Judgment Review – Cracking Cases And Skulls

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Publisher: SEGA

Developer: SEGA

Release: June 21, 2019

Reviewed on: PlayStation 4

Kamurocho is no stranger to violence, but a recent series of murders is unsettling even for the crime-riddled Tokyo neighborhood. In a particularly gruesome calling card, the killer gouges out the eyes of his victims. Thankfully, Takayuki Yagami is on the case. An attorney-turned-detective, he has the credentials and tenacity to bring justice where it’s needed – no matter how far the investigation may take him. His methods might get results, but they’re ultimately overshadowed by the strong story and engaging world-building. 

Developer Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio is known for its Yakuza series, and Judgment is effectively a new Yakuza game in all but name. It takes place in the same place Kazuma Kiryu and company have called home for more than a decade, but the similarities don’t end there. Animations, side activities, and other elements have been directly transferred over to this new title. The Yakuza franchise is great, but trying to keep track of its characters and plot (which span seven massive games) is a like trying to sip from a fire hose. Judgment is a completely fresh narrative start that doesn’t require – or even reward – previous Yakuza experience. All you need to really need to know is that gangsters run this town, and the officials may be even bigger crooks.

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Judgment’s big bullet-point addition is how it leans into the detective fantasy. Yagami’s agency is small, so he takes on a variety of mundane cases (such as tracking down missing items or an underpants-stealing creep) in addition to the larger, overarching murder investigation. That element is split into several main components, and some are stronger than others. The worst are the tailing missions, where you follow people without letting their suspicion meters fill. They’re tedious and overlong, and they’re also an unfortunately common part of investigations. Conceptually, I liked the parts where you examine crime scenes for hidden details, which you use to put together a hypothesis on what happened. The actual stakes are disappointingly low, however; you’re free to blunder your way through the dialogue options with no penalties, aside from some embarrassed text responses a slight ding to your experience bonus. The real consequences happen in battle, oddly enough.

Yagami might not be a member of a crime family, but that doesn’t mean he’s safe as a civilian. Even before getting involved in the deeper mystery, he’s constantly getting hassled and attacked. Thankfully, he’s a solid brawler, and beating down thugs is dependably fun. He has a couple of fighting styles at his disposal, so you can take out crowds with swooping crane attacks or lash out at individual opponents with his tiger form. Judgment adds a wrinkle to the familiar framework with the introduction of mortal wounds. Tougher enemies can wreak additional havoc on the player by targeting Yagami’s lifebar. If these attacks are successful, your maximum health is sapped until you see a doctor or use a rare item. Both are expensive solutions, and it’s quite possible to have neither one available during the frequent (and lengthy) set-piece encounters. It’s an oddly punitive touch for a game that’s so generous to players otherwise.

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Kamurocho has plenty to offer when you’re not busy tracking down criminals. The biggest side activity is drone racing, which gives Yagami something else to do with his toy beyond spying on people. I went all-in on the mode, completing optional missions to get the best possible parts, though you don’t have to engage with racing if it’s not your thing. I wasn’t as excited about a lame virtual virtual-reality minigame, where you roll dice to maneuver on a weird life-sized playfield and get items for cash. That’s in addition to the array of casino games, arcade games, and other diversions at your fingertips when you’re ready to take a break. 

Even though I wasn’t in love with all of Yagami’s investigatory tools, I had a great time seeing the Yakuza formula from a fresh perspective. Judgment tells a sprawling, action-packed story that veers dangerously close to melodrama without falling apart. It has some genuinely shocking moments, and proves that you don’t need Kiryu or Majima as tour guides to have a great time in Kamurocho.

Score: 8

Summary: This Yakuza spinoff proves that you don’t need Kiryu or Majima as tour guides to have a great time in Kamurocho.

Concept: Use your detective skills to stop a serial murderer in a new game from the studio behind the Yakuza series

Graphics: Kamurocho’s familiar streets look as good as ever, and they’re packed with detail

Sound: You can listen to the story in either English or Japanese, with full dubs in both languages. Either way, the performances are solid

Playability: Combat is engaging and responsive, but some of the detective-oriented tasks are clunky

Entertainment: Judgment is a Yakuza game in all but name, offering the same dizzying array of action, side content, and a lengthy (and convoluted) story

Replay: Moderately high

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