Lost Judgment
Lost Judgment is an action-adventure video game developed by Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio and published by Sega.[1] Released on September 24, 2021, for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S, with a PC version following in September 2022, it serves as the sequel to the 2019 title Judgment.[1][2] The game centers on private detective Takayuki Yagami, who investigates a vigilante killing by a high school teacher accused of sexual assault, revealing deeper issues of institutional corruption, youth violence, and fabricated alibis in the settings of Yokohama's Isezaki Ijincho and Tokyo's Kamurocho.[2][3] Featuring dual crane and tiger combat styles for versatile melee action, advanced detective tools like drone searches and partner assists, and extensive side activities including school club minigames and rhythm battles, Lost Judgment expands on its predecessor's formula with undercover operations at a high school to address bullying epidemics.[4] It garnered critical acclaim for its narrative twists, emotional depth in tackling societal taboos such as suicide and harassment, and robust side content, achieving a Metacritic aggregate score of 82 out of 100 across platforms, alongside an Award of Excellence at the 2022 Japan Game Awards.[5][6][7] However, the game's PC port faced delays stemming from licensing disputes with voice actor Takuya Kimura's agency over digital likeness usage, limiting initial accessibility and sparking concerns over the series' future.[8]Gameplay
Combat Mechanics
Lost Judgment's combat system centers on real-time brawling mechanics where the protagonist, Takayuki Yagami, engages enemies using a combination of light and heavy attacks, dodges, grabs, and environmental interactions, building on the foundation established in the Yakuza series with added emphasis on style-switching fluidity.[9] Players accumulate an EX Gauge through successful hits and blocks, which enables powerful Heat Actions—cinematic finishers triggered by environmental prompts or specific combos—and the temporary EX Boost mode, activated when the gauge is full to enhance speed, damage output, and defensive capabilities for a limited duration.[9][9] Yagami employs three primary fighting styles, switchable mid-combat via button prompts, each tailored to different combat scenarios: Tiger Style emphasizes aggressive, high-damage rushes suited for single-target engagements, featuring rapid combos and guard-breaking heavy attacks to overwhelm isolated foes.[9][10] Crane Style prioritizes evasion and area control, with extended attack ranges that strike multiple enemies, making it ideal for crowd management through sweeping kicks and dodges that maintain mobility.[9][11] Unlocked later in the story, Snake Style focuses on counters, throws, and grapples, excelling against armed or defensive opponents by exploiting openings for joint locks and reversals.[12] Combat progression involves earning Skill Points (SP) from battles, side activities, and story milestones to unlock abilities across a skill tree divided by style, including enhancements like increased EX Gauge charge rates, combo extenders, and recovery moves from knockdowns.[13] Battle Bonus skills provide temporary buffs post-victory, such as health recovery or SP multipliers, encouraging experimentation with aggressive playstyles.[13] Environmental elements, like slamming foes into walls or using nearby objects as weapons, integrate seamlessly, with Heat Actions varying by style and context for visceral, context-sensitive animations.[9] The system rewards timing and adaptation, as enemy groups often mix weapon users and heavies, necessitating style switches to maintain momentum without relying solely on one approach.[11]Detective Investigation Features
In Lost Judgment, detective investigation mechanics emphasize environmental scanning, stealth pursuit, and gadget-assisted clue gathering to advance main story missions and side cases. Active Search Mode enables players to enter a heightened observation state during key sequences, allowing them to rotate the camera, zoom into details, and interact with highlighted objects or anomalies in crime scenes or urban settings to uncover evidence such as footprints, discarded items, or hidden pathways.[14][15] This mode draws on timed prompts and precise aiming to reveal progression-critical information, with success tied to player attentiveness rather than complex puzzles. Tailing sequences form a core stealth element, where players shadow suspects through crowded streets in Yokohama or Kamurocho while avoiding detection meters that rise if the target spots them. Effective tailing involves maintaining a safe distance—typically 10-20 meters—using environmental cover like crowds, vehicles, or alleys, and employing subtle movement controls to match the target's pace without overt pursuit. Detection triggers alerts, chases, or mission resets, enforcing strategic pathfinding and patience over direct confrontation.[15][16] These mechanics appear in multiple chapters and side cases, simulating real-world surveillance challenges but criticized for repetitive QTE interruptions and limited variability.[4] Gadgets enhance fieldwork, including the Detector tool for scanning crowds to identify marked individuals or anomalies in side investigations, and a trainable detective dog that players can summon to sniff out hidden items, evidence trails, or untriggered cases across the open world. Disguises, accessible via a menu of civilian attire or props, permit infiltration of restricted areas by altering Yagami's appearance to evade recognition, with options swapped contextually for narrative fit.[17][18][15] These tools integrate into over 50 side cases, which expand on detective work through client interviews, evidence linking via simple deduction prompts, and resolution via confrontation or reporting, though the overall system prioritizes accessibility over procedural depth.[19][4]Open-World Activities and Minigames
Lost Judgment features expansive open-world districts in Yokohama's Isezaki Ijincho and Tokyo's Kamurocho, where players control detective Takayuki Yagami in free exploration between main story missions. These areas support diverse side activities that enhance gameplay progression, such as unlocking skills, acquiring items, and revealing lore through optional engagements. Side Cases number 42 in the base game, categorized into story-related quests, job board requests, and world exploration tasks that require tailing suspects, interrogations, and environmental interactions like drone usage or chases.[20] Completing these often integrates minigame elements, including squirrel hunts or kappa statue collections scattered across the map.[20] School Stories form a core open-world activity, comprising ten club-based narratives at Seiryo High School that players access by building reputation through campus tasks. Each story involves unique minigames tied to club themes, such as rhythm-based dance sequences in the Hip-Hop Crew, robot assembly and arena battles in the Robotics Club, training regimens and spars in the Boxing Gym, trick executions and races in the Skateboard Club, and musical performances in the Guitar Club.[21] [22] These activities demand repeated participation to advance plots, foster character bonds, and yield rewards like new combat EX Actions or extract recipes for healing items.[21] Standalone minigames proliferate throughout the districts, offering skill-based distractions and trophies. Gambling venues provide casino tables, mahjong parlors, and dice games, while sports facilities host golf courses, batting centers, and darts matches for scoring challenges.[23] Drone Racing involves customizing and piloting UAVs in timed obstacle courses, and strategic parlors feature shogi matches against NPCs.[23] Arcade hubs like Club SEGA emulate classics including Virtual Fighter 5, Space Harrier, and Fantasy Zone, with offices granting access to Sega Master System titles such as Alex Kidd in Miracle World and DLC additions like Alien Syndrome.[23] Other pursuits include Paradise VR simulations, Parasite Club rhythm events, and skating sessions for combo chaining.[24] Supplementary open-world features encourage immersion, such as dining at restaurants for status buffs and friend requests, forging friendships with NPCs via gifts and conversations for passive benefits, and using the TownGO app for challenges like photographing landmarks or eavesdropping on "noise buzzwords." Collectibles like stray cats and vending machine stickers further populate the environment, rewarding completionists with cosmetic unlocks or story insights without narrative compulsion.[20]