Yakuza 0’s cabaret scene is one of the best character intros of all time

Set in the economic boom period of late-’80s Japan, Yakuza 0 alternates between series protagonist Kazuma Kiryu and his longtime best frenemy Goro Majima during their years as newbie gangsters. In the first two chapters, Kiryu roughs up a salaryman in a dingy alleyway to collect a debt, then gets framed for the guy’s murder. He goes from the bottom rung of the ladder to somewhere even worse. For Kiryu, being in the yakuza isn’t glamorous at all. But when we first meet Majima in Chapter 3, we’re suddenly awash in the luxurious extravagance of underworld life.

Smooth jazz plays as high-rollers in pinstripes fling fistfuls of money into the air. The expensive booze flows freely and beautiful girls in evening gowns giggle at drunk oafs, making them feel like the most charismatic men who ever lived. An out-of-town businessman enters the club, and though he’s initially leery of the tough-looking dudes he spots among the crowd, he’s soon swept away by the indulgent atmosphere. How could you not be? The Cabaret Grand looks like a helluva good time.

The vibes take a sudden turn for the worse when one of the patrons gets handsy, shoving his meathooks down the front of his date’s dress, despite her vocal protests. A server politely asks him to stop, and the angry man shoves him to the floor. The club falls silent and our out-of-towner is horrified, but his companion assures him the manager’s got it handled.

Speak of the devil: a slender man in steel-toed python boots and an immaculately tailored tuxedo descends the stairs and makes his way over to the disgruntled customer. The picture of deferential hospitality, Majima thanks the man for his business and again asks him to refrain from unwanted touching or violence. The drunk challenges Majima to a fight, which he refuses. He then takes things up several notches by emptying an entire bottle of champagne directly over Majima’s head, but he’s utterly unphased. Working himself into a fury, the drunk swings the bottle at his head, full-force, multiple times. That’s when Majima asks the band for a sick beat, and you get a cool little tutorial for his fast-paced fighting style — without throwing any punches. The customer is king, after all.

But our feisty drunk isn’t ready to give up, not even after this spectacular humiliation. After another flubbed punch sends him tumbling, he lunges to stab Majima with an icepick — only to be thrown, ass over teakettle, straight to the floor. Finally subdued, the crowd hoots and hollers as he’s about to be dragged away to the cops. That’s when Majima pulls off his most masterful stunt of all. He implores the remaining patrons to allow the drunk to make amends — by paying the entire club’s tab for the night. Stunned by how thoroughly he’s been outplayed — and suddenly realizing the very real risk to his livelihood — the man agrees. And with that, it’s back to business as usual at the Cabaret Grand.

If you’d played previous Yakuza games — or were just familiar with the broad outlines — you’d realize right away that this suave, level-headed man is a far cry from the unhinged shit-disturber Majima seen elsewhere in the series. How does this cool cucumber become the stab-happy Mad Dog of Shimano, shrieking obscenities in a snakeskin blazer with no shirt underneath? Even if you know nothing about these games, it’s all but impossible to watch this scene and not want to see what this captivating guy does next. It’s a worthy introduction to one of the most action-packed, exhilarating game series out there.