Countdown to Apollo

[sabinetzin]

DAY SEVENTEEN: BRIDGE TO THE TURNABOUT, PART TWO
or, Every case is gonna be air tight

Defense Attorney: Phoenix Wright
Prosecutor: Godot
Defendant: Iris
Victim: Elise Deauxnim
Play Time:
Day Two with credits: 4 hours, 27 min.
Full Case: 7 hours, 8 min.
Trials and Tribulations: 16 hours, 59 min.
Phoenix Wright Trilogy: 1 day, 18 hours, 53 min.

I had no idea that this case was so goddamned long. I thought that I made a mistake in calculating today's play time, but I'm now certain I didn't. Shit, I'm glad I only worked a half day today (YES I TOOK OFF WORK TO PLAY PHOENIX WRIGHT AND WRITE FANFICTION) or else I'd have been up half the night. I probably should have thought more about the time commitment when I started this thing- it averaged to about 2.5 hours of play time per day.

The only time a reviewer can bitch is when it's all over.

But anyway. Before we go any further, I must share the awesomeness that is the ASCII diagram of Larry's picture that came in the faq I used:

 
                \              O                 /
                 \            /|\               /
                  \            /\              /
                   \                          /
                    \                        /
                 F..... I..... R..... E..... .....!
             -----------------------------------------
               |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  
               |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  
               |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  
             -----------------------------------------
                 F..... I..... R..... E..... .....!

As if the whole thing weren't absurd enough. Here's my mystery for the whole burning bridge thing: how did Godot catch hold of the guy-wire to put Elise on it if it had already snapped? It should be where it's shown in the picture of the burnt out bridge.

I like the symmetry of Phoenix being sick in the first and last cases of this game. It's kind of a subtle touch, but I enjoyed it.

I cannot get over how awesome it is for Franzy to follow Nick around like a lovesick puppy for the entire investigation. I lost my shit several times. I also have to admit that it's way too much fun to present Fran's profile to Gumshoe while she's standing there and have him gush about her great beauty. Though, it must be said, this case is all about Fran/Larry (and a little bit of Godot/Maya on the side).

And there the game goes again making me feel bad about not liking a canon ship! I don't want Phoenix to get back with Iris, despite how terrifically sweet it is. I want him to take his little bisexual ass back to Edgeworth.

…Iris can come too.

Were we supposed to be surprised that Godot is Diego? Granted, I saw both of their pictures before I ever played the game, but… damn. I know Phoenix never met Diego, but certainly there had to have been a picture of him somewhere in Mia's effects, if they really were dating, as Grossberg claims.

The first time I played this case, it was a huge let down. It's this really gripping, complex case, and you get to the end and- Godot did it? Really? Like, for real for real? I was racing to get to the end, because I thought it couldn't possibly be true. But it was. I was really disappointed. Having said that, I see it more now on the second play through, but I'm still not really wild about it. I appreciate the fact that all the prosecutors go through some kind of fall, but that was a bit damn much. At least Von Karma capping Greg Edgeworth made perfect sense.

On a logistical note, this is the only game where you don't have a three day trial. I can't decide if that's a good thing or a bad thing- I never liked the rhythm of three day trials, but Day Two is, it bears repeating, HELLA LONG.

Once again, I have no complaints about the credits; they tie everything up nicely, and there's Lisa Basil, and Gumshoe/Maggey, and things are good. The only thing that makes me sad is that you can't yell your final OBJECTION! into the mic. Well… I guess you can. It just doesn't do anything.

So that's it for the Phoenix Wright trilogy. I can't think of a set of videogames that has brought me greater joy and entertainment (except maybe the Karaoke Revolution series, and maybe I shouldn't admit that). I can't say that I'm entirely sanguine about the arrival of Apollo; I can only hope I'll get to know and love the characters like I have the ones from the first three games. Regardless, I'll always have a special place in my heart for Feenie and Edgey.

And then Phoenix was a hobo.

Top Three Reasons To Play Bridge To The Turnabout, Day Two
3. Dahlia freak out go boom
2. Franzy's Whiplash Splash!
1. Sad Godot in courtroom.