Solving crimes with haymakers

In a surprisingly unceremonious piece of news, publisher Sega and developer Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio have quietly ported detective thrillers Judgment and Lost Judgment onto PC. The two Judgment titles are now available to purchase via the Steam platform, priced at around $40 and $60 USD, respectively.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=hT6np8elumk

Judgment (2018) and its sequel Lost Judgment (2021), follows the adventures of lawyer-turned-private detective Takayuki Yagami, as he becomes embroiled in various escalating mysteries on the mean streets of Kamurocho �which just happen to be the setting for Ryu ga Gotoku Studio's flagship franchise, Like a Dragon. In the Judgment titles, players follow ??trails of evidence, interrogate perps, and solve minor and major crimes, more ofte?n than not at the end of a skinny-jeans-borne spin-kick.

Much like its Ryu Ga Gotoku brethren, the Judgment titles are renowned for their brutal martial arts combat, stylish nightlife settings, and abundance of dopey, tonally inconsistent mini-games and side activities. Both titles are solid, and well worth checking out if you've exhausted the Yakuza catalog and are looking for something to tide you over until the release of the just announced Like a Dragon 8.

Judgment and Lost Judgment are available now?? on PlayStation, Xbox, Stadia, and PC platforms.

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Solve crimes and look chill while doing it

Sega has announced a release date for The Kaito Files, a chunky DLC expansion for its exciting RPG-brawler Lost Judgment. The expansion will launch on PlayStation and Xbox platforms on March 28, priced at $29.99. It is already included as part of Lost Judgment's season pass or Ultimate Edition.

The Kaito Files is a four-chapter expansion that will see players don the meaty fists of Masaharu Kaito �essentially the "muscle" of the Yagami Detective Agency. Set after the events of Lost Judgment, the new story sees Kaito embark on?? a case of his own, one that has ties to the heavyweight's own mysterious past. Kaito's travels will see him attempt to locate his long-lost-love and will bring him into contact with a young man who may or may not be his own son... Maybe he should've just stayed in the office.

The DLC will feature an entirely original plotline, and will see Kaito explore the mean streets of Kamurocho utilizing his own distinct investigative style. Eschewing the tools of Judgment protagonist Takayuki Yagami, Kaito prefers to use his instinct and street knowledge to sniff out clues and suspects, punctuating his concerns with the old one-two from Jack Johnson and Tom O'Leary. The Kaito Files looks to be a fun weekend for those who have already exhausted Lost Judgment's main content, and will perhaps see us learn more about Yagami's pal than perhaps we'd even want to know.

Lost Judgment is availab??le now on Pla?yStation and Xbox platforms.

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Murder mystery kicking ass on PlayStation & Xbox

Sega released a neat video looking at the creation of a slick 'n' sick graffiti mural, installed to celebrate the launch of Team Yakuza's Lost Judgment. The video follows the painstaking work of artist Dan Kitchener, who was commissioned to?? design and paint the piece. Kitchener's love of the "cyber city" aesthetic is perfectly reflective of Kamurocho's neon style.

You can check out the video, showcasing the masterwork and its entire conception, in this exclusive from NME.

Kitchener used a wide palette of dazzling color to create the mural, installed within the arches of Waterloo Leake Street in London. Completing the diorama is a ringed neon light, which offers onlookers the opportunity to recreate the flashy fighting techniques of Lost Judgment hero, Takayuki Yagami.

Alongside footage of Kitchener's stellar work, we also catch a glimpse of a cute dog �suspiciously familiar to Lost Judgment's own "Detective Dog" �who visited the site. N?o doubt the canny canine was keeping an eye out for any t??roublemakers.

The Lost Judgment mural is just the latest in a number of stunning street art projects painted to market the launch of a new video game. Earlier this year, EndoftheLine's Jim Vision created an electrifying piece to celebrate the debut of Bandai Namco's Scarlet Nexus. EndoftheLine was also responsible for a famous painting of Metal Gear protagonist Raiden, that adorned the side of Aireside House in Leeds for seven years, before sadly being removed in 2020.

