#Dual destinies objection series#

#Dual destinies objection series#

Ace Attorney is one of those series that gets better with each successive game, simply because its quality has not flagged. Wisely, recurring NPCs are used sparingly but effectively, but references to past trials, characters, and in-jokes abound, including the series standby about a manner of vertical conveyance (to step or not to step?). This might be a boon to those who often hit walls during the detective phase of the game, but the flavor text and banter during meaningless investigation is a loss for fans who poke at every point of interest (and answer questions incorrectly) to uncover every bit of dialogue.Īnd for the fans this game is. Plus, only locations pertinent to the case at hand are examinable, further facilitating the process. The widely-maligned investigation phases have been streamlined, with a Notes tab joining Profiles and Evidence during investigations to ensure that one never gets lost or stuck. Athena brings the examination of emotions to the bench, complementing Phoenix’s magatama and Apollo’s bracelet in its ability to tear apart witness statements. Courtroom duels with the prosecution return, involving cross-examinations, presentation of facts, and much yelling, gallery murmuring, and gavel banging.

This combination of old and new is evident in the gameplay mechanics as well. Original compositions for the game, such as cross-examination, investigation, and Athena’s theme work together with the new art to deliver a rousing return to the Ace Attorney universe. Numerous classic tracks have been rerecorded with a mix of physical and digital instruments, including the signature songs of Phoenix Wright (heroic to the end), Apollo Justice (with a phenomenal piano version heard in the field), and Trucy Wright (which was butchered, but still). All members of the court get revamped Chords of Steel with new voice clips, and while the voice acting in the fully animated cutscenes is iffy at times, their in-game soundbites are as energetic as ever. The audio in the game has also benefited from the generational leap. Stereoscopy is used to great effect, from hand-drawn cutscenes, environmental dioramas viewable from various angles, and dynamic finishing poses. The dramatic frame-by-frame shifts in animation return, which helps greatly in setting the tone for the art direction. I was astounded to see how accurate the shift has been for the Ace Attorney cast– the body language of the returning characters is identical to their original sprite art, with new tells thrown in for good measure. The transition from sprites to polygonal artwork in beloved franchises has been hit ( Professor Layton and the Miracle Mask, Pokémon X and Y) or miss (pretty much anything on Nintendo 64). Despite the title change, Phoenix isn’t the only playable character- fellow defense lawyer Apollo continues to play a major role after debuting in the last game, and new assistant-cum-attorney debutante Athena Cykes is a worthy addition to the Wright Bat-family.įor the series’s premiere on 3DS, Capcom used its MT Framework Mobile engine, which has proven its graphical prowess in Super Street Fighter IV, Resident Evil: Revelations, and Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate. Set in the year following the events of Apollo Justice, Dual Destinies sees Phoenix Wright restored to top billing after being readmitted to the bar. Bearing testimony to its pedigree, Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Dual Destinies carries the torch with aplomb. The first four Ace Attorney titles are bastions in the Nintendo DS library, and rightfully so. The former was instrumental as an interface for investigation and navigation, and the latter allowed players to shout “Objection!” with abandon like any self-respecting lawyer should. Despite the first three games’ beginnings on the Game Boy Advance, they held up well on the dual-screen handheld, helped immensely by the DS’s touchscreen and microphone. Also, Chris abandons his sportcoat early, Cody targets a specific player, Dave gets gussied up for the night, and Shaun's future is so bright he needs shades.On the Nintendo DS, the Ace Attorney games served as excellent introductions to the Japanese visual novel (and the adventure genre in general), with their unforgettable cast, serialized plots, and thrilling courtroom drama. The gang runs its custom game show for the second time, this time with all new games and a new contestant as well.