Judgment

Presentation

Judgment is a crime thriller developed by Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio and set in the contemporary universe of the Yakuza series, but with its own story and main cast. The player takes control of Takayuki Yagami, a former defense attorney who becomes a private detective after a case destroys his confidence in both the justice system and his own judgment.

Based in Kamurocho, Yagami takes on investigations with the help of his partner Masaharu Kaito, a former yakuza. A series of murders targeting criminals gradually becomes the central case and draws Yagami back toward his old law office and a chapter of his past he believed he had left behind.

The main difference from the adventures centered on Kazuma Kiryu comes from the greater emphasis on investigation work. Yagami searches for clues, examines scenes, follows suspects discreetly and uses collected evidence to move his cases forward. Certain sequences also involve chases or require disguises, photography or lockpicking to reach an objective.

These mechanics do not replace the action for which the studio is known. Combat takes place in real time and is built around two martial-arts styles. Crane favors mobility and techniques suited to fighting multiple enemies, while Tiger concentrates more power on a single target.

Yagami can also use the environment during fights and trigger various EX Actions, the successor to the spectacular contextual attacks seen throughout the Yakuza series. Progression allows him to improve physical abilities, combat techniques and several skills useful both during investigations and in battle.

Kamurocho remains a dense urban environment where the main cases sit alongside numerous Side Cases. These secondary investigations introduce residents, smaller mysteries and situations that can be far lighter in tone while gradually expanding Yagami's network of relationships.

Restaurants, arcades, traditional games and other activities round out exploration. Judgment therefore preserves Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio's familiar contrast between a dark central narrative and side stories that can become much more eccentric.

The game nevertheless establishes its own identity through its focus on legal and police drama. Rather than centering the story on the rise of a criminal organization or internal clan conflict, it places evidence, personal responsibility and the meaning of justice at the heart of the experience.

Key points

• A spin-off of the Yakuza universe centered on a new cast of characters.
• Takayuki Yagami, a former lawyer turned private detective.
• A main investigation built around a series of murders in Kamurocho.
• Investigation sequences involving clue gathering, tailing, chases and evidence collection.
• Real-time combat built on Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio's action experience.
• Two main styles: Crane and Tiger.
• Crane favors mobility and fights against multiple enemies.
• Tiger focuses on powerful attacks against a single target.
• Side Cases centered on Yagami's investigations and the people of the city.
• Full exploration of Kamurocho with activities and minigames.
• A story more focused on crime thriller and legal drama than on clan warfare.

Conclusion

Judgment takes the urban setting and action combat associated with Yakuza and applies them to a very different type of protagonist. Yagami is neither a clan leader nor a former yakuza: his work as a detective gives evidence, testimony and surveillance a level of importance rarely seen elsewhere in the series.

Crane and Tiger preserve the physical side of the formula, while Kamurocho retains its side stories and its familiar mix of seriousness and eccentricity.

This combination allows the game to stand as a parallel series in its own right, sharing the same universe as Yakuza while developing its own cast and themes around justice and truth.

Good to know

Judgment was developed by Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio and published by SEGA.

The game was first released in Japan in 2018 for PlayStation 4, followed by its Western release on June 25, 2019.

A remastered version was released on April 23, 2021 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, notably adding 60 frames per second and improved high-definition visuals.

The remastered version was later released on Steam in September 2022.

Takuya Kimura portrays Takayuki Yagami in the Japanese version, while Greg Chun provides his English voice.

The game uses the Dragon Engine, also used by several contemporary entries in the Yakuza series.

Judgment has a direct sequel, Lost Judgment, released in 2021.

This entry covers Judgment as a whole. Technical differences in the remastered version are noted separately without treating them as fundamental changes to the campaign.