This review contains spoilers
I lost my fucking shit when Shirakaba took off his shirt to reveal that he was fucking jacked. RGG please never change. That final boss alone is worth 5 stars.
they weren't lying that ending was peak
I'm not a big fan of the Yakuza series, but I did have a surprisingly great time with Lost Judgment, a side series which follows a small detective agency in Kamurocho run by crazed worm collecting lunatic Takayuki Yagami and his muscle, Masaharu "drop kick you from off-screen" Kaito. It suffered from some of the same problems I usually assign to the larger Yakuza franchise, and it steeps itself deeply in subject matter that it doesn't always handle with grace, but by shifting away from the series' Yakuza pulp cinema roots to something closer to Japanese noir (which I generally prefer), it more than made up for its shortcomings.
But, like, Yagami is kind of a creep, right? I didn't get into this much before, but the way he interacts with other characters is needlessly abrasive and outright results in more death and violence. He's not a great protagonist, and although I too like shoving bugs and screws into my pockets and going on adventures with stray dogs I meet, I don't find him especially relatable. Thankfully (or unfortunately, depending on your perspective), issues between actor Takuya Kimura's agency and Sega have put Yagami's future in jeopardy, which essentially leaves Ryu Ga Gotoku two options: put Judgment on ice or make Kaito the protagonist.
I'm not sure if The Kaito Files was always planned or if it is actually Ryu Ga Gotoku doing a dry run with the character before determining whether to move forward with a third Judgment, but given Yagami's comical lack of presence in this expansion (he occasionally sends you texts saying he's in the woods looking for a divorcee) it certainly feels like the latter, and hey, you'll get no complaints from me there. I've always found him to be a more affable character, one who comfortably fits into that "dumbass with a heart of gold" archetype, but The Kaito Files puts in a respectable amount of work building this meathead up into someone who can lead a damn game. By the end of the expansion's ~8 hour runtime, I found that I was rooting for Kaito far more than I did Yagami after his own whopping 23 hour campaign, and was far more invested in his story and where it might possibly go. So if they are teeing him up, then hey, mission accomplished.
The case Kaito takes on is also a lot more compelling to me than that of the base game. While covering Yagami's desk, Kaito is approached by a wealthy businessman named Kyoya Sadamoto, who offers Kaito a ridiculous sum of money to look into the disappearance of his wife, Mikiko, who presumably died two years prior. Kaito turns down the money and attempts to wash his hands of the case, having been Mikiko's lover eight years earlier. However, after meeting her son, Jun, who insists that Kaito is actually his father, he's drawn into the search for Mikiko and uncovers a larger conspiracy involving the serial murders of Crimson Lotus gang members, who Mikiko appears to have some connection with. Kaito's personal ties to the case - his regret for choosing obligation to his criminal family over Mikiko, and grappling with the possibility of having a teenaged son - requires him to consider what kind of man he is, in turn building depth and forcing him into situations where he must hone his skills as a detective.
Not that he becomes some Hercule Poirot by the end of the game (he's much closer to Jacques Clouseau on the Detective Spectrum™), in fact when it comes time to piece the mystery together and reveal the culprit, he can posit that he committed the murders like some kind of sleeper agent. However, he's convincing enough as a sleuth that I never felt the same disparity I did with Yagami as a fighter, and it's also funny to me how he has far more composure when presenting incorrect evidence during cross examination-- like damn Yagami, sorry you're so bad at your job. Kaito is the full package and I wish he were my dad.
I also enjoyed all the side characters, with Jun being a standout. He's a bit dim but has a strong sense of justice and a good heart, which goes a long way towards convincing the player that he might actually be Kaito's kid. It's clear he looks up to him too, and Kaito assumes a fatherly role as though it were second nature, even if he is initially hesitant. If Jun didn't work, none of this would work. I also like that he is afraid of knives and passes out on the spot if he sees one, and sometimes just jumps out windows. Good kid. Mikiko's relationship to Kaito is equally as important, and her own willingness to protect others at personal cost really sold me on her being perfect for Kaito. Saving her isn't just about setting right a past wrong, but protecting someone Kaito still loves as passionately as he did eight years ago. Ryu Ga Gotoku doesn't fumble here the same way they did with Lost Judgment. It's starts as a smaller, more personal story that still blows up and goes in some wacky directions, but which remains tightly focused and consistently good throughout.
