Lost Judgment Reviews

This is one of the best action style games RGG studios ever made, before switching to the RPG based Like A Dragon. A culmination of improvement and refinement in the Dragon engine since Yakuza 6. To start, the combat is smooth and responsive. "Tiger Drop" no longer feels like it registers a frame slow, and the classes are well balanced. The introduction of Snake style is a mature addition, and doesn't feel like it was added in as just another gimmick. The fights on Legendary and the Gauntlet challenges have a good balance of difficulty: hard enough, but doable. Other game play mechanics have been improved compared to Judgment as well. Gone are the annoying thumb turn bypass (maybe it was my controller sticks, but they were so finicky). The new climbing/grappling mechanics while not revolutionary, at least work as intended. Chases are better too, as they are more challenging now, and can be failed. A tip: in the PC port, you will overrun your chase targets, so make sure you spam circle (or PC controller equivalent) when you run past the target. The School Stories main-sub plot is really worth doing as well. While some of school subplot stories can be frustrating (biker gang final anyone?), it's fun and well told. Honestly, I felt more attached to the students of each club, than those in the main story. At this point, RGG's mini-games and soundtracks are solid if not spectacular, and it's no different in this game. Visually, the game looks great. Running on a 4070Ti Super, though, I still get frame drops in certain areas, so I used DLSS to keep a steady 120. My biggest gripe in the previous games were the story, and finally we have some improvement here. Yes, Ace Attorney is still closer to how an actual trial - in fact the whole justice system - in Japan would work despite being clearly tongue-in-cheek. Yes, there are still some pretty big plot holes (minor spoiler: but why would Soma just let Yagami live in the bar? He was gonna be chased by the police anyways; or Reiko, a supposedly well protected, hard to approach minister, just decides to take a cab home?). But finally, we have NUANCE. As Kaito says before the final fight, Kuwana has a point too. And that, introducing morally grey themes and subplots, instantly makes this one of the better stories written by RGG studios, at least closer in line with the first three Yakuza games. While it's looking unlikely we'll ever get a third Judgment game, I sincerely hope RGG continues the franchise, as I hope they remember their action game roots. Especially since this one was one of their best efforts yet.

This is the second best Yakuza game of them all, and it's not even a Yakuza game.

as a diehard yakuza fan who's played 0-6 (currently halfway through 7), the first judgment did not impress me at all. in fact, i gave up and watched the cutscenes on youtube. although i did think the ending was cool, i couldnt bear playing again due to all the filler in the middle of main story missions. this game, however, had my interest instantly. it was so refreshing to see a RGG game that doesn't involve a yakuza muder mystery. instead, you're working with everyday civilians who struggle with things almost everyone in the world as experienced. its very relatable, and definitely feels more emotional due to how real the story feels. it definitely makes you rethink morals, and what is right and wrong to a person. the story isnt the only thing great about this game, because the combat is really where the game shines. going back to a whopping 4 COMBAT STYLES makes you realize how fun it was in yakuza 0/kiwami. all 4 of yagami's styles are each useful for their one combat scenarios, such as crane utilizing wide sweeping attacks that can damage large groups of enemies, tiger having charged attacks that can deal crazy damage to a singular opponent, and snake having a variety of parries and knockdowns to stun your opponent. and when you utilize the game's juggle mechanic, you can use all 4 styles to do crazy combos to opponents in the air. it feels a bit like if devil may cry was more ground-focused. there are so many other things that impressed me in this game, such as riding a skateboard in the beautiful city of ijincho, all the different minigames and sidequests, and the hilarious characters. this is a refreshing break from the yakuza series, and by far one of the best RGG games ive played.

