"Realism goes completely out of the window at the start of Shenmue 3" "You can still pick out quest-giving sailors in the crowd by their hats and stripy clothes"

The most beautiful game ever made; Modernised fighting system is ace; 200+ hours of content; Ryo's new pet cricket

Non-combat controls are antiquated; Realism/fantasy juxtaposition feels odd

I've been an astute follower of the Yakuza series for two decades, and when it ended with Yakuza 6 last year, I thought I'd never get to experience a new game in the same world. Kamurocho is a vibrant

Kamurocho is still a vibrant place to be; Story is gripping; New social media app is good fun

Many of the investigations are dull; Tailing suspects is a chore

With Judgment , the next effort from long time Yakuza developer Ryu ga Gotoku Studio , the Tokyo based outfit has accomplished that rarest of feats – it has managed to fashion a franchise spin-off that not only lovingly adheres to the core template, but also one which offers something new for both...

Judgment Day The combat system is deliberate and combo-based. There's your typical light and heavy attack concept (which can be chained together), as well as grabs, blocks, lock-on, light dodging (it's not an invincible dodge roll or anything, more like a quick dash), and "EX" moves, which are...

For Yakuza fans, they're well acquainted with the city of Kamurocho. A metropolis that's as glitzy as it is seedy, we grew well acquainted with the crime that goes on as we followed Kiryu's exploits across six games (and a couple of excellent remasters as well), but Judgment gives us an interesting...

Combat Is a blast; Killer performances from cast; Music SLAPS; Tons to see and do

Story could be condensed a bit; Performance hiccups

Judgment feels too beholden to its Yakuza roots, weighed down by overreliance on combat and half-baked detective mechanics. While its plot is engaging, nearly everything that it adds to the Yakuza framework is for the worse, and it shines most when it puts the spotlight on the people of Kamurocho...

Captivating police procedural story; Great side characters; Kamurocho still feels vibrant

Detective minigames are extremely tedious; Overloaded with simplistic combat

Judgment veers away from its Yakuza roots to be the first game in the series set after Kiryu's story ended in Yakuza 6 . This time around you play as Takayuki Yagami; a former lawyer turned private eye who makes his living prowling the seedy underbelly of Kamurocho.

Plot is one of the strongest of the franchise; A ton of side content; A great new cast that expands the Yakuza universe

Combat sometimes gets in the way of the plot; Tags

Judgment is the dramatic tale of a disgraced lawyer seeking redemption in a world rife with corruption and despair.

Although I wish there was more depth to its detective work, Judgment's smooth and spectacular street fighting, eclectic array of side activities, and suspenseful serial killer-based plot makes for the best original Yakuza game of this console generation.

The most unlikely video game sequel ever made is now a reality but will Shenmue appeal to anyone other than existing fans

The open world environments are filled with detail and surprises; Surprisingly impressive visuals, given the low budget, and excellent music

Incredibly slowly paced, even compared to the originals; with very little action, banal dialogue, poor characterisation, and surprisingly little plot progression. Annoying eating requirements