Judgment Review

No trial necessary.

Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio, developers of the beloved Yakuza (Like a Dragon) series, have delivered an enthralling spin-off with Judgment, a detective noir that exudes style. It’s a slight departure from their normal formula, yet it retains the studio’s signature blend of thrilling action, compelling drama, and quirky humor. While it might not rewrite the genre, Judgment delivers a thoroughly satisfying episode by leveraging a well-crafted protagonist and a meticulously realized world to great effect.

Publisher: Sega

Developer: Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio

Platform: Played on PC

Availability: Released on June 25, 2019 for PS4; Released on April 23, 2021 for PS5 and Xbox Series X/S; Released on September 14, 2022 for Windows PC.

---

Featuring an all-new cast of characters, we get to see the Yakuza world from another perspective. Protagonist Takayuki Yagami is a particularly fresh breath of air, offering an alternative personality to the oft stoic Kiryu or the sincere-but-oafish Ichiban. A disgraced lawyer turned private eye, Yagami navigates the back alleys of Kamurocho using his street savvy and polished fighting skills. Along his journey, he must deal with his past disgrace as a lawyer and forge a path towards redemption, all while encountering new trials and tribulations. Yagami’s journey into a web of conspiracies — centered upon a series of grisly murders — is both engrossing and emotionally affecting. 

Other characters, such as the tough Masaharu Kaito or the clever Fumiya Sugiura, keep the cast balanced out — offering their own backstory and quirks to uncover. The main cast is lovable, and even the side story characters get some bright moments in the spotlight. Each character feels like a layered or complex individual with their own sets of ideals and purpose, and that shines through in their conversations and in the cutscenes throughout the game.

Kamurocho is itself a character, serving as the beating heart of Judgment. The neon-lit streets, the bustling arcades, the hidden alleyways — every detail is rendered with care. The city feels alive, with NPCs moving about, people visiting shops, and even enemies prowling the strip to find you. This is owed, in part, to Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio’s continued re-use of the setting. While there are differences from game to game, Kamurocho feels like an old friend. The stores, people, and streets are ever so slightly growing and aging with time, akin to features like wrinkles or gray hairs — but that spark never fades, and those old memories are a bright spot in the tapestry of the ongoing narrative of the series. 

There's a real sense of a lived-in space in Judgment.

---

Kamurocho is not the only recurring item, as the battle system from the main series (prior to Yakuza: Like a Dragon, at least) makes its return as well. The combat lacks mechanical depth, but remains playable and fun in spurts. Yagami’s two fighting styles — the fast-paced Crane and the heavy-hitting Tiger — keep each fracas dynamic. "EX Actions" — a staple of the Yakuza series — allow for spectacular takedowns, but are generally situational; you’ll need specific items, meet certain conditions, or be in a particular area for the actions to appear. Each brawl is an absurdly cinematic spectacle, but is a bit weaker in other aspects. For example, tougher enemies in the colosseum and late game bosses have ‘super armor’ — a sort of resistance to long combo strings or juggling — that can take the fun out of the melee by not allowing you to deal consistent damage. The enemies, on the other hand, are extremely strong and deal high damage in the late game, which might then require you to frequently pause the action to take consumables mid-fight.

By contrast, the sounds of the game are a net positive. The voice acting, whether in English or Japanese, is superb, bringing the characters to life with nuance and conviction. Sound effects from objects or attacks are sufficiently punchy, and cars driving in the background breathe life into the city. To top it all off, the music keeps things moving with some varied electronic and rock rhythms for the more exciting moments in the game, but knows when to slow things down for the emotional scenes — and those emotional scenes are frequent.

Whether you're drawn in by the story or the wacky sidequests, there's always something here for you to engage in.

---

While the story might occasionally tread familiar ground, it's executed with the same sincerity that the Yakuza series is also known for. The twists and turns, though sometimes predictable, are delivered with a sense of drama that keeps you hooked. The game's exploration of themes like justice, redemption, and the blurred lines between right and wrong is handled with a mature and thoughtful approach; not every choice is an easy one for Yagami to make, as the greater picture of the plot is rarely black and white.

Even the side stories are worth engaging in. Perhaps the tales here are not as zany or off-the-wall as some of the side stories in Yakuza: Like a Dragon, but many are extremely touching — once again highlighting what RGG Studio does so well — balancing those action-packed fights and silly situations with true sincerity and earnest messages of love, acceptance, and even forgiveness.

As for more concrete examples of mini-games for players, the SEGA arcades are available to Yagami, meaning he can try his hand at some classic SEGA titles, like Viruta Fighter 5 Final Showdown or Motor Raid. There are other staples around, of course, like darts, mahjong, the batting cages — a veritable mountain of stuff is present for you to enjoy. There’s even a new drone mini-game, or dating mini-game for him to partake in. You’ll never feel like you’ve run out of things to do.

All-in-all, I had a very good time with this one. Judgment is a tense detective story, a stylish action game, and a heartfelt look into the lives of the ordinary people of Kamurocho, all wrapped in a beautifully crafted package. It's a testament to Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio’s ability to mold stories filled with memorable characters and compelling events. I know there’s a second one already out, but I hope we get to see even more of the characters here, and I’m excitedly awaiting my next rendezvous with Kamurocho.

Verdict

Judgment is a must-play for fans of detective stories and action games alike. It boasts a charismatic protagonist, an exciting combat system, and a visually stunning presentation. Despite hitting some familiar beats, it delivers an enjoyable and deeply moving escapade.

Image Credits: Taylor Rioux