5/5 ★ – BaroqueNRoller's review of Yakuza 0.

A masterwork of narrative driven gaming with a stout refusal to skimp on gameplay, Yakuza 0 weaves two seemingly separate narratives into a single gritty, mostly coherent crime drama about various factions vying for control of a 20x20 patch of concrete. Yes, the team over at RGG made a compelling and emotional video game about real estate; all set to the glorious excesses of the 80s. The depth of characters and their relationships with one another had me in a constant state of dread, fearing that any high stakes moment could be an individual's last. After all, what would an organized crime saga be without a few emotional scars be? But then, perhaps the biggest punch to the gut isn't a death, but rather seeing a man's chance at happiness disappear in the name of love. Perhaps the game's biggest obstacle is combat. It starts off a little cumbersome, but eventually there's a point where things start to open up, and as money for upgrades becomes more available it really offers a lot of options to beat the snot out of people however you like. The soundtrack is a certified banger. The 80s aesthetic is captivating. The business mini games (particularly Cabaret Club Czar) are engaging, and in conjunction with all of the side stories and more basic mini games provide for tons of content to explore when you feel like taking a break from the main story.