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[mattiewheels]

To those who've played it already, do the two games come together in a really satisfying way? Everything I've heard about a good portion of it the game is that it feels like they duct taped a PW game and Layton game together, sounds underwhelming in concept.

 

[The Awesomest]

Any need to play the Layton series to understand what's going on with his side? I only played the first two.

I would imagine that's enough to understand the Layton portion. However, hurry up and play Unwound Future for your own sake. It's really good.

 

[Shadow Hog]

Allow me to top that: I've never played a Layton game before, barring a few puzzles of the first game. I should be okay, right?

 

[Sleepy]

With AA5 coming, my money's on it (unless Layton 5 bombed horribly here, which I guess is possible). Could be a while till we know for sure, though.

Yeah, the withdrawal of the localization date from the original announcement doesn't supply confidence. But I'll buy AA5 and sign any damn petition to get PLvs.AA here.

 

[checkeredknight]

Gameblog.fr Import Review

+ the musics
+ the 3D for ace attorney
+ free dlc when you finish the game
+ very long

- the worst Layton game ever
- the worst Ace Attorney ever
- the japanese Phoenix Wright, argh !
- too much blabla
- the parallel universe and story

4/10

Really? This is their criticism? I thought this was a joke until I clicked the link and looked at the page. I hope no-one reads this and takes the criticism to heart, because the review is pretty daft. Buying a Layton / Wright game and complaining about there being a lot of dialogue... really? I have no idea what the third point even means. Considering it mentions the Japanese Wright, I have a feeling it's going to be a ridiculous bit of critique.

 

[Tagg9]

Really? This is their criticism? I thought this was a joke until I clicked the link and looked at the page. I hope no-one reads this and takes the criticism to heart, because the review is pretty daft. Buying a Layton / Wright game and complaining about there being a lot of dialogue... really? I have no idea what the third point even means. Considering it mentions the Japanese Wright, I have a feeling it's going to be a ridiculous bit of critique.

Lol, probably means they didn't understand the Japanese references/jokes.

 

[mutsu]

The game is great for what it is, a Layton game crossed over with Gyakuten Saiban.

It doesn't really bring anything new to the table, except some multiple witness interrogation stuff.

The game is well done in that one chapter is very Layton game style, and the next chapter is Gyakuten Saiban style.

The problem I can see that if you are fan of one but not the other, then the chapters of the game that you don't like will feel like a chore.

I am a fan of both though, so I really enjoyed the game. I pretty much breezed though it, really enjoyed the pacing of it. It is a little bit on the easy side though, nothing particularly challenging both in terms of the puzzles and the court case.

The story is top notch though!!!

 

[GSR]

Any need to play the Layton series to understand what's going on with his side? I only played the first two.

Not really. They keep the references to other games to a minimum, the most referency it gets is a brief cameo of Chelmey and Barton in the prologue.

To those who've played it already, do the two games come together in a really satisfying way? Everything I've heard about a good portion of it the game is that it feels like they duct taped a PW game and Layton game together, sounds underwhelming in concept.

That's actually pretty accurate unfortunately. They basically took an AA game and swapped the investigation portions for Layton-style adventure portions. It's not until the final few chapters that you start seeing a little more cross-pollination gameplay-wise.

Really? This is their criticism? I thought this was a joke until I clicked the link and looked at the page. I hope no-one reads this and takes the criticism to heart, because the review is pretty daft. Buying a Layton / Wright game and complaining about there being a lot of dialogue... really? I have no idea what the third point even means. Considering it mentions the Japanese Wright, I have a feeling it's going to be a ridiculous bit of critique.

They mean Phoenix's voice actor, who is easily the weakest of the bunch.

 

[XxSlasherMcGirkxX]

They mean Phoenix's voice actor, who is easily the weakest of the bunch.

Isn't Wright's JPN VA the guy who plays him in the movie?

 

[meltingparappa]

Isn't Wright's JPN VA the guy who plays him in the movie?