Warning contain spoilers. This game has a great individual components but the sum of its parts is kinda a mixed bag. Pros: - Improved visuals and cities really feels alive. TWO CIties!!! Ijincho and Kamurocho - Superb fighting mechanics - man out of all RGG games i played so far, this has one of the best fighting mechanics. so smooth, so precise and still challenging (3 main styles + 1 if you buy the DLC). I keep switching battle styles, because all of them is fun to play and also provide great combo if you switch style mid fight. This is really the highlight of the game - Not as grindy in terms of SP. i already have all skills available by the time i reach chapter 8 - You can stroll with your Girlfriend!!!! - The final fight is really great and visually pleasing. It's like i'm playing dynasty warriors using Yagami moveset. so much fun Cons - Main story - my gahd this is one of the huge factor in this game that made me quit. it's so boring and pacing is all over the place. First judgment game is way way better. School stories are way better than the storyline. - Too bloated. Game features two cities, but man there are so many things to do but most of them are not fun - Few interesting minigames (school stories)- Man this is really killing me while playing this game. I enjoy the dancing and boxing minigame, but robotics and Biker minigame man, it's horrendous. the worst thing is, you need to play those two games more often than you want to in order to finish their school stories, this part really blows. It's not hard but it's so boring and those minigames take time to finish. overall this game is kinda a mixed bag. To be honest, i was surprised that i reached almost hundred hours to finish this game, but then i realize, i took a lot of breaks while leaving the game open LOL. everytime there is a boring part (Which is a lot in this game), i tend to watch netflix or fall asleep or even smoke outside. If it wasn't for amasawa and MRC (school stories), i will not be able to finish the game. The story is boring and forgettable, by the time that i reached ending conclusion with the high school students, there were no attachment with neither the resolution nor the characters, i completely forgot who the f--- they are. I was hoping for a conclusion with other characters but i realized they are not part of the main story lol. Side stories are more memorable than the actual main story. (stated it for the second time) LOL Still i will recommend this game if you buy it on a discount. As i said in my first sentence the game has really great individual components but the sum of the parts is so meeeh. PS: I haven't played kaito stories, i will be playing it sometime in the future if i remember lol (or if judgment 3 is announced) . Right now, i'm just tired playing this game.

An amazing step up from Judgement, combat is really refined, probably the best RGG combat to date. The plot is very good, got me hooked from beginning to end, it's definitely better than the first judgement game, Characters are well written and the main story didn't really overstayed its welcome. A classic.

Lost Judgment stands as a compelling and nuanced sequel in the Judgment series, expertly blending intense detective work with gripping action-adventure gameplay. Developed by Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio, this title elevates its predecessor’s formula by deepening its narrative complexity and expanding its open-world city environment with richer, more immersive activities and side stories. The game centers on Takayuki Yagami, a private detective grappling with new mysteries and moral dilemmas that test both his intellect and combat prowess. What truly distinguishes Lost Judgment is its ability to weave a multifaceted story tackling serious themes such as bullying, corruption, and the quest for justice, all while maintaining an engaging pace filled with suspense and emotional depth. Gameplay-wise, Lost Judgment offers a satisfying hybrid of investigation and combat. Players will spend significant time gathering clues, interrogating suspects, and piecing together evidence using various detective tools and investigative techniques, which inject a refreshing intellectual element into the experience. Meanwhile, the action segments are robust and dynamic, showcasing Yagami’s fluid combat style that combines martial arts with improvised weaponry, allowing for creative takedowns and satisfying brawls. The game also introduces new mechanics like parkour and stealth sequences, broadening player options and adding variety to mission approaches. Exploration of Kamurocho and the newly added Isezaki Ijincho districts reveals bustling neighborhoods alive with side quests, minigames, and character interactions, enhancing the sense of a lived-in world and rewarding curiosity. Visually, Lost Judgment impresses with detailed character models, atmospheric lighting, and meticulously recreated urban settings that capture the vibrancy and grit of modern Japanese cities. The voice acting and soundtrack further enrich the immersive narrative experience, with performances that convey genuine emotion and tension. However, some players might find the story’s length and occasional pacing dips a bit daunting, as the game doesn’t shy away from lengthy dialogue scenes and complex plot developments. Additionally, while side content is plentiful and often entertaining, it can sometimes feel disconnected from the main narrative, leading to a slight tonal mismatch. Overall, Lost Judgment successfully balances cerebral detective work with adrenaline-pumping action, crafting a mature, thought-provoking tale wrapped in an engaging gameplay package. It’s a standout title for fans of narrative-driven games and those who appreciate a detailed, culturally rich setting. Whether unraveling mysteries or unleashing combat combos, players will find themselves deeply invested in Yagami’s pursuit of truth and justice. Rating: 9/10

