Yakuza 0: Director’s Cut – Exclusive First Look Preview

Okay, so here we go. Imagine this: Like a Dragon on a Nintendo system. Again! Remember when the Wii U got one? I mean, THOSE were some days, right? Anyway—no, wait—I’m talking about now. Yakuza 0 on the Nintendo Switch 2. I actually got my hands on it, and wow. Like, I still can’t wrap my head around it.

So, Yakuza 0—can you believe it’s been a decade since it first hit Japan on PlayStation 3 & 4? The nostalgia is real. This Switch 2 version is like a director’s cut, but funny enough, the director’s not around anymore. Go figure. New stuff? Oh yeah. English voices, extra scenes, and this new thing called Red Light Raid. I mean, honestly—what even is that?

I played it docked for 45 minutes, and it’s smooth as butter. We’re talking 60 frames per second silky. Didn’t have any equipment to measure exact resolutions, but it’s looking crisp—at least 1440p like on PS4 Pro. HDR? Nah, asked around, but nope. That’s a bummer.

Yakuza 0’s perfect for newcomers. Seriously, the story’s got this blend of humor and, like, deep feels. Mini-games too. Karaoke, SEGA arcades, the works. And 1980s Japan? Pure exploration joy. I played through it on PlayStation 4, and I’d do it all over again.

But Red Light Raid? Yeah, I’m not too thrilled. Maybe because I’m not great at these combat modes. It’s a survival thing. Waves of enemies, a couple of bosses. I tried it solo—didn’t quite click. Characters you use? They come from the main story, like this dude, Ginger Chapman—total Chucky vibes but human. His moves? Mostly knife stuff. Fun? Kinda, sure, but gets old quick.

Played as Kazuma Kiryu too. But here’s the catch—you’re stuck with one fighting style, unlike the story mode where you have four. Win a bit, earn some cash, level up, maybe buy new characters. Alone, it’s okay for short bursts, but grab a buddy? Could be a whole different game.

Honestly, Yakuza 0: Director’s Cut might just be the launch hit for Switch 2. I mean, despite playing it before, the English dub’s got me curious. Red Light Raid? Still on the fence, but who knows—I’ll give it another go when it drops next month.