engine
Series	Yakuza/Like a Dragon
Settings	Kamurocho Sotenbori
Navigation
Previous	Ryu Ga Gotoku Ishin!
Next	Yakuza Kiwami

1988, Japan...

— Yakuza 0 tagline

Yakuza 0 (龍が如く0 誓いの場所 Ryū Ga Gotoku Zero: Chikai No Basho, lit. "Like a Dragon 0: The Place of Oath") is an action-adventure/beat-'em-up originally released for the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4 on March 12, 2015 in Japan and on May 14, 2015 in Taiwan, and exclusively on the PlayStation 4 on January 24, 2017 in North America and Europe. It was ported to Microsoft Windows on August 1, 2018, Xbox One on February 26, 2020, and Amazon Luna on June 24, 2021.

The game was developed and published by SEGA^WP as the sixth main installment (eleventh overall) of the Yakuza series. The game is a prequel to the rest of the series, because it is set in 1988, 7 years prior to the events of the first chapter of the first game. Continuing the tradition brought about by its two predecessors in the mainline series, Yakuza 4 and Yakuza 5, Yakuza 0 features multiple playable characters and main protagonist; these include series staple Kazuma Kiryu, and the recurring character Goro Majima.

A free accompanying game application for PlayStation Vita, titled Ryū ga Gotoku 0: Free to Play Application for PlayStation Vita (龍が如く0 基本無料アプリ for PlayStation Vita^?), was released on 26 February 2015.

Yakuza Kiwami, a remake of the first game, was released one year after Yakuza 0. It largely uses the engine, graphical style and combat system of Yakuza 0, and also features some changes to its plot that make greater reference to Yakuza 0.

Setting

Yakuza 0 is set in Japan's bubble era^WP, a period of extremely high property prices in Japan during the second half of the 1980s; it takes place from December 1988 to January 1989. The game's two principal locations are Kamurocho, Tokyo, and Sotenbori, Osaka. These locations are fictionalized versions of Kabukicho, Tokyo^WP and Dotonbori, Osaka^WP, respectively.

Synopsis

There are 17 chapters in this game:

SPOILER WARNING: Plot details for Yakuza 0 follow. (Skip)

Chapter 1: Bound by Oath

Main article: Yakuza 0/Chapter 1

Kamurocho, Tokyo. A low-ranking member of the Dojima Family, Kazuma Kiryu, roughs up a salaryman to collect a debt. However, Kiryu finds himself in trouble as the news reports the salaryman's murder. The murder site is an Empty Lot which is a cornerstone of a redevelopment project that would give the Dojima Family immense power. Suspecting he was framed by one of the three Dojima lieutenants, Kiryu aims to leave the family to prevent the lieutenants' target - his incarcerated foster father Shintaro Kazama - from being sanctioned as a result of the murder. Though he is successful in leaving, Kazama is still primed to take the fall.

Chapter 2: The Broker in the Shadows

Main article: Yakuza 0/Chapter 2

Now a civilian, Kiryu is approached by Tetsu Tachibana, who also seeks the empty lot and claims to want to help him, astonishing Kiryu with his wealth of information. Through some investigating, Kiryu learns that Tachibana's agency has been acquiring land throughout Kamurocho. Tachibana's subordinate Jun Oda tests Kiryu's combat prowess, after which Tachibana reveals he is acting as Kazama's proxy, as the latter wants to prevent Sohei Dojima from becoming too powerful. With that, Kiryu officially allies with Tachibana.

Chapter 3: A Gilded Cage

Main article: Yakuza 0/Chapter 3

Sotenbori, Osaka. Goro Majima runs the Cabaret Grand as punishment for his role in a failed assassination three years prior. He is under orders from his boss, Tsukasa Sagawa, to deliver increasingly higher profits every month in exchange for being allowed back into his former organization, the Shimano Family. After dealing with an unruly patron who groped one of the club's hostesses and poaching the top-earning hostess from a rival club, Majima returns to his tiny apartment, where he is reminded that Sagawa's underlings are always watching him.

Chapter 4: Proof of Resolve

Main article: Yakuza 0/Chapter 4

Sagawa makes Majima an offer: He can be immediately reinstated to his former position within the Shimano Family if he carries out a hit for them. The target is Makoto Makimura. Majima accepts the job in spite of his reservations against killing, tracking down the target to a massage parlor, where a blind masseuse tends to him. A massive man - who Majima believes is his target - fights him, but they are interrupted by yakuza looking for Makoto - who is in fact the blind masseuse. Majima escapes with her to an isolated place, contemplating on killing her.

Chapter 5: An Honest Living

Main article: Yakuza 0/Chapter 5

As part of his initiation to Tachibana Real Estate, Oda has Kiryu accompany him in a job where they must remove a squatter from a building. The squatter is backed by yakuza, but the squatter leaves after the thugs' defeat. To celebrate, Oda invites Kiryu to Serena, but when Oda arrives, he is bloodied and bruised. The yakuza were the underlings of Dojima lieutenant Hiroki Awano, and he has arrived alongside them to give Kiryu an ultimatum: sell out Tachibana, or face the wrath of the Dojima Family.

Chapter 6: The Yakuza Way

Main article: Yakuza 0/Chapter 6

Kiryu learns that Tachibana has discovered the identity of the Empty Lot's owner, but Kiryu has no time to rest. WIth him refusing Awano's ultimatum, he is hunted by the Dojima Family across Kamurocho. Kuze attempts to regain his pride defeating Kiryu, Awano tries to make Kiryu betray Kazama, but they both fail. Nishikiyama helps Kiryu escape, only to reveal he intends to kill him to spare him from the Dojima Family's horrific torture. Deciding to push onward alone after Nishikiyama is unable to kill him, Kiryu returns to Kamurocho.

Chapter 7: A Dark Escape

Main article: Yakuza 0/Chapter 7

Hiding Makoto in a warehouse, Majima meets with Lee to plan out what's to come. Lee's suggestion unnverves Majima—he must kill a doppelganger and disfigure her face to fake Makoto's death so they can safely flee Sotenbori. Even after learning that Makoto's blindness was caused by psychological trauma after searching for her brother, Majima seeks a method that does not involve killing, and discards the materials for the operation. A mysterious figure spots it, and Makoto's death is reported the next day...

Chapter 8: Tug of War

Main article: Yakuza 0/Chapter 8

Beckoned to the Grand by a mysterious caller, Majima meets the man in question—the Kijin Clan patriarch Homare Nishitani who'd previously sent men after Makoto. Though Majima gets no answers from Nishitani, he is wary that Sagawa will learn Makoto is still alive, and moves to flee Sotenbori before then. He is followed and ambushed by Sagawa's men, and Lee is killed by a car bomb. As Sagawa aims a pistol at Majima, a mysterious man shoots Sagawa from behind and knocks Majima unconscious.

Chapter 9: Ensnared

Main article: Yakuza 0/Chapter 9

In Kamurocho, dozens of Dojima Family thugs prowl the streets searching for Kiryu, who is trying to keep a low profile after seeing his apartment get firebombed by Kuze's thugs. While making his way through a park, Kiryu runs into Reina. Feeling sympathy for his plight, Reina offers to let him hide at Serena for the time being.

Unfortunately for Kiryu, since the Dojima Family knew that this was Nishiki's favorite bar, they'd been keeping an eye on it. Kiryu is attacked by Awano's thugs and forced to flee to keep them from attacking Reina. In the street outside the bar, he finds Kuze, Awano, and Shibusawa already waiting for him with dozens of their goons. Kuze and his men descend on Kiryu, but he once again fails to beat him. Awano pulls a gun on Kiryu but, before he can kill him, Tachibana speeds down the street in a sports car, forcing the Dojima Family thugs to get out of the way. Kiryu hastily gets in the car and Tachibana drives them both away, taking refuge in an underground parking lot.

While they wait for Oda to pick them up in a more inconspicuous car, Tachibana expresses admiration for how much Kiryu is willing to risk for the people he cares about, lamenting that he's never been able to do the same. Just as Oda arrives in his own car, Tachibana loses consciousness. Oda tells Kiryu that Tachibana needs emergency dialysis, so they need to get him to their safe house immediately. The two men load Tachibana into Oda's car and drive away.

Chapter 10: A Man's Worth

Main article: Yakuza 0/Chapter 10

Oda and Kiryu take Tachibana to an underground clinic in Little Asia, where Tachibana is given dialysis. Oda tells Kiryu that Tachibana requires this treatment daily due to the blood loss he suffered after losing his arm. He also says that Tachibana lost his arm defending him from Omi Alliance thugs he'd infuriated, back when they led a gang together in Osaka. Both men are then called into a meeting with Little Asia's local triad leader, Elder Chen. The Elder informs them that Tachibana and Oda will be granted refuge because Tachibana is part Chinese and because of all the help they've provided to Little Asia's people. Kiryu, however, will not be granted sanctuary since he is an outsider, and harboring him would bring the Dojima Family's wrath down on Little Asia.

With no other place to go, Kiryu takes shelter with the homeless of to West Park, who also owe Tachibana a favor. The next day, Oda picks up Kiryu from the park and takes him to the Tojo_Clan_Headquarters, where Tachibana has arranged for them to meet with the Clan's Second Chairman, Takashi Nihara. Tachibana requests that the Chairman pardon Kiryu's life, offering one billion yen in recompense. Nihara is skeptical, questioning why he should spare the life of a yakuza who flagrantly acted against his own boss. Tachibana argues that Kiryu only acted to stop the uncontrollable expansion of Sohei Dojima's power, which he knows the Chairman is also interested in stopping. Tachibana promises that, if Kiryu is spared, all three of them will carry out Tachibana's plan to stop Dojima's power grab. Swayed, Nihara agrees to pardon Kiryu. However, as the three men leave, the Chairman sends dozens of his men to attack them as a test to see whether they have the might to face off against Dojima. Despite heavy resistance, the three men manage to escape with their lives.

In Little Asia, Tachibana tells Kiryu and Oda that he has confirmed the identity and location of the Empty Lot's owner, claiming that they live in Sotenbori. However, he warns that the third Dojima lieutenant, Keiji Shibusawa, has been sending men to Sotenbori, so he may know as well. Faced with this, Kiryu and Oda decide to go to Sotenbori to fetch the owner and escort them to safety. Satisfied with this plan, Tachibana tells Kiryu that the Empty Lot's owner is Makoto Makimura.

Chapter 11: A Murky Riverbed

Main article: Yakuza 0/Chapter 11

In Sotenbori, Sagawa has taken Majima captive and has spent the night torturing him in retaliation for his betrayal. However, after realizing that he has no leads about the identity of the man in the white suit who took Makimura, he releases Majima and tells him to find out where the woman is.

Since Nishitani was the only other person who'd demonstrated interest in capturing Makimura, Majima concludes the man in the suit could be working for him. After roughing up some Kijin thugs for info, Majima learns that Nishitani is still in jail after their fight and that the only man who can help him get into said jail is Nishitani's uncle, a corrupt cop named Detective Billiken. Majima gets in contact with Billiken, who agrees to take Majima to Nishitani, but only if Majima participates in three fights in the Bed of Styx, an underground fighting arena that Billiken operates. Majima handily defeats his three opponents and Billiken takes him to the jail where Nishitani is being held.

As it turns out, Nishitani has the entire jail on his payroll and uses it as his headquarters. After another fight between the two, which Majima wins again, Nishitani agrees to tell him everything he knows. Nishitani and the man in the white suit weren't working together, but based on his description, Nishitani tells Majima that the man is Masaru Sera; patriarch of the Nikkyo Consortium, a dangerous and secretive Tojo Clan family. Nishitani also tells Majima that he only tried to kidnap Makimura because lieutenant Shibusawa of the Dojima Family paid him to do so.

Nishitani offers Majima a position within his family because he's impressed by his fighting skills, but Majima refuses, since insisting he has a duty to remain in the Tojo in case his imprisoned oath brother, Taiga Saejima, is ever released. Nishitani tells Majima that he needs to start living for himself instead of others and proceeds to open the jail cell where both had been locked up. Before the pair leave, however, one of the jail's guards guns down Billiken in front of a horrified Nishitani. The guard tells Nishitani that Shibusawa ordered his death for his failure to capture Makimura and then shoots him repeatedly. However, Nishitani doesn't immediately die from the gunshots and beats the treacherous guard to death before succumbing to his wounds.

Chapter 12: Den of Desires

Main article: Yakuza 0/Chapter 12

Majima attempts to find Sera on his own, fearful that if Sagawa finds him and Makimura, he'll kill her to fulfill Shimano's orders. However, Sagawa finds him as he's trying to leave Sotenbori and forces him to take him with him when he goes after Sera.

