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

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 have been waiting eagerly for this game, and it certainly does not disappoint.

It is important to note the '12' rating on this game. The storyline is much darker than previous Layton games. This, added to the Phoenix Wright courtroom segments, makes the game less suitable for younger children than the Professor's earlier adventures.

The movement between locations for the Professor Layton segments has improved since earlier games. Now you can move directly from one location to another simply by clicking on the map. You are also told how many hint coins and hidden puzzles are to be found in each area - which makes it more straightforward to check you have collected everything.

The artwork and music are simply stunning. The game is an absolute joy to play.

I was a little concerned that some of the minor characters from the two series would not be appearing in this new game - the main characters Layton/Luke and Nick/Maya are transported to a 'new' world, Labyrinthia. But I needn't have worried. Firstly the early scenes are in London and a few old friends from earlier adventures make a brief appearance. In the early Phoenix Wright scenes I was chuckling out loud at the ingenious way that references are made to the early adventures....my favourite moment was the reappearance of the Blue Badger! And secondly, there are plenty of strong new characters to get to know.

It does help if you have played previous games in both Professor Layton and Ace Attorney series. But if not then there are brief but comprehensive introductions to both forms of game play. For those who have never played Ace Attorney before, be prepared for a certain amount of reading - even in the Layton segments.

The Layton puzzles appear to be pretty much up to standard - some straightforward ones - especially at the beginning - and some more challenging. One thing to note - there do not seem to be any mini-games in this adventure. The Phoenix Wright courtroom scenes take on a new twist in Labyrinthia where you cross-examine more than one witness at a time - also Phoenix no longer uses the magatama in his investigations.

I am currently in the middle of the first of the Labyrinthian trials, and find the game challenging, fun and a fine addition to both series. Read more ›

I still have not completed the entire game yet (however I still won't include any spoilers for people who are looking to buy it)

I grew up playing the old professor layton games on the ds over the holiday's and loved solving the puzzles, however even more so I fell in love with the characters and the story lines.

Late 2013 I then played through Duel Destinies on the 3ds and since then I've been left wanting more Phoenix Wright, and boy, I was not disappointed with this amazing crossover

What I did find in duel destinies is that the part of investigating for the cases could drag and be a bit dull at times, however this has been replaced by the Professor Layton gameplay meaning you're solving the mysteries and the puzzles, then defending the accuses.

Admittedly the puzzles themselves have not been the best in my opinion, However this hasn't taken anything away from the enjoyment of completing them (with the help of the hints).

When you come to the ace attorney part of the game you will find that some of the stuff that is included in the main series (the powers) aren't included, however this is made up by being able to cross examine multiple witnesses at a time and find contradictions in their testimonies by the reactions of the other witnesses.

You are also able to use the hint coins that you find around the map in the trial themselves, which I have to admit I have used time and time again when I've been stuck. Which has been a great help in the court cases themselves.

Lastly, there isn't any mini-puzzles in the menu that you would normally find in professor layton (animals etc.) However again, this isn't missed that much.

If you're a fan of either series then this is an amazing addition and crossover which I can ensure you will love.

The story is fantastic and moving, the setting of the game is stunning and it's just set out to leave you wanting more everytime you play.