Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney (3DS)

Having played and loved all the Professor Layton and Ace Attorney games that have so far made it to Europe, I must say my anticipation for this title was reaching fever pitch. Imagine my relief then when I finally got my hands on it, and found out that it more than justifies the hype. This is without doubt the most polished game of either series and expertly plays off the two styles of gameplay against each other. Giving both of its stars equal screen time is a bold move which has paid off, sure to satisfy those who come in from only one of the franchises, giving the game a clear structure and utilising both game's strengths. The puzzles and exploration sections are everything you'd expect from a Professor Layton game, being engaging and truly head-scratchingly difficult at some points, and the courtroom sessions lack none of the absurd characters and charming contradictions from the Ace Attorney himself.

I will not go into the main plot here, but will say it is darker than the Professor's usual fare. It is however just as gripping as the storylines in either series, and being written by Shu Takumi, the mind behind the original Phoenix Wright trilogy, means there are plenty of exciting twists and turns, and a lot of humour. I have not been so entertained by a video game in a long time, and the scene where our two heroes meet is the stuff of comedy gold. To say anything more about the plot may venture into spoiler territory, but rest assured, its a good one. As with all Level-5 releases, the localisation of this game is superb, with once more incredible voice acting (special nods go to the voice of Phoenix who is spot on, and Layton in the courtroom is divine) and none of the grammatical errors which plagued early Ace Attorney titles. Once again the cutscenes are gorgeous to look at, and there is plenty of bonus content to be had in the form of free weekly DLC to keep you coming back to this title long after the credits roll.

In short, should you buy this title? If you are a fan of either series, the answer is unequivocally yes. This game refines and melds the two styles into a package that is truly magical. If you've never played either series before, this still comes highly recommended. No prior knowledge is needed, and the charming atmosphere, intriguing storyline and easy to pick up gameplay should have everyone hooked. As our two heroes say, critical thinking is the key to success, and on this title, there are no objections from me. Read more ›

I have been a huge fan of Ace Attorney since the first game was released in the UK and have eagerly anticipated every subsequent release. Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright is another stellar entry for the Ace Attorney series, combining the wonderful characters and gameplay of Ace Attorney with the Professor Layton series. Despite the "vs" in the title, the game sees Layton and Wright teaming up to try & solve the case/mystery of Labyrinthia, a mysterious town inside a storybook. The story is intriguing and surprisingly dark in places with an amusing and memorable set of supporting characters (as expected from both series).

The gameplay is less of a combination of both series and more a series of alterations between the two. In the Layton-esque sections, our heroes wander around searching for clues & solving puzzles. In the Wright parts, the evidence is used to try & bring justice to Labyrinthia. If you've played both series before, you will quickly settle in but I think you should be just fine if it is your introduction to either (or both) series. Hint coins can be used in either section to help guide you to the correct solution, meaning you can seek assistance should you need it. However, I personally felt that the gameplay is slightly easier than in previous Wright games & Layton games so you won't be overly reliant on these. The game looks incredible & the two art styles blend surprisingly well. There are gorgeous anime-style cutscenes & plenty of voice acting (we finally hear Maya Fey!) as well as a soundtrack that blends the music from both games.

Overall, this is an excellent game that manages to blend the worlds of Layton & Wright to create something that manages to feel new & exciting whilst comfortable & familiar at the same time. My only slight quibble is that it isn't quite as much of a brain workout as you may expect from these series, however the overall experience more than makes up for this. A must have 3DS title!

I will confess I got this with a small amount of apprehension. What, with all the critics basically saying "good, but no proverbial cigar." Whilst I see what they're saying, I disagree. This game combines the two gameplay styles beautifully, and the immersion I have got from it (Still not quite having seen the conclusion) is beautiful. The Layton-Style segments flow smoothly into the AA-style parts at perfect moments. I have to comment that the musical composers did an amazing collaboration on the soundtrack, with me stopping at multiple points, thinking, `Is that music what I think it is?` The voice actors also did an incredible job, adding a good dose of additional humour and... well... "Objections".
If I could have one complaint- I've felt very little resistance from the game- the hint system is too lenient, you're obliged to solve very few puzzles- but I think that's a good thing, allowing people to slip into the opposite series. I was very happy, though, with the constant references to both game series (Ace Attorney fans, I say... "ZVARRI!") and the maintenance of both game series charm. Oh, and all that stuff about the minor characters having no charm - I disagree. I think that they supported the main game well, bar one or two. But, in terms of the most important thing- the story- I'll say one thing. Very, very dark game. If you like the slightly more cheerful stories like PL5+6, AA1+2, then this might put you off a tad. However, this game sells the story amazingly (though I do wonder why Ace Attorney 5 got a 16...). If you like either series, go for it. If you like the game, go for the other one. If you already like both... It's not going to surpass games from either series, but I don't think that matters.