When we look back at our time at university, there are a few things we still don't really understand - magnetism, for one; why the Chemistry department had the largest lecture theatre but the smallest number of students, and lastly, why on earth Law was so popular. As far as we were concerned, it was basically three years spent studying the various landmark cases of the past - like history, but without the interesting parts. But, while the reality of sitting through an umpteenth divorce case didn't appeal in the slightest, there's but one kind of lawyer-ing we can really get behind - the weird and wacky world of the Phoenix Wright games, a series that's practically defined an entire genre of crime investigation games that laugh in the face of reality, and have you solving everything from space station bombings, to demonic murders, and occult-ish weirdness. And this September, it's time to step back into the snappy blue suit and take to the docks with the sixth entry in the series, Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Spirit of Justice.
Objection!
Starring everyone's favourite defence attorneys Phoenix Wright and Apollo Justice, Spirit of Justice brings fans more of the puzzling cases and out-there trials they've come to expect from the series. This time, Phoenix finds himself in the Kingdom of Khura'in, a far-off land where trials are decided by a mysterious kind of seance, the Kurain Channelling Technique, which makes lawyers somewhat redundant, and brings with it a whole new host of challenges for Phoenix to make sure justice is done. Meanwhile, Apollo 'Chords of Steel' Justice is left to hold the fort back at the Wright Anything Agency, taking on a case that will have some rather explosive implications, as it uncovers some long-kept secrets from his past.
The game promises a whole host of familiar friends and adversaries, as well as a cast of intriguing new characters, the most significant of which is Rayfa, the Royal Priestess of the Kingdom of Khura'in. Her mysterious insights play a key part in the outcome of each trial, and Phoenix and co must fight to find discrepancies between them and what is shown in the brand new Seance vision. Letting you relive the final moments of a victim's life, the Seance mechanic is key to unravelling the inconsistencies in the Priestess' Insights to uncover the true course of events. Used in conjunction with your trusty Mood Matrix emotion detector, which zones in on subtle changes in tones of voice and facial expressions that were inconsistent with a witness' testimony, and the "Revisualization" critical deduction sections, which put a new spin on the evidence through a series of multiple choice questions, Phoenix will have to use every trick at his disposal to bring justice to the Kingdom of Khura'in. Other investigation features from previous games will be making a return too, and will see you dusting for prints, analysing video footage and interrogating witnesses as you try to uncover what really happened.
Rayfa uses her Insight powers to judge every trial.
Unfortunately it seems Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Spirit of Justice will be following in the footsteps of it's predecessor, Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Dual Destinies, and opting for a digital-only release, hitting the Nintendo 3DS eShop only this September, at a price of £24.99. In the meantime, why not check out the announcement trailer below:
