| Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney | |
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| Developer(s) | Capcom |
| Publisher(s) | Capcom |
| Released | JP April 12, 2007 NA February 19, 2008[1][2] EU March 2008[3] |
| Genre | Adventure, visual novel |
| Mode(s) | Single player |
| Ratings | CERO: All Ages (A) ESRB rating: Teen (T) |
| Platform(s) | Nintendo DS |
| Media | Nintendo DS Game Card |
Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney, released in Japan as Gyakuten Saiban 4 (逆転裁判 4? lit. "Turnabout Trial 4"), is a visual novel video game for the Nintendo DS. It is the fourth video game in the Ace Attorney series. Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney is the first game in the series to be developed specifically for the DS as opposed to being a port of a game originally for the Game Boy Advance. As such, many of the techniques utilizing the DS touch screen and microphone features that were employed in the fifth case created specifically for the DS port of the first Ace Attorney video game are a fundamental part of Apollo Justice.
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Details
Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney (which takes place chronologically seven years after Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Trials and Tribulations) will be the first game in the series that will not feature Phoenix Wright as the main protagonist, though it won't be the first time a different attorney will be playable. A limited edition of the game was made available for the Japanese release on April 12, 2007. It includes branded headphones, a Gyakuten Saiban Dictionary on a DS card, and a series highlights DVD.[4] Capcom has announced an "Early 2008" release date for the game in North America. Minae Matsukawa, producer of the Ace Attorney series, stated in an interview during the 2007 Comic-Con International, that in regards to bringing Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney to the Western market, "we would like to very much, and we’re working to make sure that happens. But it’s kind of pointless if number three doesn’t do very well, so we want to make sure people know about that, buy it, and tell their friends!"[5] The game is currently being translated for the North American market. [6]
Localization title
The new game will no longer feature the same protagonist, Phoenix Wright, as the previous three games did. Capcom's previous naming for the translated games has included the localized name of "Phoenix Wright" as the protagonist in the title for these games. A recent photo taken from a Nintendo Europe event which includes a banner for the upcoming game shows that the protagonist, Housuke Odoroki, will be localized as "Apollo Justice", with the game title being Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney.[7][8] This was confirmed when the English trailer for the game was presented at the 2007 Tokyo Game Show.[9]
New gameplay elements
The bracelet on Apollo's left arm can be used to "zoom in on witnesses to gather information about them", and is called the Perceive System. It is used primarily in court to look for motions or actions made by witnesses that show nervousness, like playing with one's fingers. The move even comes with a new phrase, "Gotcha!" ("There!" (そこだ! Soko da!?) in Japanese). The game also includes a "Crime Recreation Mode" that "allows players to reveal hidden clues by re-creating the scene of the crime."[10]
Characters
Main characters
The first names listed are those confirmed for the English localization, followed by the Japanese names.
- Apollo Justice / Housuke Odoroki (王泥喜 法介 Odoroki Hōsuke?)
- The new protagonist of the series, he is a confident young man with "a passionate heart burning red." He can point out lies by examining body language.
- Trucy Wright / Minuki Naruhodo (成歩堂 みぬき Naruhodō Minuki?)
- Apollo's assistant, and Phoenix's adopted daughter.[11] She is a magician who shares the gift that Apollo possesses and acts as Apollo's assistant and co-council.
- Phoenix Wright / Ryuichi Naruhodo (成歩堂 龍一 Naruhodō Ryūichi?)
- The former protagonist of the series, he is no longer an attorney due to a case in which he presented fake evidence leading to his disbarment and instead plays piano and poker in a Russian restaurant called the Borscht Belt Club, in addition to owning a talent agency. Although no longer a lawyer, he helps Apollo out.
- Kristoph Gavin / Kirihito Garyu (牙琉 霧人 Garyū Kirihito?)
- Apollo's mentor and supposedly Phoenix's good friend, he is the brother of the game's main prosecutor, Klavier Gavin. Described as "always smiling".
- Klavier Gavin / Kyōya Garyu (牙琉 響也 Garyū Kyōya?)
- The game's main prosecutor and Kristoph's younger brother, he is also the lead singer and guitarist for the popular Gavinners, a rock band whose members are all involved in law in some way. [1] He became a prosecutor at 17, and unlike his predecessors, he is surprisingly honest and friendly even when he is first introduced. A musician through and through, he has rock star mannerisms even when in court, such as air guitar.
- Ema Skye / Akane Houzuki (宝月 茜 Hōzuki Akane?)
- A detective in Criminal Affairs, Ema is Apollo's main contact in the police department. She knows Phoenix through a court case nine years ago in Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney where he cleared her sister Lana of murder. After said case she left to study forensics abroad. She isn't as enthusiastic about her job as Dick Gumshoe was, but gets as excited about "scientific investigations" as she did nine years ago.
