3.5/5 ★ – DarrensTrashBag's review of Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney.

In terms of an Ace Attorney game, this is quite weak. This game was Shu testing out ideas for GAA like the multiple witnesses thing. It is executed horribly in this game with you having to press witnesses statements several times just to get to the next section. I do like the inclusion of magic in the game, it allows for a new area of possibilities. I do wish that some spells used in previous cases came back in newer cases. In terms on the cases themselves, there are four trials. The first trial is fine, Johnny Smiles is easily the highlight but the killer was just bland and the murder plot was bland. Second Trial was good, I liked the bit where the witnesses huddled up to discuss how to kill a witch. The only bit I wasn't too keen on was where the killer had to become visible just to look for her glasses. It didn't make any sense to me. Third Trial was easily the worst, the logic was all over the place and you also have Birdly, easily the worst character in the game. This trial just went on for so much longer than it should have. I knew immediately that Emeer stole the OBVIOUS BOTTLE OF POISON HE IS WAVING AROUND whenever he showed up and we had to go like three hours before we finally ask him about it. I liked Emeer in the last trial but in this one he just would not tell us anything and then goes like "wot? I I'm not hidin' anything" every ten seconds. If I ranked this trial it would be the third worse in the series. The only redeeming quality was Jean's story and having Timothy Watson read the suicide note, that's it. The final trail is the best, everything gets revealed in more of a Professor Layton way rather than an Ace Attorney way. I feel like Espella was way too stubborn despite us clearly explaining and proving that nothing was her fault but she still was causing conflict because she wouldn't listen, that part was infuriating but that is all. This trial bumped up my rating by a lot because during the last two trials, I wasn't enjoying myself that much. Now the Layton aspects, these were very good. I just wish that Chelmey showed up more. The side characters were also very Laytonesque as in not being too memorable and just have one aspect or gag to them. Espella was good until she went into the "I did it" phase. It does make sense why should would be like that but the game goes so long without explaining why. It is kinda like Nahyuta in that aspect but maybe not as bad. Barnham could have been an interesting character but the moment he tried to figure out the mystery he was just arrested and gone for the rest of the game. Lots of missing potential for Barnham. Darklaw and the Storyteller might be my favorite new characters. The animated cutscenes might be the best looking in the Layton series, absolutely incredible. Also they make Layton an even cooler character in these scenes. The voice acting was not that good, Phoenix had an alright voice but I was not into Maya's voice and performance. The actual good ones in my opinion were the Judge's, Barnham's, Darklaw, Kira, and Newton Belduke. Overall I felt like the Ace Attorney gameplay was not smooth at all, which is why this is the only Ace Attorney game that I recommend using a guide on because you just need to backtrack through testimonies and hear them several times to get what you need. The Layton gameplay is good and the story did not have me until the end. 73/100