As far as detective stories are concerned, Judgment is one of the best titles the gaming industry has to offer. Its narrative is incredibly deep and engaging, and it pulls the player into the world of Yakuza even more effectively than the main games in the franchise. This spin-off story has players follow Takayuki Yagami, a lawyer-turned-private investigator, as he uncovers a sinister plot involving the major crime families in Kamurocho.
Judgment offers a lot of freedom to the players when it comes to the combat system and side activities. Gamers can play in the way that suits them best. Some of these mechanics, though, may turn out to be quite confusing to many players, especially if it's their first array into the Yakuza universe. Here are a few mistakes players should avoid.
10 Losing Money On Minigames They Don't Understand
There are a lot of minigames in Judgment. Some of them are fairly straightforward. Meanwhile, others, like the games that can be found in SEGA arcade parlors scattered around Kamurocho, can suck players in for long stretches of time.
Then there are the gambling minigames. Mahjong, blackjack, baccarat, poker — Judgment's got it all. Some of them, Mahjong in particular, are not very popular outside of Asia. These may lead to an excessive loss of in-game funds if players persist without learning the basics. Taking the time to carefully read through the rulesets is a must for everyone wanting to try their luck at one of these minigames.
9 Neglecting The Combat Mechanics
When it comes to fistfighting and brawl mechanics, Judgment's combat system is right up there with the best of the best. It's also fairly easy to get the hang of it in the very first minutes of the game.
Unfortunately, due to its simplicity, players often misjudge the game's fighting mechanics as simple "button-mashing". This prevents them from uncovering the sheer multitude of combos and special moves they can pull off when beating up street thugs and other enemies. Mastering the combat system can improve one's Judgment experience a great deal.
8 Struggling With Lockpicking
Judgment utilizes a lockpicking system reminiscent of the mechanic in The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. Upon attempting it, many players woes about the difficulty of the method have resurfaced.
The trick to successfully picking locks without getting too infuriated is, as with many things in life, patience. Slowly pushing each one of the lock's weights up and gradually finding the golden middle is the best and fastest way to overcome these obstacles — even if it may not seem that way after multiple failed attempts in a row.
7 Disregarding The Conversation Bonuses
The dialogues choices in Judgment's main storyline play a bigger part than some players may realize at the start. Picking the right questions to ask in the correct order can result not only in additional skill points, but also less ground to cover when solving the case.
In the majority of modern games, players can easily get away with cutting to the chase and picking all of the options at random just to ensure that they get the information they need. However, dialogue doesn't work that way in Judgment. In this game, it's crucial to listen to what the other person is saying and figure out which questions will get the answers Yagami needs.
6 Skipping The Cutscenes
The gaming community has a love/hate relationship with cutscenes. Some players get infuriated when a title they're playing does not grant them the option to skip cinematics. Others religiously watch every single scene, no matter how lengthy or dragged-out it may be (looking at you, Hideo Kojima!).
Judgment does allow players to skip the cutscenes altogether and speed through conversations, but it is clearly not the way this game was intended to be enjoyed. In such a plot-heavy title that entails players carrying out detailed criminal investigations, being impatient with the cinematics can actually have a negative effect on the gameplay.
5 Mismanaging Skill Points
It's impossible (and outright wrong) to classify Judgment as an RPG. However, the title does have some role-playing elements, particularly when it comes to improving the main character's skills and abilities. The game is not too stingy with the skill points. Players can accrue them for even the simplest things, such as eating a meal.
This does not mean, however, that skill point allocation and the order in which one does it in are irrelevant. Quite the contrary — improving the most-frequently-used abilities and combat styles can make things a whole lot easier, especially in the early stages of Judgment.
4 Not Using The Environment In Combat
It's possible to get through fights in Judgment by only using Yagami's fists. Unfortunately, those who choose to play the game like that will miss out on a whole lot of fun that they can unleash by using the environment to their advantage.
Almost anything that is not cemented onto the ground or too large pick up can be used as a weapon. This applies to things like traffic cones and wooden planks, but also some of the more heavy-duty items, such as park benches or bicycles. Utilizing this mechanic won't only help players deal more damage, but also make the combat incredibly satisfying.
3 Ignoring Restaurants
Modern open-world games suffer from an over-abundance of content that doesn't really bring much into the game. That may seem like the case with Judgment's restaurants at first glance, but they actually serve a higher purpose.
Aside from faithful representations of some of the best dishes in Japanese and international cuisines, the meals in Judgment also come with a side of skill points. Players can use these to improve their combat abilities and unlock certain gameplay features.
2 Carelessly Investigating
Just like skipping through cutscenes and disregarding dialogue choices, carelessly conducting investigations in Judgment can set players back a good couple of hours. This becomes especially true later in the game.
The entire game focuses on uncovering a criminal plot, and attention to detail is absolutely essential to proceeding further in the game's story. Players who pay little mind to the investigations might find themselves confused about Judgment's overarching narrative.
1 Not Making Friends Along The Way
From restaurant owners to Kamurocho's homeless community, there are friends to be made all over Judgment's densely packed open world. Pursuing these friendships may lead players to unlock interesting side quests and even develop romantic relationships.
The main story is more than enough to keep fans entertained. Still, skipping out on NPC interactions can drastically limit the players' overall experience. The game's world is teeming with life and begging to be explored, so make the most of it.