Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trials and Tribulations

"If it isn't broke, don't fix it"

ANOTHER Phoenix Wright game? You have to be kidding me!

HOLD IT!

Not at all. The Phoenix Wright series is one of the most creative and entertaining on the Nintendo DS. I could make a case, pun intended, that it is every bit as good as typical handheld juggernauts Pokemon, Mario, and the Legend of Zelda series. If not for limited replay value due to linear game play, that statement wouldn't even be considered farfetched. At the very least, the humor, drama, and hot-bloodedness of the Phoenix Wright series makes them a must-play for any DS owner.

A game about Lawyers? It must be boring!

OBJECTION!

Phoenix Wright is anything but boring. Comprised of a cast of dozens of charismatic, over the top characters, each case is a dynamic new story filled with more twists and turns than a roller coaster. Nothing is ever simple in the Phoenix Wright universe. Criminals don't simply kill anybody, that would be far too simple. Instead, they go to incredible lengths to pin the murder on somebody else, and on nearly every occasion they come very close to succeeding.

It's your job as Ace Attorney to expose the truth behind the deception and prove that your client is innocent, and at the same time who the true culprit is. In the crazy world of Phoenix Wright, this is even more difficult thanks to the court system, which allows trials to last only a maximum of three days, and for suspects to apparently be presumed guilty until proven innocent. The prosecution will stop at nothing to get their guilty verdict, from false testimony and cleverly designed traps, to the occasional projectile coffee cup. Everything is stacked in the opposition's favor, but you have one thing they do not: Spiky hair. Beyond that, Phoenix, like his mentor Mia Fey, has an unwavering belief in his client. It is that alone which propels Phoenix through the face of certain defeat.

Gameplay is fairly simple and split into two halves; Investigation and the Trial. While in Investigation mode, Phoenix searches for clues about his case and talks with witnesses and suspects. At some points during these investigations, Phoenix is able to interrogate witnesses through the use of his magatama, a spiritual trinket which allows Phoenix to see when a witness is lying. Presenting the proper evidence leads to learning new and valuable information. The information that he gathers during the Investigation portion is held in the Court Record for use during the trial. The Trial portion of the game is when Phoenix must defend his client through use of contradicting witness testimony and use of key evidence. The challenge of both portions is deciding which evidence to use and when, using evidence incorrectly can lead to a guilty verdict and a lost case. Using correct evidence advances the trial along and brings you ever closer to the all important Not Guilty verdict.

Trials and Tribulations offers nothing new!

HOLD IT!

It's true that T&T offers no new gameplay features over past Phoenix Wright installments, but what it lacks in new features it makes up for by bringing new characters and new cases to the already proven PW formula. The old saying, “don't fix what isn't broken” applies perfectly to Phoenix Wright. PW is at it's heart a story-driven game, and in that regard Trials and Tribulations delivers like no Phoenix Wright before. Not only are we given five brand new cases to feast upon, but we also get a chance to look into the past and see the trials that made Mia Fey, Miles Edgeworth, and Phoenix Wright who they are today.

We are also introduced to a mysterious new prosecutor named Godot. A coffee aficionado and an apparent rival of Phoenix Wright, Godot appears to have a grudge against Phoenix for reasons that Phoenix is unaware of. To exact his revenge upon Phoenix, Godot takes up any trial in which Phoenix is set to defend in. Unlike most prior prosecutors, Godot appears very laid back and in control, and proves to be quite good at instantly turning the tables on Phoenix. Godot's history and motivation are kept secret until late in the game, but I can say that he is a refreshingly different face for the prosecution.

Phoenix Wright still doesn't sound all that out of the ordinary.

HOLD IT!

As I've stated before, what really defines Phoenix Wright is it's characters and story. Each trial, each character brings something new, fun, and entertaining to the story. Nothing in Phoenix Wright is normal by any means. Phoenix's assistant is a spirit medium, Godot claims to have returned from Hell and wears a large visor at all times, and the witnesses? They're off the charts. The cases that Phoenix presides over are equally strange. A thief is allegedly in two places at once, a French restaurant belonging to a effeminate chef is the site of a poisoning, and Phoenix Wright himself has been accused of murder! Of course things are never how they originally appear, to reach the end you have to virtually exhaust the game of all possible scenarios before you finally find the truth.

In the end, you won't have unlocked any secrets or amassed any points or gained any extra lives or anything like that. Phoenix Wright truly is a different kind of game than most anything else you will see nowadays. Instead, you will have proven your client innocent and put some nut job into jail where he belongs, and although that has no real tangible bonus beyond completing the chapter, it does give you a feeling of accomplishment you might not normally get from a videogame.

So what you're saying is this game stinks, eh?

OBJECTION!

Graphics ~ Nothing too out of the ordinary, mostly consists of a single sprite set against various backgrounds. The character designs are all well made and visually appealing.
Sound ~ The music poses a nice backdrop to the game. During the investigation portion of the game, the music is relatively quiet and unnoticeable. During the trial portion of the game, the music becomes more dramatic, and when key pieces of evidence are revealed the music reaches an excitingly frenetic pace.
Gameplay ~ Nothing too complicated, but through it's simplicity lies it's brilliance. Phoenix Wright does a good job of not getting in the way of the story and the characters, which are the game's real draw.
Story ~ Fans of prior Phoenix Wright games take note, Trials and Tribulations ties everything together and seals all of the loose ends. Each of the cases are also entertaining on the individual level as well, with great stand alone stories in addition to how they contribute to the overall story.
Replay Value ~ Due to Phoenix Wright being a completely linear game, gameplay is exactly the same on every subsequent play-through. Eventually it will grow old, but luckily there are enough nuances to make playing through fun for another time or two anyway.
Overall ~ 9/10 An extremely fun game that can be picked up and played for any length of time, either for hours on end or for mere minutes at a time, Phoenix Wright is definitely worth trying for any DS owner.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 12/10/07

Game Release: Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trials and Tribulations (US, 10/23/07)