Phoenix Wright 3 (DS) I have the game, impressions inside

E3 2007 Trailer

So I got the game around 2 weeks ago when my DS was broken (cracked hinges- argh!)

Got my replacement and I've been playing it. I'm only going to talk about things we know about and things we've seen the trailer and I'm trying to avoid the spoilers. As you know, it's very difficult to do this given how PW games are essentially the story and characters.

It has the best first case so far out of any of the games. As veterens will know, that's not saying much as the first case is the introduction that familiarises you with the controls and the processes by which you solve the case. The first chapter is played in the past as Mia defending Phoenix, the prosecuter is the bald guy you've face before only this case ends on a hilarious visual gag. :lol:

What you'll notice is that the game is no upgrade from the other titles, the same format, music, backgrounds and character assets are used. There are also no additional DS enhancements like the last case of PW1.

And er........ that's all I can say about the first case without delving into story talk.

Case 2 is the one I'm on now and it's really great so far. It's impressed me because it seems to reach a conclusion on several points and then you have major unexpected twists that continue the chapter, meaning it's quite long. It's like watching a great movie, thinking you saw the end then realising that you have another half hour to go.

One thing that kinda bugs me is Maya, this girl is always getting me into trouble, but then she wouldn't be Maya otherwise :P

It's got some great new characters, some welcome old ones -so far- and some nice new tunes, remixes and re-uses of old tunes. One thing to mention is the new prosecuter Godot, a white haired sty-le icon with a Cylon-from-Battlestar-Galactica mask. He is hilarious, has his own mellow jazzy theme tune and has this raft of visual gags, which revolve around drinking coffee.

Otherwise it's business as usual for Trite and co (heh heh) and that means what you all know it means. PW Goodness :P

I really thought I could wait for this game until the October release date, but I caved in and purchased it sometime last week. Hopefully I'll be getting it soon.

Gaminggeek, from what you've played so far, how is the English translation? I was reading that there were quite a bit of typos and grammar errors on the Japanese version, which will hopefully be fixed by the US release (I think I see myself buying two copies of this game). Normally that doesn't bug me, but for a text-heavy game like this, was it something that you noticed while playing through it?

I really thought I could wait for this game until the October release date, but I caved in and purchased it sometime last week. Hopefully I'll be getting it soon.

Gaminggeek, from what you've played so far, how is the English translation? I was reading that there were quite a bit of typos and grammar errors on the Japanese version, which will hopefully be fixed by the US release (I think I see myself buying two copies of this game). Normally that doesn't bug me, but for a text-heavy game like this, was it something that you noticed while playing through it?

_Dez_

The grammer errors are the same with every phoenix wright you import from japan. They're still pretty much understandable, but if you wait and buy the english version you're showing support so that we might get more english versions of future phoenix wrights :)

Hmm, I was a bit wary, as the third game in the series it could easily suffer from being too similar. I will hold judgement until i have heard feedback from a couple more people, but it is encouraging that you are enjoying it so far.southy787

I got the japanese versions of PW2 and 3. There are a couple of typos that occur very rarely. It's not a problem at all.

That being said, the producers of the series have said that the western release of number 4 is contingent on the sales of number 3 in the west. So it would be better for those who haven't already imported to buy it in a couple of months in the U.S Being outside the U.S I have a great excuse, the original PW launched 8 months late in Europe, at least.

I got the japanese versions of PW2 and 3. There are a couple of typos that occur very rarely. It's not a problem at all.

That being said, the producers of the series have said that the western release of number 4 is contingent on the sales of number 3 in the west. So it would be better for those who haven't already imported to buy it in a couple of months in the U.S Being outside the U.S I have a great excuse, the original PW launched 8 months late in Europe, at least.

gaminggeek

[QUOTE="_Dez_"]

I really thought I could wait for this game until the October release date, but I caved in and purchased it sometime last week. Hopefully I'll be getting it soon.