Gameplay is a known quantity, just more of the same from Lost Judgment. Combat is, was, and probably always will be my least favorite part of the Yakuza series. I just don't click with it, I don't think it feels good, and The Kaito Files is arguably a bit weaker here as it reduces the amount of available fighting styles to just two: brawler and tank. I mostly stuck with tank because the trade-off in speed makes you damn near unkillable, and being able to pick up weapons mid-attack has clear advantages when most areas are full of bikes, signs, and baseball bats. You still look for clues in first person, though Kaito - who is described as being an animal, a feral beast of a man - is able to employ his sense of hearing and smell to aide him in his search for evidence without the assistance of gadgets. Sometimes you'll be walking around and Kaito's sniffer picks up on something, so you just like, go smell a bag of garbage and get experience points.
A sore point for Yakuza fans might be the lack of side cases, which is a bummer, but given the intended scope of The Kaito Files as an expansion, I suppose it would be unreasonable to expect a large amount of side content. However, a smattering of additional cases would've been nice, at least in the sense that I like watching Kaito interact with the world around him. I enjoy observing him like a gorilla in its enclosure, and I want to introduce more variables to see what he'll do. Yet, despite these grievances, I still had more fun with this than the base game, and it makes me wish Yagami would be expunged from the series so we can just get more Kaito.
Hey, RGG, you can easily patch in a quick text exchange to explain it too. Look, you can have this free of charge:
Yagami: "Hey, my investigation is taking longer than I thought."
Kaito: "Oh yeah?"
Yagami: "I fell in a lake and got passed away, you're the star of Judgment now."
Kaito: "thank yuo ,bro"
Please just make it happen, and give Kaito a skateboard and bring back Ranpo.
But, like, Yagami is kind of a creep, right? I didn't get into this much before, but the way he interacts with other characters is needlessly abrasive and outright results in more death and violence. He's not a great protagonist, and although I too like shoving bugs and screws into my pockets and going on adventures with stray dogs I meet, I don't find him especially relatable. Thankfully (or unfortunately, depending on your perspective), issues between actor Takuya Kimura's agency and Sega have put Yagami's future in jeopardy, which essentially leaves Ryu Ga Gotoku two options: put Judgment on ice or make Kaito the protagonist.
I'm not sure if The Kaito Files was always planned or if it is actually Ryu Ga Gotoku doing a dry run with the character before determining whether to move forward with a third Judgment, but given Yagami's comical lack of presence in this expansion (he occasionally sends you texts saying he's in the woods looking for a divorcee) it certainly feels like the latter, and hey, you'll get no complaints from me there. I've always found him to be a more affable character, one who comfortably fits into that "dumbass with a heart of gold" archetype, but The Kaito Files puts in a respectable amount of work building this meathead up into someone who can lead a damn game. By the end of the expansion's ~8 hour runtime, I found that I was rooting for Kaito far more than I did Yagami after his own whopping 23 hour campaign, and was far more invested in his story and where it might possibly go. So if they are teeing him up, then hey, mission accomplished.
The case Kaito takes on is also a lot more compelling to me than that of the base game. While covering Yagami's desk, Kaito is approached by a wealthy businessman named Kyoya Sadamoto, who offers Kaito a ridiculous sum of money to look into the disappearance of his wife, Mikiko, who presumably died two years prior. Kaito turns down the money and attempts to wash his hands of the case, having been Mikiko's lover eight years earlier. However, after meeting her son, Jun, who insists that Kaito is actually his father, he's drawn into the search for Mikiko and uncovers a larger conspiracy involving the serial murders of Crimson Lotus gang members, who Mikiko appears to have some connection with. Kaito's personal ties to the case - his regret for choosing obligation to his criminal family over Mikiko, and grappling with the possibility of having a teenaged son - requires him to consider what kind of man he is, in turn building depth and forcing him into situations where he must hone his skills as a detective.
Not that he becomes some Hercule Poirot by the end of the game (he's much closer to Jacques Clouseau on the Detective Spectrum™), in fact when it comes time to piece the mystery together and reveal the culprit, he can posit that he committed the murders like some kind of sleeper agent. However, he's convincing enough as a sleuth that I never felt the same disparity I did with Yagami as a fighter, and it's also funny to me how he has far more composure when presenting incorrect evidence during cross examination-- like damn Yagami, sorry you're so bad at your job. Kaito is the full package and I wish he were my dad.
