Pheonix Wright: Ace Attorney - 7/10
Brief
You take control of up and coming lawyer, Phoenix Wright, sometime in the not too distant future. You must solve cases using your wits and evidence that you collect along the way.
There are 5 cases in all, and each case has 2 basic elements to it - either search and talk to witnesses, or defending in court. Cases only go for 3 days (some ruling that was made to free up the courts), but each case does get fairly involved.
This game is a remake for the DS of a Japanese game that was released for the GBA, and is the first of 4 games in the series.
Gameplay
Phoenix Wright is best summed up as a old DOS text adventure with some pretty (GBA) graphics plastered on top.
Don't let that put you off though. Each of the 5 cases is extremely well written and often humorous, and in the last few cases, extremely involved.
Some of the action takes place in the "field" where you visit the crime scene and search for clues. Each clue you uncover helps you along to another clue, or another witness to "interrogate". When you have found all the clues or spoken to all the people you need to, you move onto the court side.
In court, your main aim is to listen to all the witness testimonies, and then pick them apart. What you need to do is present evidence at parts of a witnesses' testimony that contradicts what as been said. You can question a witnesses testimony by "pressing" them and asking for clarification. The more you do this, the more the witness may lie and the better your chance of presenting a vital piece of evidence that may free your client.
You can't progress without collecting all evidence and if you try and present wrong evidence 5 times in one day, you lose.
Graphics
Don't come here expecting to see Star Wars. Although well presented in a manga style art, the characters aren't animated much (if at all) and the backgrounds can be rather dull.
This game isn't about graphic design but about a text driven story. Don't let that make you think you can ignore everything though, as you must search for clues in the background art.
Sound
Don't come here expecting to hear Star Wars.....
The sound at times can be rather annoying, although it does try to set the mood of of game, especially when your doing the right thing and killing a witnesses testimony. There is some speech in the game, mainly just "Hold it" and "Objection"
I actually preferred to play this game with the sound off.
A commercial for the game, with some of the sounds and music you can come to expect. It also shows the basic annimation that is just for the game as well....
Replay
0. Zero. Goose Egg. Nil. Na-da. Ziltch.
Once you have completed the 5 cases in this game, you will never have the urge to play this game again. Once you know the storyline, I can't see anyone wanting to revisit this game.
Trust me, it will take a while for you to finish it, but the game is 1 case too long. The last case was thrown into this game so that the DS's touch screen was used for something, but it's extremely minor and the case just seems to go forever.
That isn't to say the game isn't good, but by the time you finish it, you don't want to see another Phoenix Wright game for a while.... and that's a shame because it really is a great, if not slow, game.
Summary
A great introduction into the Phoenix Wright universe and some puzzling cases to solve. Although it's very text driven and there really isn't and mindless button bashing, this game proves that court can be fun. As long as your the lawyer.....
Submitted by SLVR
08/01/2008
283
3
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Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney
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