Apollo Justice Ace Attorney

[Only One In All]

Just finished the game. Throughly impressed, as usual the last case is the best of em all (and this one will really impress for reasons I will disclose). Second case was weakest, although it doesn't mean it's bad by a long shot. Nice usage of 3D video and takes advantage of the DS much more than the fifth case of the first game did.

If they come out with a fifth game, I don't know how they're going to top this, but this is one series where each sequel doesn't get worse, but better!

[JSH357]

Thoughts so far (Done with Case 1, a little way into Case 2):


At the moment, I'm kind of confused. Case 1 didn't really give us a chance to get to know the new cast, as Phoenix pretty much hijacked the trial. I don't know if I buy Phoenix fabricating evidence and giving up being an attorney just yet. If there's a good explanation in-game, it could make sense. Right now I feel cheated. Apollo seems likeable enough, but again, we really can't tell anything about the guy at this point. I'm much more interested in knowing the details of "that case" that cost Phoenix his badge. The only thing about Apollo that interests me is his Healing Touch-esque ability (perhaps he's realted to the Fey clan?) Speaking of which, who did Phoenix bone? After PW3 I was assuming it would either be Maya or Iris, but anything's possible.

Gumshoe being replaced by Ema hurts my feelings a little, honestly. I'll give her a chance, of course. Good to see the judge and Payne are still around, though Payne wasn't as funny as usual.

I was kind of shocked by all the perverted humor right at the beginning of Case 2. Not saying it's objectionable or anything, but it's very un-Ace Attorney. Hopefully they're going somewhere with it.

The music is great, but not as exciting as we've come to expect. Visuals are the best in the series so far.

Overall: I'm not sure what to think yet. I'll report more later. Granted, my expectations are impossible to live up to after the epic masterpiece that was PW3.

[Uncommon]

To the second case's credit, when you find out what the deal is with Big Wins' eyes, I swear I laughed for two minutes straight.

[Only One In All]

You will eventually play the case where Phoenix lost his attorney badge. Phoenix never boned anyone. Ema is not as cool as Gumshoe, but fortunately we do get to see Gumshoe again.

I was surprised by the talk of panties in Case 2 as well, but the direction they took it with was pretty funny.

Also, here's a big big spoiler for fans of the first three games -

You eventually get to play as Phoenix Wright, coupled with the original Ace Attorney music and all for a brief part of a case.

And in case three, this isn't as big of a spoiler but a very funny bit involving the judge -

When Apollo talks about how extremely powerful the murder weapon is, he gives an example by saying that if the judge were to fire it he'd break every bone in his body, and the judge states "T-the defense will take more care in choosing examples!" I just thought that was hilarious.

[Uncommon]

If they come out with a fifth game, I don't know how they're going to top this...

This is honestly something I've thought not only after beating each game, but practically each case! This is why I love the Ace Attorney games, because they set a standard with each chapter that the next one's gotta top, and always does. When I played the first one, I completely expected to see credits at the end of the second case. Then I expected credits at the end of the fourth case, and even got them. When I realized there was a fifth case after that, I just knew it was a huge thing ahead of me.

Now, if they make a fifth game, I've gotta wonder how they're gonna work in the Jurist system. That could have a huge impact on the whole basis of the courtroom gameplay if they take it as far as they could. At the end of the game, the person who seems to be in the most transitional period is Phoenix, so I wonder what they'll do with him...

It's also really fun when it takes Apollo and Klavier forever to reach conclusions I came up with immediately, like the obvious fact that saving the poisoned stamp for seven years could've been an accident, or when Kristophe is telling me I can't convict him without evidence, though we're in the Jurist System test.

[JSH357]

This is honestly something I've thought not only after beating each game, but practically each case! This is why I love the Ace Attorney games, because they set a standard with each chapter that the next one's gotta top, and always does. When I played the first one, I completely expected to see credits at the end of the second case. Then I expected credits at the end of the fourth case, and even got them. When I realized there was a fifth case after that, I just knew it was a huge thing ahead of me.

Well, to be fair, Case 5 wasn't added in until after PW3 had come out, so it doesn't actually count (even though it's canon now).

[Only One In All]

Now, if they make a fifth game

You mean, WHEN they make the fifth game! Look up Ace Attorney 5 on Google, looks like what I said previously with 'if' is invalid.

The question for me is, WHEN is it gonna come out, so I can start fantasizing about it and waiting impatiently for it so I can spend more sleepless nights playing it?

[Uncommon]

Well, I finally have the second one in the mail, so that'll tide me over for a couple days. Out of however many months.

[JSH357]

Finally finished the game. It was good, and I was pretty satisfied with Phoenix's transformation after seeing 4-4. I don't get why so many people are saying 4-4 is a disappointing resolution, as it has pretty serious implications for Klavier, Phoenix, Apollo and Trucy.

Overall, I'd say the game is better than PW2, not as good as the others. Four issues really stuck out to me:
1) More reading than usual. It wasn't always a problem, but sometimes they would reiterate points to death after I had already made logical leaps from the very first time.
2) There are several times when Apollo explains his reasoning for things that would have been more fun if I could have presented evidence. This happened in the other games too, but seemed to happen a lot in AA4.
3) TOO MANY FLASHBACKS. Good night, if they're going to flash back, they should only show a quick text box.
4) Perceiving is ANNOYING. If the eye window were a little bigger, it'd be a lot less so and I'd have no complaints. Took forever to find Brushel's sweaty armpits.

Other than that, it's good stuff. 4-1 and 4-4 are among the best cases in the series. 4-2 is a pretty good fillerish case and 4-3 is great sometimes, dumb other times.

I liked the final spoiler a lot.