Judgment
- September 14, 2022
- Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio
- 53h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on PS Store"Judgment" is a single-player mystery hack and slash game that offers an intriguing story and stunning gameplay with exceptional visuals and fantastic music. As Takayuki Yagami, a disgraced defense attorney turned detective, players claw their way through Kamurocho’s underground crime network, uncovering the truth behind grisly murders. With Hollywood-worthy combat sequences and cinematic twists, this legal thriller offers a highly emotional and gripping experience, albeit with some grinding.
PC
Playstation 4
Playstation 5
Windows
PlayStation
Reviews
- story1,467 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 51 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The story of "Judgment" is widely praised for its engaging narrative and well-developed characters, often described as one of the best in the Yakuza franchise. Players appreciate the intricate plot that combines elements of crime drama and detective work, with many noting its darker tone compared to previous titles. However, the game is criticized for its repetitive tailing missions, which detract from the overall experience, leading to mixed feelings about pacing and gameplay mechanics.
“The story hooked me from the very start and didn't lose the consistency in quality throughout the game.”
“Judgment has the best story Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio has ever done.”
“The story is fantastic, the characters are very interesting, has some beautiful visuals at times, a ridiculously good soundtrack, fantastic voice work and a surprisingly solid English dub for their first time since the series' recent popularity boom.”
“Judgment failed to really keep my interest in both its characters and its story.”
“The story and most side missions really failed to give me a reason to care for most of the characters, as I can’t really pinpoint how Yagami or others have changed throughout the story.”
“The tailing missions are a bit one-note and not very dynamic.”
- gameplay371 mentions
- 34 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The gameplay in "Judgment" is a blend of familiar brawler mechanics from the Yakuza series, enhanced by detective elements such as trailing, lockpicking, and drone usage. While many players appreciate the engaging combat and story, criticisms arise regarding repetitive mechanics, particularly the tailing missions and the controversial "mortal wounds" system, which some find tedious. Overall, the game offers a solid experience with enjoyable combat and a compelling narrative, though it may not fully satisfy those seeking innovation in gameplay.
“I like detective things, that's why I bought this game and the cool thing is that only in chapter 1 I was really presented with interesting detective gameplay and beat 'em up action. I really recommend this game; even at full price, it's really worth it.”
“In particular, I can praise the attention to detail in the environment, and the beat-em-up gameplay is pretty tight.”
“The gameplay is the usual beat-em-up/action/fighting from the mainline series, and if you enjoy that type of gameplay, I don't think you would have a lot of problems with this game either.”
“I can only recommend Judgment if you want a story-focused game because the gameplay itself is too repetitive, simple, and linear.”
“The gameplay is familiar to the mainline series, so I won’t review it further.”
“The gameplay feels a bit outdated and the graphics are not the best, but the story will make you forget about that.”
- music130 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The music in "Judgment" has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its stellar soundtrack that enhances the gameplay experience and complements the engaging story. Tracks are described as memorable, catchy, and fitting for both combat and narrative moments, contributing significantly to the game's overall atmosphere. While some players noted a few reused tracks from previous titles, the majority found the original compositions to be exceptional and integral to the game's emotional impact.
“Judgment—like most of the other Yakuza games—has a stellar soundtrack with excellently animated cutscenes and voice acting.”
“The soundtrack for the combat styles is addicting to listen to.”
“The music is fantastic, the gameplay is a refreshing shift from Kiryu & co's more rigid fighting styles, and the story has so many twists and turns that it's hard not to feel attached to the characters by the end of it.”
“These encounters lack the dramatic flair that you might expect from a Yakuza game, and the accompanying soundtracks fail to leave a lasting impression.”
“The music didn't really stand out to me, unfortunately, unlike in the mainline games.”
“And the music, look man we had the same side quest/case music for nearly a decade now, please RGG Studios use something else.”
- graphics96 mentions
- 55 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are widely praised for their stunning detail and realism, showcasing the capabilities of the dragon engine with impressive textures, lighting effects, and smooth animations. Many reviewers highlight the beautiful art style and the vibrant depiction of the game world, particularly Kamurocho, which feels alive and immersive. While some note minor performance issues and the reuse of older assets, the overall consensus is that the visuals significantly enhance the gaming experience.
