Judgment is a 2018 action-adventure video game created by Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio and published by Sega. It is a spin-off from the Yakuza series. The game was first released for the PlayStation 4 in Japan in December 2018 and worldwide in June 2019. A remastered version, called Judgment: Remastered in Japan and Asia, was released for the PlayStation 5, Stadia, and Xbox Series X and Series S in April 2021. A version for Amazon Luna became available on December 16, 2021. A version for Windows was released on September 14, 2022, through Steam.
In Judgment, players control Takayuki Yagami, a lawyer who becomes a detective. He works with allies to solve a mystery involving bodies with missing eyes. The game takes place in Kamurocho, a fictional area of Tokyo. Players guide Yagami as he fights criminals, completes missions, and searches for clues.
The game was first developed in 2015 under the name Project Judge. Sega wanted to create a new game idea, and Toshihiro Nagoshi, the writer, wanted to tell a story different from his previous work in the Like A Dragon series. The game was designed to be easy for new players to enjoy. Singer and actor Takuya Kimura provided Yagami’s face and voice in Japanese. Because of fan requests, the game also includes an English voice-over and subtitles in other languages. The Japanese rock band Alexandros created two songs for the game.
In March 2019, Judgment was taken off sale in Japan after one of the game’s actors, Pierre Taki, was arrested for suspected drug use. When the game was adapted for other countries, Taki’s image and voice were replaced. Actor Miou Tanaka provided the new voice, and a new face model was used instead of Taki’s likeness.
Critics generally praised Judgment for its story, side activities, and combat. However, some said the investigation system was too simple. The game sold over one million copies and was recognized as one of the best games of 2019. The remastered version improved the game’s speed and visuals. A sequel, Lost Judgment, was released on September 24, 2021.
Gameplay
Judgment is an action-adventure game that lets players see the action from a distance, not through the character's eyes. The game follows a private detective named Takayuki Yagami as he investigates a series of murders in Kamurocho, a fictional area of Tokyo, Japan. Kamurocho was also featured in the Yakuza game series. When asked about similarities between Judgment and Yakuza games, the series creator, Toshihiro Nagoshi, said, "The location and game elements might look familiar, but the way you play and the story are very different." Yagami can buy items in stores that are based on real places to restore his health, similar to the Yakuza games. However, Yagami can suffer from serious injuries called Mortal Wounds, which lower his maximum health permanently. To recover, players must visit an underground doctor or buy an expensive medical kit.
Judgment includes a combat system where players can switch between two fighting styles: crane-style, which is good for fighting groups of enemies, and tiger-style, which is better for fighting one enemy at a time. Yagami can also use parkour moves, such as running up walls or jumping over obstacles, during fights. Like other Yakuza games, Yagami can perform powerful attacks called "EX Actions," which are the same as the "Heat Actions" in the Like a Dragon series. He can also enter a stronger fighting state called "EX Boost" and team up with allies for special attacks. Completing side tasks or achievements in the main story gives players points that can be used to improve Yagami's abilities or teach him new skills.
The game includes an investigation mode where players search crime scenes for clues and evidence. To explore areas, players must pick locks or wear disguises to gather information or find objects. Some parts of the game involve chasing suspects. These include tailing sequences, where players follow a suspect without being seen, and chase sequences, where players run to catch someone while avoiding obstacles.
Yagami can take on extra cases, similar to "substories" in other Yakuza games. Players can find these cases by checking a noticeboard in Yagami's office, asking at the Genda Law Office or Bar Tender, or walking through Kamurocho. Some interactions with characters increase a Friendship level that changes as the game progresses. These interactions may involve completing side quests or playing scenarios inspired by dating sim games. Like other Yakuza games, players can find minigames and activities in Kamurocho, such as drone racing, a virtual reality board game, and playable versions of games like Space Harrier, Fantasy Zone, Fighting Vipers, Motor Raid, Out Run, Virtua Fighter 5: Final Showdown, and Puyo Puyo.
