Judgment Reviews
Check out Judgment Review Scores from trusted Critics below. With 34 reviews on CriticDB, Judgment has a score of:
We loved Judgment on PlayStation 4, but over time, our appreciation of this Yakuza spinoff has only grown. Upon reflection, we actually think that our Judgment PS4 review was a bit off the mark, and having now played the game's remaster on PS5, we're fully convinced that this is, hands down, one of the best Yakuza-style games that money can buy.
For Yakuza fans, they’re well acquainted with the city of Kamurocho. A metropolis that’s as glitzy as it is seedy, we grew well acquainted with the crime that goes on as we followed Kiryu’s exploits across six games (and a couple of excellent remasters as well), but Judgment gives us an interesting twist on this formula, casting us on the side of good for once. Playing as Takayuki Yagami, a former lawyer turned private investigator, you’re quickly wrapped up in a meticulously crafted tale of intrigue that will keep you gripped until the end, splicing in new mechanics that make Judgment feel fresh enough to warrant yet another visit to the city of Kamurocho.
Judgment may still feel a bit like its pulling too much from the Yakuza series but its brand new cast of characters, satisfying narrative that draws the player in, and just enough detective mechanics help it stand on its own merits.
Simultaneously fresh and familiar, Judgment is an excellent first step forward for the Yakuza universe after the conclusion of Kazuma Kiryu's story.
Judgment is more than “more Yakuza”; it’s a markedly different beast that, despite using assets from Yakuza 6, re-introduces you to Kamurocho through a new set of eyes. Tak is brasher, smarter, and more inclined to use brains than brawn, and the characters he goes up against are surprisingly grounded. Altogether, it’s a thoroughly delightful detective adventure. If this is the start of Tak Yagami’s journey then I’m happy to be along for the ride.
It's time for the PlayStation Lifestyle Judgment review. What did we think of the latest from Sega's Yakuza studio?
Though there are some hiccups along the way, Judgment proves without a doubt that Ryu Ga Gotoku studio doesn't need Kazuma Kiryu to sell a great game.
Sega's iconic Yakuza series now has a very cool spin-off so get ready to meet ex-lawyer now-detective Takayuki Yagami.
Judgment is another high-quality release in the Yakuza franchise, complete with a ton of compelling side content, a great story, and enthralling drone races -- all wrapped up in a very nice PC port.
Judgment is the dramatic tale of a disgraced lawyer seeking redemption in a world rife with corruption and despair.
When the issues of a game are rolled and stomped by its greatness, then it’s something to invest on if you have some spare.
Judgment is much greater than the sum of its parts. Getting lost in the city of Kamurocho as you solve cases, make friends, and punch thugs into oblivion never stopped being fun even if the missions you sometimes have to do aren't that engaging. It was easy to overlook most of the issues that I may have had with Judgment just because of how much consistent fun I was having over the course of my experience. While Judgment was my first foray into this world of Yakuza, it most certainly won't be my last.
Although I wish there was more depth to its detective work, Judgment’s smooth and spectacular street fighting, eclectic array of side activities, and suspenseful serial killer-based plot makes for the best original Yakuza game of this console generation. With its high-quality English-language dub and all-new cast of characters, it’s also the most approachable for newcomers. Provided you’re happy to serve justice with the swing of a sledgehammer rather than the knock of a gavel, Judgment is well worth investigating.
Takayuki Yagami's journey in Judgment is packed with a stunning narrative that features some of the best-written side characters.
While it could be more stable at 40 FPS, Judgment feels fantastic on the Deck so far!
Judgment tinkers with the Yakuza template enough that it provides something for fans, as well as those who have always thought about visiting Kamurocho.
If you're a Yakuza fan, you've probably already bought Judgment in your head. If you're not, then this is a great place to start, Yagami's hardboiled crime saga a remarkably engaging, surprising, and rousing journey from beginning to end.
It’s amazing how I never get tired of playing these Yakuza games. The setting is always the same half a dozen blocks of a claustrophobic Tokyo red light district, the combat mechanics are similar to one another, and you always know the plot will revolve around mob families, treasons, and murder mysteries. Yet, I always scream in joy whenever Sega announces a new one. Even though they will try to convince you otherwise, Judgment is yet another Yakuza, although it does feature some new additi...