That movie is great, by the way, because it makes you realize how annoying it would be for the courtroom with Phoenix always stumbling and asking for just a little more time to piece things together.

 

[GSR]

Isn't Wright's JPN VA the guy who plays him in the movie?

Yeah. I haven't seen the movie but I hear he works better as Phoenix there because he has body language and the like, but as voice acting he feels kind of off.

 

[XxSlasherMcGirkxX]

Yea I'm still waiting on that movie. I think he also voices him in AA5 and in Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3.

 

[AkimbO_Arcana]

What is all this nonsense? I don't want to live on a planet where a Layton/Ace Attorney crossover is anything less than perfection O_O

 

[BassForever]

Yeah. I haven't seen the movie but I hear he works better as Phoenix there because he has body language and the like, but as voice acting he feels kind of off.

I felt he did a perfect job in the movie, he sounded and looked the part. Honestly I felt the worst parts of the film were when the characters tried to emulate the video game animations to much IE everyone falling when something stupid was said.

 

[RyougaSaotome]

Woh, some of those reviews are waaaaaay harsh.

I'm only 16 hours in, granted, but I'm totally digging it. I'm more of an AA fan than a Layton fan, but it's been a really satisfying play. And yes, Phoenix's VA ain't so hot. A decent actor does not a good voice actor make.

I've said this elsewhere, but it feels more like an AA game than it does a Layton one. The magic book/group testimonials do a lot to help make the trials feel fairly fresh. I'm also a fan of the game-original characters too. Music is great, visuals are much better than expected. The pacing is a bit odd at times, but it's not super distracting. Also, as noted elsewhere, the two gameplay styles don't start coming together much till the end. That didn't bother me much as I'd been expecting that to be the case since the TGS demo, but it's nonetheless worth noting.

Story and writing are easily the best things about the game though.

Like GSR said, this is an easy 8 on the current rating scale. 7 maybe if you're a huge Layton fan and wanted super difficult puzzles.

 

[Chrono Helix]

I finished the game about a month ago. I've never tried a Layton game, but I really enjoyed his segments here. On the other hand the puzzles aren't that hard, and the few puzzles that require Layton and Wright to work together are kind of lame, in my opinion. The trials are really cool now, thanks to magic and the multi-witness system putting a new spin on things. But I personally found the last trial quite a drag.

It's still a great game though, I'd probably give it at least a 7/10.

 

[Nemesis_]

Lol, probably means they didn't understand the Japanese references/jokes.

This is such an invalid point of criticism for an IMPORT review.

 

[Krabboss]

I found a video with the first 80 minutes of the prologue for Phoenix. It looks incredible. The soundtrack is given new life. ;__;

http://youtu.be/D8FC6z792rc



I think level 5 developed the game rather than crapcom, so I think there is quite a good chance.

Kinda feel like the new versions of these old songs are a bit weak compared to the originals. Too soft.

I felt he did a perfect job in the movie, he sounded and looked the part. Honestly I felt the worst parts of the film were when the characters tried to emulate the video game animations to much IE everyone falling when something stupid was said.

The only good part of the movie was von Karma. Everybody else overacted (or acted poorly) and the wigs were just atrocious.

 

[Bjoern the Smexy]

What the fuck, this game is already out in Japan?!
Totally didn't notice.

 

[GhostTrick]

Gameblog's review is a joke. The reviewer complained about the fact that the witches are women, and call it "sexist" and even "mysogynist".
Kinda funny from a website that invites a porn actress as a guest and makes porn jokes during their show...

 

[Torraz]

What the fuck, this game is already out in Japan?!
Totally didn't notice.

Since end of november.

 

[jj984jj]

Sucks to hear that Layton being there makes things easier. I wonder who thought it would be a good idea to stretch out the length to 25 hours? Sounds like it's part of the problem too. Isn't there suppose to be additional story DLC for this too? Oh well I'm still looking forward to it, I hope the length doesn't make localization less likely though.

