Per wiki policy, Spoilers Off applies here and all spoilers are unmarked. Tread carefully.
Despite the dark subject matter the story deals with, this is still a RGG game, so there are many moments where Yagami and company's sense of justice and general badassery shine through.
Story
- To Kosuke, Yagami and Kaito might be crazy in taking on a shady business consisting of former Tojo men that are planning on selling an unsuspecting girl into prostitution, but for the legend of Yagami Detective Agency, it's just another slow Tuesday. The end result? They mop the floor with the shady men and get Keiko her money back.
- The very fact that Sugiura and Tsukumo, the former of which was inspired by his and Yagami's exploits in the previous game, decided to open their own detective agency in Yokohama is amazing in its own right. Even better that they not only respected the hold that YDA has over Kamurocho and base it in Isezaki Ijincho, but they're willing to learn a thing or two from them, too.
- Doubly awesome for someone like Tsukumo in particular, who spent most of his time at an Internet Cafe in the first game, is now taking up detective work to help out any potential clients in need. Granted, he mostly acts as Mission Control since he's not as much of a powerhouse like Yagami or Kaito, but that doesn't make him any less awesome at his job.
- Yagami and Kaito stepping in and giving the unruly Seiryo kids their just desserts by treating them the same way they're treating the shop owner in Isezaki Road. If you were (or are) a victim of bullying yourself, then it's especially awesome being able to put these brats in their place! Even better that Yagami goes about it without actually injuring them in any major way thanks to the Snake style.
- A minor one for Kyoko, but it's pretty impressive that she's able to spot a hidden camera in a place that would've been pretty unassuming otherwise. Though it's not exactly for the reason that she thinks. And then there's the fact that she has Yagami made when he returns to Seiryo in his casual outfit as well as cornering him with a nasty Xanatos Gambit that would've ended poorly for him had he not offered to be the new chair of the Mystery Research Club. Goes to show that not all teenagers are so easy to fool.
- Perhaps the most satisfying and heartwarming scene in the entire game goes to Yagami, Kaito, and Sugiura - through the use of hidden microphones courtesy of Tsukumo - stand up for Koda when she's being mercilessly bullied by Matsui's group again. Not only does Yagami encourage the other kids to stand up for her, but it's this event that single-handedly saved Koda from the breaking point! Even better that he did it out of the kindness of his heart and wasn't going to sit there while everyone else just sits back and watches Koda be treated so harshly by her peers. Even Sawa, who is otherwise very doubtful and untrusting of Yagami, is taken aback by how effective it was.
- When the White Masks try to get the jump on Yagami as he's about to meet with Sawa, Yagami, realizing he's outnumbered, decides to channel his inner Jackie Chan and uses the patio furniture to kick some serious ass, and not just in the usual way of beating them over the heads with it.
- Tesso's first fight with Yagami where he lunges with his claws only for Yagami to hit his wrist just in time to avoid getting slashed.
- Yagami beating Akutsu's ass three times in a row, even after Akutsu starts using a chainsaw and Yagami got brutally tortured beforehand he gives a final push of strength for a No-Holds-Barred Beatdown.
Yagami: I think I could punch you as many times as I want right now... And circumstances such as they are no one could even blame me.
- During Mamiya's interrogation, she tries to justify her actions when she was young by claiming "everyone lashes out at someone weaker than them" and asks why it had to happen to her. Yagami simply states that "bad things happen to bad people". While she is just a member of Kuwana's conspiracy, it doesn't justify that she doesn't feel any remorse over what got her into this mess in the first place.
- In case you weren't satisfied with Yagami calling out Matsui and co for their foul behavior towards Koda or Yagami's and Kaito's first encounter with them, then take solace in the fact that you get to kick their shit in three more times after the fact - once during the 99's infiltration mission to plant the hidden cameras in Seiryo and the other times after the fact. (Akane notwithstanding, sadly.)
- For the villains side, the fact that Soma manage to one up Yagami in their first fight, hitting him with a swift roundhouse kick square to the temple after Yagami briefly drops his guard. This makes Soma the first if not the only villain in the Judgement series to ever defeated Yagami in a fight. Furthermore, he would've killed Yagami and Kaito then and there hadn't for the Bar's owner intervention.
- Yagami finally getting Ehara to stop playing dumb and confess to murdering Mikoshiba by threatening to delete Sawa's confession to Kuwana, which is now all that Ehara has left of his son.
- After having taken several asskickings from Yagami and being saved by the latter and the rest of Yokohama 99, Matsui, Sakaki, and Akane finally pay it forward for Yagami by doing what they do best - humiliating Public Security by getting them caught on camera! Seems like Yagami finally got through to them and changed them for the better. Even better is the delicious irony that despite Public Security's seemingly untouchable nature, the one thing they can't just sweep under a rug is being publicly scrutinized.
- The Yokohama Liumang also come through one last time as they hold down the pursuing police officers while Yagami and co. make their way to the warehouse where Kuwana is at. Cue the final wave from Tesso as Yokohama 99 prepare themselves for the final battle.
- Speaking of which, the entire final fight between Yagami Detective Agency and RK. Not only is "Destination"
from the first game back in full force as "Final Destination", but it's YDA versus hundreds of RK's best as they fight their way through an entire army of Soma's mooks all to save Kuwana both from them and from himself.- As Yagami and his friends arrive, they're greeted by a welcoming party of several RK members waiting for them outside. Then it starts raining. Then Kaito remembers the last time they fought during a downpour. Now let there be asskicking.
