Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney

"Basically, if you're a fan of the earlier Phoenix Wright games, you will laugh...a lot. Couple the comedy with Justice's engrossing story and you have a case that would be criminal not to take."

The new features in Justice that weren't in Wright are going to be what most fans of the fledgling series will be most interested in. For instance, while there remains an emphasis on collecting evidence to later show in trial, evidence can now be investigated via the Court Record in all 360 degrees. You can also zoom in and out on items, allowing you to fully explore their potential as key pieces of evidence. Throw in the addition of sharper graphics, new music, and levels of interactivity simply not seen in any of the Phoenix Wright titles, and gamers will have something that will lure them in because it's familiar, and keep them playing because it still feels fresh.

Apollo Justice surprised us. This may just be yet another of Capcom’s infamous rehashes, but it’s so much more enjoyable than most that it’s extremely hard to ignore. Going into playing this game expecting nothing but the same old-same old shtick, I was extremely excited when I realized that old and new could be melded so nicely. Capcom appeared to pay attention to their startling trend and tried to do something about it. The gameplay and static looks of Apollo Justice are just as we’ve seen them before, and the music will be both familiar and new, but Apollo Justice retains a lot of the charm Phoenix Wright held before it, and adds to the series' legacy. What's old is new again, and damn good, too.

"Still, with Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney, it's all about the journey and not the destination. This is a fine addition to the legal defense series, with welcome touch-ups to the gameplay and a refreshing new face. You certainly won't have any problems taking the stand with this guy, even if you have a place in your heart for Mr. Wright. Or, in our case, Godot."

Phoenix was driven by a desire to protect those in need, while Apollo seems to have chosen to be a defense attorney because he simply doesn't have anything better to do. "Wow, what a boring Saturday! I think I'll enroll in law school!"