Majima and Sagawa track Sera down to a luxurious brothel known as the Camelia Grove, which the Nikkyo Consortium uses as its base in Osaka. The duo split up to search for Sera and end up having to fight their way through the many guards that patrol the building. Majima ultimately finds Sera at the brothel's roof garden but discovers that Makimura is no longer with him. Sera is surprised by Majima's determination to help Makimura, even though killing her would be far more beneficial to him, so he insists that if he's going to tell him where he sent her, he must test his resolve. Sera attacks Majima, who fights back in self-defense and ultimately subdues the Nikkyo patriarch.

Convinced of Majima's pure intentions, Sera reveals Makimura's ownership of the Empty Lot, thus explaining why Dojima wants her, and that he sent her to Tokyo under the custody of a Tachibana Real Estate employee, since he's been working with them as their liaison in Osaka. Just as he offers Majima the business card of said Tachibana employee, Sagawa shoots Sera from behind, critically wounding him. Sagawa informs a distraught Majima that now that they know where Makimura is, they'll both go to Tokyo together to kill her. The Omi patriarch hands Majima the business card Sera intended to give him, revealing that the Tachibana employee who transported Makimura to Tokyo was Kazuma Kiryu.

Chapter 13: Crime & Punishment

Main article: Yakuza 0/Chapter 13

A few hours prior, Kiryu and Oda had met with Sera to escort Makimura to Tokyo. Sera tells Kiryu that he is an old friend of his foster father and that he too intends to prevent Dojima from becoming the Tojo Clan's next chairman. Makimura agrees to go with Kiryu after he tells her that he works for her older brother and that he'll reunite her with him. The trio travels back to Tokyo by car but are ambushed by Shibusawa and his goons, who attempt to shoot and ram them off the road. After gaining some distance on their attackers, the trio pulls out of the highway and hide in a nearby construction site.

When Oda momentarily departs to look around the site, Makimura tells Kiryu that she recognizes Oda's voice, since she's already met him before: He's the man who kidnapped her and sold her to the Triad several years prior. Oda overhears her, pulls a gun on them both, and takes Makimura hostage. Oda reveals that his sale of Makimura happened before he met Tachibana and that later, when he realized that the woman he'd sold was his best friend's long lost sister, he resolved that he could never let them reunite. Oda tells Kiryu that he made a deal with Shibusawa prior to their journey to Osaka: He would give him Makimura and, in exchange, he and Tachibana would be spared, though Kiryu would still be killed.

Before Oda can shoot Kiryu, Makimura pulls a hidden blade out of her walking cane and stabs him in the leg. Taking advantage of his distraction, Kiryu charges Oda and takes away his gun. Immediately afterward, Shibusawa's goons arrive, having been tipped off by Oda. Kiryu and Makimura flee, leaving Oda behind while he begs that they do not tell Tachibana the truth. Kiryu and Makimura fight their way through Shibusawa's men, narrowly escaping capture. Shibusawa arrives and has his men savagely beat Oda for his failure, before finishing him off with a shot to the head.

Chapter 14: Unwavering Bonds

Main article: Yakuza 0/Chapter 14

Once again in Kamurocho, Kiryu leaves Makimura hidden with the homeless of West Park until he can get in contact with Tachibana. Kiryu finds him in Little Asia, but the place is attacked by Shibusawa's goons, who found the hideout's location from a card on Oda's body. Kiryu and Tachibana defeat Shibusawa's thugs but they are then ambushed by a mysterious assassin, who shoots Kiryu, severely wounding him. The assassin claims to be acting on direct orders from Patriarch Dojima to capture Tachibana alive. Tachibana agrees to go with him, but only if he spares Kiryu.

Hours later, Kiryu awakens back in the Little Asia clinic, being looked over by Elder Chen, who's had his men tend to his wounds. The Elder tells Kiryu that the man who took Tachibana is an infamous Chinese assassin named Lao Gui and requests that Kiryu help rescue him. Kiryu agrees and leaves, only to be spotted by more of Shibusawa's men, as well as Nishiki. The Shibusawa goons tell Nishiki to prove that he's still loyal to the Family by killing Kiryu. Nishiki refuses and instead attacks the other Family men, beating them back with Kiryu's help. Kiryu explains what happened in Little Asia and begs Nishiki to help him rescue Tachibana. The two men investigate and find the abandoned building where Tachibana is being held by Kuze and his men.

At the abandoned building, Kuze's right-hand man, Yoneda, tortures Tachibana but is unable to get him to reveal his sister's location. After being taunted, Yoneda inflicts a fatal wound on Tachibana, causing Kuze to kill him for his insubordination. At this point, Kiryu and Nishiki barge in, defeat Kuze's men and discover a dying Tachibana. Nishiki rushes to go bring Makimura over. Tachibana tells Kiryu that Kuze claimed the one who framed him for the murder in the empty lot was Sohei Dojima himself. A battered Kuze confirms this and also reveals that the empty lot is no longer just a Dojima Family issue; since there is a traitor somewhere in the Tojo who is trying to sell it to the Omi Alliance. Kuze advises Kiryu hand the girl over, else he may make an enemy of the entire Tojo Clan, but Kiryu angrily refuses and threatens to destroy the Dojima Family if they harm Makimura.

Kiryu takes Tachibana outside of the building, into the Empty Lot. Nishiki arrives with Makimura just as Tachibana passes away, with Makimura not being able to greet her brother before he dies.

Chapter 15: Scattered Light

Main article: Yakuza 0/Chapter 15

Majima and Sagawa travel together to Kamurocho to find Makimura. There, Sagawa reveals that Shimano intends to sell the Empty Lot to the Omi Alliance, which will let the Omi steal the Tojo's participation in the Kamurocho Redevelopment Project and give them enough funds to go to war with the Tojo, in exchange for making Shimano the next Tojo Chairman as an Omi subsidiary once they've taken Tokyo.

Majima and Sagawa are approached by Shimano Family men, who take them to meet with Shimano himself. He reveals that he knew Majima wouldn't be able to go through with murdering Makimura, and would instead protect her and gain her trust. Now Shimano needs Majima to use that trust to get her to sell him the Empty Lot. In exchange, Shimano promises not to kill Makimura and to restore Majima back into his Family. He also tells them to find Kiryu's sworn brother, Nishikiyama, if they're having troubles finding Kiryu or Makoto.

Majima wanders the city in search of Makimura, furious at himself for how easily he was manipulated by Shimano, but also aware that having her give him the Empty Lot is the best way to keep her safe. He finds his way to Kazama's offices, where he confronts Kashiwagi and demands to know where Nishikiyama is. Kashiwagi refuses to tell him, leading to a fight where Majima proves victorious. When Majima threatens an unconscious Kashiwagi's life, one of Kashiwagi's men tells him Nishikiyama might be at Serena.

Majima goes to the bar and, while he finds Nishikiyama. When questioned about Makimura's location, Nishiki attacks Majima, not willing to give his brother up. After Majima beats Nishiki in a fight, he clarifies that he's trying to help Makimura and that he's the one who saved her from Shibusawa's men back in Sotenbori. Nishiki regretfully tells Majima neither he nor Kiryu knows where Makimura is. Apparently, after witnessing her brother's death, Makimura requested that they bury Tachibana in the Empty Lot and, while Kiryu and Nishiki were doing the burying, she snuck away. Having no further leads, Majima goes to the Empty Lot in the hopes that he can pick up Makimura's trail from there. Much to his surprise, he sees Makimura standing on one of the nearby rooftops. When he climbs up to where she is, Majima realizes something's changed about her: She's started gaining back her eyesight.

Chapter 16: Proof of Love

Main article: Yakuza 0/Chapter 16

Makimura tells Majima that the shock of hearing her brother die in front of her triggered something and now she can see the outlines of things, but her vision isn't fully back yet. She also insists that she needs to seek revenge on Dojima's lieutenants for the deaths of Lee and Tachibana, the two people dearest to her. Majima tries to dissuade her from her intentions, since going against the Dojima Family could get her killed. Realizing that in their time together, he's developed feelings for Makimura, Majima offers to run away with her and go somewhere neither Dojima nor Shimano can find them. Makimura is hesitant about this, but ultimately agrees. However, while Majima is distracted getting some takoyaki for her, Makimura slips away again, leaving a message with a nearby homeless man saying that she is determined to seek revenge. After an encounter with some of Shibusawa's men, Majima learns that Makimura has turned herself over to Shibusawa and he's taken her to Patriarch Dojima's penthouse.