I also enjoyed all the side characters, with Jun being a standout. He's a bit dim but has a strong sense of justice and a good heart, which goes a long way towards convincing the player that he might actually be Kaito's kid. It's clear he looks up to him too, and Kaito assumes a fatherly role as though it were second nature, even if he is initially hesitant. If Jun didn't work, none of this would work. I also like that he is afraid of knives and passes out on the spot if he sees one, and sometimes just jumps out windows. Good kid. Mikiko's relationship to Kaito is equally as important, and her own willingness to protect others at personal cost really sold me on her being perfect for Kaito. Saving her isn't just about setting right a past wrong, but protecting someone Kaito still loves as passionately as he did eight years ago. Ryu Ga Gotoku doesn't fumble here the same way they did with Lost Judgment. It's starts as a smaller, more personal story that still blows up and goes in some wacky directions, but which remains tightly focused and consistently good throughout.
Gameplay is a known quantity, just more of the same from Lost Judgment. Combat is, was, and probably always will be my least favorite part of the Yakuza series. I just don't click with it, I don't think it feels good, and The Kaito Files is arguably a bit weaker here as it reduces the amount of available fighting styles to just two: brawler and tank. I mostly stuck with tank because the trade-off in speed makes you damn near unkillable, and being able to pick up weapons mid-attack has clear advantages when most areas are full of bikes, signs, and baseball bats. You still look for clues in first person, though Kaito - who is described as being an animal, a feral beast of a man - is able to employ his sense of hearing and smell to aide him in his search for evidence without the assistance of gadgets. Sometimes you'll be walking around and Kaito's sniffer picks up on something, so you just like, go smell a bag of garbage and get experience points.
A sore point for Yakuza fans might be the lack of side cases, which is a bummer, but given the intended scope of The Kaito Files as an expansion, I suppose it would be unreasonable to expect a large amount of side content. However, a smattering of additional cases would've been nice, at least in the sense that I like watching Kaito interact with the world around him. I enjoy observing him like a gorilla in its enclosure, and I want to introduce more variables to see what he'll do. Yet, despite these grievances, I still had more fun with this than the base game, and it makes me wish Yagami would be expunged from the series so we can just get more Kaito.
Hey, RGG, you can easily patch in a quick text exchange to explain it too. Look, you can have this free of charge:
Yagami: "Hey, my investigation is taking longer than I thought."
Kaito: "Oh yeah?"
Yagami: "I fell in a lake and got passed away, you're the star of Judgment now."
Kaito: "thank yuo ,bro"
Please just make it happen, and give Kaito a skateboard and bring back Ranpo.
"Good evening, I'm Mikiko Sadamoto. I'm the most interesting character RGG studios has ever conceived."
I would really love more of these short stories. They don't even need to feature established characters (although feel free to make an exception for, say, Mikiko Sadamoto). The narrative gets streamlined, the character moments get more purpose and polish. While the Majima storyline of Kiwami 2 didn't do a lot for me, Kaito's adventure here really does excel as a deeper look into one of its leads.
Still, $30 is a pretty hefty price for a seven hour experience. The building blocks of Lost Judgment itself helps make a huge game around it, but I would love to implement a few substories to really expand on these shorter tales. Not anything crazy like the mainline games, a solid 5-10 side adventures at most. Maybe something featuring more from the game's other central character, Mikiko Sadamoto.
I also have to admit that I'm not sure Judgment's gameplay works in Kaito's hands all the time. Judgment excels in fluid combat, and Kaito's a slow beast. I already find the way characters maneuver in the Dragon engine to just feel off and Kaito's giant frame doesn't help much. Maybe if we were playing a more dexterous figure, perhaps in some kind of iconic long black trenchcoat, it wouldn't feel as finnicky.
But its hard to complain. I got it on sale and never felt a dull moment. I just find the flow of Yakuza games relaxing. It always works for me.
Oh, don't think I mentioned it, but Mikiko Sadamoto is pretty cool
I would really love more of these short stories. They don't even need to feature established characters (although feel free to make an exception for, say, Mikiko Sadamoto). The narrative gets streamlined, the character moments get more purpose and polish. While the Majima storyline of Kiwami 2 didn't do a lot for me, Kaito's adventure here really does excel as a deeper look into one of its leads.
Still, $30 is a pretty hefty price for a seven hour experience. The building blocks of Lost Judgment itself helps make a huge game around it, but I would love to implement a few substories to really expand on these shorter tales. Not anything crazy like the mainline games, a solid 5-10 side adventures at most. Maybe something featuring more from the game's other central character, Mikiko Sadamoto.
I also have to admit that I'm not sure Judgment's gameplay works in Kaito's hands all the time. Judgment excels in fluid combat, and Kaito's a slow beast. I already find the way characters maneuver in the Dragon engine to just feel off and Kaito's giant frame doesn't help much. Maybe if we were playing a more dexterous figure, perhaps in some kind of iconic long black trenchcoat, it wouldn't feel as finnicky.