Case-specific characters
- Winston Payne / Takefumi Auchi (亜内 武文 Auchi Takefumi?)
- A prosecutor who once unsuccessfully tried to charge Phoenix Wright with murder and then lost cases against him twice when Phoenix became a defense lawyer, he had been waiting to pay Phoenix his 'last respects' by prosecuting him again. He does not have much presence (Phoenix once had trouble remembering who he was) but now has grown out the hair at the back of his head, which he often flicks.
- Masaka Sakai (逆居 雅香 Sakai Masaka?)
- A witness to the murder of Shadi Smith and a waitress of the Russian restaurant Borscht Belt Club, she seems to have a dislike for Phoenix and witnessed that it was he who killed the victim.
Case summaries
Turnabout Trump
The case begins with a scene in which two people are playing cards. One person wins the hand then someone picks up a bottle and slams it onto the other persons head, killing them. We then see the same place later, with a man on a mobile phone asking someone for help as the victim lies on the table, dead. The scene then changes to Apollo and Kristoph Gavin discussing the beginning of the trial for the murder in the introduction. This is also Apollo's first case. Apollo then meets the defendant, who knew Kristoph Gavin for many years. When the trial begins, we find out from the Judge that the defendant is Phoenix Wright and that he is being charged with the murder of Shadi Smith, a world traveler.
Turnabout Corner
In a bizarre turn of events beginning with Phoenix being hit by a car and injured, Apollo must chase down a thief who has been stealing various women's panties as well as defend a member of the mob, Wocky, in a murder case. Apollo's first case with Trucy, Ema Skye, and Klavier Gavin.
Turnabout Serenade
After the events of "Turnabout Corner," Apollo, Ema, and Trucy are invited to one of Klavier's concerts. Although the initial concert goes fine, the encore is fouled when Klavier's guitar catches on fire. Moments after the concert, Ema, Trucy, and Apollo hear two gunshots go off and find a singer's manager dying. Apollo is forced to defend teenage pianist Maki Tobayu in the case, while Klavier again prosecutes.
Heir to Turnabout
When a painter is murdered in his studio, Apollo must unravel the mysteries behind both the murder, and Phoenix's final case as a defense attorney seven years ago. Once again, elements from previous cases tie in as origins and motives are finally revealed. This case also introduces a jury trial, the first in the series.
Reception
After release in Japan, Gyakuten Saiban 4 has been highly praised, with Famitsu giving it a 9/9/9/9 score (36/40), and selling around 250,000 copies during the first retail week, according to Media-Create. Six weeks after its release, Capcom announced that they had shipped 500,000 copies, accounting for twenty-five percent of the series' two million units worldwide.
Music
- See also: Gyakuten Saiban 4 Original Soundtrack
Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney features music composed and arranged by Toshihiko Horiyama. Horiyama has worked in the past on several Mega Man X titles, including the first MMX, X3 and X4. The Gyakuten Saiban 4 Original Soundtrack was released on June 27 2007.[12]
External links
- Official site
- Court Records, an Ace Attorney fansite. News about Apollo Justice can be found here as it develops.
- Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney TGS 07 Trailer, from GameTrailers.com
References
- ^ Killian, Seth (2007-11-08). Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney (announcement and fact sheet!) - Capcom BBS. The Court Record. Capcom. Retrieved on 2007-11-09.
- ^ Dobson, Jason (2007-11-09). Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney gets 'early 2008' release. Joystiq. Retrieved on 2007-11-09.
- ^ Nintendo dévoile son planning 2008 - JeuxVideo.fr (French). Jeux-France (2007-12-06). Retrieved on 2007-12-06.
- ^ Davies, Jonti (2007-01-21). Objection! Phoenix Wright should have bonus items!. Joystiq. Retrieved on 2007-11-09.
- ^ Comic Con 07: Interview With Phoenix Wright's Minae Matsukawa. GayGamer (2007-07-31). Retrieved on 2007-08-01.
- ^ (October 2007) "Power of Attorney". Nintendo Power: 26.
- ^ Nintendo European Event. Retrieved on 2007-07-09.
- ^ Title "Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney" visible in background. Retrieved on 2007-07-10.
- ^ McElroy, Justin (2007-09-20). Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney trailer throws book at you. Joystiq. Retrieved on 2007-09-20.
- ^ McWhertor, Michael (2007-11-09). Apollo Justice Courting Nintendo DS In Q1 2008. Kotaku. Retrieved on 2007-11-09.
- ^ Trucy, Phoenix's adopted daughter
- ^ 【楽天市場】《送料無料》逆転裁判 4 オリジナル・サウンドトラック(CD)：ぐるぐる王国 楽天市場店. Retrieved on 2007-05-06.
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| Games | Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney · Justice for All · Trials and Tribulations · Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney |
| Related articles | Characters |
