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The next Phoenix Wright DS game, entitled And Justice For All…, shows the makings of another winner.  Man, the first  game took me at least 70-80 hours to beat. 

For this installment, Phoenix is readying his pointer finger for more intense courtroom drama. As before, our hero will collect evidence, interview witnesses and cross-examine testimonies to reveal contradictions. Armed with a slick anime-styled look and unusually sharp writing, Justice looks to be served for fans of the original.

In the build that was at Comic-Con, Phoenix had just awoken from hazy slumber induced by a sharp blow to the head by a rather unsavory character. Upon regaining consciousness, not only does Phoenix have trouble remembering the case he’s on, but also his own identity! What follows is a sort of clever way of a gameplay tutorial, for re-introducing fans to the game and inducting new touchscreen litigators.

As the demo progressed, it quickly became clear that this iteration will retain the great writing and memorable characters of its predecessor. Old friends like Dick Gumshoe return, making sure that the cast is both fresh and familiar. The storytelling that flowed so easily in the first game is only more fluid here.

In addition to the familiar gameplay, Phoenix will have to overcome new Psyche Locks, which are represented by visible (but metaphysical) chains wrapped around shady witnesses that only protagonist lawyers can see. As he unravels their testimony, the bonds will break with each proven contradiction. Cracking these locks is the only way to replenish Phoenix’s new lifebar, which serves as an indicator of how well he’s doing in court. Naturally, if it drops to zero, it’s the big G.O. Unfortunately, this part of the gameplay was not available on the show floor.

Joining the cast are Pearl Fey and Franziska von Karma; the former is a cousin of Maya Fey, psychic sidekick to Phoenix in the first game. The latter, as some may guess, is the daughter of the vanquished villain Manfred von Karma. Franziska, of course, seeks to avenge her father’s defeat. Fans should expect to see many familiar faces to accompany these newcomers.

More at: http://www.nintendojo.com/previews/NDS/view_item.php?1154382787