But its hard to complain. I got it on sale and never felt a dull moment. I just find the flow of Yakuza games relaxing. It always works for me.
Oh, don't think I mentioned it, but Mikiko Sadamoto is pretty cool
The series is at its best when the stories they are telling are small scale, centered around a few people and their interpersonal relationships. This DLC is the best version of that
A rather obvious attempt at testing the waters for Kaito to take over for Yagami if they couldn’t get the latter’s actor back but which works well because Kaito is a neat character who can definitely carry his own. Kaito himself is an interesting character in that he obviously has a bunch of similarities to Kiryu including their fighting styles, but one major thing that separates the two is that Kaito has an actual healthy sense of self-awareness to him. Kiryu has a massive martyr complex, he is always willing to throw himself into the fire time and again with very little thought of how it would affect his loved ones and it looks like he will never change. (Which is not a bad thing mind you, it’s a unique character flaw amongst video game protags.). Kaito, on the other hand, is able to recognize his hang-ups and to grow from them. The plot of the Kaito Files itself is a clear echo to the plot of Yakuza 1; just like Kiryu Kaito is dragged into investigating the disappearance of an old flame all the while protecting her kid. But it’s interesting how they play with it, mainly with how as I mentioned, Kaito, despite being a gorilla of a man, is more emotionally mature than Kiryu and ultimately the game’s conclusion eschews the usual denouements of Like a Dragon games and especially the rather bleak ending of Yakuza 1 for something quite cathartic. Kaito Files is overall just a really well done story focused DLC campaign and a great conclusion to the Judgment sub-series if that ends up being the case. Also an additional half-star for that final boss, holy shit.
After 2 years of playing this series, i'm finally caught up.
Not really much to say man, i always loved Kaito's character and even more his dynamic with Yagami made me smile but this DLC just speaks Kaito just really deserve to be happy after all the stuff he has been going through his life, not running from the mistakes that he made from the past, if it was the right thing, even the rash decisions can really make someone and himself happy in a way.
Hidenori Shoji once again cooked one of my favorite final bosses in Yakuza, so much to respect in a man who has been working with RGG since Yakuza 1, it really feels fit for him to make which could've been Yakuza 1 final boss. Both characters has a deep love about Mikoko and the last thing both of them agree on is a duel.
Not really much to say man, i always loved Kaito's character and even more his dynamic with Yagami made me smile but this DLC just speaks Kaito just really deserve to be happy after all the stuff he has been going through his life, not running from the mistakes that he made from the past, if it was the right thing, even the rash decisions can really make someone and himself happy in a way.
Hidenori Shoji once again cooked one of my favorite final bosses in Yakuza, so much to respect in a man who has been working with RGG since Yakuza 1, it really feels fit for him to make which could've been Yakuza 1 final boss. Both characters has a deep love about Mikoko and the last thing both of them agree on is a duel.
Now, how do you turn Yagami's already really cool sidekick into one of my favorite video game protags?
Give him an absolutely amazing storyline that gives Kaito some much-needed additional depth and backstory and a splendid cast of supportive characters and antagonists that all have great chemistry with Kaito; with Jun, Mikiko, Kenmochi, and Kyoya being the highlights, and the first two particularly being some of my RGGverse favorites, as Jun is one of the very few well-written kid characters and Mikiko is one of the very very few well-written women in the RGG series who actually has some agency, actually does something, has a personality, can kick ass, and is relevant and active in the story at hand instead of barely doing anything (Saeko and Seonhee in Yakuza 7 lmao) and is an absolute baddie to boot, and you got yourself a real winner amongst the RGG Studios pantheon.
The only caveats here are the DLC's lack of side-content like sidecases, the fact that Kaito gets a recycled Brawler and Beast, which is pretty much just a pretty basic and janky moveset port with very minimal additions to make it stand out (hopefully that gets fixed in the sequels by giving him a new moveset which by god he deserves) but again the fantastic story more than makes up for it, Higashi getting shafted AGAIN, and Mikiko and Kyoya not getting enough screentime, with a lot of it being show-don't-tell, but I'm willing to give RGG the benefit of the doubt, as this was their first character DLC (no, Majima saga does NOT count) which was pretty short, running at 6 hours, but hey, the lack of Mikiko screentime will most definitely 100% be fixed in future sequels, which I am very hyped to see. And let's not forget its pretty overexaggerated 30$ pricetag, which is still pretty fair when compared to Gaiden's absolutely ridiculous 50$ pricetag lol
Overall, please do check this one out when you're done with the base game if you haven't already; it is so worth it.
