Many questioned Capcom's decision to develop a lawyer simulation last year when it released Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney for the Nintendo DS. The game turned out to be a tremendous effort, teasing DS owners with strong point-and-click game play and the kind of mind-teasing puzzles that would leave a real lawyer quivering in his or her case files. Now Capcom returns to Wright's legal territory with the anticipated sequel, Justice for All, and fans will love it.
The game opens as Phoenix delves deep into a nightmare involving a lumbering, darkened image of a judge, dropping a disheartening sentence on him. Things then get worse when a mysterious thug knocks him unconscious, causing him to have amnesia. The timing couldn't be worse -- a case involving a police woman suspected of murder begins in a matter of minutes. Phoenix manages to slowly regain his memory over the course of his four cases; all the while butting heads with stingy prosecutors (including one that wields -- yikes -- a whip), uncooperative witnesses, a clunky-headed judge who seems to allow new evidence on a whim (even without consultation) and eventually his own moral fibers.
Each case takes a few hours to solve, as players glance over numerous pieces of evidence. This evidence stays kept in a particular file, one that Phoenix may access at any time with a simple press of the touch screen. Witness testimonies must also be reviewed, so Phoenix can compare them with the evidence and may even find holes in their statements. Justice for All features something new from it's predecessor, called the "Psyche-Lock". Phoenix investigates outside the courtroom, using his wits to get more answers relevant to the case.
Over the course of each chapter, Phoenix must overcome numerous challenges. Each of the prosecutors present their own distinct style, yet all hardly back down from a fight even after Phoenix shoots down false statements or a presentation of evidence. Users will feel a sense of accomplishment from doing a great job, when prosecutors sulk at Phoenix's utter brilliance or witnesses crack under the pressure of truth.
Witnesses don't back down either -- they stay dedicated to their stories, even if they're full of it. The Judgment Meter, however, stands as the biggest obstacle. If Phoenix throws out too many false objections or accusations, it keeps diminishing. If it runs out, the client is found guilty and Phoenix starts the case all over again.
The touch-screen interface remains very user-friendly, with a number of items to access. As visuals and sound deliver where needed. Phoenix and the other cast members look dashing, even with minimal animation. The "cut-away" effects are very well done, as well as the use of big text like "Objection!" and "Take that!", playing out in a similar manner to the fights in the old 60's Batman show. As for sound, small sound bites and effects get mixed in with music that changes tempo, especially when the drama hikes up in the middle of a case. Voice work would have given these characters more personality, but Capcom did a fine job without it.
Unfortunately, Justice for All offers only a few hours of legal fun. Once players solve the four cases, there is very little to come back to. It's fun to go back into a case just to make the prosecutors and witnesses squirm, but this game would've clearly benefited from some downloadable content. New cases, new evidence, new prosecution – Capcom could've gone over the top here.
All the same, Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney: Justice for All retains the greatness from the first game and gamers should play it immediately. Now if Capcom can just produce a third game with even more cases and the possibility of playing the prosecution for a change... who would object to that?
Final Score: 8 (out of 10)
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