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Otaku USA February 2017 Issue: Spirit of Justice Review

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Jan 19th, 2017
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  1. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Spirit of Justice
  2. Court is in session and weirder than ever
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  5. The Phoenix Wright games are a ton of fun, even though they can be downright confusing at times. That's how courtroom antics go, though. And that's why these games are so enjoyable in the first place. The latest entry, Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Spirit of Justice, is no different. For the most part, mechanically speaking, it's very much the same game you've been enjoying for some time now. In other ways, it's new and innovative. But what matters the most is how similar it is for the sake of attracting fans both new and old. It certainly succeeds, and in a big way.
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  7. Spirit of Justice follows Phoenix Wright and company while on vacation in the country of Khura'in. It is, by far, one of the most bizarre settings the game could have taken place in, but also one of the most engaging in terms of what it means for classic Phoenix gameplay. It's a strange country with some truly baffling logic that might even infuriate you, as it did me. I was incensed when I discovered the country has a bizarre process when it comes to legal issues, one that plays a pivotal role in the way things happen in-game.
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  9. You see, the way Khura'in operates is rather outlandish. There aren't any defense attorneys out there because lawyers basically go down with the ship if things don't go well with their clients. Phoenix Wright isn't your typical attorney, however, so he has no qualms about defending his tour guide from a surprise murder charge. It's pretty tumultuous in Khura'in at the moment, and Phoenix and other familiar faces find themselves wrapped up in some pretty harrowing events threatening to unfold as well as the wrath of Khura'in princess Rayfa, who's one of the most grating characters in this entry.
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  11. Things haven't changed too much this time around. If you've played a Phoenix Wright game, you'll feel right at home. You'll be investigating crime scenes for viable clues and other tidbits of information you can glean from each area. Sometimes this means you might find a special item that needs to be examined, which you can do with the 3DS's touch screen. Other times, you just need to look with your eyes and tap areas of the screen to gather info. Then you need to talk to anyone present when applicable. You'll take what you've learned and statements from those involved and hit the courtroom for battles with your legal adversaries. If you've ever been o court or have dealt with real-life legal problems where your life depends on the outcome, you'll realize this game isn't meant to be taken seriously for the most part, so it's a lot more fun than the real world. Usually it's not plodding or boring, and there's plenty of lively dialogue to keep things rolling along, even when it could be bogged down with legalese or frustrating mental gymnastics.
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  13. There's a new trial mechanic in the form of the Divination Seance, which results in Rayfa calling forth the final memories of a victim and presenting them to the court as evidence. She'll offer her own commentary to let you know a little more about the scenes you'll see, but you'll have to grill her for more info and use your trusty evidence to poke holes in her theories. Really, it's not that big of a twist on gameplay in the end, but it's an interesting augment that I appreciated seeing sprinkled in, especially since it gives me a chance to make Rayfa look bad at every opportunity.
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  15. The trials are arguably the best part of the game, as they always have been, and there are plenty of cases to get you playing and then get you hooked. Unfortunately, not every case is created the same. There are some that absolutely begin to drag in several areas, making pacing and subject matter a bit of an issue. In the end, however, Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Spirit of Justice is another airtight Phoenix Wright adventure, even if it isn't without its niggling issues. It features lush, "real" cutscenes, excellent localization, and plenty of reasons for players new and old to dive in. If you've been holding out for a new reason to return to the series, you've definitely found it here.
  16. - Brittany Vincent
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