Lost Judgment Finished: 1/21/24
Kaito Files Finished 1/24/24
New Years Eve of 2022 I had spent most of my afternoon finishing off the last few hours of Yakuza 4- a game I found frustrating for most of its run. Thus, I decided to start 2023 off suitably, starting Yakuza 5- a game I found in contrast, full to the brim with excellent moments, sidequests and minigames. It had its shortcomings but a year later I don't feel as though its moments have waned. Its a maximalist nightmare and a dream come true and I still believe it to be my favorite in the series still. A year later, however, I find myself in a similar situation. While I didn't end Like A Dragon Gaiden specifically on new years, it and the playthrough I did of 6 in October had left an admittedly middling aftertaste in the back of my mouth. They weren't bad games but I didn't come out as wowed as some of the other entries in the series- some moments I had expected to be whelmed while others I was baffled I hadn't been spoiled on yet.
Thus, with the start of 2024 I finished off Lost Judgment…a game I actually started a longgg while ago. I started this game around early 2022 (also off the heels of finishing Judgment on new years 2021) and have on/off played it. Really enjoyed it anytime I had it on but part of me wanted to savor it until after I had grinded through the prior games. Two years later:
I think this is at least on-par with Judgment, made stronger by its inclusion of new mechanics, improvements made to traversal and combat, and an overall stronger cast. Judgment was already batting a good average in my opinion with its strong lean into japanese dramas, and Lost Judgment isn't too different but I think this time around but I think there's more of a focus on its strengths than the shortcomings of its predecessor(s). There's a lot less trailing to do, Crane style is a LOT more fun to use in fights- coming off 7 it's a lot easier to traverse Isezaki Ijincho now that you have a skateboard. Coming off Gaiden's combat it felt so nice having three styles that just felt like butter to mess around with. Agent/Yakuza style be damned, nothing feels as good as landing Flux Fissure or ripping items out of enemies hands with Snake style. Fighting just feels GOOD throughout Lost Judgment.
Lot of the cast is great in this, and I think not having to rely on introducing most of the main cast helps a lot. Suguira and Tsukumo branching out into Ijincho, Higashi playing a more supportive role throughout, Saeko and Hoshino being a thing, Kaito my heartsweet. We'll talk about Kaito files briefly here rather than in a separate log.
I'd be lying if I didn't admit I feel the game can be a bit of a slow burn at times. Yakuza/RGG titles have an odd history of pacing, and certainly the openness to explore whichever metropolitan area(s) said title throws your way doesn't help muddy up the sheer amount of stuff that's available in these games. Half hour chapters can feel like they've been going on for a while just because you actually decided to go off and have drinks, start a go-karting venture and end up becoming a local legend for your efforts, it's part of the fun of every RGG title.
Lost Judgment gets incredibly lost in its sauce at points with regards to the amount of stuff you do regarding the school clubs. You have 10 clubs total- 5 major and 5 minor and these act as long-running side cases in a sense. Thankfully none of these are required for main story progression, so you're welcome to finish them at whatever pace you please, or even save it for the postgame. That said, much of the early game is spent at Seiryo High so you might as well check in whenever you see that teal folder icon.
The bottom line is: I think most of these are pretty fun- but this side plot encompasses RGG's minigame philosophy to a T. For better or worse.
Quick Rundown- the major clubs (barring Mystery Club) first, then the 5 minor.
-Dancing is a lot of fun- Yagami popping it like he's in fortnite is the funniest thing.
-Robotics is frustrating as hell at first -please consult the CyricZ doc to save yourself some trouble and it becomes tolerable.
-Biking is WAYYY too long- honestly coulda been fine but it can't hold a candle to 5's taxi racing.
-Boxing took a while for me to get interested but I dig how it feels even if I'm kind of a button masher when it comes to these things. Later fights get pretty tough but they give you an auto win if you can't eke out victory otherwise.
For the 'minor' clubs now, many of these are on the shorter side (kinda).
-Photography is pretty fun, although I wish it were done in a different manner. Some of these had me doing a bit of trial and error and it's not too punishing if you miss the timing but some took longer than I'd like to admit.
-Casino is kind of a joke- quite literally just as long as any other side story.
-Esports is fine, kinda easy even for someone that still doesn't understand Virtua Fighter. -Skateboarding is simpler than I wish, which is disappointing but overall fine.