Synopsis
The story of Judgment takes place in 2018 and follows Takayuki Yagami, a former lawyer who now works as a private investigator in Kamurocho. Yagami investigates several murders of yakuza members by an unknown serial killer called "the Mole." His search for answers leads him to uncover a large secret plan connected to a case he handled as a lawyer. Yagami is helped by several characters, including Masaharu Kaito, a former yakuza member and his detective partner; Ryuzo Genda, a former mentor and father figure who runs a law office; Mitsugu Matsugane, the leader of the Matsugane Family who raised Yagami after his parents were killed; and others who work as lawyers or prosecutors. Additional characters include Makoto Tsukumo, a technology expert who helps Yagami; Toru Higashi, a Matsugane Family member who respects Kaito; Fumiya Sugiura, a thief with unknown motives who helps Yagami; and Kazuya Ayabe, a corrupt police officer who sells secret information.
Yagami’s investigation into the Mole puts him in conflict with several characters, including Kyohei Hamura, a Matsugane Family leader linked to the murders; Mitsuru Kuroiwa, a detective from the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department; Yoji Shono, a researcher at the Advanced Drug Development Center (ADDC); Ryusuke Kido, the director of the ADDC; and Kaoru Ichinose, a government official who oversees the ADDC. Other characters in the story include Shinpei Okubo, a former ADDC worker cleared of a murder charge by Yagami but later arrested for allegedly killing his girlfriend, Emi Terasawa; Ko Hattori, a reporter who spreads false information about Yagami; Shigeru Kajihira, a businessman who secretly funds a yakuza group; Satoshi Shioya, a leader of that yakuza group; and Kunihiko Morita, a prosecutor who works for Fujii.
In 2015, Yagami investigated the ADDC after a patient named Koichi Waku died. He proved that Shinpei Okubo was not responsible for the death. However, Okubo was later arrested for allegedly killing his girlfriend, Emi Terasawa. Feeling guilty, Yagami quit his job as a lawyer.
Three years later, Yagami works as a private detective in Kamurocho with his partner, Masaharu Kaito. A serial killer has been killing yakuza members and removing their eyes. Yagami takes a case involving Kyohei Hamura, a Matsugane Family leader suspected of killing a member of the Kyorei Clan using the same method. Yagami proves Hamura is innocent but suspects he is working with the Mole. Yagami investigates a brothel where one of the victims was last seen and meets Hamura, who tells him to stop looking into the Mole.
Yagami returns to his office and discovers that the Mole killed Masamichi Shintani, a former colleague and teacher. Yagami finds a phone call from Shintani to Yoji Shono, a researcher at the ADDC. He questions Ryusuke Kido, the ADDC director, but gets no answers. With help from Fumiya Sugiura, a masked thief, Yagami meets Shigeru Kajihira, a businessman who reveals a failed plan to seize land around the ADDC. Kajihira asks Yagami to investigate the death of a former ADDC official named Toru Hashiki.
Yagami is questioned by the public prosecutor’s office, where he learns that Kazuya Ayabe, a corrupt police officer who once worked with him, is suspected of being the Mole. Yagami does not believe Ayabe is the killer. He and Kaito find Hamura hiding in an illegal gambling den and question him about the Mole. Yagami believes the Mole’s murders are experiments to test a drug called AD-9, and he thinks Okubo did not kill Terasawa—she was killed by Shono to frame Okubo.
Kaito is kidnapped by Hamura, forcing Yagami to rescue him from a Matsugane hideout. Yagami captures Hamura with the help of Mitsugu Matsugane, the Matsugane Family leader. During the interrogation, Hamura reveals that the Mole is Mitsuru Kuroiwa, a detective from the Metropolitan Police Department. Hamura also provides evidence that the ADDC was involved in Shintani’s murder.
During Ayabe’s trial, Kaoru Ichinose, a government official, secretly arranges for Kuroiwa to be killed. Kuroiwa kills his attackers and attacks the ADDC, where Yagami and his friends stop him from taking Yoji Shono hostage. Yagami defeats Kuroiwa, and the police kill him as he tries to harm Shono. Shono injects himself with a new version of AD-9 and dies from its effects. At Ayabe’s trial, Ryusuke Kido admits that the Mole’s victims had their eyes removed to hide evidence of experiments. Ayabe is found not guilty, but Ichinose and Kunihiko Morita are imprisoned for their roles. Shigeru Kajihira is investigated, Shinpei Okubo is released after three years in prison, and he reconciles with Fumiya Sugiura, who is revealed to be Terasawa’s brother. Yagami and Kaito return to their normal lives.
