How a legal scandal forced a video game to rewrite its own identity
In short: When Sega released the action-adventure hit Judgment, they faced a crisis far more complex than any in-game mystery. A real-world arrest forced developers to scrub an actor's likeness and voice, fundamentally altering the game's international versions while the story remained intact.
Developed by Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio, Judgment began development in 2015 under the codename 'Project Judge.' While it shares the fictional Tokyo district of Kamurocho with the Yakuza series, creator Toshihiro Nagoshi intended for the narrative to be a sharp departure. The story follows Takayuki Yagami, a former attorney turned private investigator, as he investigates a serial killer known as 'the Mole' who targets yakuza members by removing their eyes. The protagonist's character design was heavily influenced by the Paul Newman film The Verdict. To enhance realism, the developers utilized real-world retail brands like Don Quijote within the game's setting.
The game's production hit a significant roadblock in March 2019. Following the arrest of actor Pierre Taki for suspected cocaine use, the Japanese market version of the game was withdrawn. This necessitated a massive undertaking for international releases: developers had to remove Taki's likeness entirely, creating a new face model and replacing his Japanese voice performance with actor Miou Tanaka to ensure the game could proceed globally. This reconstruction was essential for the global launch, which occurred in June 2019. The studio also utilized the Dragon Engine to achieve high-fidelity graphics.
Despite these hurdles, the game achieved commercial success, surpassing one million sales and earning recognition as a top title of 2019. The gameplay mechanics were specifically designed to balance accessibility for newcomers with depth for veterans, featuring a combat system that toggles between 'crane-style' for crowds and 'tiger-style' for individuals. While critics praised the plot and combat, some noted the simplicity of the investigation mechanics, which include lock picking, tailing suspects, and searching crime scenes for evidence. The experience is further enriched by various side activities, including drone racing and playable versions of classic Sega titles like Virtua Fighter 5. Players can also build deep bonds with NPCs through a specialized friendship system.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Judgment (video game)
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