-Girls Bar? Oh my LORD this one felt repetitive. You have to keep building up relationships with the staff of the bar and honestly these characters are pretty interesting within their substory (ironically not the main target and eventual girlfriend Emily) but actually doing the minigame and filling the meter gets super repetitive, especially since the club has a high entry fee and you have to go in and out of the place constantly to refresh the side quest markers.
Overall this side mode is pretty good, it's just interspersed with some pretty slow moments and some clubs not being as engaging as others. Getting to the end and finishing the MRC makes for a fun way to round out things, though.
The clubs being optional and a bit on the fatty side (in that RGG way I cant help but like) is one thing, but I will say if you decide to go primarily down the main story, Lost Judgment isn’t much longer than others in the franchise. Looking at the general lengths on HLTB, LJ actually clocks in lower than the first game and looking back over my playthrough it certainly felt like it. You dont have the introductory baggage, there’s a lot less trailing missions that take up time, and the use of the skateboard to help speed up traveling from point A to B makes going through Lost Judgment a breeze- comboing with how excellent of a narrative this game provides.
I won’t go too in-depth due to spoilers however I wasn’t expecting anything less than Judgment considering how much I enjoyed that game’s story and the general praise I had heard about this game. Sorry to say, no hot takes here- I really enjoyed how the story unfolds. Lot of the new cast does a great job, Kuwana and Ehara especially- on top of Yagami and returning characters performing excellently. The school bullying angle is one that’s pretty unique not just to the series but also to a lot of games of this type in general. Also makes for a really interesting angle as you play this from the perspective of a near 40 year old man, makes for an interesting counselor/student perspective. All of this spiraling down the usual twists and turns, but ending up in one of the most fun finales in the series.
Kaito DLC:
Honestly, this is how I had hoped Gaiden was presented. It's a brisk 6 to 8 hours and its all the better for not having the usual Yakuza 'fluff'. Even with how brisk Gaiden is compared to other games, it still feels like there's a lot of moments where you're expected to do some Yakuza-minigame-questline or major exploration collectathon. Here the only major collectible are Matsugane crests and these 'strong' encounters that appear after equipping a certain item. No checklists, no side stories, you don't even get SP from restaurants or most activities because you get a ton just from the normal questline. It feels like a breath of fresh air from how massive LJ already is.
In addition to its pacing it expands on maybe one of RGG's most underrated characters: Kaito.
Definitely my favorite character in the entire series, although prior to this he generally just gravitated to me for his blunt yet friendly, brotherly demeanor.
Kaito was an extremely trustworthy guy in the first game and Lost Judgment definitely gave him some great moments too. However the Kaito Files DLC definitely helps show him in a much more involved and unique role, utilizing his own sense of detective work. I'm so glad that he actually has a quality set of skills and isn't just 'I'll solve this case with my fists'. His heightened perception makes for some interesting detective work as he focuses on smells and sounds a lot more than Yagami, and it reminded me a lot of how powerful of a skill perception is in DND/WRPG- it always feels like an underutilized aspect in these kinds of detective games.
Similarly this DLC helps Kaito's characterization greatly by showcasing some of his regrets involving his mishandling of a prior relationship and the lengths he’ll go to protect the ones he loves. It’s not all the dissimilar to Kiryu, so don't get me wrong when I say I love Kiryu- however stoicness and legendary status within the ‘RGG canon’ somewhat alienates him as the series has gone on. Kaito, while still a monster of a brawler, still has a lot of humanity that does a lot for me. I wont go too into detail but ramping up towards the finale is a scenario that includes some of the most brutal moments in the series- Kaito being the most emotionally steady in the room hits a lot as he faces down arguably one of the most callous antagonists in the series.
Something about the heat action where Jun backs you up if you get downed and afterwards doing a high five without looking at each other just makes him a dawg. A bro. I love this dude.
Final Thoughts:
Lost Judgment, much like its predecessor- stands tall among the RGG catalog. I think there's some give and take between the two games as to certain aspects however ultimately I do think Lost Judgment is more fleshed out and lacks some of the baggage weighing down the initial setup in Judgment. I’m still gonna give this one some time to simmer before I decide where it sits among my all time favorite games, however there’s not a whole lot I really want to point out and complain about. Yakuza 5 might still remain my favorite in the overall series however Lost Judgment might be right behind it- standing similarly as a maximalist pillar in this already large and bloated series. The best thing I can ask for games like Y5 and Lost Judgment is that they snowball like they do and end just as splendidly.
