Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney is a Nintendo 3DS title by Capcom and Level-5, which is a Crossover between the Professor Layton puzzle games and the Ace Attorney courtroom adventure series. The game is a crossover between two game series from both developers, combining the puzzle and exploration elements of Level-5's Professor Layton series, and the general trial mechanics of Capcom's Ace Attorney adventure series, the latter enhanced by the addition of a few new elements, including multiple witnesses, a concept continued with into the prequel series The Great Ace Attorney.
It was released in Japan on November 29th, 2012 and later localized to Europe on March 28th, 2014. It came to US shores later that year on August 29th. Even though Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney is a crossover, Hino and Takumi both see the game as more of a legitimate installment to their respective series rather than as a spin-off. Shu Takumi, the series director for the Ace Attorney series, assisted with the scenario designs for the game.
Основы геймплея: две формулы в одном картридже
The game has two main styles of gameplay, Adventure and Witch Trial, which feature elements from the Professor Layton and Ace Attorney series respectively. Two entirely unique gameplay styles collide - investigate the mysteries of Labyrinthia, solving puzzles as you go, then seek justice in the courts of law!
Adventure: исследования и головоломки
During Adventure segments, players can explore various environments, conversing with characters and examining background objects in order to find clues to solving the mystery of Labyrinthia. Investigating certain areas or conversing with certain characters reveals various puzzles, which task players with finding its solution. Solving these puzzles earn Picarats, with more earned for making fewer mistakes, which go towards unlocking bonus content.
The control scheme is similar to the one introduced in Professor Layton and the Miracle Mask, in which players navigate the environments by moving around a cursor on the screen. Hint Coins can be found dotted around Labyrinthia; if you’re in a spot of bother, whether you’re trying a testing puzzle or having trouble cracking a particularly wily witness, buy a helpful clue to point you in the right direction.
Witch Trial: суды и перекрестные допросы
In the Witch Trial sections, players take control of Phoenix Wright as he cross-examines witnesses in order to defend his client. While cross-examining a witness, the player can press them for more details, which can sometimes yield new information or evidence. The player's main task is to look for contradictions in the witness statements and present the evidence that contradicts their statement.
If the player presents the wrong evidence at the wrong time, the player will lose a strike, with the game ending if the player loses all of their strikes. This time around, Phoenix will occasionally experience a "mob trial", forcing him to cross-examine multiple witnesses at once. Whilst pressing one witness, another may react to one of their statements, and questioning them may yield new information or evidence.
In addition to the Court Record, which contains evidence on the case, Phoenix also has access to the Grand Grimoire, a book of magic spells which can also be used as evidence.
Ключевые нововведения и качество жизни
- Multiple witnesses on the stand allow Phoenix to spot reactions by one witness to another's testimony.
- Anti-Frustration Features: The ability to use hint coins if you get stuck during trials: if you use one, it'll tell you what action to take on the suspicious statement and blank out some of the incorrect choices.
- Puzzles you miss can be solved later at your leisure, although without the dialogue that would normally accompany it.
- At some points where you cannot access the Great Archive to complete unsolved puzzles that have been sent to Ridelle Mystere, the Archive’s librarian, she will appear somewhere else and allow you to complete them.
- In a relatively unique instance in the Layton franchise, it is possible to reclaim certain missed picarats; specifically, after completing the game, it's possible to replay the ending of the final trial with your Credibility reset to 5.
Сюжет: загадка Лабиринтии
The game follows Professor Layton, Luke Triton, Phoenix Wright and Maya Fey as they attempt to solve the mystery of Labyrinthia. After getting involved in mysterious incidents in London, Professor Layton and his apprentice Luke Triton, as well as the visiting defense attorney Phoenix Wright and his assistant Maya Fey, find themselves transported to the Medieval European Fantasy town of Labyrinthia.
In London, Espella Cantabella seeks the aid of Professor Layton and his apprentice Luke. The three are attacked by what appear to be witches; Espella escapes on a cargo freighter while Layton and Luke are seemingly drawn into a medieval town called Labyrinthia via a book owned by Espella. Espella is quickly arrested for assault and theft when the freighter docks, following an attack on a freighter staff member. Phoenix Wright, an American defense attorney in London as part of a legal exchange, is assigned to Espella's case. Phoenix ultimately deduces that Espella stumbled upon a jewel smuggling operation and was attacked by the supposed victim.
Layton and Luke learn that Labyrinthia is controlled by the Storyteller, a man who allegedly can turn anything he writes into reality. The town's Knights of the Inquisition, led by High Inquisitor Darklaw, prosecute and execute by fire all supposed witches in the Witch's Court. The Inquisition seeks to locate the Great Witch Bezella, the witches' mythical leader who caused Labyrinthia's devastating Legendary Fire millennia ago.
