Dai Gyakuten Saiban -Naruhodou Ryuunosuke no Bouken-
The Great Ace Attorney -The Adventure of ''Ryuunosuke'' Wright-
Welcome to another Amateur Review. This might be a review that you may not agree with. But this is how I feel after playing this game for the first time.
This is the 8th installment of the Gyakuten series (Ace Attorney series). The father of the Gyakuten Series, Shu Takumi, is back to produce and direct this game.
Ace Attorney players by now should be very familiar with the gameplay style of this series. This game series is an interactive visual story, where the players would take up the role as a lawyer to defend their client to get a ''NOT GUILTY'' verdict. The storyline is not a typical survival horror type, it is usually linear and will not have multiple outcomes.
It was not long when Gyakuten Saiban 5 was out in the market when they released the news to make this game. Instead of Gyakuten Saiban 6, Shu Takumi decided to take the story back to the past, to the ancestors.
A totally New Gyakuten Story
Personally, I think by bringing the story to the past, it is another way to start everything anew. After releasing 5 mainstream games for this series, it would be harder to come up with stories and yet to be constrained by the personalities of the characters they have set for each of them. It would be so much easier to create stories with a set of brand new characters for them to unleash more of their creativity.
WARNING SPOILERS FOLLOW.
I intend to spoil the whole story. which is necessary to follow up the review.
Story (6/10)
This game consists of 5 episodes and 5 cases. Each episode is pretty much on its own. Except Case 3 and Case 5 which are closely linked, which is rather disappointing. Fans of this series would have noticed the following several things.
The Theme and The Mastermind
Let's look at the following games:
Gyakuten Saiban 5 (Ace Attorney: Phoenix Wright - Dual Destinies)
--> Phantom
Gyakuten Kenji (Ace Attorney Investigations: Miles Edgeworth)
--> Yatagarasu
Gyakuten Kenji 2 (Not localised)
--> Mastermind Puppet
The words in bold are actually the theme of the each game that linked the whole 5 cases in each game. Ever since there is this ''Theme'' about the greatest villain that ties all the cases and episodes together, I kinda like this concept. It creates more suspense and a more complete picture which gives the ''mindblown'' effect when the final episode is finally completed. Even in the first Gyakuten Saiban game, Case 1, Case 2 and Case 4 are pretty much inter-related, and then the greater picture is revealed in Gyakuten Saiban 2 and 3.
However, in this latest game, there not much relation between each episode. The whole theme is more about how Naruhodou Ryuunosuke got about being a law student instead and his encounters in London during his studies. I hope this is actually to build the foundation for the 2nd game for this title.
Unsolved Mystery in Episode 2
In this case, which is another tragedy similar to Ayasato Chihiro (Mia Fey), it was told that the murder accidentally occurred because of a cat. The case was indeed solved. However, that cat was never found!!! Although the owner admitted that the murder, I still think that finding the cat in the end gives a more complete picture, which makes the whole case more complete and feasible.
The Missing Interaction with the Prosecutor
Mitsurugi Reiji (Miles Edgeworth), Karuma Mei (Franziska von Karma), Godot, Garyuu Kyouya (Klavier Gavin) and Yuugami Jin (Simon Blackquill).
Familiar with all these prosecutors? These are all the featured prosecutors in all the Gyakuten Saiban series. Notice these prosecutors not only appeared in court, but they did engaged conversation with the player outside court as well. However the featured prosecutor in this game, Baroque, did not appeared elsewhere outside court at all...
The lack of interaction outside the game left more mysteries on this unknown prosecutor... The story mentioned he was a Shinigami (Death God Prosecutor), and took a hiatus for about 7 years. But no details were mentioned anywhere about all these. I thought it would eventually mentioned in the final case. But he did not appeared anywhere else...
Hope this is also another foreshadow to a bigger story...
Familiar with all these prosecutors? These are all the featured prosecutors in all the Gyakuten Saiban series. Notice these prosecutors not only appeared in court, but they did engaged conversation with the player outside court as well. However the featured prosecutor in this game, Baroque, did not appeared elsewhere outside court at all...
The lack of interaction outside the game left more mysteries on this unknown prosecutor... The story mentioned he was a Shinigami (Death God Prosecutor), and took a hiatus for about 7 years. But no details were mentioned anywhere about all these. I thought it would eventually mentioned in the final case. But he did not appeared anywhere else...
Hope this is also another foreshadow to a bigger story...
Characters (9/10)
The setting mainly revolves around London. So most characters are based on the foreign land. And in fact, I feel that the team is also a bit lazy coming up with their own original characters, so they based most of them from the novel ''The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes''. Even Tobias Greyson also appeared in the game as well.
The main character is Naruhodou Ryuunosuke proved that he can improve throughout his adventures in this game. You could actually see the growth in him from the first to last case. Instead of the usual ''Hold It!'' to press the testimony, he used ''Yup!'' in the first case. It is also evident that his confidence level progressed well in the game.
