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3.5 stars
Very good
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Product summary
Justice for All is a good, lengthy adventure with great character-driven storylines, but it fails to build upon the promising groundwork laid by the first game.
Specifications: ESRB: Teen; Genre: Adventure; Number of players: 1 Player See full specs
Price range: $9.89
Gamespot editors' review
- Reviewed on: 01/16/2007
- Released on: 01/16/2007
Though it only made its first appearance in North America last year, Phoenix Wright (or Gyakuten Saiban) has been a popular series for the Game Boy Advance in Japan for quite some time. The first game released outside of Japan, Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney had all four of the cases found on the Japanese GBA game plus a Nintendo DS-exclusive case that made more extensive use of the handheld's touch screen and improved graphical capabilities. Thanks to an engrossing story, endearing characters, and engaging gameplay, the game was a surprise hit. Now the second game, Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Justice for All, has been released, and like its predecessor, the story is top-notch and the characters are great. But the game fails to live up to the original in several ways. None of the cool DS-exclusive features introduced in the final case of the previous game are here, and far too often the game attempts to create intrigue and suspense with the same types of twists and turns from the original. Justice for All is still a very good game, but it's hard not to feel as if it's a step backward for the series.
Justice for All is a story-driven adventure in which, once again, you play the role of Phoenix Wright, a defense attorney renowned for his belief in his clients' innocence, as well as his ability to translate that belief into a verdict of "not guilty." And, once again, you'll be exclusively defending people accused of murder. After you're presented with the facts and take the case, it's up to you to visit different locations to look for clues and interview witnesses. When you've gathered all the information you can find, it's off to court, where you'll have to pull out all the stops to prove your client innocent. As they were in the first game, the cases are fascinating; there's rarely a dull moment. In fact, the pacing is slightly better here. Over the course of the game's four cases, you'll defend a policewoman accused of killing another officer; help an old friend who's in a tight spot; get to the bottom of a murder in which the perpetrator levitated from the crime scene; and even question your own moral fiber in the harrowing final case.
What made the first game great, and what's without a doubt this game's biggest strength, is the characters, many of whom return from the first game. It really does feel as if you're catching up with old friends the first time you see Maya and Mia Fey, the Judge, Detective Gumshoe, Lotta Hart, Will Powers, and even crusty Ms. Oldbag. You'll also find out what Miles Edgeworth has been doing, and you'll even take on Von Karma in court. You certainly get more from this game if you played the first one, but the game generally does a decent job of providing enough backstory that you'll understand what's going on with the returning characters. But it's not all about the returning folks; many of the new people you meet along the way prove to be just as endearing as those from the first game. There are the zany performers from the Berry Big Circus, the "director" nut job at the Hotti Clinic, and little Pearl, who is about as cute and adorable as a video game character can get.
As you did in the first game, you use the touch screen to examine profiles, view evidence, press witnesses for more information, and, of course, raise objections so that you may present evidence. You can really get into character by yelling "Objection!" into the DS's microphone. However, you can't object anytime you want to; you need to be prepared to back up your statement. You lose health when you're unable to substantiate a claim, and when you run out of health you'll have to start from the last save point. The big new feature in Justice for All is the "psyche-lock," where you'll literally see chains and locks appear over a person when they have a secret that they don't want to share. To break these locks and reveal the truth you'll need to collect evidence and then confront them with said evidence until they break down and spill the beans. The psyche-locks are an interesting addition to the mix, but as the sole "big" new feature, they're underwhelming.
Continue reading- See more CNET content tagged:
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- Game Boy Advance
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Where to buy
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Justice for All (DS):
$9.89
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