Can be frustrating, fun, funny and serious at the same time!
Before buying this game, I did my studies:
- Read some reviews;
- Watched some videos;
- Pictures, etc.
And then after i was "sold" I got it (it was actually cheap! so I didn't think twice).
Thank GOD I didn't think twice!
Phoenix Wright Ace Attourney for the Nintendo DS is a port from the japanese original on the GBA so, don't expect huge interaction with the stylus and other NDS unique features (except in the last chapter that was built exclusively for the english version of the game for the NDS). As I usualy do, let's divide this review into different categories:
01 - STORY ||
The biggest PRO of this game. If you don't like to read a lot and are usually bored when reading long conversations on RPGs or other games you can close this review right now and never think about this game again. PW lives mainly on the story. And it is worth it for the story. I'll explain the basics, not wanting to spoil anything: Phoenix Wright is a new Defense Attourney and his first job is defending one of his school friends. Tricky, heh? Yeah well, aided by his mentor MIa, Wright goes fourth into his first trial and has to face the accusation... accusing (lol) Larry (the friend he's defending) of murder! Again, tricky, IMO. I'm not saying anything else as a lot of stuff happens right at the end of the first chapter, so, yeah. That's the basics and it doesn't sound like much reading but you MUST try it for yourself, after Chapter 1 the twists and turns are just priceless. The dialogue is filled with comedy and serious scenes. The court ones are my favorites because of the Judge, I bet he was born funny xD || 10/10
02 - GAMEPLAY ||
Gameplay... hm... Gameplay is almost non-existant though and this is the major CON of the game, though it cannot surpass the big PRO the story is. Basically the game runs on 3 different situations:
- Investigating: You go to the crime scenes, and other relevant places and gather as much information as you can by talking to other people and examining the scenes.
- After that you must go to trial and listen to the witness' testimony.
- And after the testimony you must Cross-Examine the witness (my favorite part) by slicing his/her testimony apart and finding the clues that will contradict something he/she said. Reactions on this can be pretty funny or very frustrating lol
That's the whole playing you'll do. There's more stuff in the 5th Chapter with the stylus and the microphone but it's not much. Ah, in every chapter you can also hold the Y button and scream "OBJECTION!" or "HOLD IT!" or "TAKE THAT!" into the microphone. Just don't do this with people around you might get sued and then, influenced by this game you'll be trying to defend yourself in court and end up in jail for the rest of your life. In the worst case scenario you might as well drag a friend or family member with you. So, careful is advised. xD || 7/10
03 - SOUND ||
The music and sounds are very well made, I specially like the "tension" music you hear while in court, it fits the scene really well. Of course not forgeting the theme songs you'll hear for each different person. When his/her personality is just dumb/funny so will be the song, this adds a LOT to the ambience of the game. Sound effects are not perfect but they do what they were made to do. Lacks voices. Ok sure, I'm asking too much for a DS Game, but I love voices on games :( lol || 9/10
04 - GRAPHICS ||
The graphics are all drawn anime-style wich couldn't be better, as I find the anime-style drawings to be the most able to get the feeling and personality into the characters' face/actions. You'll be laughing really hard with some of the faces you'll see and actions. I know I did. There's also a bit of 3D on the 5th chapter (pretty useless if you ask me, I could live without it, but hey I don't mind it at all, I just thought it was not that needed. Although one of the 3D scenes is pretty cool). || 9/10
05 - LENGTH ||
I'll admit it took me a while to finish the game (10 hours I think) and yes, the 5th Chapter felt a bit awkward in this game (though it kind of works) and I didn't have major problems going through it (just save a lot, it's an advice). You can always remember there are 2 more Phoenix Wright games out there! (already playing the second one, will review when I'm done with it). It will entertain you for long periods of time and you will NOT want to put it down... Be warned. || 10/10
06 - REPLAY?
Unfortunatly I see no need to replay this game (unless it's like 10 years from now because you probably won't remember all the story details). There's nothing to unlock and nothing new to see. So I'd say finish this one and go on to the second title. || 6/10
OVERALL - 9.0
Epic game + epic characters + epic dialogue - epic gameplay = excelent game
Go get it now if you love crime stories or point and click adventures! It's an order. NO OBJECTIONS YOUR HONOR!
Case closed. NOT GUILTY!
ok, i might just have to go get a life now.
be advised you can have this side affect, imagine you're in school and someone's lunch money just disappeared. and they're all like: "IT WAS JHONNY! IT WAS JHONNY!" without thinking you raise, point your finger at them and give a smile and shout "OBJECTION! There's no evindence on court that says Mr. Johnny did it!" and then be like "oops." when they're all looking weirdly at you! xD
- Read some reviews;
- Watched some videos;
- Pictures, etc.
