Ooooh. I love the Phoenix Wright games. I'm really, really, REALLY looking forward to Apollo Justice. Especially since, as you said, Apollo Justice is being made for the DS and isn't just going to be a port as the previous Phoenix Wright games were. Apollo Justice is going to be using other items too, like finger print detection, luminol spray, and other various tools. The first Ace Attorney (for DS) had that, but they didn't continue it in the series. I'm glad that Apollo Justice is going to use touchscreen activated tools, both new and old.

I just checked out Professor Layton, I haven't even heard of it prior to reading this thread. It does look mildly interesting, but I'd still go with Apollo Justice. Phoenix Wright games do lack replay value, however, the first time play throughs are so interesting and entertaining. I love the character developments and storylines Phoenix Wright games come up with. Your analogy of Phoenix Wright games and novels kind of hit the nail right on the head. So, yeah, for me, I'd definitely go with Apollo Justice.

Rather than creating a new thread....


Just finished the first case in Apollo Justice(the short of the above is that I went ahead and skipped on Layton).


I have to say that I thought it was going to be a joke trial.  I read through the SUMMARIES on the Wiki entry, which thankfully didn't spoil anything, but the wording made me think that someone else would be at fault.  So it's kind of a big surprise to me....partly in a frustrating way, partly in a good way.

As you might expect, the first case in a "PW" game is always easiest, and part of the time they point things out a little too clearly.  But there were times in this first-case that things were practically taken over almost entirely.  There was also at least ONE point where I was totally stumped, started phishing around, lost two bits of my health bar, turned it off, on, then went for a complete guess that I got right 'on the first try'(not including the two previous failures of course).  It was something I should have noticed, but good GRIEF, for a first-case it was SUBTLE.


Also, I never played PW3, but the first game had no breaks, the second game had ONE break in the middle....this game had two breaks, the first of which was a save-point.  It's a longer trial than the first two games' first-cases.  Unfortunately, a lot of it was "BS", I think.  Some things were just so 'out there' that if it wasn't for knowing that this happens in an Ace Attourney game frequently, you'd never figure it out.

Also, for a first-case, the plot-twist was rather large and unexpected.  I'm guessing the last three will try to tie off loose ends, but it's kind of annoying that such a big bomb was dropped so early.  Hopefully things are still able to pick up after that.

As for the trial....it was kind of frustrating, but fun I suppose.


So far the 'Recreating the Scene' "ability" was an auto-run thing.  I specifically thought 'this is less of a new feature, and more of a slight improvement in story telling'.  Maybe/hopefully it'll be put to better use, like the video-evidence in the first game.

As of this moment, the one use of "Perceive" that was invoked automatically(to show you what it does) was....well, it does remind me of the Psyche Locks, in that I felt that it was the same thing as a normal Testimony, only with a 'cooler theme'.  I'm hoping there's a good use for it some time ahead, but so far it's just a matter of Apollo manhandling and forcing a new testimony or new addition-to-current-testimony, rather than actually aiding you.  Again, that's the first trial, so hopefully things pick up.


Either way, I think it's cool, but the music seems kind of passive compared to the older themes.  I especially miss 'Investigation - Cornered'. 


I'm going to take this game a little slower, since it's a one-shot game/visual-novel.  Which will probably put its completion long after Brawl's release, which means I'll put it away when Brawl comes out.  >_>;  I just hope for some improvement down the road..

Well, that wasn't the part I got stuck on actually.  Ok, maybe it was, but the first part of evidence you mention, I did that first.  It was the photo part that I didn't realize at ALL.  And really it wasn't that the photo itself was important, but the evidence in the photo related to what Wright was saying at the time.  It was just ... it was like a random 'ho hum filler' kind of remark, and yet it was the key to everything.  So that was irritating a little bit.

Also, it seems like so far there are a LOT of those moments where they out right declare, "Apollo, you know exactly what I mean, don't you!  Its ---", and then I'm given an evidence screen or a multiple choice screen, and suddenly that 'nightmare about a test I didn't study for' statement manifests itself right before my eyes and I'm like "WHAT!?!?!"  OH sure, of course, I understand completely!....not...at....all.

The meme introduced was kind of forced too.....but in a way, that meme IS very abundant and easily overused, so it makes sense...but maybe too much sense.  It still invoked that feeling of 'it was funny the first time, buuuuuut...' kinda thing.


And the sucky part: I missed the 'zinger' evidence at the end....I'm so stupid.   I usually get those, 'cept for the one at the end of Rise From the Ashes at the end of the first game, I missed that too.


I think I can see what you mean about Wright's character.  I already feel like I don't know him anymore.  I kind of want to know about Edgeworth too, and maybe some of the others....like Gumshoe(I didn't care too much for Maya or Pearl personally).  And I'm sure we'll know more about Trucy later(who I want to know more about in relation to Phoenix), but 1) I have a feeling I know what's going on with her, and 2) if they tell us, it won't be as detailed or interesting as their implications seem to demand for.

...I think I'm also going to at least get started and go through most, if not all of the detective work for the second case soon, but I don't know how long the game is and I don't want to blow through it too soon(well, I know it's longer than THAT, but still...it IS a one-shot game mostly).  Either way.  I just don't want the game to become that sort of 'the sequel is dragging on and it feels forced' sort of thing, but that sensation is there at the moment I think.

I agree with Ben. My friend who works at Gamestop has gotten both, and because he isn't too familiar with the previous Phoenix Wright games, he rarely plays it, and goes for Professor Layton instead. It's a cool game, and with the weekly updates for puzzles, it keeps things fresh I suppose. I know I want it.. but then again, I'm a puzzle freak!