Judgment (PS5 update)
Back on the case in Kamurocho
After a quick stroll through the neon sleaze and grit of Kamurocho, we’re smashing a bicycle over a group of thugs looking for trouble. It sure feels good to be home. Sure, we massively enjoyed RGG Studio changing the genre and setting for the newer Yakuza: Like A Dragon, but returning to spin-off Judgment on PS5 reminds us that some familiar staples can be comforting, especially when they’re delivered a whole lot more smoothly.
Judgment’s remaster doesn’t give you any graphics options, though the visuals have been improved and the action boosted to 60fps – the latter is great since you’re fighting in real-time. Given that Like A Dragon’s 4K mode makes no significant difference and is detrimental to framerate, this feels like a wise choice, while everything still looks sharper than the PS4 version.
That said, this is a basic upgrade that existing owners will have pay for and start from scratch – although the lower price point, all DLC from the original game, and the ability to play Out Run at your office might sweeten the pill. Newcomers, however, are in for a treat, as Judgment has arguably one of the most gripping stories in the whole Yakuza series. Indeed, its plot twists make more sense for disgraced lawyer-turned-detective Yagami who uses his brains as much as his fists.
ACE ATTORNEY
Even without the Yakuza regulars, Judgment boasts a memorable cast, from Yagami’s loyal ex-Tojo muscle Kaito to the brilliantly deadpan Saori, all bolstered by one of the best English dubs for a Japanese game (only bested by Like A Dragon). Its charm extends to the many side-quests, many involving Yagami haplessly befriending the locals, including a cheery assistant at the burger joint and his landlady, who plies him with questionable recipes for her dream izakaya.
When it comes to the detective work, however, what you do too often boils down to rudimentary mechanics that will disappoint anyone who assumes they’re in for a spot of sleuthing like in Ace Attorney, while the lengthy cutscenes do most of the heavy lifting. The defence may be that this is supposed to be like a detective show you watch rather than a detective game you play, but it’s also guilty on multiple counts of possessing tedious tailing missions and QTE chase sequences that should have been left a couple of generations ago.
Judgment has arguably one of the most gripping stories in the whole Yakuza series.
Nonetheless, being back in Kamurocho and browsing the aisles of Don Quijote evokes a wonderful sense of nostalgia, and it would be great to have remasters of the other Dragon Engine titles. But here’s hoping the sequel comes up with some fresher new-gen ideas.
It’s not much cop as a detective game, but this spin-off from the Yakuza series is still a terrific yarn that’s held up by its charming sense of place and character. Alan Wen