Kaito Files Finished 1/24/24
New Years Eve of 2022 I had spent most of my afternoon finishing off the last few hours of Yakuza 4- a game I found frustrating for most of its run. Thus, I decided to start 2023 off suitably, starting Yakuza 5- a game I found in contrast, full to the brim with excellent moments, sidequests and minigames. It had its shortcomings but a year later I don't feel as though its moments have waned. Its a maximalist nightmare and a dream come true and I still believe it to be my favorite in the series still. A year later, however, I find myself in a similar situation. While I didn't end Like A Dragon Gaiden specifically on new years, it and the playthrough I did of 6 in October had left an admittedly middling aftertaste in the back of my mouth. They weren't bad games but I didn't come out as wowed as some of the other entries in the series- some moments I had expected to be whelmed while others I was baffled I hadn't been spoiled on yet.
Thus, with the start of 2024 I finished off Lost Judgment…a game I actually started a longgg while ago. I started this game around early 2022 (also off the heels of finishing Judgment on new years 2021) and have on/off played it. Really enjoyed it anytime I had it on but part of me wanted to savor it until after I had grinded through the prior games. Two years later:
I think this is at least on-par with Judgment, made stronger by its inclusion of new mechanics, improvements made to traversal and combat, and an overall stronger cast. Judgment was already batting a good average in my opinion with its strong lean into japanese dramas, and Lost Judgment isn't too different but I think this time around but I think there's more of a focus on its strengths than the shortcomings of its predecessor(s). There's a lot less trailing to do, Crane style is a LOT more fun to use in fights- coming off 7 it's a lot easier to traverse Isezaki Ijincho now that you have a skateboard. Coming off Gaiden's combat it felt so nice having three styles that just felt like butter to mess around with. Agent/Yakuza style be damned, nothing feels as good as landing Flux Fissure or ripping items out of enemies hands with Snake style. Fighting just feels GOOD throughout Lost Judgment.
Lot of the cast is great in this, and I think not having to rely on introducing most of the main cast helps a lot. Suguira and Tsukumo branching out into Ijincho, Higashi playing a more supportive role throughout, Saeko and Hoshino being a thing, Kaito my heartsweet. We'll talk about Kaito files briefly here rather than in a separate log.
I'd be lying if I didn't admit I feel the game can be a bit of a slow burn at times. Yakuza/RGG titles have an odd history of pacing, and certainly the openness to explore whichever metropolitan area(s) said title throws your way doesn't help muddy up the sheer amount of stuff that's available in these games. Half hour chapters can feel like they've been going on for a while just because you actually decided to go off and have drinks, start a go-karting venture and end up becoming a local legend for your efforts, it's part of the fun of every RGG title.
Lost Judgment gets incredibly lost in its sauce at points with regards to the amount of stuff you do regarding the school clubs. You have 10 clubs total- 5 major and 5 minor and these act as long-running side cases in a sense. Thankfully none of these are required for main story progression, so you're welcome to finish them at whatever pace you please, or even save it for the postgame. That said, much of the early game is spent at Seiryo High so you might as well check in whenever you see that teal folder icon.
The bottom line is: I think most of these are pretty fun- but this side plot encompasses RGG's minigame philosophy to a T. For better or worse.
Quick Rundown- the major clubs (barring Mystery Club) first, then the 5 minor.
-Dancing is a lot of fun- Yagami popping it like he's in fortnite is the funniest thing.
-Robotics is frustrating as hell at first -please consult the CyricZ doc to save yourself some trouble and it becomes tolerable.
-Biking is WAYYY too long- honestly coulda been fine but it can't hold a candle to 5's taxi racing.
-Boxing took a while for me to get interested but I dig how it feels even if I'm kind of a button masher when it comes to these things. Later fights get pretty tough but they give you an auto win if you can't eke out victory otherwise.
For the 'minor' clubs now, many of these are on the shorter side (kinda).
-Photography is pretty fun, although I wish it were done in a different manner. Some of these had me doing a bit of trial and error and it's not too punishing if you miss the timing but some took longer than I'd like to admit.
-Casino is kind of a joke- quite literally just as long as any other side story.
-Esports is fine, kinda easy even for someone that still doesn't understand Virtua Fighter. -Skateboarding is simpler than I wish, which is disappointing but overall fine.
