Judgment

About

"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.

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Play Modes

96%

Audience ScoreBased on 4,342 reviews

story966 positive mentions

grinding100 negative mentions

Engaging and well-written story with unexpected twists and turns.
Fun combat system with two distinct fighting styles (Tiger and Crane) that adds variety to gameplay.
Richly detailed world of Kamurocho, filled with side activities and a vibrant cast of characters.

Repetitive and tedious tailing missions that detract from the overall experience.
Mortal wounds mechanic can be frustrating, requiring expensive healing items and detracting from combat flow.
Some side quests feel like filler and lack the depth and charm of previous Yakuza games.

story
2,331 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
53%
6%
The story of "Judgment" is widely praised for its engaging narrative and well-developed characters, often considered one of the best in the Ryu Ga Gotoku series. Players appreciate the intricate plot that combines elements of crime drama and detective work, with many noting its darker tone compared to previous Yakuza titles. However, the game is criticized for its excessive tailing missions, which detract from the overall experience and pacing of the story, leading to mixed feelings about the gameplay mechanics. Overall, the compelling storyline and character arcs make it a must-play for fans of narrative-driven games.
- “The story is fantastic, the characters are all equally as fantastic, and this is the best the city has looked so far.”
- “Judgment's story is very unique compared to the rest of the series.”
- “The story is a mind-blowing, the characters are well developed, the side quests can give you good laughs.”
- “The game reiterates the same plot points ad nauseam, even when you just watched them play out in a cut scene.”
- “The story is making zero effort to draw you in and keep you playing to advance.”
- “The pacing in Judgment is godawful, despite the story being good and having a satisfying conclusion.”
gameplay
587 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
60%
11%
The gameplay in *Judgment* is a mix of familiar brawler mechanics from the Yakuza series, enhanced with detective elements like tailing, lockpicking, and drone usage. While many players appreciate the engaging combat and story, the repetitive nature of certain mechanics, particularly the tailing missions and the controversial mortal wounds system, detracts from the overall experience. Overall, the game offers a solid blend of action and narrative, but it struggles with pacing and some poorly designed gameplay features.
- “Cut scenes, gameplay, voice acting, story arcs, characters, side-content and soundtrack were all great throughout my experience.”
- “The gameplay is fantastic, with combat being super fluid and responsive.”
- “The gameplay was both familiar and fresh throughout the entirety of Judgment.”
- “This is like Yakuza with all the heart, charm, and most importantly *fun* sucked out of it, leaving behind a husk of a game with a boring protagonist and probably actual hours of a mind-numbing tailing mechanic.”
- “The gameplay isn't as fun or polished as it could be, but the thematic elements and non-gameplay aspects are so strong, it's very compelling.”
- “The gameplay felt a bit floaty and the physics during the fights were messy.”
music
176 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
44%
3%
The music in "Judgment" has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its exceptional soundtrack that enhances the game's emotional and intense moments. Tracks are described as catchy and memorable, contributing significantly to the overall atmosphere and gameplay experience. While some players noted that certain pieces felt quieter or less impactful compared to previous titles in the Yakuza series, the consensus remains that the music is a standout feature, with many considering it one of the best soundtracks in the franchise.
- “What surprised me the most was the 8D audio and the soundtrack.”
- “The music is exceptional and perfectly complements the game's intense and emotional moments.”
- “The soundtrack definitely enhances the experience of the game, and every time the music started playing at the start of a fight, I empathized with Yagami's motivations and fought like everything was at stake.”
- “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.”
graphics
132 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
58%
40%
2%
The graphics in the game are widely praised for their stunning realism and detailed character models, showcasing significant improvements over previous titles in the Yakuza series, particularly with the Dragon Engine. While the visuals contribute to an immersive experience, some players noted issues with physics animations during combat, which can lead to awkward character poses. Overall, the game is recognized for its beautiful graphics, engaging cinematography, and vibrant open-world design that brings the streets of Kamurocho to life.
- “The graphics still maintain that typical Dragon Engine art style; it looks great and has improved from Yakuza 6.”
- “While this may be written off as gawking over great graphics that are a product of the game's release date, Judgment truly excels in visual storytelling, using detailed character models, expressive animations, and skillfully placed camera shots during cinematics to convey emotion and narrative depth.”
- “The graphics are stunning, with highly detailed textures and lighting effects that make the world come alive.”
- “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.”
- “Random city fights are annoying and get in the way of progress, and the visuals aren't much of an upgrade.”
- “The gameplay feels a bit outdated and the graphics are not the best, but the story will make you forget about that.”
grinding
109 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
3%
6%
92%
The grinding aspect of the game has received significant criticism, with many players finding the tailing missions and detective work to be tedious and repetitive. While some side quests and mini-games offer moments of enjoyment, the overall experience is marred by the excessive grind required for money and skill upgrades, leading to a sense of frustration and boredom. Despite these issues, the core gameplay and story are still appreciated, though players often feel that the grind detracts from the overall enjoyment.
- “The side stories were okay (50 total) and it wasn't too grindy to 100% everything (in my opinion).”
- “+ satisfying combat with great skill progression (no grinding necessary)”
- “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.”
- “This game became so unbelievably tedious; the actual gameplay is fun, but you only get little breaks in the story to actually play.”
- “The narrative plods along at a snail's pace, filled with pointless side quests and tedious detective work that make you want to gouge your own eyes out from boredom.”
- “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.”
humor
105 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
99%
1%
