Metareview: Phoenix Wright: Trials and Tribulations

by David Hinkle { Oct 23rd 2007 at 3:50PM }

With it being the biggest release of the year on the DS (well .. maybe it isn't the biggest release, but it's still pretty big), we're surprised more outlets haven't tossed their pair of pennies into the ring regarding the last Ace Attorney title starring Phoenix. Seriously, where are all of the reviews? It can't still be under embargo, as it ships to retail today.

Oh well, let's all go over who has said what they thought about the game:

ZTGameDomain (85/100) likes the old friend: "Yes, it's the same, however it's not the type of same that says "Crap, I've played this damned game before"..it is more akin to a cozy familiarity."

Game Informer (83/100) says: "Knowing that the next game in this series will star a new up-and-coming defense attorney, Trials & Tribulations is a fun and fitting farewell to Phoenix and company." [Nov 2007, p.162]

Eurogamer (80/100) thinks you should play it: "It's agony not to just enthusiastically tell you about the scenarios, the cases themselves, but I hate reviewers that get to experience something completely freshly for themselves, and then rob that opportunity from all who read the review. So believe me, if I told you you'd want to play, and then be cross I told you. So just skip to the wanting to play."

Gamestyle (80/100) finds that if it isn't broke, you shouldn't fix it: "A classic case of it "if it isn't broke, don't fix it", Trials and Tribulations carries on the series' high quality and is a fitting end to the trilogy, but it won't convert anyone waiting for the series to break out of its somewhat rigid menu-driven process of elimination. That said, Gamestyle loved it and any fans of the previous games will love it too."

Gallery: Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney 3: Trials and Tribulations

Tags: aceattorney, capcom, phoenixwright, trialsandtribulations

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

AgentESPIO7 @ Oct 23rd 2007 5:51PM

I can't wait to pick this up =D

Ihar `Philips` Filipau @ Oct 23rd 2007 6:21PM

I wished they had killed the "text typing" effect in dialogs... Text should appear instantly with probably short delay before it can be skipped.

I'm reading much faster than game types text what introduces the major annoyance all over the game. Especially when you hit some wrong place (what happens in such games all the time) you might get stuck (as if game was penalizing you) for two minutes just skipping the silly dialogs which add nothing to the game.

My personal grudge against the series is of course tight state machine. Not only the game is mockery of modern juridical system, it also at times very very stupid. "Oh! There should be a contradiction there somewhere!!" Was it me alone screaming in heart "Precisely which of the dozen???".

Sometimes next days of trials/investigations are completely disconnected from previous days. Even more: contradict previous days.

Too many loose ends in the story too. (Like from recent replay: folks came from studio 1 to studio 2 on a van. but how van returned to its usual place in studio 1 is covered by mystery.)

Wilerson @ Oct 23rd 2007 7:01PM

In my opinion, this is the best of the series so far (haven't played the fourth yet). I wouldn't recommend it for those who haven't played the first two, since it has major spoilers.

Pie Pants @ Oct 23rd 2007 7:28PM

Ihar is right, the series isn't perfect. But if everything in the Phoenix Wright games made sense and mirrored a real courtroom, they'd be rather boring, don't you think? :P

The game still made me laugh a lot, so that's all that matters in my book. And the last case is one of the best in the series.