In 2018, the Yakuza series got a new spin-off in Judgment. Now, the second game in that action series, Lost Judgment, is here. And while veterans to the franchise might not find it particularly challenging, newcomers will have a lot to catch up on as they take on the role of detective Takayuki Yagami and search for the truth behind a particularly brutal murder in Yokohama's Isezaki Ijincho district.
Here are the seven essential things newcomers need to know for Lost Judgment.
Stock Up on Healing Items Early
One of the best things players can do early on in Lost Judgment is stock up on healing goods at any takeout restaurant or convenience store, which are marked on the map with a shopping cart symbol. Each of these shops has a variety of food products that Yagami can eat during battle to heal. Just how much any item heals depends, but bentos and other larger, more expensive meals are a good choice.
While the number of Yakuza franchise healing staples like Toughness and Staminan are pretty limited in terms of how many Yagami can carry, he's often able to buy 10 of food items that heal as much damage. As such, regular food items have basically replaced those drinks and is now invaluable for surviving battles. Yagami can pause combat at pretty much any time to eat, and players should eat whenever Yagami's health goes red during a battle. Damage can build up quickly, and it's the simplest way to get a game over.
Switch Things Up During Combat to Earn More SP
In Lost Judgment, Yagami has a choice between one of three styles: Crane, Tiger and Snake. Crane is generally meant to deal with groups, Tiger is great against single opponents and Snake is a defensive style that can dish out some good damage. Lost Judgment gives a big SP (the game's version of experience) incentive for defeating enemies with all three of the styles in a single fight, so switch between them in combat.
Start with Crane and then move into Snake. Then, finish off the last fighter with Tiger. From there, players should figure out just how they like to fight. Experimentation is a big part of getting good at Lost Judgment's combat, and the game absolutely rewards the player for trying out everything it has to offer.
Spend SP Points Tactically
The Skills menu -- which is accessible through Yagami's phone -- has a lot of abilities to choose from, but not all of them are created equal, with many being quite situational. Which ones to prioritize depends on preference, but getting the baseline health and damage upgrades from the Stats section early is a good choice, as they give the most bang for their buck. Players should also invest in Tiger's "Flashing Palm" and Snake's "Overwhelming Parry" and "Agonizing Strike" sooner rather than later, as they'll prove useful in combat. Additionally, while Lost Judgment gives players a lot of SP for battle, the Battle Bonus upgrades in the Stats area really help with getting stronger quicker.
Disarm Bad Guys and Out Weaker Enemies First
Initially, groups of enemies are unarmed. However, as Lost Judgment progresses, more and more of Yagami's foes are going to use weapons. In a difficult combat situation, prioritize disarming enemies with Snake style. This will also net the player an easy SP boost.
Not every enemy can be disarmed, though. Particularly powerful foes will resist Yagami's attempts to take away their weapons. Instead of trying to disarm them, use Snake style to be more evasive, as blocking a knife still means getting stabbed. Additionally, in battles with a single strong enemy and a number of weaker fighters, take out the latter first. It's easier to focus on a single strong enemy when his weak compatriots aren't randomly punching Yagami in the back.
Take Things Slow and Play Mini-Games
Lost Judgment has a lot to do, and the game's plot can get quite heavy. The game will often generally let Yagami go where he wants so that he might do side-quests or play mini-games. Players should definitely take advantage of that and spend time exploring Isezaki Ijincho and Kamurocho. There's a lot to do and unlock, but pretty much everything can net Yagami items, SP and money.
Mini-games don't all have to be done at once, but doing what one can is a good way to get a lot of great items that can help make the rest of the game much easier. There's also a lot of content the main quest just doesn't unlock or even reference, so exploring is a great way to see all Lost Judgment has to offer.
Not Everything Unlocks Right Away
On occasion, Yagami might find something or Isezaki Ijincho or Kamurocho, like the squirrel graffiti littered across both districts. Those actually unlock through a later quest -- and that's the case for a number of things in Lost Judgment. If it's not totally clear where something is or what it does, continue on with either the main quest or any number of sid- quests. There's a ton of content hidden in the School Stories, but it takes a lot of time to unlock. Sometimes, it's better to progress the main quest or a side-story rather than trying to figure out just what something might do or mean.
Side Quests Are a Great Way to Earn Money
Lost Judgment's main plot gives the player a lot of money, but the game's various side-quests give even more. For example, an early side quest called "Paradise VR Unlocked!" will do exactly what the name says. Playing Paradise VR can can make Yagami rich after only one or two plays. While there are a lot of places to spend money in Lost Judgment, side-quests recoup any and all losses in a big way. Plus, they're a lot of fun and showcase the Yakuza franchise's wacky humor in full force.
In early access now, Lost Judgment releases Sept. 24 for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S.