Judgment

For Yakuza fans, they’re well acquainted with the city of Kamurocho. A metropolis that’s as glitzy as it is seedy, we grew well acquainted with the crime that goes on as we followed Kiryu’s exploits across six games (and a couple of excellent remasters as well), but Judgment gives us an interesting twist on this formula, casting us on the side of good for once. Playing as Takayuki Yagami, a former...

Judgment is much greater than the sum of its parts. Getting lost in the city of Kamurocho as you solve cases, make friends, and punch thugs into oblivion never stopped being fun even if the missions you sometimes have to do aren't that engaging. It was easy to overlook most of the issues that I may have had with Judgment just because of how much consistent fun I was having over the course of my ex...

Although I wish there was more depth to its detective work, Judgment’s smooth and spectacular street fighting, eclectic array of side activities, and suspenseful serial killer-based plot makes for the best original Yakuza game of this console generation. With its high-quality English-language dub and all-new cast of characters, it’s also the most approachable for newcomers. Provided you’re happy t...

While it could be more stable at 40 FPS, Judgment feels fantastic on the Deck so far!

Judgment brings new levels of narrative and mechanical intricacies to the familiar setting of Kamurocho in Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio's latest title.

It’s amazing how I never get tired of playing these Yakuza games. The setting is always the same half a dozen blocks of a claustrophobic Tokyo red light district, the combat mechanics are similar to one another, and you always know the plot will revolve around mob families, treasons, and murder mysteries. Yet, I always scream in joy whenever Sega announces a new one. Even though they will try to c...

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...

Judgment is a must-play for fans of the Yakuza franchise and a fantastic entry level title for those a little put off by the time required to catch up with the Yakuza series. It offers a fun and challenging dive into a wonderfully crafted game world, whose only disappointment is the result of the quality of past works.

Judgment is without a doubt the best playing Yakuza game to date. It has all of the quality of life improvements of the Dragon Engine alongside a host of new welcome features. The combat and minigames are the best they’ve ever been. The narrative is interesting overall, but can feel misguided and aimless at certain points.