Threads
- Lost Judgment features one of the best hand-to-hand combat systems in the industry.
- Combat isn’t its only speciality, as the game has a deep story.
- Despite being so great, the game remains quite underrated.
The industry is currently full of open-world games since developers find this genre the most appealing. Now, everyone is moving toward the Souls-like trend, which I don’t necessarily mind, but not everyone should do the same.
Despite the size of this industry, very few games let you enjoy hand-to-hand combat because everyone is too obsessed with oversaturated genres. I have done many playthroughs of Sifu, and sadly, it never received a sequel.
After playing a great game, you tend to find games that offer a similar experience. This led to my quest for similarly satisfying games with hand-to-hand combat, and Lost Judgment ultimately fulfilled my craving for this type of gameplay.
Why it matters: Solid hand-to-hand combat is quite rare to find in the industry today.
The Best Hand-To-Hand Combat?
After playing Sifu, I didn’t enjoy Judgment’s combat that much. The game was good overall but didn’t have the best combat. However, after reading some reviews, I played Lost Judgment, and it blew me away.
The amount of variety it has still surprises me to this day. I don’t think its combat has many flaws, as it was arguably one of the best experiences I have ever had. For someone who considers Sekiro’s combat the best, the bar is set extremely high.
Lost Judgment didn’t disappoint me a bit, not only because of its combat but also because of many other elements. There are grab attacks with smooth animations and a rush combo that looks insanely good.
You can also deliver a finishing blow and, of course, evade the enemy’s attacks or guard. However, the most fun part of combat comes from the fighting stances. You can change your fighting stance, create cool new combos, and completely change the battle style.
You can literally switch between three three fighting styles mid-battle. I can tell you one thing: after playing this game for over 70 hours, you can never get bored of the combat because of the variety on offer.
If you play Judgment before Lost Judgment, you will also see a massive improvement in almost everything.
There’s Way More Than Just Combat
This game isn’t just good because of its combat. The story, art direction, open-world, and the other elements stand out for their quality. I liked the combat and story most from this game. As I have already praised the combat, let’s talk about the story.
First of all, very few titles actually discuss real societal problems in detail. Mostly, games feature a story based on fantasies, or if they’re based on real-world events, the societal problems aren’t that well explained.
However, Lost Judgment excels in this area since it is full of such details. Even the story starts with one of the most common crimes in Japan. High school bullying and suicide also play an important in the overall story.
Fans were already so excited about the return of Yagami as the main character and the new setting of Yokohama. However, I feel like the overall story is just too complex. It can easily be misinterpreted by someone who doesn’t pay much attention to the story.
Lost Judgment emphasizes too much guilt; it tells how guilt can affect the moral compass of a human being. What would you do when the justice system fails you, and the only choice you have is to take matters into your own hands?
The story makes you question many things, and it gives you an amazing experience once you understand the narrative.
An Underrated Masterpiece
Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio is known for the Yakuza series, and it has become pretty famous now. However, fans might not know that Judgment is a spin-off of the Yakuza series. That is one of the main reasons it is such an underrated franchise.
Both games in the series are underrated, with the first being more niche. Lost Judgment received more marketing, but it is shocking how few people have actually played it.
It saddens me that there may never be another Judgment game, as the third installment was cancelled in 2021. That said, if you haven’t tried this franchise yet, I urge you to do so immediately, especially if you already like what Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio does with the Yakuza IP.
Thank you! Please share your positive feedback. 🔋
How could we improve this post? Please Help us. 😔
[News Editor]
Obaid is pursuing a Law degree while working as a content writer. He has worked as a gaming writer for over three years because of his passion for the medium and reporting the latest updates in the industry. Having played hundreds of games, Obaid finds himself coming back to Elden Ring, Cyberpunk 2077, and Red Dead Redemption 2, with these games being among his favorites. He has also been mentioned on highly regarded websites, such as Wccftech, Metro UK, PS Lifestyle, GamePressure, VGC, and Gamespot.
Join Our Community