“The graphics are stunning, with highly detailed textures and lighting effects that make the world come alive.”
“A truly incredible game - beautiful graphics, flawless motion capture, fantastic brawler combat, and a thrilling story executed to virtual perfection.”
“The dragon engine allows the game to look realistic and have beautiful lighting and graphics while not being that intensive.”
“No amount of graphical settings seemed to make this problem less prominent.”
“Graphically, it's pretty decent but you can definitely tell they reused some really old assets from previous titles that just don't hold up at all anymore.”
“The gameplay feels a bit outdated and the graphics are not the best, but the story will make you forget about that.”
- grinding70 mentions
- 1 % positive mentions
- 6 % neutral mentions
- 93 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding certain elements, such as tailing missions and skill upgrades, to be tedious and time-consuming. While some enjoy the overall gameplay and story, they note that completionists may face significant grind, particularly for cash and skill unlocks, which can detract from the experience. Overall, while the game offers engaging content, the grind can feel excessive and unbalanced at times.
“Combat isn't as tedious; encounters are way faster with the right skills, which is fine by me. In the end, those random encounters are just time wasters to me.”
“First, the bad: it is grindy.”
“Why do I have to grind a tedious mini-game for hours so I can afford the SP boosting items necessary to buy the ludicrously expensive core skill upgrades that make combat more bearable?”
“If it wasn't for the somewhat slow start before the main plot really kicks off and for the tedious and unreasonably abundant tailing missions, it would be up for consideration as the best in the series.”
- humor69 mentions
- 99 % positive mentions
- -1 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The humor in "Judgment" is a standout feature, blending quirky side stories and comedic moments with the game's darker narrative. Players appreciate the hilarious subplots and character interactions, which maintain the signature charm of the Yakuza series, while the physics-based antics and absurd scenarios add to the overall enjoyment. Despite some criticisms of pacing and certain side missions, the game successfully balances humor with drama, making for a memorable and entertaining experience.
“Alright, folks, grab your magnifying glass and your sense of humor, because I'm about to take you on a whirlwind tour of 'Judgment,' the game where you play a detective that's part Sherlock Holmes, part Jackie Chan, and all Yakuza.”
“The side stories are funny and a welcome change of pace to the very heavy main story.”
“The humor in this game absolutely hits a home run, too.”
“The humor falls flat, making the experience feel really slow and boring.”
“The jokes are poorly timed and lack any real wit, leaving the game feeling dull.”
- optimization31 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization has received positive feedback, with users noting smooth performance, clean graphics, and minimal issues such as stuttering or crashing. Many players reported that it runs exceptionally well on various hardware, including mid-range PCs and the Steam Deck, although some expressed a desire for further performance patches. The game is praised for its customization options that allow players to balance performance and visual quality effectively.
“The graphics are super clean and the game is very well optimized.”
“Buttery smooth and not a performance hog, leaving plenty of overhead.”
“The performance is great and after a 5 hour play session I've had no issues with crashing, stuttering, or visual glitches.”
“Kind of disappointed that this remaster is largely about graphics and performance overhaul, with a little change regarding minigames (I'm glad Puyo Puyo is gone though, haha).”
“And on a decent PC I've experienced my share of stuttering after a few patches.”
“Tl;dr I would hold off on buying this until some more performance patches are released.”
- emotional23 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is described as a powerful journey that elicits strong feelings, with many players expressing that it brought them to tears through its touching narrative and character development. While some critiques mention a lack of emotional depth compared to previous titles in the Yakuza franchise, the overall consensus highlights a compelling story focused on justice and human connection, delivering a satisfying emotional payoff. Despite some pacing issues, the game is praised for its earnestness and ability to resonate with players on a personal level.
“An absolute emotional roller coaster ride that might honestly outshine the entire mainline Yakuza franchise up to this point.”
