Lost Judgment Review (PS5)

Judgment was a pleasant surprise from Sega, and it proved to be worthy to carry on the torch of the Yakuza series. following the same recipe with different spices the adventures of Yagami Takayuki were both memorable and relatable, the pace of the story making it very hard to put it down. The lawyer turned private detective is back with a new adventure to show what else he got ups his sleeve.

After the changes made by the latest instalment, Like a Dragon, it was clear that the fans of the original Yakuza games will migrate towards Judgment. The first game hit the mark from every point of view and offered an experience that could rival any Yakuza game. The sequel promises more of the same, trying to keep the fans well fed and satisfied. That means that the changes are minimal and if you already have had enough of the Yakuza type approach you will be disappointed.

On the other hand, if you like this genre, Lost Judgment will be right up your alley. The developers put together again the already well-known cast and dropped them in the middle of a story that can be enjoyed even if you did not play the first game. Everyone’s introduced again in detail, and you get the hang of their personalities and perks in quite a charming manner. As just the last time, at the center of events is a dark personal tragedy that creates a spiderweb of mystery and intrigue.

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Yagami gets caught up in yet another murder case while investigating high school bullying. A lot of people might take offense at how the game handles this last aspect. Although it is based on good intentions Yagami, a 30+ years old adult ends up placing hidden cameras in a high school, while trashing the furniture when attacked by teenagers. You have to keep in mind though that Lost Judgment is a video game, and it is all about fun, and there is something quite satisfactory putting spoiled brats into their place. Nonetheless this is fiction and in no way a guidebook on how to handle bullying.

During the around 30 hours of gameplay the different threads of the story that at first seem independent will form a nice tapestry leading to a major showdown. The inspiration of the story is loosely the rivalry between Sherlock Holmes and Professor Moriarty, a thing hinted generously at through the side missions that involve investigating the different clubs of the high school. Next to the main story line and secondary quests the school stories represent a major hook in the gameplay, making the player do a series of very well implemented side activities from boxing, to skating, robot battles and even rhythm games.

A tested trademark of the series, Lost Judgment is full of extra activities that can add quite a lot of gameplay time. The best part is that the manner the developers implemented them is just brilliant. Even if you don’t like skating or you are not a fan of robots chasing each other in small arenas, these mini games will make a believer out of you. They are fun, easy to learn, present a gradually increasing challenge and offer just enough incentives to make them addictive.

During the story missions and the side activities as well, you will meet a series of memorable characters, some of them friends some of them walking, talking punch bags. The English voice actors did again a tremendous job, bringing these characters to life, even in the most over the top moments. The only negative aspect is that this time around it very easy to notice the fact that many of the filler characters look almost exactly the same. It is one of the few shortcomings of the game, most visible during cutscenes and the fights.

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If you liked the combat system from the first Judgment, you’ll love the new and improved version. There is a new fight style, inspired by the movement of the snake, based on parrying and countering. Both the old and the new moves of Yagami are spectacular and extremely fluid, making you feel like the star of a Jackie Chan movie. Next to the street brawling there will be also a series of challenges built around boxing, with more severe rules. Although a self-thought martial artist, our hero will hold his own even the ring, also due to the revamped difficulty system, that allows to enjoy the game for both absolute newcomers and seasoned veterans.

Another aspect that will bother some is that the developers never really let go completely the hands of the players. The script will dictate when you can sneak around, when you can tail someone or when you have to take a break from the side activities in order to advance the events. The worst expression is when you know you could beat your opponent, but you have to take a dive in order to respect the vision of the game.

Graphics wise the game is a mixed bag of treats. Some scenes are just gorgeous, full of details, while others can lack in finesse, but all of them are true to the visual style of Yakuza of Judgment. Especially the close ups scenes during dialogues could have used a bit more attention. The very same scenes that for some reason lack voice over beyond a few words said at random. Lost Judgment in general looks and runs smoothly, with the occasional oddities in combat, but those are also part of the series’ trademark. The loading times are as fast as you would expect them on a current gen console.

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The Good

The Bad

Conclusion