'Yakuza 0' review: a fun game with over-the-top fighting-styles and melodramatic plot

Gamers in the Western world may not be familiar with the "Yakuza" series, but now that "Yakuza 0" is about to make its debut on the PlayStation 4 (PS4), this may be the perfect time to get to know more about Sega's open-world, action-adventure series.

As many would have guessed by looking at the title alone, "Yakuza 0" is one of those games that's going to take gamers into the world of organized crime. And just like the "Grand Theft Auto" ("GTA") series, the locations in the game actually have real-world counterparts in Tokyo. Of course, the places do look over-the-top graphics-wise.

"Yakuza 0" is fun, and it just seems absurd at times. Gamers have to try out the combat sequences themselves to see how overblown it looks. In a good way, though. Breakdancing is actually a fighting style in this game. Looks like Majima can give "Tekken's" Eddy Gordo a run for his money with those capoeira moves.

But what makes the game stand out is all the political intrigue in the plot. It may seem convoluted at times, especially with the twist and turn, but that's part of the game's charm. One caveat is that gamers shouldn't expect "Yakuza 0" to have the same level of freedom as "GTA." It may have been marketed as an open-world game, but there are actually a number of restrictions that limit the options players can take.

The graphics do not look up to date either. After all, "Yakuza 0" was originally a PlayStation 3 (PS3) game. But despite its flaws, the game is quite addictive and the gameplay is good. It's a classic beat 'em up game with a good storyline, and it's definitely worth buying.

"Yakuza 0" is set in 1988, and it actually serves as a prequel to the first game of the series. The game will come out on Jan. 24 on PlayStation 4 (PS4).