While Kiryu may no longer be roaming the seedy streets of Kamurocho, that doesn't mean that the fun has to stop. Judgment explores the familiar red-light district through a detective's eyes, but do the new mechanics merge well with the familiar brawler gameplay?
There's an argument to be made that Judgment does at points let the familiar get the best of itself -- confusing the mere sake of additional features and mechanics for those that genuinely feel like fresh changes. While its gameplay additions, those that cater towards the more detective-orientated style of play and presentation, can feel like a mixed bag of shallow and interesting deviations alike, it's but a minor crease in a game that once again excels both on its content and the knowledge on how to use it. A story that is engaging, intriguing yet thoughtfully structured, complete with another grand cast of new characters, even when it risks of becoming too pedestrian, Judgment predominantly finds the means to keep players fixed on the events unfolding. Fans of the Yakuza series may be quick to filter out what's genuinely new from everything else, but for a game as packed and as entertaining as this, what it may lack in pure originality, Judgment more than makes up for with a game that is as fun to engage with as it is to just sit back and watch as the now-commonly bizarre antics of Kamurocho play out to delightful and convincing effect.
Kamurocho is no stranger to violence, but a recent series of murders is unsettling even for the crime-riddled Tokyo neighborhood. In a particularly gruesome calling card, the killer gouges out the eyes of his victims. Thankfully, Takayuki Yagami is on the case. An attorney-turned-detective, he has the credentials and tenacity to bring justice where it’s needed – no matter how far the investigation may take him. His methods might get results, but they’re ultimately overshadowed by the strong story and engaging world-building.
Judgment is a fun Yakuza spin-off that changes the formula just enough to stand on its own. Our review...
Judgment brings new levels of narrative and mechanical intricacies to the familiar setting of Kamurocho in Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio's latest title.
Tangle with the Tojo Clan again, but this time as a detective.
Judgment is another great Japanese crime drama that will grab your attention as the stakes get bigger and bigger, but it's not quite on par with the Yakuza series. Some of the private detective busywork could make way for more of RGG Studio's trademark goofiness to cut through the seriousness of the main story, but anyone who has any interest in Far East crime dramas or the Yakuza series should pick Judgment up. Judgment has been judged and has been found worth playing.
A solid spin-off that capitalizes on the studio's strengths, but ultimately relies on its formula too much. Add in half-baked detective mechanics and Judgment doesn't realize its concept's potential.
I appreciate that the Yakuza studio wanted to try something different with Judgment, even if the biggest deviations are the absence of the bankable character Kazuma Kiryu and the addition of some detective busywork. Given that said work is typically brief, this is an easy one to recommend to Ryu Ga Gotoku acolytes and folks with patience.
Judgment feels like a huge step forward for the studio that brought us the Yakuza series. Judgment is a masterpiece in simple words.
Blind justice.If you adore Ace Attorney and Yakuza, there might not be a more perfect game on the planet [...]
Judgment is without a doubt the best playing Yakuza game to date. It has all of the quality of life improvements of the Dragon Engine alongside a host of new welcome features. The combat and minigames are the best they’ve ever been. The narrative is interesting overall, but can feel misguided and aimless at certain points.
Despite the fantastic story, Judgment stops short of being a must-play thanks to its shallow and unfulfilling crime-solving gameplay.
Judgment looks and sounds exceptional. The main characters’ faces are incredibly realistic, and the special attacks and cutscenes are as gloriously gratuitous as ever. The English voice-acting is actually alright, though I switched to the Japanese voice-over because I found it to be better and more natural-sounding overall.
Judgment is the latest PS4 game from the creators of Yakuza, and it blends the series’ beat ‘em up gameplay with a crime thriller filled with detective elements.
Judgment is a must-play for fans of the Yakuza franchise and a fantastic entry level title for those a little put off by the time required to catch up with the Yakuza series. It offers a fun and challenging dive into a wonderfully crafted game world, whose only disappointment is the result of the quality of past works.