Despite its somewhat serious subject matter regarding the incarceration and possible execution of the wrongfully accused, Capcom’s Phoenix Wright series has always had a somewhat goofy air to it. Phoenix himself spends most of his time in court with a hangdog expression on his face and often times finds himself surrounded by the strangest assortment of characters. Something about this mix caught on with gamers in both Japan and the US and as the series comes to a close, fans won’t find anything new in the gameplay department, just the same mix of unique, enduring characters and serious consequences they’ve come to know and love. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trials and Tribulations may not break any new ground but it provides the best told and most tightly integrated Phoenix Wright stories to date.
Any adventure gamer is familiar with the puzzle aspects of the genre where you may be tasked to destroy a water tower, but you can’t do it with the wrench or the saw that you handily have in your inventory, no you have to do it with a dandelion or a pepper shaker. The Phoenix Wright series is no different however, instead of destroying a water tower, you’re destroying the credibility of a witness in the hopes of getting your client a “not guilty” verdict. Through investigating a case, as well as through cross examining witnesses, evidence is entered into the court record. As the investigation and the trial progresses you use this evidence to elicit information from witnesses, capture them in lies, or as the game calls them “contradictions”, thereby sparing your client from what is, quite possibly, the worst criminal justice system ever devised. Each of the game’s five cases has its fair share of twists, turns and big reveals with the final case being a masterpiece of secrets, lies and betrayals.
It’s somewhat disappointing that the game doesn’t break any new gameplay ground, especially given that the first game in the series, Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney had an extra mission specifically created for the DS (all of the Phoenix Wright games originally appeared on the GameBoy Advance).
With the exception of the ability to shout “Objection” into the DS’s microphone, thereby possibly granting you your own journey through the criminal justice system should you do so on a crowded bus, the game makes only passing use of the DS’s strengths. The trial and error style of game play present in the series up to now is in full force here as well, as often times you can find multiple items in the court record that could serve equally well in the lie uncovering department. Phoenix is penalized for presenting the wrong evidence, and too many penalties sends his client to the big house with the penalties stacking throughout the trial, so presenting the right evidence at the right time is paramount. Trial and error has always been a part of the adventure gaming genre, and with the ability to save at any point in the trial, the risk of a lifetime making license plates is mitigated, however it still can be somewhat annoying to present multiple pieces of what appears to be viable evidence, only to be chastised by judge.
Long time fans of the series will remember that Phoenix Wright has always been surrounded by a large and complex group of supporting characters. From his deceased mentor Mia Fey, her sister and Phoenix’s co-worker/conscious Maya to Phoenix’s past nemesis Miles Edgeworth and the slow but loveable Detective Gumshoe, the characters in the Phoenix Wright series stand out as some of the most memorable in gaming. This latest installment continues this tradition, introducing some of the strangest characters yet including the coffee swilling, cybenetically enhanced prosecutor, Mr. Godot, an androgynous masked burglar, a cranky seed chucking old man and an evil Phoenix Wright impersonator named “El Tigre”. Along with presenting new characters, the game allows you to play as Mia Fey, defending a young Phoenix Wright before he studied law, as well as spending some time in the investigating shoes of Miles Edgeworth. The switching between various characters works very well and all serves the overarching plot of the five episodes. Fans of the various metallic samurai that have shown up in past games will be disappointed that there’s no repeat performance, however Larry Butz does make a return and he’s just as annoying as ever.
As with previous entries in the series, the five episodes that make up this game all boast excellent writing and pacing. More than any other Phoenix Wright game, the cases in Trials and Tribulations build on one another, putting forth facts and characterizations necessary for cracking the final case. It’s not enough to just remember items in previous stages of the current trial; players will need to rely on information gathered in previous cases. It’s a great addition to the game, and helps to draw the player into the final chapter as they realize how the previous cases in the game have set the stage for what’s transpiring. The only caveat is that players new to the series will be fairly confused by the various characters in the game, and should start from the beginning.
Graphically the game retains the 2-d animated look of its predecessors. Backgrounds are all nicely done with enough detail to let items stand out during investigations without need of fevered pixel hunting. Character animations are, as usual, excellent with tons of characterization conveyed via the animations. The game’s music continues to be a stand out with lots of tense, dramatic tones as the stakes heat up in the courtroom, as well as the various character specific songs that help convey the personalities of the game’s inhabitants.
As an end cap, the game does its job beautifully, wrapping up the Phoenix Wright series, yet at the same time allowing for characters to, hopefully, make an appearance in Capcom’s upcoming Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney game. More importantly, it gives the characters we’ve come to know and love a fitting send off, with a final case worthy of their various talents. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trials and Tribulations may not bring the series in a new direction, but still provides a great adventure gaming experience and a fantastic ending for one of adventure gaming’s most loveable characters.