Give him an absolutely amazing storyline that gives Kaito some much-needed additional depth and backstory and a splendid cast of supportive characters and antagonists that all have great chemistry with Kaito; with Jun, Mikiko, Kenmochi, and Kyoya being the highlights, and the first two particularly being some of my RGGverse favorites, as Jun is one of the very few well-written kid characters and Mikiko is one of the very very few well-written women in the RGG series who actually has some agency, actually does something, has a personality, can kick ass, and is relevant and active in the story at hand instead of barely doing anything (Saeko and Seonhee in Yakuza 7 lmao) and is an absolute baddie to boot, and you got yourself a real winner amongst the RGG Studios pantheon.
The only caveats here are the DLC's lack of side-content like sidecases, the fact that Kaito gets a recycled Brawler and Beast, which is pretty much just a pretty basic and janky moveset port with very minimal additions to make it stand out (hopefully that gets fixed in the sequels by giving him a new moveset which by god he deserves) but again the fantastic story more than makes up for it, Higashi getting shafted AGAIN, and Mikiko and Kyoya not getting enough screentime, with a lot of it being show-don't-tell, but I'm willing to give RGG the benefit of the doubt, as this was their first character DLC (no, Majima saga does NOT count) which was pretty short, running at 6 hours, but hey, the lack of Mikiko screentime will most definitely 100% be fixed in future sequels, which I am very hyped to see. And let's not forget its pretty overexaggerated 30$ pricetag, which is still pretty fair when compared to Gaiden's absolutely ridiculous 50$ pricetag lol
Overall, please do check this one out when you're done with the base game if you haven't already; it is so worth it.
god dude they really made his ass SO BIG it's WILD
Kaito's very own personal adventure
If Judgment was about Yagami as a character, The Kaito Files is about Kaito.
I had the feeling this DLC throw us back to the classic Yakuza games. The very first Yakuza game to be specific, going around Kamurocho searching the mom of a abandoned child? Sounds pretty much like it.
If you ever played Yakuza 0 or Yakuza Kiwami you will know Kiryu has 3 main styles of combat, 4 counting Dragon Style. Kaito uses two fighting styles in this DLC: Buiser and Tank.
Well, Bruiser is pretty much Brawler from Yakuza 0 and Kiwami. A fast and reliable source of dealing damage to a small group of enemies. Tank is Beast focused on crowd control and damage.
What's really interesting is that most of it's moveset is directly taken from Kiryu's and that's not bad by any means. Because it works and it's the first implementation of it in the new Dragon Engine. Without mentioning is just a DLC expansion.
The story in my opinion was better than in the base game, simple and to the point. It felt more personal to Kaito and that sells it to me, not just another case or adventure totally unrelated to the character.
If Judgment was about Yagami as a character, The Kaito Files is about Kaito.
I had the feeling this DLC throw us back to the classic Yakuza games. The very first Yakuza game to be specific, going around Kamurocho searching the mom of a abandoned child? Sounds pretty much like it.
If you ever played Yakuza 0 or Yakuza Kiwami you will know Kiryu has 3 main styles of combat, 4 counting Dragon Style. Kaito uses two fighting styles in this DLC: Buiser and Tank.
Well, Bruiser is pretty much Brawler from Yakuza 0 and Kiwami. A fast and reliable source of dealing damage to a small group of enemies. Tank is Beast focused on crowd control and damage.
What's really interesting is that most of it's moveset is directly taken from Kiryu's and that's not bad by any means. Because it works and it's the first implementation of it in the new Dragon Engine. Without mentioning is just a DLC expansion.
The story in my opinion was better than in the base game, simple and to the point. It felt more personal to Kaito and that sells it to me, not just another case or adventure totally unrelated to the character.
This game was real hype from start to finish. Also another judgement game in a row with an amazing final boss? RGG remains cooking.
This replay really solidified my thoughts on how much I love Kaito and this expansion to his character, I'm so happy this exists.
Still the best romance in the Yakuza franchise.
Still the best romance in the Yakuza franchise.
Lost Judgment: The Kaito Files - Absolute cinema. The most fucked up and evil antagonist i have actually seen in video games. One of the best plot twists in RGG games. Great new characters. Peak Ending. Thank You RGG for this short masterpiece. Thank You Unc Kaito 🐐❤️
Honestly, this is what I hoped Lost Judgment's main story would be like. A brief but fun DLC that explores Kaito's backstory. He works extremely well as a protagonist and I found the mystery surrounding his predicament to be way more interesting.
Esse DLC e totalmente okay, o combate e bem simples (nada nível majima k2) além de ter uma história bem previsível.