The assistant in this game is Mikotoba Susato, a refined, cultured, and the know-it-all young lady. This is something refreshing. Because in the past games, the assistants were usually hot-headed, less girly type. She also had a special self-defense skill which could send Ryuunosuke upside-down. She is also the first assistant (or game) without any fancy device or gadget that seemed unrealistic in real-life.
1. Mayoi (Maya) has the Magatama to summon dead souls.
2. Harumi (Pearl) has the Magatama to uncover the mental locks.
3. Mikumo (Kay) has the Little Thief to simulate scene with Holograms.
4. Housuke (Apollo) has the bangle to discover lies.
5. Kokone (Athena) has Mood Matrix to identify witness's emotions.
However, instead of the ever serious with a hint of sarcasm personality, CAPCOM created a lively and a funny Holmes. And a Holmes that ALWAYS gave not-so-accurate deductions. And instead of John Watson, Iris Watson became Holmes's new assistant, which allowed more dramatic comedy effect in each conversation.
The other characters had their own dumb-looking, funny and typical personalities. The design of all these characters are well taken care of. It seems like they have fixed the idea of having a symbol for each main characters.
Music (9/10)
Welcome to London! So expect to hear the type of the BGM that uses LOTS OF Bandoneon!!! Yup! You will somehow feel that you are playing Professor Layton! Is interesting to have such a feel that is the same as playing Professor Layton VS Gyakuten Saiban.
Exclusive Features (8/10)
Joint Deductions
This is somehow like the Chess Logic Game featured in Gyakuten Kenji 2. It is during the investigations where the players will press on further on the witness or case-related characters to know more facts about the case.
This brought in the famous Sherlock Holmes, who ''purposely'' made wrong or funny deductions, which always ended up in a wrong conclusion. Ryuunosuke, or you, will have to correct that wrong deductions.
This is quite a interesting feature where the game fully utilised the 3D environment. And it brings more drama and funny reactions to the game.
This is somehow like the Chess Logic Game featured in Gyakuten Kenji 2. It is during the investigations where the players will press on further on the witness or case-related characters to know more facts about the case.
This brought in the famous Sherlock Holmes, who ''purposely'' made wrong or funny deductions, which always ended up in a wrong conclusion. Ryuunosuke, or you, will have to correct that wrong deductions.
This is quite a interesting feature where the game fully utilised the 3D environment. And it brings more drama and funny reactions to the game.
Jury Examination
Jury System is more evident in Western countries. And just nice, since the setting is in London, the developers carefully brought in this into the game. The logic behind the examination is the same as well. Finding contradiction. Players have to find 2 statements that contradict each other. Downloadable Content DLC (5/10)
Non-playable Story
Unlike Gyakuten Saiban 5, in which the DLC provides more detective questions and even another playable interesting case to solve!
Contrary to the previous game, the DLC comes in the form called ''RANDST Magazine''. The magazines come in total of 8 volumes. Each volume contains a short story featuring a conversation between the characters, unreleased BGM, a short video of Shu Takumi's Commentary, illustrations and a free 3DS Theme Wallpaper on the Homepage.
As much as the contents may sound, it was nothing much. The short stories were just text that you have to keep pressing A button. And it was not any detective kind of story that players can play and solve. It was more interaction with the main characters.
AND NO INTERACTION WITH BAROQUE AGAIN!!!
Unlike Gyakuten Saiban 5, in which the DLC provides more detective questions and even another playable interesting case to solve!
Contrary to the previous game, the DLC comes in the form called ''RANDST Magazine''. The magazines come in total of 8 volumes. Each volume contains a short story featuring a conversation between the characters, unreleased BGM, a short video of Shu Takumi's Commentary, illustrations and a free 3DS Theme Wallpaper on the Homepage.
As much as the contents may sound, it was nothing much. The short stories were just text that you have to keep pressing A button. And it was not any detective kind of story that players can play and solve. It was more interaction with the main characters.
AND NO INTERACTION WITH BAROQUE AGAIN!!!
Lacking Features
Memo
Remember this feature? It helps the players when they are stuck during the investigations. It did not appear in this game!!! And since Susato appeared to carry a mini encyclopedia around, why can't that be a tool they can use to be a diary to keep track of their investigation?
Hint (After Pressing too Long during Cross-Examination)
Another feature in Gyakuten Saiban 5 to help stuck players when they could not get past a Cross Examination. This feature is not included as well! I did stuck for 2 Cross Examination though... Overall (7/10)
This is the overall verdict. It was rather disappointing, but still have to thank the developers continued this legacy!
The end of the story seemed to hint a Dai Gyakuten Saiban 2, but we have to support the effort the developers have done, so could motivate them to continue making such games!!!
The end of the story seemed to hint a Dai Gyakuten Saiban 2, but we have to support the effort the developers have done, so could motivate them to continue making such games!!!
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