Yakuza 0 finally came to PC today, with full mouse and keyboard support. But that’s not how you want to play a hardcore Japanese crime game. Nah, PC inputs are for suckers. At least, that’s what Sega wants you to think, since there’s a giant splash image when you launch the game reminding you that “real yakuza use a gamepad” – not mouse and keyboard.
Of course, it’s no surprise to see Yakuza 0 recommend gamepad use. Plenty of other console ports do the same, especially third-person action titles that favour the precise character movement offered by an analog stick. Still, there’s something about the description of “real yakuza” that just sounds so… sassy.
You do have fully remappable control options in the Yakuza 0 PC port, so if – against all warnings – you want to make use of mouse and keyboard, you’ll have a lot of versatility in how you can customize the experience. The launch trailer even showcases all the mouse and keyboard prompts, even in extremely controller-friendly segments like the various rhythm mingames.
In fairness, there might be some truth to Sega’s assertion about real yakuza needing the pad. After all, those missing pinkies would be more detrimental to keyboard users than controller aficionados. And Kiryu clearly struggles with the keyboard when it comes to chatting with the ladies in Yakuza 6.
But honestly, I’m using this opportunity to remind you that Yakuza is a fantastic series, and Yakuza 0 is both one of its greatest entries and an excellent starting point – regardless of how you’re controlling it.