This game is fucking awesome.
"She can't say her peace without a voice. So if I don't raise mine for her, what justice prevails!?"
Lost Judgment is a game that is fixated on the injustices of the world, mainly their roots and how society responds to them. It's a game that refuses to answer its moral dilemma that pits vigilantism against the law, instead opting to leave you intriguing questions about morality and what true justice really means. When left unchecked, the evils in the world can fester to terrifying proportions, and what happens when its already too late? How does the law maintain a balance between enacting justice and upholding order? While, RGG has been known for making tight and engaging narratives, this is the type of story you didn't know they had in them.
On a more technical point of view, the narrative definitely has its flaws. The game sacrifices alot of the personal stakes on Yagami from the first game in favor for a more thematically strong tale and the second half definitely loses itself a little in its grand government conspiracy, which makes Yagami's argument feel less fluid than it should be towards the end of the game, with the biggest example being the taxi ride scene. However, the sheer thematic might of Lost Judgment's narrative has solidified this spin-off series' capability to stand on its own two legs and tackle subjects that the Yakuza series rarely explores such as bullying, suicide and vigilantism along with their ramifications towards society, all culminating in one of the best finales the series has ever seen.
Without spoiling their identity, the main antagonist of the game is easily the greatest antagonist RGG has ever made. Each time they interact with Yagami is a sight to behold along with their characterization and parallels to him in the context of what they represent, all culminating in one of the most satisfying conclusion RGG has given to an antagonist in their rogues gallery of already incredible antagonists. Hell, other antagonists in this game like Soma and Akutsu are incredible too, along with the side cast with new and old characters alike (bar the Genda Law Office gang, they really fumbled with them for this game). Shoutouts go to Kuwana, Tesso, Ehara, and my boys Sugiura and Tsukumo.
Comparing the combat in this game to Judgment feels like day and night. Yagami's attacks flow faster from the start and juggling feels way more satisfying and smooth to pull off. Each fighting style has their own unique flow to them: Snake helps for disarming and taking enemies out of the fight quickly, Tiger now feels more balanced compared to the first game and its moveset has increased tremendously, Boxer helps with juggling and punishing enemies for blocking, and Crane...feels better than sex now. The way each style interweaves with each other as you upgrade Yagami with unique boosts that carry to every style provides a sense of diversity to your "build" of Yagami. Its RGG combat at its finest and most polished, to put it simply.
The open world feels incredible to explore too! Ijincho's gargantuan size is accommodated for with the fast travel system and the new skateboard mechanic, which also makes Lost Judgment the true successor to Tony Hawk's Pro Skater. The school setting is such a breath of fresh air and tones down the scale of the story in a manner akin to Yakuza 3's orphanage setting, introducing fun characters like Amasawa and several intriguing 'school stories', a top contender for my favorite piece of side content in the series. Highlights are definitely the Boxing club and the Robotics Club, both having engaging plots and actual depth to their minigames, almost reminding me of something like the Taxi minigame from Yakuza 5. The open world has its blemishes though, as always. Substories are poorly distributed and paced in this game, with the bulk of them being found around the first half of the game and then becoming non existent in the second half for some reason. The Biker gang school story fucking stinks too, its way too punishing and literally unwinnable.
I'll definitely check out the Kaito Files in the near future but in the end, Lost Judgment is a beautiful gestalt that crushes its slight flaws by marrying its unique premise and thematic complexity to the emotional weight of the mainline series, culminating in an exhilarating and thought-provoking entry that I can gladly say is the best game in the franchise. Only time will tell if Infinite Wealth will dethrone it but as of now, I am very comfortable declaring this stance.
TLDR Unwavering Belief>Kendrick's entire discography
"She can't say her peace without a voice. So if I don't raise mine for her, what justice prevails!?"
Lost Judgment is a game that is fixated on the injustices of the world, mainly their roots and how society responds to them. It's a game that refuses to answer its moral dilemma that pits vigilantism against the law, instead opting to leave you intriguing questions about morality and what true justice really means. When left unchecked, the evils in the world can fester to terrifying proportions, and what happens when its already too late? How does the law maintain a balance between enacting justice and upholding order? While, RGG has been known for making tight and engaging narratives, this is the type of story you didn't know they had in them.
On a more technical point of view, the narrative definitely has its flaws. The game sacrifices alot of the personal stakes on Yagami from the first game in favor for a more thematically strong tale and the second half definitely loses itself a little in its grand government conspiracy, which makes Yagami's argument feel less fluid than it should be towards the end of the game, with the biggest example being the taxi ride scene. However, the sheer thematic might of Lost Judgment's narrative has solidified this spin-off series' capability to stand on its own two legs and tackle subjects that the Yakuza series rarely explores such as bullying, suicide and vigilantism along with their ramifications towards society, all culminating in one of the best finales the series has ever seen.
Without spoiling their identity, the main antagonist of the game is easily the greatest antagonist RGG has ever made. Each time they interact with Yagami is a sight to behold along with their characterization and parallels to him in the context of what they represent, all culminating in one of the most satisfying conclusion RGG has given to an antagonist in their rogues gallery of already incredible antagonists. Hell, other antagonists in this game like Soma and Akutsu are incredible too, along with the side cast with new and old characters alike (bar the Genda Law Office gang, they really fumbled with them for this game). Shoutouts go to Kuwana, Tesso, Ehara, and my boys Sugiura and Tsukumo.
Comparing the combat in this game to Judgment feels like day and night. Yagami's attacks flow faster from the start and juggling feels way more satisfying and smooth to pull off. Each fighting style has their own unique flow to them: Snake helps for disarming and taking enemies out of the fight quickly, Tiger now feels more balanced compared to the first game and its moveset has increased tremendously, Boxer helps with juggling and punishing enemies for blocking, and Crane...feels better than sex now. The way each style interweaves with each other as you upgrade Yagami with unique boosts that carry to every style provides a sense of diversity to your "build" of Yagami. Its RGG combat at its finest and most polished, to put it simply.
The open world feels incredible to explore too! Ijincho's gargantuan size is accommodated for with the fast travel system and the new skateboard mechanic, which also makes Lost Judgment the true successor to Tony Hawk's Pro Skater. The school setting is such a breath of fresh air and tones down the scale of the story in a manner akin to Yakuza 3's orphanage setting, introducing fun characters like Amasawa and several intriguing 'school stories', a top contender for my favorite piece of side content in the series. Highlights are definitely the Boxing club and the Robotics Club, both having engaging plots and actual depth to their minigames, almost reminding me of something like the Taxi minigame from Yakuza 5. The open world has its blemishes though, as always. Substories are poorly distributed and paced in this game, with the bulk of them being found around the first half of the game and then becoming non existent in the second half for some reason. The Biker gang school story fucking stinks too, its way too punishing and literally unwinnable.
I'll definitely check out the Kaito Files in the near future but in the end, Lost Judgment is a beautiful gestalt that crushes its slight flaws by marrying its unique premise and thematic complexity to the emotional weight of the mainline series, culminating in an exhilarating and thought-provoking entry that I can gladly say is the best game in the franchise. Only time will tell if Infinite Wealth will dethrone it but as of now, I am very comfortable declaring this stance.
TLDR Unwavering Belief>Kendrick's entire discography