Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney: Trials and Tribulations

It has taken quite some time but at last I have finally turned my attention to Trials and Tribulations, the third game staring ace attorney Phoenix Wright. Again still using the same formula, this game still stands out as it ties up all the loose ends from Ace Attorney and Justice for All all the while providing colourful and unique characters with ever challenging puzzles.

Overview

Being the third game staring Phoenix, one can easily think that it is ‘just another day at the office’ for our spiky haired attorney. This could not be further from truth. Everything hinted at or left open in the first two games is brought into the open. As well as defending his clients, Phoenix also has to draw to a close past events.

Game Play

As I have said before, this third game still makes use of the same formula as the first two. Players still alternate between investigation (look for clues) and trial (defend and uncover the truth) modes, still use a point and click interface and still use a special item, the magatama, to further press characters for further clues to support the current case.

The only change is the difficult with the puzzles. For the most part, the puzzles are simplified thus the contradiction to a witness testimony is easily uncovered using an obvious piece of evidence. However, some are still outright annoying – especially where the contradiction is obvious but the player has disprove other contradictions before being able to use the obvious.

Despite this, the mechanic behind the game are still sound and they provide plenty of challenge without getting repetitious.

Story

Story wise, Trials and Tribulations has the largest and complex story of the three. Like the previous games, players proceed through a collection of episodes and all contribute to a larger story which is brought to a close in the final episode.

Unlike the previous games, Trials and Tribulations alternates between multiple characters. Beside Phoenix, the player also acts as Phoenix’s mentor, Mia Fey, and at one point plays as Miles Edgeworth as Phoenix recovers in a hospital. This can only be described as ironic comic relief. Miles is Phoenix’s opposite in the previous games – Phoenix defends clients while Miles tries to convict them.

Overall, the story is well rounded and deep, the characters are well detailed and there are moments when one simply has to sympathise with them as events unfold.

Graphics and Sound

Again, like the first two games, Trials and Tribulations is a port from a Japanese only release on the Gameboy Advance. As a result all graphics are 2D. Despite being a port, there has been plenty of attention to detail with all characters, new and old.

The sound is much the same as the preceding games – the effects are simple but the soundtrack is extensive. Every character presented in the game has his or her own theme, practically no two characters had the same theme.

Besides character themes, the game is also backed (as usual) with an extensive musical score. Each environment has its own theme. During times of peace and clam, the music is smooth and pleasant. During moments of action, the music is full of beat and brings forth a sense of urgency.

Overall

When I review each game, I try to evaluate individual and treat each game as standalone. When it comes to installments, it is not easy and the Ace Attorney series is no exception. The formula in terms of game mechanics has been pretty static with only a single addition in the second game. Despite this, each game has been a good experience and Trials and Tribulations proves that tried and true can still work.

Closure has been brought at last, all lose ends from all three games have been tied and everyone moves one. Colourful characters with their own nature, theme and style, an extensive soundtrack and mind challenging puzzles all blend together in what would have to be the best of the Ace Attorney series so far (including Apollo Justice).

The only problem is copies of this game are hard to come by. For those looking, the Japanese ‘best value/hits’ version has both a Japanese and English track.

Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney: Justice For All

A year later (game wise) and our favourite Defense Attorney, Phoenix Wright, is back. As well as facing new cases, Phoenix meets new people and has a few new possibilities in proving the innocence of his client.

Gameplay

This second game plays like the previous game. Again there are two modes, investigation and trial. In investigation mode, players are able to look at the crime scene and various locations for clues to use a evidence in the court trials.

Additions to the game mechanics are subtle, at best. As well as looking for clues and, Phoenix now has a new ability called Psylock. The characters in the game are guarding secrets they do not want known and it is only through the Psylock can these secrets be extracted.

In a nut shell, the Psylock basically bring Phoenix's trial abilities into the investigation mode where a series of questions and evidence is presented to get to the truth.

Additionally, as well as evidence, the player is able to present character profiles as evidence. While this expands the possibilities of solving a tough case, the expansion is still weak and overall the game play of this new game is just the same as the previous one.

Graphics and Music

This game was also once the GameBoy Advanced and was only released in Japan. Since being ported to the Nintendo DS, the graphics are still the same. Or I would say, as I never played the game in its original form.

The original game made better use of the Nintendo DS hardware by having an additional mode where evidence could be rotated and examined in three dimensional space. Unfortunately, this game does not have such an addition and apparently only has the same set of cases as its original GameBoy Advanced version.

Story

The real additions to the game are the new cases the player gets to solve. Like the previous game, each case is independent yet linked in some manner. As well as new cases, the player is presented with additional characters to the base cast.

