Lost Judgment is a thrilling action game that, despite a few bumpy narrative beats, manages to reach the heights of its predecessor. The subject matter is handled well, the characters are intriguing, and as in any RGG game, beating up baddies is a total blast. If you’re a Yakuza fan, you’ll want to check out Lost Judgment.
Lost Judgment
Developer: Ryu ga Gotoku Studios
Price: $70
Platforms: PS5 (reviewed,) PS4, Xbox Series X, and Xbox One
MonsterVine was provided with a PS5 code for review
Few studios have as excellent of an output as Ryu ga Gotoku Studios. Their Yakuza titles are some of the best in the biz, and they seem to put out banger after banger with barely any rest. Lost Judgment continues this trend, taking the outlandish and gripping stories of past RGG games and giving them a bit of a more relatable edge. Fret not, however, as there’s still plenty of silliness to go around– it’s just segmented with some heavy moments that might hit close to home.
The story of Lost Judgment revolves around the damage that bullying can have on young people and the cycle of cruelty that such treatment can lead to. What starts as a sexual battery case soon turns into a violent murder, which drags detective Takayuki Yagami into a complex and ever-evolving series of murders that could end up having ties to Japan’s most powerful figures. It’s a bit wacky at times, with some silly contrivances popping up here and there, but approaching it with a healthy suspension of disbelief allows you to fully enjoy the exciting twists and turns throughout. Yagami and his cast of characters are every bit as strong as the crew from the main Yakuza series, and just as delightfully weird.
As someone who experienced bullying similar to the type portrayed in Lost Judgment (as most people unfortunately have,) I felt that the subject matter was handled with tact and without feeling exploitative. The bullying doesn’t feel corny or over-the-top, which makes you able to sympathize with the affected characters. You can even understand, while not necessarily agreeing with, the villain’s motives. It’s a story with a lot of grey areas throughout, and I think that’s a positive when dealing with subject matter such as this. Plus, you get the slightest bit of guilty pleasure from beating up high school bullies as a fully grown adult in the game.
“If you ever need a break from the main story, there are a ton of pleasant activities“
The combat in Lost Judgment is where things really pop off, as Yagami can kick all kinds of keister using three different combat styles. The three styles are vastly different from one another, so you’ll likely find a favorite and use it as your primary type. Switching between them in each situation is a lot of fun, and keeps combat fresh for the entirety of the game. The insane EX attacks are as over-the-top as ever and give combat a cinematic feel, which pushes you to unlock more of them using the experience points you gain throughout Lost Judgment.
There are some activities outside of combat that are required in the narrative and side-cases, some of which are a bit weak. Tailing is still a slog, as you simply follow a character around while hiding with somewhat frustrating mechanics. The stealth sections feel a bit out of place and clunky as well, alongside the peculiar Naughty Dog-esque climbing segments. None of these are used too frequently, which is a relief, but I still think these areas could use some work or be removed entirely.
As one could expect from a Yakuza-adjacent game, the amount of side content available in Lost Judgment is staggering in the best way. You can race drones, partake in territorial robot battles, and dance to your heart’s content to progress various side stories, each with its own goofy side characters to befriend or beat up. Even outside of side stories, you can play various SEGA arcade games and home console titles, you can win toys with UFO Catchers, and you can even skateboard around and do tricks. If you ever need a break from the main story, there are a ton of pleasant activities
Lost Judgment looks incredibly sharp, especially on the PS5. Faces have subtle details like stress lines and wrinkles that make the characters look remarkably realistic, all while avoiding the uncanny valley. The voice acting in both languages is quite strong, though I find myself gravitating towards Japanese dubs for this sort of game. The music is excellent as well, getting you emotionally involved in pivotal story moments, and ready to scrap in battles.
The Final Word
Though its story can be a bit contrived, the themes, combat, and overwhelming breadth of content in Lost Judgment make it another hit for Ryu ga Gotoku studios. Hopefully we get more Judgment games in the future, as it hits a different tone that few other games can match.
MonsterVine Rating: 4.5 out of 5 – Great