And then after i was "sold" I got it (it was actually cheap! so I didn't think twice).
Thank GOD I didn't think twice!
Phoenix Wright Ace Attourney for the Nintendo DS is a port from the japanese original on the GBA so, don't expect huge interaction with the stylus and other NDS unique features (except in the last chapter that was built exclusively for the english version of the game for the NDS). As I usualy do, let's divide this review into different categories:
01 - STORY ||
The biggest PRO of this game. If you don't like to read a lot and are usually bored when reading long conversations on RPGs or other games you can close this review right now and never think about this game again. PW lives mainly on the story. And it is worth it for the story. I'll explain the basics, not wanting to spoil anything: Phoenix Wright is a new Defense Attourney and his first job is defending one of his school friends. Tricky, heh? Yeah well, aided by his mentor MIa, Wright goes fourth into his first trial and has to face the accusation... accusing (lol) Larry (the friend he's defending) of murder! Again, tricky, IMO. I'm not saying anything else as a lot of stuff happens right at the end of the first chapter, so, yeah. That's the basics and it doesn't sound like much reading but you MUST try it for yourself, after Chapter 1 the twists and turns are just priceless. The dialogue is filled with comedy and serious scenes. The court ones are my favorites because of the Judge, I bet he was born funny xD || 10/10
02 - GAMEPLAY ||
Gameplay... hm... Gameplay is almost non-existant though and this is the major CON of the game, though it cannot surpass the big PRO the story is. Basically the game runs on 3 different situations:
- Investigating: You go to the crime scenes, and other relevant places and gather as much information as you can by talking to other people and examining the scenes.
- After that you must go to trial and listen to the witness' testimony.
- And after the testimony you must Cross-Examine the witness (my favorite part) by slicing his/her testimony apart and finding the clues that will contradict something he/she said. Reactions on this can be pretty funny or very frustrating lol
That's the whole playing you'll do. There's more stuff in the 5th Chapter with the stylus and the microphone but it's not much. Ah, in every chapter you can also hold the Y button and scream "OBJECTION!" or "HOLD IT!" or "TAKE THAT!" into the microphone. Just don't do this with people around you might get sued and then, influenced by this game you'll be trying to defend yourself in court and end up in jail for the rest of your life. In the worst case scenario you might as well drag a friend or family member with you. So, careful is advised. xD || 7/10
03 - SOUND ||
The music and sounds are very well made, I specially like the "tension" music you hear while in court, it fits the scene really well. Of course not forgeting the theme songs you'll hear for each different person. When his/her personality is just dumb/funny so will be the song, this adds a LOT to the ambience of the game. Sound effects are not perfect but they do what they were made to do. Lacks voices. Ok sure, I'm asking too much for a DS Game, but I love voices on games :( lol || 9/10
04 - GRAPHICS ||
The graphics are all drawn anime-style wich couldn't be better, as I find the anime-style drawings to be the most able to get the feeling and personality into the characters' face/actions. You'll be laughing really hard with some of the faces you'll see and actions. I know I did. There's also a bit of 3D on the 5th chapter (pretty useless if you ask me, I could live without it, but hey I don't mind it at all, I just thought it was not that needed. Although one of the 3D scenes is pretty cool). || 9/10
05 - LENGTH ||
I'll admit it took me a while to finish the game (10 hours I think) and yes, the 5th Chapter felt a bit awkward in this game (though it kind of works) and I didn't have major problems going through it (just save a lot, it's an advice). You can always remember there are 2 more Phoenix Wright games out there! (already playing the second one, will review when I'm done with it). It will entertain you for long periods of time and you will NOT want to put it down... Be warned. || 10/10
06 - REPLAY?
Unfortunatly I see no need to replay this game (unless it's like 10 years from now because you probably won't remember all the story details). There's nothing to unlock and nothing new to see. So I'd say finish this one and go on to the second title. || 6/10
OVERALL - 9.0
Epic game + epic characters + epic dialogue - epic gameplay = excelent game
Go get it now if you love crime stories or point and click adventures! It's an order. NO OBJECTIONS YOUR HONOR!
Case closed. NOT GUILTY!
ok, i might just have to go get a life now.
be advised you can have this side affect, imagine you're in school and someone's lunch money just disappeared. and they're all like: "IT WAS JHONNY! IT WAS JHONNY!" without thinking you raise, point your finger at them and give a smile and shout "OBJECTION! There's no evindence on court that says Mr. Johnny did it!" and then be like "oops." when they're all looking weirdly at you! xD