Development
After the release of Yakuza 5, ideas for Judgment were thought of. Producer Kazuki Hosokawa suggested that Sega create a new game instead of only working on the Yakuza series. Senior Executive Manager Daisuke Sato originally believed the Yakuza series would only last three games but agreed with Hosokawa that a new title was needed. Sega hired new employees and asked them about their preferences to get ideas for the new game. Development of Judgment began in 2015. In August 2018, during a Sega live stream, the game's director Toshihiro Nagoshi first mentioned it, calling it "something completely different." Hosokawa and Nagoshi did not call Judgment a spin-off from Yakuza, even though the same team made it, because the story was different. Nagoshi said he enjoyed the finished product.
The game uses the Dragon Engine to create graphics similar to Yakuza 6: The Song of Life. The team improved the game engine to make character designs better and changed the lighting to match the theme of "legal suspense." The team explored the fictional city of Kamurocho (from Yakuza) in a new way. Real-world shops, like Don Quijote, were used to make the game feel realistic. A "friendship" system was added to show how Yagami forms bonds with non-playable characters, which helps bring them into the story. His personality is shown through both the main story and sidequests, with serious moments in the main story and lighter, fun moments in sidequests.
Although Hosokawa wanted Judgment to have as much content as Yakuza 0, the team decided not to use characters from previous Yakuza games. Since Yagami is a lawyer, players can choose his thoughts to act like him. Some parts of the friendship system were inspired by dating games. Nagoshi said it was hard to decide how much detective work should be in the game. The puzzles and main mystery were made challenging but easy enough for casual players. Action scenes were designed for more skilled players, who had to plan Yagami's abilities carefully.
Nagoshi said that Cinema of Korea influenced Yagami's character. After the story of Yakuza's main character, Kazuma Kiryu, ended in Yakuza 6: The Song of Life, the team wanted to create a new, unique character for Judgment. At Hosokawa's direction, the team decided Yagami should be a detective. To make Yagami different from Kiryu, the team wanted him to be more relatable, showing the struggles that made him quit being a lawyer. Details about Yagami's past and his life as a detective were added to help players connect with him. Because detective stories are popular, Yagami was written to learn alongside the player. Yagami was most inspired by the Paul Newman movie The Verdict, where the main character faces a similar career crisis. Like the Yakuza series, Judgment focuses mainly on its story.
Early in Judgment's development, Sega staff considered using a movie star to play Yagami and chose Takuya Kimura. Nagoshi was surprised and excited when Kimura was selected because of the many plot twists he could help create. However, he worried fans might think the game was too lighthearted because of Kimura's stylish appearance compared to the team's previous work. Some parts of Yagami's design were approved by Kimura. Because detective stories are rare in games, Hosokawa wanted Yagami to stand out, making the character a challenge to create. To make Yagami succeed where Kiryu did, the developers wanted him to be "more grounded to fit the noir vibe."
Real detectives inspired how Yagami's life and work were shown. The original plan to focus on romance was changed because Nagoshi felt it would take away from the game's courtroom-thriller feel. Localization producer Scott Strichart noted that the portrayal of yakuza in Judgment is similar to the main series, as many characters are involved in clans. Yagami stands out from other characters because he has many life choices, unlike others who are forced to be yakuza.
Actors were chosen based on their experience. Akira Nakao plays attorney Ryuzo Genda, who helped Yagami when he was a lawyer. Shosuke Tanihara was cast as detective Mitsuru Kuroiwa because of his strong appearance, making scenes with Kimura impressive. Pierre Taki plays Kyohei Hamura because of his history of playing famous criminals. Although Yagami is linked with many female characters, none were created as love interests to avoid romance in the story. Other actors include Kenichi Takitō as detective Kazuya Ayabe, Shinshū Fuji as former yakuza Masaharu Kaito, and Risa Shimizu as Mafuyu Fujii.