Первая волна тайн и обвинений
Layton and Luke discover Phoenix and Maya, having been brainwashed into thinking they are bakers. As the four continue to investigate, Layton is attacked by a witch and turned into a gold statue. Maya is accused of the attack and the murder of alchemist Newton Belduke, but Phoenix proves that Belduke committed suicide and Maya did not attack Layton. He also learns that Espella is the Storyteller's daughter. Belduke's butler is exposed as a witch; Espella confesses to being Bezella to protect her.
Шейды, руины и Колокол Разрушения
Layton and Maya awaken outside town, finding a settlement populated by Shades, hooded worshipers of the Great Witch. The two discover underground ruins, where they regroup with the others. The five discover the remnants of an ancient civilization that sealed a Bell of Ruin after it caused a disaster. Espella suddenly experiences visions of the Legendary Fire and flees.
Дракон огня и главный процесс
When the group returns to town, Bezella appears and seemingly kills the Storyteller with a colossal fire dragon. Espella is arrested and charged, with Darklaw personally prosecuting the case. Layton and Luke investigate the Storyteller's Tower, finding him alive and well at the summit. Layton realizes that the Storyteller's story is being sabotaged by outside forces. Meanwhile, Phoenix deduces that Darklaw intended to frame Espella.
Большое раскрытие: что такое Лабиринтия на самом деле
The Storyteller later takes the stand, revealing his real name is Arthur Cantabella. He explains that Labyrinthia is a research facility that tests the effects of a mind-controlling substance found in the groundwater, which causes anyone who drinks it to lose consciousness at the sound of silver being struck, and the townspeople are test subjects who volunteered to have their memories wiped so they could start new lives.
The Legendary Fire occurred when the Bell of Ruin caused the townspeople to simultaneously fall unconscious as a result of these chemicals and the town's fires got out of control. Believing herself responsible, Espella became obsessed with the idea that she was possessed by Bezella, and Arthur created Labyrinthia's witches and mythology to counteract Espella's condition. He had the Shades create the illusions of magic and indoctrinate anyone "killed" as a result of witchcraft or the Witch Trials into their number.
Belduke was Arthur's partner, but killed himself due to accumulated guilt over the deception. Darklaw is revealed to be Belduke's daughter and Espella's childhood friend Eve, who blamed Arthur for her father's suicide; she lured Layton into Labyrinthia and sabotaged the story to get revenge, and was forced to include Phoenix when he unwittingly got involved. Phoenix and Layton deduce that Eve was the one who rang the bell, but was traumatised and repressed the memory. Eve reconciles with the Cantabellas, and Arthur lifts the hypnosis.
Дизайн, разработка и визуальный стиль
The artwork style used is a mix between the pseudo-detailed visuals from the Ace Attorney series and the more deformed appearances of the Layton games; the mixed style was the result of a drawn-out trial-and-error process to figure out how best to mix the two conflicting styles. Both Level-5 and Capcom contributed towards the game's development, with Capcom specifically handling the visual design, while Level-5 took charge of publishing duties. The game supported the 3D effects on the Nintendo 3DS console; though Level-5's developers had already worked with this feature in developing Professor Layton and the Miracle Mask in 2011, this was the first Ace Attorney game to support the feature.
The game was originally an idea of Hino's, and a project that he himself proposed to Capcom, sometime after some initial development work had been completed. Inafune described the game as a true collaboration between the two companies jointly sharing in the effort, as opposed to the licensing of characters by one company; he felt that they "wanted to create a great history, which would have been impossible if both parties were not fully involved". The idea came as a surprise to Shu Takumi, series creator for the Ace Attorney series.
Музыка и звуковое сопровождение
The soundtrack to the game was a collaborative effort between Professor Layton series' composer Tomohito Nishiura and newcomer Yasumasa Kitagawa of Capcom. Aside from producing new compositions, both additionally arranged music from previous instalments of the respective franchises, with Kitagawa arranging some compositions from Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney composer Masakazu Sugimori. Nishiura and Kitagawa arranged and orchestrated the music with the help of Yumiko Hashizume and Norihito Sumitomo; whom had both previously worked on the Professor Layton series. While the arranged pieces were used mostly with gameplay, the animated cutscenes were accompanied by more cinematic orchestral music.
Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Puzzle 1: Paths of Light
Полезно знать: доступность и место в сериях
Crossovers often appeal to both audiences, so while fans of both series are interested in Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney, a lot of people looking at it are either newcomers to both series, or have played one but not the other. Due to references and shout-outs, the crossover means the most to fans of both series, but it doesn’t depend on players having prior knowledge of them. In fact, this is a great way to give Professor Layton fans a taste of Ace Attorney gameplay and vice versa.
Unfortunately, with the 3DS eShop closed, the only way to buy the crossover is to track down a rare physical copy. As of September 6, 2024, Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney is the only Ace Attorney game not available on current platforms.
Таблица: режимы игры и их особенности
- Adventure: explore environments; solve puzzles; earn Picarats; cursor-based navigation.
- Witch Trial: cross-examine; present evidence; strikes on mistakes; multiple witnesses; Grand Grimoire as evidence.