At Dojima's penthouse, Shibusawa presents Makimura to Patriarch Dojima at a meeting where Lao Gui, Kuze and Awano are also present. Dojima congratulates Shibusawa and promotes him to Family Captain. Makimura offers to give Dojima the Empty Lot for next to nothing if he executes his three lieutenants. Much to the lieutenants surprise, Dojima briefly considers the idea, before turning Makimura down. Dojima tells her that he doesn't actually need her to sell the Lot to him. Since the property is so small, the Kamurocho redevelopment project can go through without the Tojo Clan acquiring it, as long as its owner doesn't oppose it. Just as Majima arrives at the penthouse and fights his way past Dojima's guards, Lao Gui shoots Makimura at Dojima's behest. Before Majima can attack Dojima and his lieutenants, they all get into an awaiting helicopter and flee the scene. Infuriated, Majima savagely beats all of Dojima's guards who remained behind, leaving many of them close to death. He then tries to resuscitate Makimura and scrambles to carry her back to the elevator. Much to his surprise, Sera and a group of his men arrive soon after, with Sera having survived Sagawa's attack in Osaka. Sera's guards load Makimura into one of their cars and transport her and Majima to an underground clinic, where a distraught Majima breaks down in tears while he waits for the emergency surgery to take place.

Finale: Black & White

Main article: Yakuza 0/Finale

The newly-promoted Shibusawa wishes to consolidate his position as Dojima's second-in-command, so he orders his men, as well as Awano and Kuze, to kill all of former Captain Kazama's supporters. Elsewhere, Kiryu gets wind of what transpired at Dojima's penthouse from Sera. He tells him Makimura survived the gunshot and that he'll be keeping her safe at the Nikkyo Consortium's hidden headquarters in Shibaura Wharf.

Soon after his conversation with Sera, Kiryu hears about Dojima Family goons heading for Kazama's office and correctly assumes that Shibusawa is making his move. Kiryu goes to the Kazama office, but is stopped in the street outside of it by Kuze, all on his own. After all the humiliations Kiryu subjected him to, all Kuze wants is to defeat him in order to recover his lost pride. The two engage in a final battle and, despite Kuze's determination, Kiryu bests him once again. Just afterwards, Nishiki and Kashiwagi emerge from the Kazama office, having defeated Kuze's men inside. A defeated Kuze admits to himself that he'll never beat Kiryu and then warns the three that Shibusawa knows about Sera's hidden base and is mobilizing his men to attack it. Kiryu and Nishiki decide to go ahead and warn Sera, while Kashiwagi goes to gather Kazama's men to provide back up.

Elsewhere, a furious Majima heads for the Dojima Family's offices, but is interrupted by Sagawa and some of his crew. When Majima tells him of his intentions, Sagawa threatens him, telling him that if he attacks Dojima, it will have negative consequences for Shimano and the Omi Alliance. Majima, no longer intimidated by Sagawa, quickly beats him and his men back before continuing towards Dojima's offices.

By the time Kiryu, Nishiki and Kashiwagi arrive at the Nikkyo's base in a docked yacht, Shibusawa's attack has already begun. While Kashiwagi and his men hold back Shibusawa's goons, Nishiki and Kiryu head aboard the yacht, where Shibusawa is searching for Makimura. Kiryu eventually manages to reach Shibusawa, who is holding an unconscious Makimura hostage. Shibusawa explains that, after years of being passed over for promotion because of more charismatic yakuza like Kazama, Kuze and Awano, he is finally getting the recognition he feels he deserves, and he won't let a low-ranking thug like Kiryu threaten that. Kiryu goads Shibusawa into a fight by calling out his power-lust and, after an extended duel, defeats him and rescues Makimura. Kiryu considers killing Shibusawa, but he is stopped by Nishiki, who insists killing a man once he's already been beaten would make Kiryu just as monstrous as Dojima and his goons.