 

[meltingparappa]

Sucks to hear that Layton being there makes things easier. I wonder who thought it would be a good idea to stretch out the length to 25 hours? Sounds like it's part of the problem too. Isn't there suppose to be additional story DLC for this too? Oh well I'm still looking forward to it, I hope the length doesn't make localization less likely though.

Additional story DLC sounds like the best thing ever for a game like this, but then I realize it probably wouldn't be anywhere as meaty as like... an entire case from an AA game.

Especially if it errs on the side of ultimate goofy fan service, like having to defend a character from Ghost Trick or Inazuma Eleven.

 

[StayDead]

I'm currently playing this at the moment and I'm loving it.

No idea what the hell those people in the reviews are on about, this is great.

Also I love Naruhodo's voice actor in this. No idea where the criticism for that is coming from.

 

[StevePharma]

Especially if it errs on the side of ultimate goofy fan service, like having to defend a character from Ghost Trick or Inazuma Eleven.

Capcom could always dust off the Harvey Birdman license for that. I loved that game on PSP even if it wasn't much of a game at all.

 

[GSR]

Additional story DLC sounds like the best thing ever for a game like this, but then I realize it probably wouldn't be anywhere as meaty as like... an entire case from an AA game.

Especially if it errs on the side of ultimate goofy fan service, like having to defend a character from Ghost Trick or Inazuma Eleven.

They've put out two very short story episodes since release, and they're pretty much non-canon gag episodes. Everyone acknowledges they're in a game called "Professor Layton vs. Ace Attorney" and stuff like that. So far they've both been Layton segments, I dunno if they'll try and do a trial like this.

Still a nice little postgame thing, though.

As an aside, in the main story I don't think there's any indication that PLvsAA isn't canon, they're just careful not to do anything too referency. I guess you can think of it like 1-5 from PW:AA (which wasn't in the original GBA release).

 

[urfe]

I just finished the prologue for both parts, and while I'm the bigger Layton fan, I enjoyed the Ace Attorney part a lot more.

It was also my first time playing AA in Japanese (first three DS JP games have an English option), and it was really really fun to do so (with a dictionary nearby).

Looking forward to starting the actual game now... must finish this and Bravely Default before Dragon Quest VII.

 

[GSR]

I just finished the prologue for both parts, and while I'm the bigger Layton fan, I enjoyed the Ace Attorney part a lot more.

It was also my first time playing AA in Japanese (first three DS JP games have an English option), and it was really really fun to do so (with a dictionary nearby).

Looking forward to starting the actual game now... must finish this and Bravely Default before Dragon Quest VII.

That's one thing about the game, is that Phoenix's segments tend to be much higher-energy than Layton's, so (especially early on) Layton's feel weaker. Layton's improve later in the game though.

 

[Ithil]

Kinda feel like the new versions of these old songs are a bit weak compared to the originals. Too soft.



The only good part of the movie was von Karma. Everybody else overacted (or acted poorly) and the wigs were just atrocious.

Overacted? Have you played AA?

 

[StayDead]

Ok so I got to and played through most (I believe) of the first main trial. This is going to sound really odd but I had a big massive almighty grin on my face when I saw that the prosecutor was voiced by my favourite voice actor Mamoru Miyano. I can't even explain how happy that made me.

This game has gone from cool, to great in one fell swoop <3333

 

[urfe]

That's one thing about the game, is that Phoenix's segments tend to be much higher-energy than Layton's, so (especially early on) Layton's feel weaker. Layton's improve later in the game though.

Another thing is I really like the hint coins that can be used in the AA sections. I doubt I'll use them often (maybe only once or twice), but I've gotten stuck in AA games where I know the contradiction, but have no idea how the game wants me to present it.

This game is really making me realize how different the games are. Layton is a more laid back classy time, and AA is more intense and funny.