Não tem uma lá trilha sonora mas nao e nada ruim, só é simples
Não tem uma lá trilha sonora mas nao e nada ruim, só é simples
Kaito's a chad, a dad, and has a woman that's kinda bad.
On the one hand you have a 20 minute tailing mission, on the other, you have the greatest final boss in any RGG game ever made.
Peak fiction.
Peak fiction.
Gigachad: The VIdeo Game was very enjoyable
might have the best final boss in the series and the ending is 100% top 3 Yakuza endings
might have the best final boss in the series and the ending is 100% top 3 Yakuza endings
Really enjoyed this, just as good as the base game to be honest. Kaito is great and the plot was an unexpected treat, there's not a huge amount to it in all, but it's definitely worth playing if you like LJ/Kaito
Kaito is better than Yagami which was already true but this cements that fact, still love Yagami tho and hope J&A lets us get another game with those two
GRAHHH PEAK FICTION
GRAHHH PEAK FICTION
Men are so stupid and cool
EDIT: YOU GET TO BEAT THE SHIT OUT OF YOUNG YEA??
EDIT: YOU GET TO BEAT THE SHIT OUT OF YOUNG YEA??
im actually tired of how good this series has been recently. like i was going through this DLC and trying to pick apart flaws or issues but nah it's just peak. they really made the 5 or so hours of this game work really well and i can absolutely see kaito being the face of a full size judgment game.
a lot of the plot beats are eerily similar to the original yakuza and i really got a kick out of that lol
i would pay $30 for this again, it's that good
a lot of the plot beats are eerily similar to the original yakuza and i really got a kick out of that lol
i would pay $30 for this again, it's that good
It's actually kind of insane how good this is despite its position as a post-launch DLC. RGG took Kaito, a fan favorite character who deserved more time in the spotlight, and wrote an immensely compelling personal story for him. I wouldn't call any of the mainline Yakuza games bloated (maybe 5, but personally I don't feel like it's a bad thing), but trimming the usual fat and instead writing a no-nonsense 7 hour campaign was genius.
Purely by chance, I replayed the ending to the Majima Saga last week, and it's night and day when comparing the quality of these two releases. MS was lacking in unique content with only a couple fights, no real side objectives, and no fighting styles, making it feel pretty blatantly like reused content. Kaito Files, on the other hand, gives Kaito two unique styles with a large skill tree to upgrade through, some pretty funny side content in the form of his primal senses, and an absolute BOATLOAD of fights. In fact, the Kenmochi fight is maybe one of the best in the series.
The story itself is paced to perfection, jumping from beat to beat at a solid chop. For only 4 chapters and about 6-7.5 hours, it covered way more than I expected. The antagonist's motives aren't that shocking if you're familiar with the series, but the lengths he goes to end up being way darker than I expected, resulting in a pretty original tonal structure for the series. The finale is quite good. The epilogue after it, however, is hilarious. The mix of current and past Kaito is really interesting, Mikiko is a strong contender for best female in the series, and Jun's storyline is grounded and hits the mark 9 times out of 10. Special points for all the fanservice, like the constant Higashi gags and funny interactions with other series regulars. Yagami's texts explaining his absence are a treat.
On the gameplay side, Kaito's moveset is fantastically fun, adapting parts of Kiryu (some literally canonically taken from what Kaito has heard of Kiryu) but adding unique animations and new options to make it feel very fresh and fun. There are actually a few DMC-esque button + stick motion input moves, which are pretty rare for this series. I think 0 has a few? There are some pretty funny QoL things too, like Kaito getting an upgrade to wear his disguises freely around Kamurocho, something Yagami couldn't do in either game. The boss fights are fantastic, with some really good choreography and setpieces. The overall presentation here is slick as hell. Also, KF might actually make better use of the detective sequences than the main game does, there's some cool stuff in here.
I wasn't really sure what to expect with Kaito Files, especially for the $30 price point, but it delivered way more than I expected. This is essentially a mini Yakuza game with a surprisingly tight and impactful storyline, fantastic character moments, and the usual addictive gameplay. Highly recommended.
Purely by chance, I replayed the ending to the Majima Saga last week, and it's night and day when comparing the quality of these two releases. MS was lacking in unique content with only a couple fights, no real side objectives, and no fighting styles, making it feel pretty blatantly like reused content. Kaito Files, on the other hand, gives Kaito two unique styles with a large skill tree to upgrade through, some pretty funny side content in the form of his primal senses, and an absolute BOATLOAD of fights. In fact, the Kenmochi fight is maybe one of the best in the series.
