Whenever some one uses the word law, it sends a mind numbing cringe through most people’s thoughts. But when it comes to entertainment, the prospect of law in terms of courts becomes exciting, wondering what the jury or judge will think.
The Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney series does just that. A video game that focuses on the player being the defense attorney for the entirety of the game.
As the defense attorney, there have been many throughout the series itself, but you primarily play Phoenix Wright for the first three games (out of six if you include the Japanese-only release).
You must prove their client’s innocence in numerous (and hilarious) ways. However wrong moves can send your client straight towards the guilty verdict and game over.
On Thursday, October 24, the seventh game of the franchise, Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Dual Destinies for the Nintendo 3DS is set to release via Digital Download. It also is the first of the seven games to receive an Mature (M) rating tag. This game takes place several months after the fourth game of the series, Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney. Many main characters from past games return in while you try figuring out these court cases and how your client’s verdict will come out.
Like the other games in its series, it is a game that is supposed to make the player think about evidence and what pertains to where. Undertones in the series are dark, but the game producers still give it a sense of lightheartedness with characters that will be sure to make you remember them.
In Dual Destinies, it introduces two new main characters with supposedly enthralling backgrounds, which from what I have seen, are the cause for the rating of this game.
The first of these two is a fresh, just out-school defense attorney named Athena Cykes. Not only is she playable in one case within the game, but she also helps the defense attorney of your current case as an assistant if you ever need her help!
The second character introduced is Simon Blackquill, the primary prosecutor of Dual Destinies. Unlike other prosecutors in the series, Blackquill is a convicted murderer.
Yes, this a Japanese game, and never ever take these cases seriously. This game is supposed to have shockers like this, which remind you, the player, that it is not supposed to be like reality.
Two new features in this game are cinematic cut scenes with voice acting and a brand new system that will help in court cases during the game.
In the demo of the game, released on October 1, it showcased a new cinematic trailor with their English voice actors. I was holding my breath to hear who they would pick. A notable voice actress, Wendee Lee, voices Athena Cykes and was easy to recognise (especially for those that people that watch anime). The voice of the main character, Phoenix Wright, could have been a tad deeper, but I am not complaining.
Yet I am more excited for the new system that comes out. This new system, the Mood Matrix, focuses on the moods of witnesses within the case you are questioning. You will see if they come up as happy, surprised, angered, or saddened. What was used in the demo was a fairly small preview of what should happen further throughout the game.
The demo version was easy, but I feel it was intentionally put that way to help fans and newcomers of the series. Needless to say, it was nice to at least experience the gameplay
Though the games does not come out for another few days, I have high hopes for this game. If it follows the gameplay like the other five games I have played, Pheonix Wright: Ace Attorney – Dual Destinies will be sure to follow the same pattern. Besides being a great analytical game, its plotline will be sure to enthrall anyone that plays it. Anyone that dares to say otherwise, I have one word for you, “Objection!”
Brittany Klyczek
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