Gaminggeek, from what you've played so far, how is the English translation? I was reading that there were quite a bit of typos and grammar errors on the Japanese version, which will hopefully be fixed by the US release (I think I see myself buying two copies of this game). Normally that doesn't bug me, but for a text-heavy game like this, was it something that you noticed while playing through it?

Riavian

The grammer errors are the same with every phoenix wright you import from japan. They're still pretty much understandable, but if you wait and buy the english version you're showing support so that we might get more english versions of future phoenix wrights :)

I distinctly remember the US release of AA2 having it's fair share of spelling errors, whereas the first games was spotless. It's been said before, but I can't shake the feeling that the western releases aren't being as cleaned up as we are being led to believe.

Just a heads up to all the prospective buyers - Gamestop is supposed to be giving away a pre-order bonus for Phoenix Wright 3:

I hear it's tiny, but hey, not too shabby. So all of you importers got screwed, but at least you got to play the game before everyone else. :P

EDIT: Doh! I just checked the Gamestop website and the official pic doesn't make it look as good:

:( Oh well,they're only charging $30 for the game so I'll still go for it.

I'm on the 4th case myself. The translation is pretty spot-on and has some modernized jokes to lighten the mood, but there are still quite a few spelling errors. But who cares? All the more to laugh at.

However, I didn't find the first case to be all that great. The second one turned out to be one of my favorites; it's good to know that not every case has to do with murder...

I'll still be buying the American release though--I want Apollo Justice to come overseas. That game is gonna be the bomb diggity.

Just finished the 2nd case last night :) One thing I don't like is the new victory music. I love the music when you finish a case on the other games and not hearing it here makes it feel incomplete :(

I love the music when you first start a trial: daaaaaaaaaa da da da daaaaaa da da daaaaaa. So cool.

Anyhow there's a review here: Full review here

Just buy them in order as there are minor links between stories and characters. But 3 and 2 aren't very different anyway so you might as well do them in order. There's really no point skipping 2. The 3 PW games as far as I can see (apart from case 5 from the first game) are the same thing with different stories. That's what PW is.

Isn't this the one where it stars Mia Fey? Do you get to play as Phoenix Wright in the game and is the game more flashbacks on Mia Fey's days as a lawyer?

Well, I'm definitly going to pick mine up when it's released here. But just wondering how different the translation will be.

Isn't this the one where it stars Mia Fey? Do you get to play as Phoenix Wright in the game and is the game more flashbacks on Mia Fey's days as a lawyer?

Well, I'm definitly going to pick mine up when it's released here. But just wondering how different the translation will be.

ASK_Story

There are five chapters in the game. Two of them are played as Mia Fey, and two are played as Phoenix Wright.

While Mia's cases are flashbacks, each and every one of these cases are linked to make one really interesting story so far.

As for the other guy who said he'd skip Justice For All -- DON'T SKIP ANY ACE ATTORNEY GAMES. Sure, Phoenix gives you a bit of a background with every story, but you'll kind of regret. Especially when you meet all these familiar characters once again. Not to mention this is the last game where Phoenix Wright plays the main character in the series.

Is the awesome music from the first game back, the theme that plays when you are about to solve the case. Part 2 took a huge blow just cause it didn't have that music.

dvader654

Pretty much the same pacing. The main court theme has changed in every game, but it still as sounds very Ace Attorney-like.

[QUOTE="gaminggeek"]I Dvader was referring to the kick ass music that plays when Phoenix sticks out his finger and the screen goes all blue and blurry. That music is there, but it's remixed and a lot weaker unfortunately. Overall though the music is better than PW2 by some margin, with new tracks, remixes and original tunes.dvader654

Remixed :( At least its there in some form, that hurt 2 a bit IMO. During PW1 when that music kicked up I felt like it was the final moments of an epic fight, I always got super pumped up when it played. In PW2 it was anti-climatic, I just didn't feel it. Music is very important, it sets the mood more than anything, even visuals, in a game thats more passive than most that is a big part.

90% of what I love about Phoenix Wright is the music, which might explain why I had no troubles making it through the first game but probably didn't get two cases into the sequel. How much better is the music in PW3 than 2?dchan01

Much better IMO.