Back in Kamurocho, Majima breaks into Dojima's headquarters. Since most of the Family's men were sent away for Shibusawa's attacks, Majima fights his way towards the Patriarch's office single-handedly. However, before he can get to Dojima, Majima is stopped by Awano, who recognizes him as one of Shimano's enforcers. Awano is puzzled as to why Majima would risk so much for a woman he barely knows, to which Majima responds by saying that he's come to enjoy living dangerously. Impressed, Awano challenges Majima to a duel, which he ultimately loses. The two are interrupted by Patriarch Dojima and Lao Gui, who attacks them both due to Awano's failure. Awano dies in the battle, but Majima ultimately manages to beat Lao Gui, much to Dojima's terror. Before Majima can kill Lao Gui, he is stopped by Sera, who arrives to inform Dojima that he's already lost, since Makimura awoke from her coma after being rescued by Kiryu and signed over the Empty Lot to him.

Majima still wishes to kill Lao Gui and Dojima, but Sera dissuades him. The Nikkyo patriarch then tells Majima that he's aware of the traitor within the Tojo who intended to sell the Empty Lot to the Omi Alliance and tasks him with dealing with them. Majima travels to Shimano's home wielding a gun and confronts him in the middle of his dinner with the Head of Omi headquarters. Despite his orders from Sera, Majima pledges to assure Sera that he's not the traitor if he'll let him back into his Family. Impressed, Shimano agrees to make Majima his new Family captain and then murders the Omi Alliance HQ chief as proof of his commitment to the Tojo Clan.

Epilogue

In January 1989, one month after the Empty Lot was obtained by Sera, the Tojo Clan's top patriarchs gather at headquarters. Chairman Nihara informs those present that, due to the police interest generated by Patriarch Dojima's recent troubles (including the arrest of both Kuze and Shibusawa), he is being removed from handling the land acquired for the Kamurocho revitalization project. Instead, Patriarch Sera is being given control of the land due to his acquisition of the Empty Lot and he's being made Clan Captain: His successor as the next Chairman when he dies. Sera accepts the promotion and a humiliated Dojima is forced to comply.

In Sotenbori, Majima bids goodbye to Sagawa, who is impressed that Majima survived the entire ordeal. Though Majima says that having to deal with Sagawa's coercion helped him learn to live like a real yakuza, he never wants to see him again. Moments after Majima departs, a dejected Sagawa is confronted by Omi Alliance hitmen and promptly executed.

At Serena, Nishiki and Reina are shocked upon hearing from Kiryu that he is rejoining the Dojima Family. Kiryu insists that he's not fit for civilian life and that, since Kazama will soon be released from prison, he's going to need help from both Kiryu and Nishiki in running the family's operations.

Months pass and Majima is reinstated to his position within the Shimano Family. As he patrols the streets, he runs into some of his own thugs harassing Makimura and one of her friends. Angered, Majima beats the thugs for pestering civilians. Since Makimura never managed to see him clearly before they parted, she doesn't recognize him. As he wants her to move on from her ordeals, Majima doesn't tell her who he is and instead walks away.

In a post-credits scene, Makoto returns to the Empty Lot to leave some flowers for Tachibana when she hears soft music coming from the burial mound. As she digs in that spot, she finds her brother's old watch, which she'd lost back in Sotenbori. Elsewhere, in the game's final scene, Majima and Kiryu finally meet face-to-face in the streets of Kamurocho.

SPOILERS END HERE. (Return)

Development

The game was first announced in a special Yakuza event on 24 August 2014 together with a trailer. A Chinese-language localization of the game was announced in 2014 and eventually released in Asia in May 2015.

On December 5, 2015, at PlayStation Experience 2015 in San Francisco, Sony Computer Entertainment's Gio Corsi announced thatYakuza 0 will be coming to the Americas for the PlayStation 4. While a trailer for the game was released that ends with the statement that it will be releasing in North America and Europe, later that day Sega posted a tweet, on Twitter, saying "We know the Yakuza series is loved by all its fans in Europe but unfortunately at this time we're not able to confirm a Yakuza 0 EU release". The YouTube trailer for the game was edited to remove the word Europe. In July 2016, the developers confirmed that the game would be released in both the Americas and Europe in January 2017.

The game was released worldwide on PS4 on January 24, 2017. It was well received by the western market, with Metacritic giving it a score of 85/100. During E3 2018, Sega announced that both Yakuza 0 and Yakuza Kiwami would be coming to PC. Yakuza 0 was released on Steam on August 1, 2018, becoming the first title to be officially released on PC.

