Game: Phoenix Wright: Trials and Tribulations
Genre: Courtroom Simulation
Platform: Nintendo DS

The popular Japanese Phoenix Wright series seems to bring out one of two reactions from gamers. Either they find it hilarious, addictive, and a ton of fun, or they simply can’t stand it. It’s a love it or hate it kind of game, and personally, I’m in the former camp. I’ve been hooked on the inane lawyer since his first game came out in the US, and haven’t been able to get enough since then. The final game in the Phoenix Wright trilogy, Trials and Tribulations, was recently released, and after being devoid of courtroom drama for almost a year, I was happy to have it back.

The setup is the same as the previous Phoenix Wright installments, which can also be found on the Nintendo DS. As a young but skilled lawyer, you’ll interrogate witnesses and inspect crime scenes, trying to defend your clients and determine the truth in each case. The trials are outrageous and don’t resemble any real court of law (at least, I sure hope not), with a judge easily swayed by pretty girls, opposing council throwing hot coffee when he gets angry, and random witnesses running in and out of the courtroom. If you can get on board with the outlandish nature of the series, you’ll find that it’s really, really funny.

Finding out information on crime scenes is comparable to old point-and-click games; you need to talk to everyone, look at everything, pick up clues, and piece things together for yourself. In the courtroom, cross-examinations are more challenging; present the wrong piece of evidence or contradict the wrong statement and the judge will penalize you, leading to an eventual “Guilty” verdict for your client, the Phoenix Wright equivalent of Game Over. While early cases can be a little predictable, you’ll really need to think outside the box as the game goes on.

The first case in Trials and Tribulations takes place five years in the past and has the player defending a young Phoenix Wright as Mia Fey, who (spoiler alert!) fans of the series know as Phoenix’s mentor who was murdered in the first game. After the initial case the game returns to the present and unveils more of Phoenix’s history amidst his current cases. Many old characters return for this game, including Maya Fey, Mia’s sister and Phoenix’s assistant, as well as Maya’s young cousin Pearl. There are also some new faces, like bizarre coffee-addicted prosecutor Godot.

For the first time, it appears like the game is not a straight translation and has actually employed some hilarious references to American pop culture, such as girls named “Bennifer” and “Katty Tom” and Maya stating “We know whose milkshake brings all the boys to the yard” when everyone in the courtroom swoons over a beautiful murder suspect. The dialogue is even more ridiculous than ever, if you can imagine that, and it seems like Capcom went purposely over-the-top, not even attempting to take itself seriously. However, not every translation is perfect, and sadly, this isn’t the first time I’ve seen a typo in a Phoenix Wright game.

For me, the biggest problem with the Phoenix Wright series has been the lack of replay value each game offers. Once you’ve beaten the game, that’s pretty much it; nothing is going to change the second time around, and there’s no real reason to do it again already knowing all the answers. Luckily, there’s enough content in each game to make up for this, and Trials and Tribulations has one trial more than its predecessor, Justice For All. Also, like I mentioned before, the gameplay is absolutely nothing new. The exact same system is used as the last two games, and can be done entirely by using the DS stylus and touch screen. For me, this isn’t that big of an issue; being a fan of the series, more of the same doesn’t really hurt. However, it would have been nice to see a little something new. Justice For All had psyche-locks, for example, which make a return in Trials and Tribulations, but other than some of the characters, the song remains the same.

If you’re a fan of the series, you’re going to love this game, and that’s the bottom line. The gameplay remains refreshing, fun, and addictive; while I was playing last night, despite falling asleep, I just couldn’t turn it off. You’ll get a lot of laughs out of the dialogue, and winning trials has always been immensely satisfying. If you haven’t played yet, but think you’d enjoy the combination of zany humor, data collection, and cross-examinations, I’d advise you to give it a try. The Phoenix Wright series is one I’ve long recommended to DS owners, and most of them have thanked me for it. Trials and Tribulations receives the same treatment.