Aside from a new prosecutor, there is also the addition of Pearls, Maya Fei's cousin. Through Pearls' interactions, the player is told a little more about Maya's family and its origins. Furthermore, one of the cases takes place in Maya's home village, where the bulk of Maya's past is learned.

Maya's family set aside, another story running in the game is Phoenix's inner thoughts as a defence laywer. Through this game, Phoenix ideas are put to the test, the toughest being in the final case where has to decide if he honestly can defend his client when all of the evidence proves beyond a doubt he is guilty.

Overall

While the game is lacking in new additions, the new story and cast still make the game worth playing. This is more of a game for the hard core Ace Attorney fans as there is not much for casual players of the Ace Attorney games. The game is worth a try, just to learn more of the characters and personally I feel this game is more immersive than the last, especially in the final case where Phoenix has to decide if he really can defend his client.

At the end of the day though, if I had to rank them, I would have to say Justice for All falls behind the first Phoenix Wright.

Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney

Ever wanted to be an Attorney? Ever wanted to defend the innocent? Do you love watching the bad guys sweat and break under the pressure?

If the answer is 'yes' to any of this, then you're in for a treat.

Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney, is the first an the Ace Attorney series of Nintendo DS games where you play up and coming rookie Attorney, Phoenix Wright. The game itself is in essence a point and click adventure game only with less clues to find and more of the puzzles are oriented towards you using your own head.

Overview

The overall premise of the game is simple: you have to defend your client from a guilty verdict by finding clues that prove his or her innocence. The proof of innocence is made even harder by witnesses blatantly lying while in the witness stand and it is up to you to find evidence that unmasks their lies.

The Ace Attorney series of games actually started out as Japan only releases on the Nintendo Game Boy Advanced. In the case of the English versions of the games, they have been ported to the DS which has stronger graphics processing and larger EPROM storage. As well as being ported, an additional, DS exclusive chapter is added to the DS version. The additional chapter makes strong use of the DS's touch screen and 3D rendering capabilities.

In the original chapters, you could only look at still images of evidence where as the bonus chapter allows you to zoom in and even rotate evidence to find more clues. There is even a finger print feature that uses the screen to place powder and the microphone to blow it away.

The main feature of the game is you get to shout "OBJECTION" or "TAKE THAT" when you go to present evidence for find a contradiction in the testimony of a witness. This has been made possible either by touching the command on the touch screen or by shouting into the microphone.

However, as I haven't played the original series I cannot tell what the difference is. Thus the question on any audio and visual improvements is going to have to remain unanswered from me.

Game Play

While episodic, Phoenix Wright only has two game modes: investigation and trial. In investigation mode, you get to interview witnesses, see the crime scene and gather clues. It is in this mode that you get the chance to find physical evidence to help you prove that the witness is lying.

The other mode is trial mode, were the game plays out in the court room and you have to cross examine a series of witnesses. As well as the witnesses lying, proving your clients' innocence is made difficult by your in game opponent: the prosecution.

While you are there to defend your client, the prosecution is there to prove your client guilty. Some case, the prosecution will do anything to get a guilty verdict. Seriously, there is not stopping them.

Prosecutors set aside, you are able to find lies in the witness testimonies by presenting evidence whenever they say something they you believe is false. Failing that, the player has the option to 'press' the witness. This is where their current line of though is questioned harder to find any more contradictions. It is even possible to greatly discredit a witness just by pressing him or her.

Story

The basic formula for the story to the game is someone gets accused of a crime and it's up to you to run between the court room and the crime scene to find evidence to prove your client innocent.

While the game has one prologue (to teach the player how to play the game) and four stories, they are all both independent yet connected. At its most abstract, the player works through three seemingly independent cases but through out each case there are references to yet another unsolved case which finally is drawn to a close near the end of the game.

As the story progresses we learn more about the main protagonist, Phoenix, and though around him. Of interest to players is how Phoenix slowly reveals why he became an attorney in the first place, and why others have taken their own paths.

Graphics and Sound

Porting set aside, the graphics of Phoenix Wright are 2D all the way (except for the evidence and some scenes in the latter chapter). The characters are anime/manga styled and they are back set by almost water colour still scenery.

It is the sound and music to Phoenix Wright adds to the mood of the game. Each character and witness you meet has his or her own theme and the tone of the background music becomes more fast paced and high pitched as your draw near revelations or stress out your witness.

Overall

In short, Phoenix Wright is a game one can play in short bursts. Though that can be hard as the game has an appeal that keeps one playing long until the evening. There aren't many adventure games these days out there thus Phoenix Wright is easy to stand out thanks to the narrow pool of its genre.

That set aside, the game itself is fine piece of work. Deep thinking puzzles, strongly styled characters, atmospheric music. All of this in one little cartridge that doesn't require large time commitments.