“The game's emphasis on justice, morality, and human connection is woven seamlessly into its storyline, providing a satisfying emotional payoff that will leave you feeling fulfilled.”
“Judgment was once again an emotional journey with great characters and an incredibly good story.”
- stability14 mentions
- 57 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing frequent crashes, freezing, and input issues, while others report smooth performance, particularly on the Steam Deck. Although the game showcases impressive graphics and runs well on mid-range systems, persistent bugs and glitches have left many users frustrated, with limited troubleshooting solutions available. Overall, while some players enjoy a stable experience, others face significant stability challenges.
“The game looks and runs great.”
“Supports literally every upscaling method available nowadays; with FSR 2.1, it looks and runs great in 4K. I haven't noticed any bad artifacts, though with FSR 1.0, jaggies are still visible.”
“In terms of graphics and performance, the Yakuza engine runs great on mid-range machines, including the Steam Deck, with the characters looking excellent and the world looking decent.”
“Tried everything and the game just freezes then closes.”
“Constant dropped inputs, constant crashing to desktop, constant bugs and glitches, invisible enemies, controls not responding in intended manner.”
“Sadly no solutions have been found for them either besides basic level-one troubleshooting such as 'reinstalling' or 'updating drivers,' which has worked for a very small subsection of people, while many unfortunately have net zero positive results.”
- atmosphere8 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 13 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is praised for its authenticity, particularly in capturing the essence of Japanese city life, complemented by a strong cast of characters and engaging battle tracks. However, some players noted that the remaster diminished the vibrant colors and contrast that enhanced the original's noir feel. Overall, the game successfully creates a bustling and immersive environment that supports its detective narrative, despite inconsistencies in voice acting.
“I've been to Japan a couple of times, and the city and atmosphere were very accurate to what I experienced.”
“Rich atmosphere, and a cast of great characters.”
“I do want to say the English voice acting is extremely inconsistent in all aspects, like the volume, the quality, and the sense of where the voices come from, affecting the atmosphere and more.”
“The original PS4 version had deeper contrast (which emphasized shadows) and rich colors full of warmth, which I felt emphasized the game's noir atmosphere.”
“Take the mechanics which, when combined, made the atmosphere of the original franchise and made the gameplay loop fun, realize that it's a neighborhood walking simulator, and create a story based around your ability to interact with the neighborhood.”
- character development6 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is highly praised, with many reviewers noting that both main and side characters are well fleshed-out and memorable, contributing to an engaging narrative. Some suggest that certain character arcs could have been better integrated into side quests, but overall, players find themselves emotionally invested in the characters' journeys. The development is considered strong enough to rival earlier titles in the series, enhancing the overall storytelling experience.
“Great story and character development. I would recommend it to any fan of narrative-based single-player games.”
“Every character, even side characters, are well fleshed-out with great character development.”
“Character development is quite good, and you do end up caring about each character.”
“Often this is for character development, which might have been better as side quests, but there are also points where you need to wait to hear from other characters and the filler is just something to make you feel like you are actually waiting.”
“Memorable characters, better protagonist than Kiryu (fight me), equally strong character development that Kiryu wishes he could get in any but his first two titles, kick-ass music (best in the series in my opinion), the best Dragon Engine combat system until Lost Judgment, and most notably, a gripping story with no Yokoyama nonsense.”
- replayability3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players highlight the game's significant replayability, praising its engaging stories and characters that encourage multiple playthroughs. The addition of more playable elements sets it apart from similar titles, making it a worthwhile experience despite some minor shortcomings. Overall, it stands out in a market filled with less substantial offerings.
“I think, RGG Studio is so far the best in the gaming industry, because no matter what the cost of the game is, you will get hours and hours of pure fun. The replay value is huge because such good stories and characters deserve a lot of replays, even maybe their own spin-offs.”
“Could it have done better in some spots? Definitely. But when you compare this game to the overwhelming amount of cash grabs out there, you'll learn to cherish this fun and replayable experience!”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
While some users feel the monetization could be improved, they appreciate that the game stands out among numerous cash grabs, offering a fun and replayable experience.
