Published , by Chris Jarrard
Published , by Chris Jarrard
The Yakuza series has been a gaming mainstay ever since its debut on the PlayStation 2 in the mid-2000s. Following a string of sequels, prequels, and remakes, the team at Sega is planning to bring their new Yakuza spin off, Judgement to North American shores, exclusively on the PS4. We got a chance to sit down with Jonathon Stebel of Sega of America to get the low down on what Yakuza fans and newcomers can expect from this new entry in the franchise.
The story is always the big draw for the Yakuza games and Judgement is no different. The official synopsis from the game’s official website lays out the stakes for protagonist Takayuki Yagami:
A lawyer pulls off a miracle, only to have the verdict cost him everything. Now, as a string of murders casts a shroud over the city and the law begins to fail, justice cannot afford to be blind.
The son of a murdered lawyer, Takayuki Yagami was raised on the streets of Kamurocho by a yakuza patriarch who paves the way for Yagami to follow in his real father's footsteps. Taking a job at the Genda Law Office, Yagami accepts a high-profile case: Proving Shinpei Okubo, a man suspected of murder, innocent.
Against all odds, Yagami succeeds and is hailed as a hero, but his prolific career is short-lived. Only months later, Okubo brutally murders his girlfriend, stabbing her over ten times with a kitchen knife before setting their apartment on fire. Yagami becomes the lawyer who let a murderer walk - and everything he had worked for comes crashing down.
Three years later, Yagami has taken off his lawyer's badge to run a small detective agency in the red-light district of Kamurocho, scraping by on odd jobs and evidence collection. But even a city as seedy as this is shaken by a string of serial murders, where the victims' bodies are discovered with their eyes gouged out. Yagami is drawn into the case by his old law firm, where he discovers that in order to bring this killer to light, he must seek the truth that slipped from his grasp three years ago. But can a man haunted by his failures prevail over his own past?
You can jump into the action for yourself when Judgement launches on PS4 in North America on June 25.
For a ton of coverage on gaming and technology, check out the Shacknews and GamerhubTV YouTube channels. There you'll find exclusive interviews, demos, and event coverage. You'll also find exclusive walkthroughs, gameplay video, and more. Subscribe to both channels and stay tuned to Shacknews for gaming and tech updates.