Lost Judgment is available now on PlayStation and Xbox platforms. You can check out Chris Carter's review right here.

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I'm glad Yagami is back

Judgment is an interesting (now) series. You hear about Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio's Yakuza all the time, but the spinoffs rarely garner the same amount of respect. There's a lot of reasons for that, newness for one, but I loved seeing a different kind of open-world project from this team, and was intrigued to the point where I wanted more. I got it with Lost Judgment.

Lost Judgment (PS4, PS5 [reviewed], Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S)
Developer: Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio
Publisher: Sega
Released: September 24, 2021
MSRP: $59.99

To be frank, I kinda needed more Judgment in my life.

The void of a mainline Yakuza game that's not Like a Dragon (it was fine, but I need my action fix) has been a huge contributing factor, but Judgment itself has created this nice little lore niche for itself that I have to see more of. Similar to the Phoenix Wright series, Ryu Ga Gotoku could go full Perfect Strangers-Family Matters or Happy Days-verse on this, doing spinoffs of spinoffs until they get around to more Yakuza.

I’m so glad to be back in this world again with detective Takayuki Yagami. N??o, it’s still not perfect. Some investigations are a drag just like the first (we'll get into that). But those are often followed up by some unique and thrilling moments, and the characters vibe just right; you remember who made this game and why they have the reputation they do.

The greater narrative of Lost Judgment (which you can experience with dual audio) deals with a Yokohama building fire linked to a man accused of sexual harassment �and leads to a greater mystery. All the while, Yagami and his crew (mostly ex-Yakuza memb??er Ma??saharu Kaito, returning from the first game) investigate tangential crimes and other small-time cases. This is key.

It's interesting how Lost Judgment is constantly shifting from the micro to the macro picture. One minute you're following someone's boyfriend on a hunch, and the next you're embroiled in a bigger conspiracy. Then minutes later y?ou're having a drink or talking about Peking duck to loosen up clientele. The sequel aims to open up Yagami more �beyond the very broody persona that dominated much of the first title �and for the most part, I think it succeeds.

To reach that end, you're basically going to be doing the same things as the prior Judgment, just punched up a bit mechanically, and with better pacing. Sneaking/stealth sequences, tailing people, taking photos as evidence, and of course, ?fighting are at the forefront, amid countless sidequests and ??silly activities like skateboarding.

The main upgrade compared to the first game is that stea??lth and trailing are more relaxed this time around. While they could often be a pain originally, they come up less often, and you have a little more to do during them (like taking photos at key times with parameters).

The missions themselves are give and take, with a few of the more intriguing/silly scenarios coming about from sidequests (which are mostly stacked at the school, a huge focus in this entry). There's a few gamey elements (like disguises and "choices" during missions), but then Lost Judgment hits y?ou with a curveball. One minute you're setting up surveillance cameras, the next you're espousing knowledge on the psychology of penguins.

There's still a huge emphasis on combat, which is mostly straightforward and fun, drawing upon the system of the first game: which placed an emphasis on simplicity and style. You'll swap to the crane stance for crowds, tiger for one-on-one, an?d snake for anti-weapon tech. On higher difficulty settings, you do need to pay attention to some of the nuances of those stances, and the juice is worth the squeeze.

Even before pumping any amount of XP into abilities or stats, the core combat of Lost Judgment is focused on arcade action. The stances are incredibly flashy, as the coloring ?of each not only looks cool, but very clearly tells you at a glance what style you're using. The entire adherence to this gimmick also ensures that there's a good amount of variety?? too, with one-on-one bouts, group fights, and backlot brawls with items.

The EX system and contextual abilities �like slamming people into walls or stomping on them while they're down �are cinematic as hell and provide just the right amount of silliness without going too over the top. While Judgment as a whole might look too serious for its own good, the more you peel bac??k, the more comfortable it gets.

One of the big reasons Lost Judgment truly sings (just like its predecessor) is the open world. It's cliché to say, but the landscapes really are a few of the primary characters of Lost Judgment. Kamurocho (t??he development team favorite rendition of Kabukichō) and Ise??zaki Ijincho (Isezakichō) are a blast to walk around in. The game looks great on PS5 (some of the animations and environments are really great) and the load times are minimal.

Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio once went outside of their Tokyo-based development house and did the work on recreating the city, with authentic knick-knacks like Boss Coffee and Suntory Tea. I've spent hours in this game just strolling around, either on foot or on the skateboard you get several hours in. With Lost Judgment, it's really easy to lose track of time.

Not only is it fun to get lost, but there are over 600 shop missions (essentially achievements), and school storylines (which I won't spoil because a few of them are really fun). Plus there's activities like batting cages, UFO catchers (you can display your rewards at home), and darts to screw around with. And of course, there's video games: Motor Raid (one of my personal favorites), Super Hang-On, Fantasy Zone, Space Harrier, and Hama of the Dead are the headliners.

Oh and that's not counting Virtua Fighter 5 Final Showdown, Fighting Vipers, and Sonic the Fighters, which are playable from the very start on the main menu with two players. The spirit of Shenmue lives on in series like Yakuza and Judgment.

Judgment may have been an acquired taste in many ways, but the sequel makes some of the bitterness go down easier. Given that you can basically dive in he??re and feel sufficiently caught up with a new case as the focu??s, it's for the best. I really hope we haven't seen the last of this subseries, because the creators seem to really care about it.

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No sign of Phantasy Star, but you get Quartet

If there's one thing Team Yakuza loves putting in its bone-busting adventures, it's distractions. And as ass-kicking detective Takayuki Yagami prowls the streets of Lost Judgment looking for a serial murderer, ?he will be able to take time out from the dark storyline to chill out w?ith a bevy of Sega Master System Classics.

As revealed by Team Yakuza, (Ryu Ga Gotoku Studios), Yagami will have the iconic 8-bit console hooked up to a CRT in his homestead, allowing players to enjoy eight titles from Sega's formative efforts in-home gaming. The games available include the obligatory Alex Kidd in Miracle World, great cute-'em-up Fantasy Zone, arcade classic Quartet, bike scrambler Enduro Racer, as well as Penguin Land, Woody Pop, Maze Hunter 3D (sadly sans 3D glasses), and Secret Command, aka Secret Commando, aka Rambo: First Blood Part II.

The previous Judgment saw Yagami install an OutRun cabinet in his office, which will apparently be missing from the sequel... I hope he didn't trade it for a dang Master System. Of course, there will be plenty of other distractions and side-missions available in Lost Judgment, including a casino, various bar games, a hostess club, a selection of sporting clubs, and Sega arcade centers �featuring fully playable versions of games such as 1996's Sonic the Fighters... Just don't forget you do actually have a series of ??horrendous murders to? solve.

Lost Judgment launches September 24 on PS4, PS5, X??box One, and Xbox Series X.

//twitter.com/RGGStudio/status/1428166451106619??394?s=20

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Actor Takuya Kimura's agency reportedly has an issue with him being on computers

Sega's had Takuya Kimura, a well-known Japanese actor, play the lead twice in the Judgment series so far. But according to a new report from Japanese site Nikkan Taishu, that deal could be in danger over Lost Judgment PC issues.

Via Kotaku and VGC, Nikkan Taishu's report suggests that talent agency Johnny & Associates have been unable to reach an agreement with those on the game development side regarding which platforms Lost Judgment will be sold on. Judgment originally launched for PS4, followed by a remastered version on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Stadia, while Lost Judgment is targeting? both generations of consoles this coming September.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wZZmmITJsk

According to Nikkan Taishu's report, Kimura's agency is contesting ?the release of the game on PC. The agency reportedly has strict control over the likenesses of its talent, and PC games might be getting di?fferent treatment due to their direct access to the internet.

Sega is reportedly trying to bring both Judgment games to PC via Steam, but due to the agency's blocking, this could bring an end to the series. The report claims that if Steam distribution doesn't get settled over these Lost Judgment PC issues., the series could end.

We've reached ou?t to Sega for comment on the matter.

Lost Judgment is currently set for a Sept. 24 launch on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S.