The humor in the game is a standout feature, blending absurdity with heartfelt moments, reminiscent of the Yakuza series. Players appreciate the hilarious side quests and quirky character interactions, which often evoke laughter and emotional responses, despite some criticisms of repetitive missions. Overall, the game successfully balances serious storytelling with comedic elements, making it an engaging experience filled with memorable, funny moments.
- “It's just funny that the happiest you'll ever see Yagami throughout the game is when he wins at drone racing.”
- “The humor in this game absolutely hits a home run, too.”
- “The side cases are hilarious as usual, one was particularly funny, where you need to investigate office harassment but in the end it was a woman who was harassing a man lol.”
- “The humor is really slow-paced, feels a bit off, and ultimately ends up being boring and not funny.”
optimization
44 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
48%
45%
7%
Overall, the optimization of the game has received mixed feedback. While many players report smooth performance and high frame rates on mid-range systems, some have experienced stuttering and memory issues, particularly on the PC port. Despite these concerns, several users highlight that the game runs well with no significant bugs or crashes, especially when utilizing features like FSR for improved performance.
- “The graphics are super clean and the game is very well optimized.”
- “Performance is pretty good, the game runs smoothly at high framerate and highest graphics setting without any dips to unplayable framerates.”
- “Surprisingly well optimized.”
- “Edit: Fix the memory starvation problem you pos dev, the optimization is terrible.”
- “I remember briefly playing this game on my PS4; however, I was having issues with stuttering and so I ended up putting it down about an hour in.”
- “Tl;dr I would hold off on buying this until some more performance patches are released.”
emotional
43 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its gripping narrative, well-developed characters, and impactful moments that resonate deeply with players, often leading to tears and a sense of fulfillment. While some reviewers note that it may not reach the emotional heights of previous titles in the franchise, the combination of serious themes, moral dilemmas, and engaging side stories creates a rich emotional experience that keeps players invested throughout. Overall, the game is praised for its ability to evoke a wide range of emotions, from joy to sadness, making it a memorable journey.
- “This is a masterpiece, this made me feel glad to be alive.”
- “An absolute emotional roller coaster ride that might honestly outshine the entire mainline Yakuza franchise up to this point.”
- “Judgment was once again an emotional journey with great characters and an incredibly good story.”
atmosphere
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
29%
18%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its engaging and immersive qualities, with the vibrant design of Kamurocho's neon-lit streets effectively contrasting the darker themes of crime and moral ambiguity. The excellent sound design, including a compelling score and high-quality voice acting, enhances the overall experience, although some players noted inconsistencies in the English voice acting. While the remaster has been criticized for losing some of the original's atmospheric richness, the game still successfully captures the essence of its setting, providing a mix of gritty narrative and lighter side stories that contribute to its overall charm.
- “The atmospheric design of Kamurocho, with its neon-lit streets and intricate environments, perfectly contrasts with the story's dive into the city's underbelly of corruption, crime, and moral ambiguity, enhancing the gritty tone and sense of place.”
- “These tracks, combined with the game's atmospheric score, contribute significantly to the overall immersion and emotional impact of the narrative.”
- “Great story, great combat, amazing atmosphere and music.”
- “These mechanics ruined the whole atmosphere.”
- “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, 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.”
stability
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
64%
36%
Overall, the game's stability is a mixed bag; while it performs well on mid-range machines and the Steam Deck, with excellent graphics and smooth gameplay for many players, some users report persistent issues such as crashes, dropped inputs, and glitches. Despite these problems, a significant number of players have experienced stable performance without major issues, particularly during extended play sessions. However, troubleshooting solutions have had limited success for those encountering bugs.
- “In terms of graphics and performance, the Yakuza engine runs great on mid-range machines including the Deck, with the characters looking excellent and the world decent.”
- “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.”
- “Runs great on the Deck and has convinced me to replay through all the Yakuza series again.”
- “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 had net zero positive results.”
- “Constant dropped inputs, constant crashing to desktop, constant bugs and glitches, invisible enemies, controls not responding in the intended manner.”
- “It seems to be related to the skill that lets you charge up your Y attack move; if you do it mid-combat, it just freezes Yagami in place until you get hit by an enemy that staggers you.”
character development
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
80%
20%
Character development in the game is highly praised, with reviewers noting that both main and side characters are well-fleshed-out and engaging, contributing to a compelling narrative. The character arcs are considered strong, with some even suggesting that the protagonist surpasses previous favorites in depth. Overall, the game excels in storytelling and character development, making it a standout in the Yakuza franchise.
- “Rgg studio has once again delivered fantastic character development, both for Yagami and the team working alongside him on the case.”
- “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.”
- “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.”
replayability
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
40%
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players find it enjoyable enough for a first playthrough, others highlight its significant replay value due to engaging stories and characters. Comparisons to the Yakuza series suggest that it offers more content worth revisiting, making it a fun experience despite some areas for improvement.
- “It's a fun Yakuza spin-off with a lot of replay value.”
- “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, and 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!”
- “It's enjoyable enough for a first playthrough, but it really lacks replay value.”
- “Very different from the Yakuza series; it added more playable content, but it should give it a try!”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
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.
- “The monetization model feels overly aggressive, making it hard to enjoy the game without spending extra money.”
- “I was disappointed to see that many features are locked behind paywalls, which detracts from the overall experience.”
- “It's frustrating that progress is often stalled unless you invest real money, turning what could be a fun game into a grind.”