$\"Lost$ <\/aside>\n

Look, we like Judgment protagonist Takayuki Yagami \u2014 even though he was a bit of a wet blanket in Lost Judgment \u2014 but he’s been completely outdone by Masaharu Kaito, the man who usually plays second fiddle as Tak’s roughhousing sidekick. The ex-yakuza is the star of the show in his very own expansion \u2014 appropriately named The Kaito Files \u2014 and his superb performance carries the whole thing.<\/p>\n

Kaito is the kind of guy who listens to his heart rather than his head \u2014 an impulsive beast of a man who’s ready to pursue justice at any cost. He’s not your typical detective, then, and that’s partly what makes him such a good lead across this ten hour adventure. He also knows how to have fun \u2014 his often goofy demeanour bringing a welcome degree of humour to what is otherwise another serious Yakuza-style narrative.<\/p>\n

The Kaito Files spins a great story \u2014 even if some of the key plot points are somewhat predictable. Our hero stumbles into an all-new case which unearths uncomfortable parts of his past, making this a surprisingly personal escapade. It starts off pretty slow \u2014 as is the Yakuza way \u2014 but the stakes really spike as everything unfurls in later chapters. Unlike Lost Judgment, The Kaito Files doesn’t get bogged down in unnecessary details. Its shorter story is told at a much better pace, complete with a healthy balance of dramatic cutscenes and skull-cracking action.<\/p>\n

Kaito’s fighting style is unrefined and reckless, which makes for some brilliantly boisterous battles \u2014 especially with bosses. In fact, this DLC features several top tier encounters \u2014 arguably some of the best that the Judgment series has offered up thus far \u2014 and Kaito’s bestial approach only adds to the excitement.<\/p>\n

In contrast, the return of Lost Judgment’s half-baked and boring stealth system immediately sucks the fun out of things. Mercifully, these sections are very few and far between \u2014 but it doesn’t stop them from being crap. Similarly, there’s an overly long tailing mission and a couple of slightly tedious scene investigations to slog through \u2014 but they’re not enough to stop the story’s intensity from building.<\/p>\n

Aside from the near total lack of side content, The Kaito Files has everything that you’d expect from a Yakuza-style experience. Its shorter length actually works in its favour, allowing for a well paced story that doesn’t get caught up on overplayed plot points or filler missions. As RGG Studio’s first crack at a proper expansion, it’s a roaring success.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n