Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Spirit of Justice Reviews
Phoenix Wright: Spirit of Justice is a satisfying and appropriately crazy end to the second trilogy of Ace Attorney games. It retains a few of the persistent annoyances I have with the series, but the story is just as insane as ever and the cases are tough, lengthy and fittingly absurd turnabouts.
The Wright Anything Agency is back in action, and this time, it’s an entire country that needs help. With some fresh spins on the investigation formula, abominable name puns, and an increasingly convoluted series of wacky murders, Spirit of Justice is a strong entry in the Ace Attorney series—though perhaps not the best game for a first-time sleuth.
Eric Van Allen is a Texas-based writer. You can follow his e-sports and games rumblings @seamoosi on Twitter.
If you want more Ace Attorney, Spirit of Justice will keep you entertained for hours on end!
Spirit of Justice stands as a return to classic Phoenix Wright, giving fans more of what they love.
Spirit of Justice strikes right to the core of what makes Ace Attorney games great: bold, dramatic narrative, a ridiculous sense of humour, and outstanding writing. The first truly superb AA game in years.
The latest episode in gaming’s most endearing soap opera has some minor script problems, but it’s still a joy to catch up with old friends and new enemies.
The latest courtroom adventure for the Wright Anything Agency may be its best yet, with a wide range of crime-solving tools and characters that create room for elaborate drama and meaningful moments.
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Spirit of Justice is the first game in a long time that I just could not put down. No matter how tired I was, I was determined to get through just the next witness testimony before bed. And then that turned into the next one. And then I refused to sleep before this particular trial was over. Suffice to say, SoJ does the Phoenix Wright series justice (see what I did there?), and it's sure to be one of the most popular puzzle games this year. Just please don't think this is how a day in court goes. SoJ does many things well, but accurately depicting the legal system is by far not one of them, not that it means to.
In many ways Spirit of Justice can be likened to one of Capcom’s other recent flagships, Monster Hunter: Generations. Both hail from fantastic game series though neither are particularly ground-breaking. Instead, they’ve simply uprooted their tried and tested formulas, plonking them in a slightly different setting with new bells and whistles attached. Where other franchises are demonised for failing to constantly evolve, Ace Attorney is one that benefits from remaining untouched, propped up by lovable characters and some superb writing.
Like with the rest of this continually growing franchise, this game likely isn’t going to change anybody’s mind that didn’t like past entries, but there is no question that fans of the series will absolutely adore Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Spirit of Justice.
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Spirit of Justice is sure to please fans with its engaging story and sharp humor, but the gameplay formula is starting to show its age.
“Spirit of Justice” continues to do what the “Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney” series does best, which is serve up kooky cases with a bunch of kooky characters with some drama sprinkled in between. The game continues to be linear to a fault and it sometimes tries too hard to misdirect its audience. A likable cast of characters combined with funny and poignant storytelling that leverages those characters’ relationships, however, leaves me no objections in recommending this to series fans and newcomers alike.
It all comes together wonderfully, however, asking you to use your wit and hard proof to win a case as opposed to just winging it and hoping for the best. That just won't work. For all the bells and whistles Phoenix Wright has, its courtroom battles – when done right – are excellent, and Spirit Of Justice gets them spot on.
This isn’t the pinnacle of the Ace Attorney series like fans wanted, but it’s a perfectly enjoyable entry nonetheless.
It can be too predictable at some points and its longer lifespan feels unnecessary at some moments but the overall result is still on par with the high standards that the series has left its players used to.
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The atmosphere, music and overall writing of Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Spirit of Justice are spot on.
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Spirit of Justice has some flaws in its testimony, but it’s ultimately a winning entry in the prolific series, and a welcome return to form. No objections here.
Spirit of Justice is recommended to just about everybody.
Capcom has the Ace Attorney foundations firmly mastered at this point, meaning fans know what to expect from a new entry in the series.