System: DS
Dev: Capcom
Pub: Capcom
Release: Jan.16, 2007
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: T
Review by Maria Montoro

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Review Rating Legend
1.0 - 1.9 = Avoid
2.0 - 2.4 = Poor
2.5 - 2.9 = Average
3.0 - 3.4 = Fair
3.5 - 3.9 = Good
4.0 - 4.4 = Great
4.5 - 4.9 = Must Buy
5.0 = The Best

Graphics-wise, the game is at least above average. Some simple animations liven up the gameplay, which involves a lot of reading and might not always be so easy to swallow. The character art is designed in the classic manga / anime style with its distinctive caricatured expressions and exaggerated gestures. This makes the game more humorous, and it also shows well on the DS, which doesn't have the best graphics on Earth. It's a good choice to simplify graphics on DS games rather than attempting to render 3D-looking visuals that can't quite get there.

This title has some interesting tunes that fit well into the different stages of the game, causing tension and pressure or creating a more relaxed environment, depending on the situation. They get a bit repetitive at times but this doesn't affect the gameplay too much. Other than the words "Hold it!" and "Objection!," you won't really hear anything else, just some sound effects that are well placed into the action.

Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney: Justice for All is a game that you probably won't play a second time but you will enjoy the first time around, particularly if you like court room drama and murder investigation. Be prepared for a lot of reading, but don't be afraid to try this game, unless you don't find the topic especially appealing to your taste. This game is not very difficult but it's not so easy either. If I could describe it in one word, I'd say it's engaging.

By Maria Montoro
CCC Assistant Site Director

Features:

The cheapest lawyer money can buy. by Philip Hanan

You want the truth? You can't handle the truth! But Phoenix Wright can! The only lawyer the world loves is back and he's got to uncover the truth among many mysteries in his new boatload of cases.

In this Phoenix Wright game, you'll run across more strangers with hidden truths than ever before. In fact, some of these people's secrets are locked away so deep in their hearts that only a psychic could unlock them. Fortunately, Phoenix Wright just happens to be one. That's right! Phoenix Wright has been working on developing his psychic powers in between game releases and can use his powers to find the truth. Just like presenting evidence in the courtroom, Phoenix can show anyone he's questioning evidence in order to break them.

In order to discover these hidden truths, however, the player must use the touch screen to play a mini-game of sorts to find the locked heart chest. Once unlocked, each person's story should make more sense and it should be easier to prove the truth in court.

The rest of the game is very similar to the first game. For those who haven't tried the first Phoenix Wright, the sequel plays very much like a courtroom drama. The game has a lot of first person mode questioning with text in the top screen and a touch screen devoted entirely to text scrolling and evidence presenting, all done through the use of the stylus.

During questioning, you'll see the face of whomever you're talking to and their text. On the touch screen, all your menus and choices are presented, such as choosing evidence. A stylus is truly the only tool you'll need to use for this game, so keep yours locked up in your DS.

Now, before the trial, even though the controls are the same, the game mixes up the drama by adding some law along with the order. You'll locate evidence at a crime scene and do all the detective work. After locating evidence and questioning suspects, you'll then take over as Phoenix Wright and help defend innocent murder suspects and other clients. You start by trying to find lies that witnesses tell and trying to find weak links in evidence to their story. After that, you'll start pointing towards the real culprits and prove your case against them. A lot of questioning and objecting goes on in the game. A fun option is the ability to actually voice your "objection" through the DS's microphone although it is not a requirement.

During the various trials the game has to offer, you'll see lots of neat, 2D animations instead of the simple first person images that often show up during pre-trial questioning. You'll also get loads of sound clips like "Objection!" You will have to go at the pace of the trial, so you'll have to wait your turn to talk since skipping conversations could result in missing important information and possibly losing a case.

One good thing about this lengthy courtroom game is the fact you can save any time. This means that not only is it great on the go, but also allows you to keep retrying cases if you feel the need. This also helps out with evidence presenting as evidence can only be presented until an energy bar drops to 0. Present the wrong evidence or useless evidence and the bar will drop. There's no way to present all pieces of evidence in one try, so think before you pick pieces of evidence.....unless you saved before evidence picking. Then, just reload your game until you pick the correct evidence right away. This definitely reduces the game's difficulty, but can increase its accessibility and replay value.

Like its predecessor, this game features smooth 2D anime-style graphics, superb in-game animations, and an evidence organizer. The sequel, however, tries to spice up the game with more cases, jazzier music as you near the end of cases, and more hilarious courtroom situations. The touch screen control scheme seems unchanged and that is a good thing since I don't think fans would want to change its simple interface.

If you played the first game, I'm certain you'll want to check out the sequel. You also might want to try it if you're a fan of adventure games or the concept of anime styled comedic court cases intrigues you, but non-adventure fans, lawyer haters, and those who hate bed-head hairstyles can skip this game when it is released in the U.S. on January 16.

By Philip Hanan
CCC Freelance Writer