Mini Review: Yakuza 0 Director’s Cut (PS5) – A Questionable Cash Grab of a Classic

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Yakuza 0 is still considered a highlight of the Yakuza series, so a re-release on PS5 should be exciting news. However, the way this new ‘Director’s Cut‘ was handled, and the amount of new content it actually includes, is pretty strange and disappointing.

Okay, as a fan, I have to say the Director’s Cut looks way better – the resolution is a really nice upgrade. Plus, the game loads so much faster now, which is awesome. And, for anyone who likes that sort of thing, they even added an English dub! It’s great to see these improvements.

The game’s new multiplayer mode, Red Light Raid, is a fun extra. It’s not a must-have, but if you enjoy the game’s combat, it offers a silly distraction where you can play as any of the 60 characters from the main game.

Most of the enemies aren’t very challenging because they have simple attacks, but we had fun battling Kuze and Awano – two of the main bosses in the game.

Red Light Raid feels like an unnecessary addition to the game, tacked on without really enhancing the overall experience. Unless you’re a huge fan of the Yakuza series, you’ll likely play it a couple of times and then lose interest.

Beyond that, what does the Director’s Cut offer to make it worthwhile? It includes over 25 minutes of new cutscenes, but the quality is inconsistent – some are good, and others aren’t.

A few additions offer slightly more background to certain parts of the story, but most of them actually weaken the overall narrative by needlessly elaborating on things that were perfectly fine as they were.

The worst change completely upends part of the story without any justification – it feels incredibly contrived, even for a series known for its unbelievable plot devices.

Just so you know, SEGA considers this version of the game to be the definitive one now, as the original has been taken off digital stores. While they do let players who own the original PS4 version upgrade, it’s still a strange way to handle such a beloved Yakuza game.

Whether you’re revisiting Yakuza 0 or experiencing it for the first time, the Director’s Cut is a solid choice. However, the new additions are often minor or feel unnecessary, and they don’t quite live up to the quality of the original game that drew so many players into the Yakuza series.

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2025-12-23 17:37