Mini-games

A variety of mini-games are present in Kamurocho and Sotenbori. Classic Sega Arcade Games from the 1980s are included and can be played in Club SEGA, along with classic mini-games such as Bowling and Karaoke. The following games are included in both cities:

• OutRun
• Super Hang-On
• Space Harrier
• Fantasy Zone
• Pool (2-Player)
• Darts (2-Player)
• Disco (2-Player)
• Bowling (2-Player)
• Fishing
• Pocket Racing
• Batting Center
• Karaoke
• Cabaret Club Management
• Shogi
• Mahjong
• Koi-koi
• Telephone Club
• Catfights
• Blackjack
• Cee-lo
• Oicho-kabu
• Cho-han
• Roulette
• Poker

Reception

Yakuza 0 debuted at number 1 on the Japan software chart in its first week of release. The PlayStation 3 and the PlayStation 4 version sold 146,000 units and 90,000 sales respectively. PlayStation LifeStyle's review of the PS4 version was a 9/10, calling it the best in the series and "the result of 10 years spent not just perfecting a formula, but adding to it." The game received a 36/40 from Famitsu on both platforms.

Yakuza 0's popularity in the west was such that it caused somewhat of a renaissance for the English-localized series, which had nearly died after the poor critical and commercial performance of Yakuza: Dead Souls. SEGA's official English-language Yakuza Facebook page grew in size from around 2,000 fans to in excess of 50,000 in the weeks after Yakuza 0's western release in early 2017. Since then, the series' momentum in the west has continued to grow, to the point that Kamurocho-based spin-off Judgment was released with multiple European-language text options and even an English audio option, something that has not happened since the release of the original Yakuza in 2006.

Sales

As of June 2015, Yakuza 0 has sold over 500,000 copies within Japan and Chinese-speaking regions of Asia. Sega president Haruki Satomi stated that the Chinese version of the game sold more than originally expected.

Yakuza 0 was the eighth best-selling game in the UK in its release week. Sales in the country were so above expectations that stocks of the game started to run low.

Awards

The Japanese version of Yakuza 0 won a Japan Game Awards^WP Award for Excellence in the Future Division in 2014. The "Future Division" is dedicated to pre-release games that have been featured in the Tokyo Game Show^WP.

Regional differences

• The English version of the game would change how the chapter titles, character introduction text, and encounter text would be displayed in any entry released in Western territories in the future. For chapter titles, the original Japanese characters would be displayed with transparency, shortly after followed by the English translation, which is written with a new font. Character introduction text and encounter text were replaced with English text (in said font) entirely, something that has not been done since Yakuza 2.
  • The Chinese and Korean versions would simply display their translations as subtitles, similar to the localized versions of Yakuza 3 and Yakuza 4.
• In the Chinese version, Lao Gui's face was changed to resemble Hong Kong actor Sam Lee, who also gave a new voice to the character. He is also present in the game's cover.
• Similarly to Ryu Ga Gotoku Ishin!, released a year prior, most of the Japanese version of Yakuza 0 is blocked from recording using the share button on PS4, whereas the Western version only has restrictions on the final chapter.
• Retail copies of the Japanese version of Yakuza 0 come with a user manual, whereas the Western version only comes with the disc.

Trivia

• This is the first mainline Yakuza game to not feature The Florist of Sai, Haruka Sawamura, or Makoto Date. It is also the second game where Goro Majima does not appear as a boss fight, but rather as a playable character (the first one being Yakuza: Dead Souls)
• This is also the first mainline Yakuza game to not feature the Millennium Tower. This is because the tower didn't exist in 1988, and was built during the 17-year period separating Yakuza 0 and the rest of the series. Central to this game's conflict, however, is the Empty Lot, which is part of the land on which the tower was built.
• The first and final long battle (i.e., extended sequences of battles against non-boss enemies) of the game both take place in the same location. The first one, in the first chapter of the game, takes place in the Dojima Family building and is done by Kiryu. The final one, in the final chapter of the game (and also the final gameplay in the game before the final boss sequence), takes place in the same building and is done by Majima.
• On Xbox Series X and S consoles, the game was given an FPS Boost to run at 60FPS.

Gallery

Alternate Boxart

PS4

PS4 (JP)

PS4 (ZH)

PS3 (JP)

Logos

English logo

Japanese logo

Korean logo

Traditional Chinese logo

Screenshots

Title screen.

External links

• Official website