Minigames and side content always seem to be an important part of the Yakuza series experience. Yakuza Zero will likely uphold that tradition with the new games planned that this Siliconera article teases.
To start, the presence of Sega arcade classics have been a unique selling point in marketing the game. The Sega classics that will be playable include Space Harrier, Outrun, Hang-On and Fantasy Zone, and will be available to either Kazuma Kiryu or Goro Majima. In addition, the games will also have the option of being played through the Playstation Vita. You can find these games at the classic game center locations in Yakuza Zero. The game center will also feature staples such as the crane game.
Another returning minigame are the Karaoke minigames. However, Yakuza Zero will offer a slightly different spin on the Karaoke minigames by letting players choose between two modes: “Karaoke Box”, which appears to be a more standard Yakuza Karaoke experience, and “Karaoke Snack”, where your character can enjoy snacks and the player can listen to the music tracks available in the setlist.
A distinctly new minigame is the Disco minigame. It’s a wacky and flashy minigame that reflects Japan’s fascination with disco during the year this game is set in. The Disco minigame can be played as either Kiryu or Majima, and it appears to test players’ timing of pressing face buttons, while factoring in song tempo. The Voltage Bar represents in-game audience hype and measures your performance – perform well enough and you will activate Fever Time, which will infect the audience with Disco Fever and make them join you on stage. Successful performances will afford the player character certain bonuses, like boosting your ability to date women, eating at the club’s bar, and lounging at VIP rooms. Between the Karaoke minigames in Yakuza and the Project DIVA series, Sega is quite familiar with making rhythm games so I am curious to see how this minigame turns out.
Credit goes to the above-linked Siliconera article for the translated information. Credit for the featured image goes to this Gamerevolution article.