-Girls Bar? Oh my LORD this one felt repetitive. You have to keep building up relationships with the staff of the bar and honestly these characters are pretty interesting within their substory (ironically not the main target and eventual girlfriend Emily) but actually doing the minigame and filling the meter gets super repetitive, especially since the club has a high entry fee and you have to go in and out of the place constantly to refresh the side quest markers.
Overall this side mode is pretty good, it's just interspersed with some pretty slow moments and some clubs not being as engaging as others. Getting to the end and finishing the MRC makes for a fun way to round out things, though.
The clubs being optional and a bit on the fatty side (in that RGG way I cant help but like) is one thing, but I will say if you decide to go primarily down the main story, Lost Judgment isn’t much longer than others in the franchise. Looking at the general lengths on HLTB, LJ actually clocks in lower than the first game and looking back over my playthrough it certainly felt like it. You dont have the introductory baggage, there’s a lot less trailing missions that take up time, and the use of the skateboard to help speed up traveling from point A to B makes going through Lost Judgment a breeze- comboing with how excellent of a narrative this game provides.
I won’t go too in-depth due to spoilers however I wasn’t expecting anything less than Judgment considering how much I enjoyed that game’s story and the general praise I had heard about this game. Sorry to say, no hot takes here- I really enjoyed how the story unfolds. Lot of the new cast does a great job, Kuwana and Ehara especially- on top of Yagami and returning characters performing excellently. The school bullying angle is one that’s pretty unique not just to the series but also to a lot of games of this type in general. Also makes for a really interesting angle as you play this from the perspective of a near 40 year old man, makes for an interesting counselor/student perspective. All of this spiraling down the usual twists and turns, but ending up in one of the most fun finales in the series.
Kaito DLC:
Honestly, this is how I had hoped Gaiden was presented. It's a brisk 6 to 8 hours and its all the better for not having the usual Yakuza 'fluff'. Even with how brisk Gaiden is compared to other games, it still feels like there's a lot of moments where you're expected to do some Yakuza-minigame-questline or major exploration collectathon. Here the only major collectible are Matsugane crests and these 'strong' encounters that appear after equipping a certain item. No checklists, no side stories, you don't even get SP from restaurants or most activities because you get a ton just from the normal questline. It feels like a breath of fresh air from how massive LJ already is.
In addition to its pacing it expands on maybe one of RGG's most underrated characters: Kaito.
Definitely my favorite character in the entire series, although prior to this he generally just gravitated to me for his blunt yet friendly, brotherly demeanor.
Kaito was an extremely trustworthy guy in the first game and Lost Judgment definitely gave him some great moments too. However the Kaito Files DLC definitely helps show him in a much more involved and unique role, utilizing his own sense of detective work. I'm so glad that he actually has a quality set of skills and isn't just 'I'll solve this case with my fists'. His heightened perception makes for some interesting detective work as he focuses on smells and sounds a lot more than Yagami, and it reminded me a lot of how powerful of a skill perception is in DND/WRPG- it always feels like an underutilized aspect in these kinds of detective games.
Similarly this DLC helps Kaito's characterization greatly by showcasing some of his regrets involving his mishandling of a prior relationship and the lengths he’ll go to protect the ones he loves. It’s not all the dissimilar to Kiryu, so don't get me wrong when I say I love Kiryu- however stoicness and legendary status within the ‘RGG canon’ somewhat alienates him as the series has gone on. Kaito, while still a monster of a brawler, still has a lot of humanity that does a lot for me. I wont go too into detail but ramping up towards the finale is a scenario that includes some of the most brutal moments in the series- Kaito being the most emotionally steady in the room hits a lot as he faces down arguably one of the most callous antagonists in the series.
Something about the heat action where Jun backs you up if you get downed and afterwards doing a high five without looking at each other just makes him a dawg. A bro. I love this dude.
Final Thoughts:
Lost Judgment, much like its predecessor- stands tall among the RGG catalog. I think there's some give and take between the two games as to certain aspects however ultimately I do think Lost Judgment is more fleshed out and lacks some of the baggage weighing down the initial setup in Judgment. I’m still gonna give this one some time to simmer before I decide where it sits among my all time favorite games, however there’s not a whole lot I really want to point out and complain about. Yakuza 5 might still remain my favorite in the overall series however Lost Judgment might be right behind it- standing similarly as a maximalist pillar in this already large and bloated series. The best thing I can ask for games like Y5 and Lost Judgment is that they snowball like they do and end just as splendidly.