The studio spent a lot of time choosing the right band for the music. Nagoshi believed using the Japanese band Alexandros would appeal to fans, similar to how Shōnan no Kaze fit Yakuza 0. Alexandros was excited to create two theme songs for Judgment, which would add musical variety and describe the game's drama. Nagoshi gave them creative freedom, and there were no major problems. He showed the band a game demo, helping them write a song quickly. Two theme songs were made: "Arpeggio" as the main theme and "Your Song" as an insert song. The band created these songs in the United States but sent their work to Japan in a video, where it received positive feedback. "Arpeggio" was written on the rooftop of a Brooklyn studio, where band member Yoohei liked an arpeggio played by another musician. The band wrote the song on acoustic guitars during a break. A three-CD soundtrack was released in Japan on April 15, 2019.
Unlike the Yakuza series, Judgment was given an English dub, a decision made after Yakuza 0's release. Since previous Yakuza games had only Japanese audio, Sega thought an English dub might not fit Yakuza 6's tone. They believed Judgment would be a better choice for the first English dub, as it could attract new players. Sega announced other languages would follow. The dub was made quickly due to fan demand, and the Western version would be the same as the Japanese version. Scott Strichart, the localization producer, ordered two subtitle tracks: one
Release
On September 10, 2018, the game Judgment was announced in Japan under the title Judge Eyes during the PlayStation Lineup Tour, which took place shortly before the Tokyo Game Show 2018. The announcement was part of a plan to promote the game for Japanese holidays. At that time, the game was already completed, and the development team was working to fix any remaining issues. Sega planned to sell the game in Japan by December 2018 and release it in Western countries in 2019. A demo version of the game’s first chapter was made available on the Japanese PlayStation Network on November 29, 2018.
Sega released Judgment in Japan on December 13, 2018. Sales in Japan were paused on March 13, 2019, after Pierre Taki, a Japanese actor whose voice and image were used for the character Kyohei Hamura, was arrested by the Narcotics Control Department (NCD) of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare for possessing and using cocaine. The NCD stated that Taki had been under investigation since 2018 based on tips from unknown sources and was required to provide a urine sample. Sega did not say whether Taki’s arrest would affect the game’s Western release.
Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio producer Daisuke Sato said on social media that the game’s success would not be interrupted by Taki’s arrest, and the actor’s contributions would not be removed. CyberConnect2 president Hiroshi Matsuyama criticized companies that stop promoting their products because of an arrest related to their work. Sega later said that Taki’s voice and image would be replaced, but the Western release date of June 25, 2019, would stay the same. The new character design was not based on any actor. A new version of the game was released in Japan on July 18, 2019, with Miō Tanaka taking over the role of Hamura.
An improved version of the game was released for the PlayStation 5, Stadia, and Xbox Series X/S on April 23, 2021. This version included faster loading times, 60 frames per second, and all downloadable content from the original PlayStation 4 version. The game was also released for Amazon Luna on December 16, 2021. In July 2021, it was reported that a PC version of Judgment and its sequel might not happen because Sega and Johnny & Associates (the talent agency representing Kimura) could not agree on using Kimura’s image in a PC release. However, both Judgment games were released on Steam on September 14, 2022, suggesting the issue was resolved.
Reception
Judgment received "generally favorable" reviews, according to review aggregator Metacritic. Because of Kimura's popularity, Japanese fans often nicknamed the game Kimutaku ga Gotoku (キムタクが如く; lit. "Like KimuTaku"). "Kimutaku" is short for Takuya Kimura, while "Gotoku" ("Like a") refers to the original Japanese title of the Yakuza franchise.