 

[Laughing Banana]

Both of them are series that are better received in the west than in Japan, yeah? Or at least I think so about Phoenix Wright... not so sure about Professor Layton though.

 

[X-Factor]

I stopped playing Phoenix Wright when certain cases were solved by magic.

 

[XxSlasherMcGirkxX]

Both of them are series that are better received in the west than in Japan, yeah? Or at least I think so about Phoenix Wright... not so sure about Professor Layton though.

This is flat out crazy talk. Are you saying Ace Attorney is MORE popular in the West than in Japan?

 

[Hours Left]

I stopped playing Phoenix Wright when certain cases were solved by magic.

So...

Spoiler

the second case of the first game?

 

[kurahador]

Both of them are series that are better received in the west than in Japan, yeah? Or at least I think so about Phoenix Wright... not so sure about Professor Layton though.

That doesn't make sense.

 

[X-Factor]

I think I stopped during the game made before Apollo Justice.


I just lost interest in the cases after that.

So...

Spoiler

the second case of the first game?

 

[GSR]

Both of them are series that are better received in the west than in Japan, yeah? Or at least I think so about Phoenix Wright... not so sure about Professor Layton though.

Kind of the opposite. Layton does extremely well in Europe, and pretty well in Japan and America; Ace Attorney does pretty well in Japan but poorly in America and Europe.

 

[urfe]

Kind of the opposite. Layton does extremely well in Europe, and pretty well in Japan and America; Ace Attorney does pretty well in Japan but poorly in America and Europe.

Shame, because hearing "Objection" sounds about ten times cooler than "Igi ari".

 

[Laughing Banana]

That doesn't make sense.

Kind of the opposite. Layton does extremely well in Europe, and pretty well in Japan and America; Ace Attorney does pretty well in Japan but poorly in America and Europe.

Ohh I see, I am mistaken then.

I thought the DS games of Ace Attorney... well, the original trilogy anyways, did pretty good in the west.

 

[Shahadan]

I can't stand Layton games anymore, they are so goddamn annoying and poorly written. I really hope the Layton part won't annoy the hell out of me in this one.

 

[GSR]

Shame, because hearing "Objection" sounds about ten times cooler than "Igi ari".

I dunno, one character in AAI2 rolled the r in Igiari, which was pretty awesome.

Ohh I see, I am mistaken then.

I thought the DS games of Ace Attorney... well, the original trilogy anyways, did pretty good in the west.

AA1 did surprisingly well in the west, and I think AA2 and AA3 sold decently as well, but sales started to slump by AJ and AAI, hence AAI2 never getting localized.

That said I'll eat my hat if PLvsAA doesn't get localized; it's needed to keep up the one-a-year Layton release schedule in America, and with Capcom committed to bringing over AA5, they'll want to help boost brand recognition. Plus Layton games still do very well in America in general.

 

[StayDead]

Not sure if this is the right place to post this, but I just finished the game. These are my impressions.

From start to finish it was an interesting, magical (lol), enthralling experience that kept me hooked from the very first cutscene right up to the very end. I'd never played a Layton game from start to finish before, but I think I may have to pick up the new one from the eShop when it comes out to give it a try. I've loved Layton's character purely from the movie and I've loved Wright since the moment I played the first Ace Attorney.

I really, more than anything hope that if one game gets localized it's this one. More people should be given the opportunity to give this game a go. If you like Layton, Ace Attorney or both, you're going to love this game. The comedy, the drama and most importantly the characters take this amazing story driven game to a-complete-nother level. The music is amazing too.

I really want to expand on why the story is so great, but I don't want to spoil anything for anyone else so I won't.

EDIT: Ok, now after my battery charged I got to see the final bit before the credits. Yup, cemented truely as one of the best games I've played through to the finish in a long, long time.

To put things into perspective, due to sheer drive of me wanting to see the ending today I played the game for something like 6 hours and lost charge on my 3DS almost.