Yakuza 0 (PS4)

[bob]

How is this the first I'm hearing of Amazon Luna? Where did that come from?

[Glen-i]

So, I've started playing this, 1 and a half hours in, so I'll refrain on what I think of the gameplay as of now, it's too early.

I just wanted to say a few things.

- I'm incredibly glad that @Dcubed showed me how to systematically change the button layout so that A B X Y matched Nintendo's layout. That impromptu Karaoke session would've been an absolute nightmare otherwise.

- This GIF made up 50% of my prior knowledge of the series;

It's just as hilarious in context!

- So far, not completely engaged with the main plot. Very early days, of course, but the silly tutorials have been more entertaining.

[Hero-of-Time]

16 minutes ago, Glen-i said:

So far, not completely engaged with the main plot. Very early days, of course, but the silly tutorials have been more entertaining.

I imagine you’re going to be the complete opposite of me ( no surprise there  ) in that you’ll be more engaged with the general silliness and the side stories more than the main plot.

I just found out a couple of days ago that a mate of mine played this for the first time, fell in love with the series and got the platinum. I may have to revisit the game and achieve that myself. Can’t have that hanging over my head.  

[bob]

1 hour ago, Hero-of-Time said:

I imagine you’re going to be the complete opposite of me ( no surprise there  ) in that you’ll be more engaged with the general silliness and the side stories more than the main plot.

I just found out a couple of days ago that a mate of mine played this for the first time, fell in love with the series and got the platinum. I may have to revisit the game and achieve that myself. Can’t have that hanging over my head.  

I remember the platinum is a massive grind, but i'm genuinely surprised that you haven't got it before now - seems like it would be right up your street!

[Hero-of-Time]

18 minutes ago, bob said:

I remember the platinum is a massive grind, but i'm genuinely surprised that you haven't got it before now - seems like it would be right up your street!

It’s doing all the mini games that are the issue. Some of them are an absolute pain. It’s the same in most the Yakuza games, which is why I’ve only got 2 out of the 7 platinums.

[Glen-i]

So, I've just started Chapter 3 and suddenly, I'm a completely different character! He already won me over when I dodged a drunkard, got right up in his face, and offered him a towel.

Time to give some thoughts so far.

- I hate knives! I can sidestep a bullet aimed point blank at my face like I'm in The Matrix, but give someone a knife and I'm getting shanked 3 times in one fight!

- I'm not going anywhere near Mr. Shakedown if I can help it. The game gave me a warning about how he takes all your money if he beats you up and I'd rather not test that theory. Seems exceptionally harsh.

- I give up! I can't figure out how to use a weapon I've equipped. Can someone tell me so I don't have to go through the whole game punching people?

- @Hero-of-Time was right, I am enjoying the side stories more than the main plot. Can't say I expected to help a dominatrix learn how to be a dominatrix via roleplay, but I did. I have no idea why Kiryu chose to do this in a children's park while actual children were playing there, but whatever. Oh wait, now they're being roped in to help with the roleplay? Kiryu summed it up best when he muttered to himself, "What am I doing with my life?"

- That said, the main plot is serviceable so far. I'm invested... kinda... Will have to see if it holds my attention as I go. Cutscenes go on forever though. Like, wow. And people complain that Fi wouldn't shut up?

- The camera choreography of these minigames is absolutely top-notch! I have never laughed so hard at losing in a slot car race!

Real talk, if the new Mario Party has Slot Car Derby and doesn't have these over-the top camera angles, I'm gonna be very disappointed.

[Julius]

Glad to see you seem to be enjoying it!

3 minutes ago, Glen-i said:

- I hate knives! I can sidestep a bullet aimed point blank at my face like I'm in The Matrix, but give someone a knife and I'm getting shanked 3 times in one fight!

Haha yeah, how annoying knives are is something that doesn't really go away in full force until 5. 

3 minutes ago, Glen-i said:

- I give up! I can't figure out how to use a weapon I've equipped. Can someone tell me so I don't have to go through the whole game punching people?

If I'm remembering right, once you've got it equipped in your inventory, I think it's down on the D-Pad? 

4 minutes ago, Glen-i said:

I am enjoying the side stories more than the main plot.

Maybe one of the most consistent things about the series is just how strong the substories are, you'll be busting your sides for most of the game and some of the Mose memorable moments are undoubtedly found away from the beaten path. 

That being said, 0 does have a really strong main story compared to other games in the series in my opinion, but it does take a little while to warm up and set everything in place. The cutscenes are long (though I don't remember 0 having particularly long ones compared to the other games?) because they like to throw a lot of exposition at you right out of the gates, but as the game goes on, they'll balance gameplay sections and cutscenes better. 

[Glen-i]

1 hour ago, Julius said:

If I'm remembering right, once you've got it equipped in your inventory, I think it's down on the D-Pad? 

Yep, that's it, thanks very much!

[bob]

I went through the whole game without using any weapons (other than scenery during a fight). Only found out how about 2 chapters from the end.

[Glen-i]

1 hour ago, bob said:

I went through the whole game without using any weapons (other than scenery during a fight). Only found out how about 2 chapters from the end.

Glad to see I'm not alone.

[Julius]

2 hours ago, bob said:

I went through the whole game without using any weapons (other than scenery during a fight). Only found out how about 2 chapters from the end.

To be fair, having played 0 to 6, I used equipped weapons very, very sparingly, because it's really not needed. Honestly, you can get by on your fists and having enough items to replenish your health alone. 

That being said, seeing a new Heat Action is always cool, so if you end up with a weapon you haven't come across before, it could be worth equipping it just to see how that Heat Action turns out (if you've upgraded your skills to allow for it to be used, anyways). 

[Hero-of-Time]

 

Lots of spoilers in the videos, so beware if you are wanting to play certain entries but haven't got around to it.

Edited June 16 by Hero-of-Time

[RedShell]