punching school children is always funny

This review contains spoilers, so be aware if you’re not familiar with the story of this game.

I have completed all the games in the Yakuza series except Gaiden and Ishin!, as well as the Like a Dragon games and the first Judgment. After experiencing those titles, I decided to play Lost Judgment, primarily because Judgment had one of the best stories I’ve ever experienced.

STORY
This game has a faster-paced story compared to Judgment, which I really appreciated. In the first Judgment, the beginning felt slow, and it made me initially skeptical about whether the game would be any good. However, I regretted those doubts as everything eventually came together beautifully. In Lost Judgment, the faster pace makes the story engaging right from the start.

I personally enjoyed the school environment in Ijincho—it felt fresh and distinct from anything we’ve seen in the Yakuza/Judgment series before. Despite the consistent pacing, though, the twists and the overall ending didn’t quite reach the heights of Judgment’s narrative.

One of my main issues is with Kuwana. I didn’t understand why we were supposed to sympathize so much with him, especially since he was directly responsible for many of the murders. The game tries to justify setting him free by claiming there wasn’t enough evidence for a conviction. However, in my opinion, there was enough indirect evidence and many other witnesses faced consequences while Kuwana went unpunished. What’s more, he continued murdering even after Yagami became aware of his actions. This raises the question: why did Yagami essentially let a serial killer go free?

The game attempts to frame Kuwana as a complex character rather than a true villain, but this didn’t sit well with me. I also think revealing Kuwana’s role so early in the game hurt the narrative. A later reveal would have allowed for a more impactful twist, especially since the game misleads us into thinking Soma is the main villain. While Soma is indeed a villain, the execution of Kuwana’s arc felt predictable and underwhelming.

Overall, the story is enjoyable and very well-written, but it doesn’t surpass the excellence of Judgment. For me, the story deserves a 7.5/10.

SUBSTORIES
The school stories, especially those involving the Mystery Club, are incredibly fun. I spent around 25 hours on these side missions before diving fully into the main story. These substories made the game feel more immersive, almost as if Yagami were an actual teacher or part of the school community before becoming deeply involved in his investigation.

This approach also emphasized the detective aspect of the game, which I think is a fantastic addition. The substories add a lot of charm and replayability to the game. I’d rate the substories, especially the Mystery Club storyline, a solid 10/10.

COMBAT
Combat in Lost Judgment is a significant improvement over Judgment. The addition of a fourth combat style might seem excessive at first, but it ultimately enhances gameplay by making battles feel less repetitive. The variety of combat styles allows for more experimentation with combos, which keeps things fresh.

I’d rate the combat an 8.5/10—it’s a lot more satisfying than in Judgment.

FINAL RATING
Was this game awesome? Yes, absolutely. Was it better than Judgment? In some ways, yes. While the story isn’t as strong, nearly everything else—the graphics, combat, substories, and characters—was a huge improvement.

That said, the main story is often the key reason people buy a game like this, and I believe Lost Judgment could have benefited from a more impactful twist to make it less predictable and more engaging. Nevertheless, it’s a fantastic game, and I highly recommend playing it, especially after finishing Judgment.

Final rating: 8/10.

He is the Judgment