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Sequel launches worldwide September 24

Sega has released the opening movie for its upcoming action-RPG Lost Judgment, which launches this September on PlayStation and Xbox platforms. The new sequel will see stree??t-smart detective Takayuki Yagami kicking ass and taking names while investigating a brutal murder. A case that could cost Yagami more than he was willing to gambl??e.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=BpbHdieTuXY

As revealed during Sega's presentation back in May, Lost Judgment will see Yagami's belief in justice pushed to its absolute limit, in what is expected to be a dark and morally grey narrative. In order to lighten affairs, Lost Judgment will also feature a plethora of entertaining mini-games and side-quests, as our Fonzie-cool hero goes undercover at a local high school in order to learn more about his quarry and the circumstances surrounding t?he hapless victim. Don't w??orry, it's not all fun 'n' games, and it won't be too long before Yagami utilizes his unique, spin-kick-assisted interrogation style to get to the root of the matter.

The Lost Judgment opening cinematic features surprisingly little action, but does introduce us to a wide cast of characters that will cross Yagami's path during his investigation?. Whether these individuals, who are seemingly taken from all walks of life, will prove to be Yagami's friend or foe remains to be seen. The video is scored by powerful theme song "Rasen", performed with aplomb by jon-YAKITORY feat. Ado. Here's a shocker: It features?? moody vocals and wailing guitars.

Much like its sibling franchise Yakuza, Lost Judgment looks like it isn't out to reinvent the wheel on its predecessor, and will offer fans more bone-crunching action, tonally varied scripting, exciting underground detective work that made the original such a cult favorite. Lost Judgment launches September 24, worldwi??de, on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X??.

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Judgment will carry the action onwards

Today, Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio announced Lost Judgment, a follow-up to its street detective spin-off Judgment. And while Judgment will carry forward the classic Yakuza series action, the Yakuza series will keep diverging into new territory.

Speaking to IGN, Yakuza creator Toshihiro Nagoshi and producer Kazuki Hosokawa confirmed that Judgment will be the pillar for action going forward, while Yakuza will carry forward the turn-based RPG systems brought about by last year's Yakuza: Like a Dragon.

"The Yakuza series has been transformed into a turn-based RPG," they told IGN. "On the other hand, over the year, Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio has accumulated resources and know-how of making flashy and exhilarating action games that are effortless to enjoy. We decided that we should let our signature action gameplay live on through Lost Judgment."

 This might be a surprise for some, but it might split the difference of letting Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio continue building on the foundation of Like a Dragon while still creating their particular brand of beat 'em up. Lost Judgment certainly doesn't seem like it's slou??ching ?on either the action or the wild side activities either way.

Lost Judgment is coming ?to PS4, PS5,? Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S on Sept. 24, 2021.

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At what price justice?

Well, it's pretty much this week's worst kept secret, but now it's official: Sega has officially announced Lost Judgment, the sequel to Team Yakuza's acclaimed adventure, Judgment. The dark-looki?ng sequel will launch worldwide on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S September 24.

Lost Judgment: Sabakarezaru Kioku, (or Lost Judgment: Unjudged Memory), will see streetwise detective Takayuki Yagama attempting to crack another tough case o??f murder 'n' mayhem. ?A gruesome revenge killing in the neon-stained district of Yokohama kicks off an increasingly violent spiral of events. Tasked with the case, Yagami embarks on a grim, dangerous, and ultimately personal investigation that will test his belief in justice to its limits.

In line with the original game, Lost Judgment will see players exploring the mean streets, interrogating suspects, searching for clues, and laying more than a few punches and kicks on some unlucky domes, Lost Judgment will also see our hero go undercover at the local high school, where he will engage in "School Stories": lighthearted activities and side-quests to encourage and help troubled students with their personal problems. Typical of Team Yakuza's catalogue, Lost Judgment will also f?eature a plethora of fun mini-games for when players need to take a break from the sequel's dark ?narrative.

You can check out the full reveal stream below. Early g??ameplay footage appears at 14:00, with a fan Q&A session following shortly thereafter at 17:50.

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