The story itself is paced to perfection, jumping from beat to beat at a solid chop. For only 4 chapters and about 6-7.5 hours, it covered way more than I expected. The antagonist's motives aren't that shocking if you're familiar with the series, but the lengths he goes to end up being way darker than I expected, resulting in a pretty original tonal structure for the series. The finale is quite good. The epilogue after it, however, is hilarious. The mix of current and past Kaito is really interesting, Mikiko is a strong contender for best female in the series, and Jun's storyline is grounded and hits the mark 9 times out of 10. Special points for all the fanservice, like the constant Higashi gags and funny interactions with other series regulars. Yagami's texts explaining his absence are a treat.
On the gameplay side, Kaito's moveset is fantastically fun, adapting parts of Kiryu (some literally canonically taken from what Kaito has heard of Kiryu) but adding unique animations and new options to make it feel very fresh and fun. There are actually a few DMC-esque button + stick motion input moves, which are pretty rare for this series. I think 0 has a few? There are some pretty funny QoL things too, like Kaito getting an upgrade to wear his disguises freely around Kamurocho, something Yagami couldn't do in either game. The boss fights are fantastic, with some really good choreography and setpieces. The overall presentation here is slick as hell. Also, KF might actually make better use of the detective sequences than the main game does, there's some cool stuff in here.
I wasn't really sure what to expect with Kaito Files, especially for the $30 price point, but it delivered way more than I expected. This is essentially a mini Yakuza game with a surprisingly tight and impactful storyline, fantastic character moments, and the usual addictive gameplay. Highly recommended.
Short and sweet, Kaito feels really fun to play and the combat encounters suit his moveset. The story is really nice and tight with no weird plotholes or inconsistencies and a great antagonist (with an even greater final fight). I just wish there was more to it but for what's there, it's fantastic.
Im being very honest, this is what I expected from Gaiden before it came out: a short but immensely character focused experience that doesnt meander around for too long while remaining true to the series' humanity. While I believe there's definitely room for side content here to improve its replayability, I cant help but admire how focused it is to bringing humanity to my favourite himbo in the series: Masaharu Kaito.
The DLC feels like RGG coming back and exploring the ideas and themes set in stone all the way back in Yakuza 1 with the writing experience theyve had for over a decade now. Kaito more or less goes through the same struggles as Kiryu minus the ten year joint: running away from those he loves, weighing how much being bound by blood affects the bonds we have and the strength we posess to fight for the ones we love. Its a clean slate to Kaito compared to the jumbled predicament that Kiryu is currently in and it really invites a breath of fresh air for Kaito to get a well deserved happy ending.
Plot wise Im happy to say that the quality of writing within the plot is just as good as the first Judgment, which I hold in high regard!
Twists are kept to a minimum this time around, I think I can only remember 3 or so and most of them are very minor. It also has probably the most heartwarming ending in the series and with everything Kaito, Jun and Mikiko have been through, I couldnt be more happy.
Combat is just recycled Beast and Brawler from o but with minor tweaks to suit LJ's playstyle and they work so well here. Like Yagami, Kaito is all about the flow and starts off slow before becoming a lightning bruiser once you get the speed boosts. One problem I have is thst juggling is alot harder this time but the weight of the combat more than makes up for that fluidity.
All in all, A throughly engaging DLC that wastes no time in relishing in the humanity of its characters by using the plot as a vehicle for character development rather than the other way around, suceeding with flying colours. Ill definitely get on the PS2 Yakuza games before Infinite Wealth, which I might cop during the holidays. Nobody does it like them man
The DLC feels like RGG coming back and exploring the ideas and themes set in stone all the way back in Yakuza 1 with the writing experience theyve had for over a decade now. Kaito more or less goes through the same struggles as Kiryu minus the ten year joint: running away from those he loves, weighing how much being bound by blood affects the bonds we have and the strength we posess to fight for the ones we love. Its a clean slate to Kaito compared to the jumbled predicament that Kiryu is currently in and it really invites a breath of fresh air for Kaito to get a well deserved happy ending.
Plot wise Im happy to say that the quality of writing within the plot is just as good as the first Judgment, which I hold in high regard!
Twists are kept to a minimum this time around, I think I can only remember 3 or so and most of them are very minor. It also has probably the most heartwarming ending in the series and with everything Kaito, Jun and Mikiko have been through, I couldnt be more happy.
Combat is just recycled Beast and Brawler from o but with minor tweaks to suit LJ's playstyle and they work so well here. Like Yagami, Kaito is all about the flow and starts off slow before becoming a lightning bruiser once you get the speed boosts. One problem I have is thst juggling is alot harder this time but the weight of the combat more than makes up for that fluidity.
