SegmentNext writes that in a recent livestream, Yakuza series creator and producer Toshihiro Nagoshi revealed that the prequel title Yakuza Zero (subtitle: The Place of Oath) will be released in Japan on March 12, 2015. The game offers players the choice to play as Kazuma Kiryu or Goro Majima through individual story campaigns meant to offer more insight into these popular characters’ pasts.

As far as the release date is concerned, Yakuza Zero releases two weeks earlier than Sword Art Online: Lost Song for the PS3 and within a two week range earlier than Final Fantasy Type-0 HD, Senran Kagura: Estival Versus, and Disgaea 5 for PS4. Right now there doesn’t seem to be any competition that may eat into Yakuza Zero’s potential.
Continue reading »

Earlier this week Sega broadcast a new trailer for Yakuza Zero through Niconico. It’s a story trailer that focuses on the main scenarios for both Kazuma Kiryu and Goro Majima. The first five minutes, roughly speaking, deal with Kiryu’s scenario as he does dirty work for the Dojima family. The next five minutes deal with Majima’s scenario as he holds himself together working at a cabaret club in the aftermath of his eye being stabbed (a moment with brief allusion.) He also seems to deal with some complex feelings as he encounters a blind woman named Makoto Makimura, and appears to vow to protect her. The last five minutes both escalate the drama of the past footage and serve to wrap up the trailer. Among other things, Kiryu is confronted with the alarming prospect of someone possessing the power to control the operation of Kamurocho and its citizens.

Watch the trailer below!

Continue reading »

The Ryu Ga Gotoku Youtube channel recently uploaded a new trailer to promote Yakuza Zero. The trailer is designed to show off the aspects of the game that have been heavily promoted as of late, including Kiryu’s property management subquest, Majima’s cabaret club/women management subquest, various content featuring the sexy actress contest winners, and footage of battles in motion. Viewers also get a glimpse of some of the wacky minigames being offered, including a disco-themed minigame.

This is also the first time we are seeing Kiryu and Majima fighting in-game. Kiryu’s attacks look mostly familiar but are presented in a flashy way, especially in the dashing. Majima takes flashiness to new heights with his combos. I welcome corrections if I’m wrong, but it appears there are now three different levels of Heat gauge activation, alongside a new type of encounter called Escort Battles, where you protect escorts from harassment from thugs.

Check out the trailer below! I’d like to preface this trailer by saying that for those viewing the video in a public space, it is worth noting that segments of it are NSFW, though there is no explicit content.

Continue reading »

Tokyo Game Show has been especially interesting for Sega, showing off how busy the company has been as of late. A special panel showcasing Yakuza Zero was held at Tokyo Game Show recently, and another trailer for the game was shown off. Sega also updated the official website for the game. This blog entry from “The Kamuro District”, maintained by longtime fan ThePatrick, should prove most helpful for those looking to learn more about the recent website updates.

To learn more about the game’s TGS updates, hit the break!

Continue reading »

PIctured above is Fantasy Zone for arcades, a franchise of scrolling shooter games similar to Gradius. The Yakuza franchise has routinely offered Sega games as playable within Yakuza titles, and Yakuza Zero will continue that tradition. Gematsu writes that Fantasy Zone, car racer Outrun, rail shooter Space Harrier, and motorcycle racer Super Hang-On will be featured as playable extras within Yakuza Zero’s Game Center. Taking advantage of the PS4-Vita crossplay features, these games will also be playable on the Vita through a special app, just like Yakuza Ishin.

In other news, Yakuza Zero will feature a new leveling-up system where money is used to enhance characters instead of experience points. There are a variety of mini-games through which money can be earned in Yakuza Zero, such as a Batting Cage minigame. However, players can also earn money by executing flashy attacks in battle. Beyond that, both of the playable characters have special money-earning systems unique to their scenarios.

Kazuma Kiryu’s system is “Kamurocho Money Island”, where players use money and relationships to apparently either increase stake in or outright own various businesses and making money off of renting property to them. It seems that, if players wish to make full use of this system, it’s possible to consolidate and monopolize businesses conditions and the public order, which must be challenging to accomplish. Goro Majima’s story will feature the “Soutenbori Night Life Trade Island”, where players operate a cabaret club with the goal of eventually becoming the best one in the region. There are 30 hostesses to choose from who will be integral to achieving this goal

Credit to Gematsu for the translated information.

Recently Sega has been updating the websites for some of their upcoming games. Yakuza Zero is one of them, seeing an update to the game’s official website that adds some screenshots that act as profile pictures of characters to be featured in the game. Visit the “Characters” section of the website to check them out. The two playable characters taking up opposing halves of the “0” meant to symbolize Yakuza Zero is a nice touch, and the faces for the added characters seem quite detailed.

The website divides the characters into a section for Kazuma Kiryu and another section for Goro Majima, likely showcasing who will  show up in whose scenario. The character scenarios, according to this Gematsu writeup, will also be centralized on the two locations being featured in the game; Kiryu’s scenario will take place in Kamurocho and Majima’s scenario will take place in Soutenbori. It will be interesting to see how the two characters’ first meeting and the early part of their relationship unfolds. The first Yakuza game already presupposed Kiryu and Majima’s strange and unique dynamic, so it will be up to Yakuza Zero to establish it.

Credit to the above-linked Gematsu writeup for the screen capture.