This week, Sega and Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio’s masterpiece detective drama, Judgment, finally lands on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and Stadia. Originally released on the PlayStation 4 in 2019, Judgment follows former lawyer turned private investigator, Takayuki Yagami, as he weeds through a spree of serial murders in Kamurocho.
In case you missed Judgement the first go-around, the upcoming PS5, Series X/S, and Stadia versions make it the perfect time to try one of the best games in recent years. Here are 3 reasons to be excited about Judgment’s next-gen upgrade.
Performance
Reasons to be Excited About Judgment PS5 Upgrade
Chief among the enhancements in Judgment’s next-gen release is of course performance. Due to the demand of the Dragon Engine and the myriad of particle effects, Judgment ran on the PS4 at a locked 30 FPS.
That is no longer the case, as the enhanced edition is aiming for a steady 60 FPS this time around. Not only will Kamurocho look and feel more alive than it ever has in 60 FPS, but Judgment’s frenetic, style-switching combat is also going to feel all the more responsive.
Like the Yakuza series, Judgment employs style-switching that allows the player to change tactics mid-fight based on a particular encounter. The Tiger style uses slower, more focused attacks that are better equipped to handle one-on-one fights, while the Crane style is more fluid and acrobatic to take on large groups. While combat always felt great in the original release, a fully locked 60 FPS can only refine what was already a great combat system.
Visuals
Reasons to be Excited About Judgment PS5 Upgrade
Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio has always had a knack for making Kamurocho feel alive. Crowds of people going about their daily lives, and the sounds of various shops and arcades as a backdrop. With Judgment, this setting is as alive as ever with the power of the Dragon Engine.
Sunlight basks over Kamurocho providing realistic shadows and dust particles within indoor areas. At night, when Kamurocho truly comes alive, neon lights bounce off the damp city streets that lean into that classic noir attitude.
For all of its beauty, Judgment did have some sore spots, especially when it came to textures when it was released on PS4. Certain objects, when observed up close, would come across as a bit low-res. Thanks to the power of the PS5, though, everything will look even more realistic, thanks to the improved frame rate and graphics that the game will have on the next-gen console.
Availability
Reasons to be Excited About Judgment PS5 Upgrade
Judgment was only released on PS4 when it came out in 2019, sorely limiting the opportunity for the growing Yakuza audience to experience Yagami’s story. Luckily, with this 2021 re-release, not only will Judgment be available on PS5, but it will see its debut on Xbox Series X/S, and Stadia.
Experiencing Judgment’s gripping detective drama is now all the easier and any fan of Yakuza should not sleep on this spin-off. Takayuki Yagami is no Kazuma Kiryu, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
As a former defense lawyer turned private eye, Yagami is forced to navigate the morally gray areas of detective work as he works outside the law to catch a serial killer. While the staple Yakuza shenanigans will ensue, Judgment tells a story of loss and redemption that stands apart from the tongue and cheek, action movie plots of the Yakuza games.
Judgment may take place in a familiar setting and include all the classic Yakuza elements, but its story and an incredible cast of characters make it a completely fresh experience, and one of the best from Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio.
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