Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Spirit Of Justice Preview
[Updated on 9/8/16 with Launch Trailer]:
Although not a full-fledged retail release, it’s nice to see Capcom continuing to support the Phoenix Wright games in North America. The latest in the series will be available today via the 3DS eShop. Below is the launch trailer explaining bits of the story and the new mechanics. For more screens and information, head on over to our preview.
It’s time to embark on a legal adventure with co-stars Phoenix Wright and Apollo Justice as Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Spirit of Justice is out now! All the courtroom drama is available today digitally on the Nintendo eShop for the Nintendo 3DS family of systems for $29.99 / £24.99 / €29.99
Those who purchase the game within the first week of release will be treated to a free character costume pack. The pack includes intimidating attire based on the loan shark Furio Tigre for Phoenix, a studious school uniform for Apollo, and an all-frills waitress costume from the series’ French restaurant Trés Bien for Athena. After September 14, the costume pack will be available to purchase for $0.99 / £0.89 / €0.99.
The courtroom adventures will continue throughout the month as new DLC is released every Thursday through the end of September. Players can look forward to the release of two short stories, each bundled with a unique pixel art Nintendo 3DS theme, followed by the release of a full-length extra episode titled “Turnabout Time Traveler.” Stay tuned in the coming weeks for additional case details!
9/15 – “Phoenix Wright: Asinine Attorney” short story and 3DS theme ($3.99 / £3.59 / €3.99)
9/22 – “Apollo Justice: Asinine Attorney” short story and 3DS theme ( $3.99 / £3.59 / €3.99)
9/29 – “Turnabout Time Traveler” full-length extra episode ($5.99 / £5.39 / €5.99)
[Release Date Announced & New Trailer]:
A release date has finally been revealed for the latest Phoenix Wright game! It will hit the 3DS eShop on September 8, 2016 in North America. Gamers won’t have to wait that long to play a demo of the game, which is releasing on August 25, 2016. Check out the latest trailer below, and hit up our preview for more information.
Capcom is pleased to officially announce that court will be in session in Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Spirit of Justice on September 8, 2016. The latest courtroom proceedings will be available to purchase digitally for $29.99 / £24.99 / €29.99 from the Nintendo eShop for the Nintendo 3DS family of systems. All-new evidence in the form of a trailer is available today introducing many of the game’s colorful characters and their respective features and special abilities.
For those wanting a preview of the upcoming drama, a free demo will be available to download for all consumers in the Nintendo eShop on Nintendo 3DS on August 25. The demo features a section from the first courtroom scenario in the game, and allows players to slip into Phoenix’s shoes in the Kingdom of Khura’in and get a taste of the newest gameplay feature, the Divination Séance. Through royal priestess Rayfa and her Divination Séances, players can revisit the last moments of a victim’s life and must fight to unravel the discrepancies and contradictions between the Royal Priestess’s Insight and what is shown in the séance. This demo is sure to make for an exciting first test to bring about justice before the game’s full release!
This new game’s cast is full of many zany favorites alongside a new ensemble of characters to meet, and today Capcom is announcing several of them, including the return of forensics scientist Ema Skye, who first appeared in the original Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney. Ema has passed her certification exams and is now a full-fledged forensic investigator. Here she returns to assist Apollo in his defense of the series’ popular magician, Trucy Wright, Phoenix’s adopted daughter. Trucy is famed for her magic tricks and vanishing acts, until she suddenly finds herself mixed up in an unfortunate incident that takes place during one of her magic shows. With Phoenix away, it’s up to Apollo and Athena to uncover the truth about the tragic death of Mr. Reus, one of Trucy’s co-performers. During this case, players will also meet the brand new character Bonny de Famme, a fledgling magician who appears in Trucy’s show and wants to help Apollo in any way she can, but what will her witness testimony reveal?
In Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Spirit of Justice, forensic investigation techniques play a vital part in players analyzing the evidence to help solve some of the game’s mysteries. Utilizing the features of the Nintendo 3DS system, players will be able to dust some crime scenes and search for fingerprints, while being able to examine certain objects at the scene a full 360 degrees to uncover hidden evidence like never before in the Ace Attorneyseries. Will the fingerprints match any of the suspects on file and uncover new truths? Combined with the ability to examine video evidence from multiple angles to check for inconsistencies, and other investigation techniques, this latest title in the Ace Attorney series is set to be the most thrilling outing to the courtroom yet!
[Original Preview]:
Phoenix Wright fans rejoice! Another entry in the popular series is releasing in September 2016 in North America and Europe for the 3DS via the eShop. It will retail for $29.99 / £24.99 / €29.99.
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Spirit of Justice will take place in an all-new location: a courtroom in the Kingdom of Khura’in. Here there are séance trials that decide the fate of all defendants. This adds a new gameplay mechanic that allows players to revisit the last moments of a victim’s life. It will be up to the player to unravel the secrets and all of the twists and turns that typically reside in the cases taken on by Phoenix Wright and Apollo Justice.
Fan favorite faces will make a return to the series, along with brand new characters, such as Rayfa, the Royal Priestess of the Kingdom of Khura’in. Apollo is stuck back home fighting for justice while Phoenix explores the new kingdom. He will have to unravel the discrepancies and contradictions between the Royal Priestess’s insights and what is shown during the séance visions.
We will update this preview with more media and information as it becomes available.

Craig has been covering the video game industry since 1995. His work has been published across a wide spectrum of media sites. He’s currently the Editor-In-Chief of Nintendo Times and contributes to Gaming Age.