In Lost Judgment, you'll go on another adventure as Yagami, this time to uncover the mysterious happenings around a high school ripe with bullying and the suicides and murders that sprout from it. Taking place mainly in Ijincho, the primary setting for Yakuza: Like a Dragon, Lost Judgment adds some fun new mechanics and side activities to create a new experience from its predecessor. There's a lot of great things to experience in Lost Judgment, both as a Yakuza fan and a fan of the first Judgment game. Yagami's core combat styles from the first game in Tiger and Crane return in all their form, but he also gains access to new styles Snake and Boxer to play around with, which both have cool utility throughout the game. Snake being a parry-focused style made it fun to utilize in the segments where Yagami is in the high school, as I thought using the low-impact strikes and fake-outs was really funny to do against high schoolers as opposed to just full-on knockout strikes like he uses for anybody else. Boxer is also pretty cool in how you can do some juggle combos and how it continually evolves from doing the boxing minigame Yagami has access to. Traveling around Ijincho with Yagami's new skateboard is super fun (despite it being very "how do you do fellow kids?" from Yagami) and makes for a good substitute from traveling to different taxi stations. Yagami also has access to some familiar side activities like drone racing, VR gaming, and mahjong, as well as a whole suite of new ones, such as dance club (I spent too much time on this), boxing, and robotics. The Kaito Files DLC is also pretty solid, giving us more time with our favorite gorilla and bringing back some of my favorite fighting styles in "Beast" and "Brawler". Controversial opinion though, I DON'T think Lost Judgment is peak, and in fact the first one is better in my opinion for one simple reason. The story in Judgment is much more cohesive. While Lost Judgment's story is at least semi-interesting, it seems to lose track of where it's going at several given points, trying to tie together multiple seemingly unrelated groups of people and plot points but only sometimes sticking the landing. Major plot reveals feel like they were set up and revealed several hours prior, or maybe they're not as impactful as they could be, or maybe they lack relevance to the overarching plot. While I understood the overall message of the story and why Yagami was invested in it, I couldn't find myself actually forming the same meaningful connection I could form in Judgment. Related, I really couldn't get behind how much time of the game was spent inside of the high school, ESPECIALLY considering that 85% of the game's side missions also take place in here revolving around one core side mystery. The high school has some interesting elements, but not enough to really warrant spending over half my playtime in there. Finally, I felt that the detective portions of the game were lacking a little, with less interaction with crime scenes and interrogations in favor of keeping the plot continually moving. Lost Judgment is GOOD, don't get me wrong. I still think Yagami is an interesting character and these detective-focused games are a refreshing spin on the Yakuza formula I love. That being said, compared to an incredibly solid experience in the first game, Lost Judgment has quite a few points where I feel it doesn't hit the mark the second time around. I'd still recommend giving it a shot though.

good game, peak male fantasy of hitting mid life crisis then ride a skateboard back to high school and beat up his bullies while banging the school nurse

"When Justice Stands Accused" This isn’t just a sequel "Lost Judgment" is a sharper, heavier reflection on what justice really costs. Every case drops you into moral territory that’s anything but clear. The further you go, the more the game quietly asks: "What do we truly owe each other?" And can one person’s truth survive in a world built on compromise? Combat is smooth, fast, and brutal when it needs to be but it also feels like something deeper. Each combo feels like part of a conversation Yagami is having with himself: fists versus conscience. Sure, a few tailing missions drag on longer than they should, but that’s a tiny scratch on an otherwise razor-sharp experience. And the craziest part? I haven’t even touched the DLC or most of the side cases yet. Just the main story alone was enough to earn "Lost Judgment" a spot in my all-time top five. It’s packed with heavy themes, strong characters, and a narrative that lingers long after the credits roll. This isn’t just a good game it’s one that stays with you. Score: 9.5/10

Imagine being an ex-lawyer detective who can parkour up walls, punch twelve dudes at once, solve a murder, and then immediately join a high school dance team because why not? That’s Lost Judgment in a nutshell. You’re Takayuki Yagami — a man so stylish he can tail shady dudes for hours without anyone noticing, even though he’s literally wearing sunglasses at night. You’ll go from investigating dark, serious stuff like bullying scandals to skateboarding around town like Tony Hawk’s more dramatic cousin. Oh boy. Wanna be a boxing coach? Sure. Teach a dance club how to spin on their heads? Absolutely. Build a robot and make it fight other robots? YAGAMI SAYS YES. Meanwhile, the city is like, “Hey, remember that murder case?” and you’re like “Hold up, I’m playing Virtua Fighter in an arcade. Priorities.” If you want a tight, polished, realistic detective game, go play something else. If you want to suplex bullies, sing karaoke, and somehow solve a crime ring in between eating ramen, Lost Judgment is your jam. 11/10. Bring your fists. Now go forth, detective — and remember: when in doubt, punch it out. 👊🏻