Yagami: You guys ready?
Kaito: This whole situation's givin' me some serious deja vu.
Higashi: Pretty pumped myself. Haven't felt this alive in a while.
Sugiura: Higashi-san, were you that bored out in Kamurocho?
- At one point, Kaito, Sugiura, and Higashi hijack a forklift and ram it through the door of an empty warehouse, where they proceed to continue kicking some more RK ass.
- The final encounter with Soma is definitely this for both sides - even while he's cornered and out of bodies to throw at Yagami, Soma is not gonna go down that easy. First, you face him and several other mooks at once and once he's had his fill, he retreats to a nearby freezer as Yagami gives chase. Then the scene turns into something straight out of a horror movie as Soma pulls Yagami into the freezer, using the cold air to hide his presence until...
Soma: Stick around, won't you? (Yagami and Soma trade blows briefly; Soma tries to lunge at Yagami, but misses and then disappears; He then reappears and tries to stab Yagami from behind) Behind you.
- Yagami's speech to Soma as he defeats him for the final time and chokes him out, letting loose all his frustrations at the man who murdered Sawa.
Yagami: Next time you open your eyes, you'll be alone, without the darkness to protect you. Bando will abandon you too. To hell with necessary evils! You'll rot in a cell for the rest of your disgraced life!
- Yagami's final speech to Kuwana about justice followed by what is arguably one of the best final bosses in the series based on both the game's main theme and the circumstances. Yagami and Kuwana, both on the same side of the law with opposing ideologies and methods, settle their differences with one last fight to prove who's right once and for all. The track, "Unwavering Belief", which in itself is an awesome musical Call-Back to Ishin's "Assassination of Bodhisattva", only adds tension and emotion to the amazing fight.
Side Content
- If Yagami isn't spending his time beating the snot out of some insufferable kids, then he's helping the good ones out through the School Stories.
- The first one, in particular, being none other than Seiryo's own Mystery Research Club, where he cuts loose with his detective skills and shows just why he's one of the best detectives this side of Kamurocho.
- Not long after meeting Kyoko, he's also introduced to the Seiryo High Dance Club, and takes them from being an unremarkable if dedicated band of girls, to Idol Singer levels of amazing despite never actually having danced in his life (the Crane style notwithstanding.)
- The climax of the boxing gym arc has Yagami convincing Kenya to stand up to his dad. What happens next is a team fight with them against said dad and Hondo.
- During the Biker Gang storyline Ghost's identity is revealed to be Dan Murasaki, younger brother of the deceased Reiji. When he finds out that he's been played by the Neo Keihin Gang, he rides off in order to take revenge on them. By the time Yagami's caught up to Ghost, Kasai and the rest of his thugs have been reduced to a quivering mess. Later, during the end of the School Stories storyline Yagami calls in Ghost as backup to guard Itokura's mother's hospital room. When Ghost shows up, Kasai damn near pisses himself and insists that Sakakiba and the others run instead of trying to fight him.
- How about the finale to the School Stories, where after realizing Itokura is in huge danger, Yagami decides to once again summon aid from his new friends to put an end to the chaos once and for all. Despite knowing about how she was responsible for them nearly getting expelled (or in some cases, nearly killed), once Yagami came knocking, they knew they had to help. From Kenya getting Todoroki and the other boxers to provide backup, to Suou rallying pretty much all of Made In Heaven to aid in the search, and even the Rabbits pulling their weight by going out and about around Ijincho, and them leading Yagami to her whereabouts. Just when it looks like Koga has them cornered however, it's the Robotics Club's turn to be awesome, as that thief robot that they used as leverage against them and as a way to get easy money is used to disarm a bunch of trained and dangerous gangsters before they could even react. Goes to show how much they've all grown under Yagami's tutelage.
- Once again, the Amon Clan is back at it again with Juzo, Shin's older twin, taking the reigns for this game's Amon encounter. And when even Shin, who was so badass he tanked your framerate (on the PS4 version, anyway) in the last game, goes on to get curb-stomped by his older brother, you know it's gonna be good.
Gameplay/Other
- As per usual, Yagami is one of the slickest and most stylish video game protagonists to play since Dante and arguably RGG's flashiest fighter since Akiyama. Not only are his juggling capabilities improved tenfold here, but he can also switch between three different fighting styles on the fly a la Kiryu and Majima.
- The Crane Style is Yagami channeling his inner Capoeirista as he wails on hapless groups of enemies with his kicks and the very stylish Sky Dancer - a jumping maneuver that not only has loads of utility, but when fully upgraded, can also dodge bullets completely as well!
- The Tiger Style is as devastating as it is ferocious. Not only can Yagami put some serious hurt on any mook unfortunate enough to be caught in the path of its Charged Attacks, but he can also annihilate them with the infamous Flux Fissure which, when properly timed, can send the poor sap that gets caught in its path flying!
- And finally, new to this game is the very graceful and stylish Snake style. This is a technique that Yagami not only developed himself, but for a self-defense style that is dedicated to disarming enemies and less-than-lethal takedowns, it is exceptionally stylish, as Yagami can accomplish feats like pinning an enemy onto the wall and going full-on Ip Man on their ass while they're glued to the wall upside-down! Being a Technical Pacifist has never felt this good!
- Want to channel your inner Hajime no Ippo while ferociously overwhelming anyone who gets in your way? The Boxer style is more than capable of filling your endorphin high as you effectively mop the floor with anyone unfortunate enough to cross your path. Rock out with the amazing "Tough Cuss" for added effect, by the way.