All in all, A throughly engaging DLC that wastes no time in relishing in the humanity of its characters by using the plot as a vehicle for character development rather than the other way around, suceeding with flying colours. Ill definitely get on the PS2 Yakuza games before Infinite Wealth, which I might cop during the holidays. Nobody does it like them man
Finally, after two full length titles, I got to play as my favorite Judgment character, which made me super happy. The Kaito Files is an excellent DLC campaign and a great small-scale RGG story that really delves into Kaito’s character.
The story is a bit predictable, but it’s still quite strong, with excellent characters. I loved watching Kaito bond with Jun, and I loved the deeper insight we get into Kaito’s backstory and thought processes. I thought the primary antagonist was a tad generic, and it was easy to see the primary twist of the campaign coming. However, the finale of the game was excellent and makes up for the rest of the game’s lack of surprise.
Combat’s also really solid as well. Kaito only has two fighting styles in comparison to Yagami’s four, and Bruiser and Tank feel a lot like Kiryu’s Brawler and Beast styles from Yakuza 0/Kiwami in terms of utility. However, Kaito brings his own personal sense of flair to these styles, with unique combo timings and grabs that really makes these styles his own. He’s immensely satisfying to play as.
The detective mechanics have been retooled to suit Kaito. I like how they take an animalistic approach to them by giving Kaito an increased sense of smell and hearing. I do think that the game has a bit too many sections where you need to observe and find things in order to progress. They probably added so many of those in order to give you ways to earn SP, since the game is as short as it is. You earn a lot of SP during these segments, so they were probably necessary in order to maintain the game’s balance.
All in all, The Kaito Files is a really fun time. If you like Kaito and you enjoyed the main game, the expansion only offers more to enjoy. I really, really hope that The Kaito Files means future games will include a playable Kaito during the main campaign. Kaito’s quickly become up there among my favorite RGG characters, despite him being a part of the supporting cast in both Judgment games. I like this guy a lot, and I really want to see more of him.
The story is a bit predictable, but it’s still quite strong, with excellent characters. I loved watching Kaito bond with Jun, and I loved the deeper insight we get into Kaito’s backstory and thought processes. I thought the primary antagonist was a tad generic, and it was easy to see the primary twist of the campaign coming. However, the finale of the game was excellent and makes up for the rest of the game’s lack of surprise.
Combat’s also really solid as well. Kaito only has two fighting styles in comparison to Yagami’s four, and Bruiser and Tank feel a lot like Kiryu’s Brawler and Beast styles from Yakuza 0/Kiwami in terms of utility. However, Kaito brings his own personal sense of flair to these styles, with unique combo timings and grabs that really makes these styles his own. He’s immensely satisfying to play as.
The detective mechanics have been retooled to suit Kaito. I like how they take an animalistic approach to them by giving Kaito an increased sense of smell and hearing. I do think that the game has a bit too many sections where you need to observe and find things in order to progress. They probably added so many of those in order to give you ways to earn SP, since the game is as short as it is. You earn a lot of SP during these segments, so they were probably necessary in order to maintain the game’s balance.
All in all, The Kaito Files is a really fun time. If you like Kaito and you enjoyed the main game, the expansion only offers more to enjoy. I really, really hope that The Kaito Files means future games will include a playable Kaito during the main campaign. Kaito’s quickly become up there among my favorite RGG characters, despite him being a part of the supporting cast in both Judgment games. I like this guy a lot, and I really want to see more of him.
Two of the best final bosses in the franchise in a roll, huh? I love you RGG
Man that self-defense arm twist pussy hits kinda different huh
A really good expansion with fantastic payoff. It took me about 10 hours total to do the main plot and all side content. The shorter length keeps the story from becoming too convoluted like many other Yakuza narratives tend to do.
I was a bit skeptical about this DLC's story while playing it as I had immediately guessed the major antagonist plot twist at the very beginning (previous Yakuza entries have traumatized me) but the ending for the DLC was so heartwarming I just couldn't help but love it. My only criticisms with this is that they do quite an amount of info dumping, especially near the end of the story, that felt like it was just drawing out the story.
With that aside, the music was absolutely stellar, going between Kaito's two styles was nice as it felt like very similar to Kiryu's styles in his games while still making it unique to Kaito, and the length was twice as long as the Majima Saga.
With that aside, the music was absolutely stellar, going between Kaito's two styles was nice as it felt like very similar to Kiryu's styles in his games while still making it unique to Kaito, and the length was twice as long as the Majima Saga.