Although its gameplay was praised, critics had mixed opinions about its case-solving elements. Hobby Consolas praised the game for including multiple types of gameplay, which added variety. A VideoGamer.com reviewer said players who enjoy the Yakuza series would like Judgment because of its similar action. They noted the fighting system was better than Yakuza 6: The Song of Life and that varied side missions gave players more playing time. A Game Informer reviewer liked the action but found tailing missions frustrating and criticized investigation areas for punishing players who failed them. USgamer said tailing missions might be slow, but new chasing missions were more fun. Destructoid agreed and said action scenes were not difficult. Tristan Ogilvie of IGN praised the combat system and side content but criticized the investigation mechanics, saying, "There's surprisingly little room to make your own decisions." Edmond Tran of GameSpot described tailing and chasing sections as "dull, slow, and arduous" and called investigation sections "incredibly straightforward." However, he liked the melee combat for the choices it gave players. GamesRadar+ writer Bradley Russell criticized the core gameplay as "lacking in its execution" and said the game relied too much on combat instead of investigation. On the other hand, Hardcore Gamer enjoyed the balance between different gameplay styles. RPGamer.com praised the action elements but said the developers needed to improve the detective sections.
The plot was generally well received. Because the game introduced new characters instead of reusing old ones, Game Informer called the story "refreshing" and said Yagami's investigations were interesting. USgamer also praised the story for standing on its own and noted that Yagami, though similar to Kazuma Kiryu, had his own way of life. A Destructoid reviewer said Judgment had a unique narrative, similar to Hollywood films, despite its similarity to Yakuza in balancing seriousness and comedy. Russell praised the story, calling it "potentially one of the best in the medium." VideoGamer.com liked the game's use of deep moral themes, which would keep players entertained for many hours. GameSpot praised the storyline, especially Yagami and Kaito, calling them "genuinely likable characters." A HobbyConsolas reviewer noted that Sega added subtitles for languages other than English for the first time, making Judgment more accessible, but said Yagami was less appealing than Kiryu. Hardcore Gamer said the storyline was "the closest one can get to an entry point for those anxious about the Yakuza series' legacy" and appreciated the Dragon Engine's facial expressions, which helped solve cases.
VideoGamer.com's reviewer liked the original Japanese cast's performances, even though they initially preferred the English dub. The English voice actors were praised; Ogilvie called the English voice acting "excellent" but noted inconsistent lip-syncing. EGM Now said Chun gave a more striking performance than Kimura, whom the writer did not find suitable for the character. RPGamer praised Sega for adding both Japanese and English audio versions.
Several Giant Bomb reviewers listed Judgment as one of their favorite games of 2019, with Chris Tilton ranking it first. USgamer included it in its list of the twenty best games of 2019. Push Square ranked Judgment as the third-best Yakuza game based on its accessibility and gameplay complexity.
The remastered version of the game also received "generally favorable" reviews according to Metacritic. HobbyConsolas and Gaming Age reviewers said the frame rate remained stable even with many enemies on screen, and visuals stayed polished. GameSpew noted improved loading times, which made the game feel more balanced. Windows Central said the better frame rate made Yagami move faster than previous Yakuza characters. The reviewer added that the new lighting might bother fans because it changed colors to make characters look more realistic. RPGFan praised the remaster's visual style, saying the lighting changes gave Kamurocho a "bluer, cooler appearance" that fit the game's noir feel.
Imported sales of Judgment rose in Japan after the game was removed from store shelves; about 97% of its stock was sold, and it reached number three on Amazon's sales rankings. Nagoshi said the sudden interest due to controversy was disappointing but "glad in any case." Kazuki Hosokawa considered a Steam port possible in April 2019 but was unsure, as the team was still working on Yakuza ports. In 2019, Nagoshi said rumors about a sequel were not confirmed. According to Media Create, the game sold 148,246 physical copies in its first week in Japan and reached 317,000 by 2020. Judgment was the most successful new IP release for the eighth generation of consoles in Japan, though this record was later broken by Death Stranding. Producer Daisuke Sato said Western sales exceeded expectations. In its release week, the PlayStation 5 version sold 5,539 physical copies in Japan, while the original version sold 3,192. By June 2021, Sega announced total sales had surpassed one million units.
Legacy
In March 2021, news sources shared rumors about a sequel to a game, suggesting that characters Yagami and Kaito might return. In April, the official website for the game announced a big hint about a new story related to Judgment, titled "Judgment Day." The game's official Twitter account also shared new footage of Yagami, which suggested a sequel was being developed. On May 6, 2021, one day before "Judgment Day," the sequel, called Lost Judgment, was accidentally made public by PlayStation Network in Japan. The game was released worldwide on September 24, 2021.