The game will be released in Europe on March 28th, and in North America later this year.
Nintendo World Report: 8.5/10
GameSpot: 8/10
Eurogamer: 8/10
Nintendo Life: 8/10
Edge Online: 7/10
Metro: 9/10
The Sixth Axis: 7/10
God is a Geek: 7/10
Japanator: 8/10 (import)
CVG: 8/10
IGN: 7.8/10
Pocket Gamer: 8/10 (import)
Digital Spy: 4/5
Nintendo Insider: 9/10
Games TM: 7/10
Metacritic compilation
Gamerankings compilation
Nintendo World Report: 8.5/10
Professor Layton vs Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney is one beautifully crafted game and an extremely well put together crossover. The original story has many twists and it becomes more interesting as everything unfolds. The intriguing cast of characters, seamless transitions of the two gameplay styles and stunning presentation makes this all one adventure you don't want to miss. It will be somewhat easy for veterans and that is a slight irritation, but nothing that should stop you from having a fine time in Labyrinthia. If you have been searching for the next big Nintendo 3DS game, well, you have just found it. With roughly 25 hours of content and additional free stuff coming at a later date, you would be shamefully missing one of the best games to ever grace the system.
GameSpot: 8/10
THE GOOD
+ Some of the best courtroom scenes of any Ace Attorney
+ Hysterical dialogue
+ Quality cutscenes make the story a delight
+ Interesting setting that makes character crossover seem plausible
THE BAD
− Layton's sections are not as interesting as Phoenix's
− Feels like two games, rather than a cohesive one
Eurogamer: 8/10
"All rise!"
"Your Honour, we are here today to hear the case of Professor Layton vs Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney, two popular 3DS puzzle series brought together for the first time by franchise creators Level-5 and Capcom. We will seek to establish that this collaboration has been both creatively fruitful and rewarding for fans of both."
Nintendo Life: 8/10
Professor Layton Vs. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney delivers an utterly charming, enjoyable experience to satisfy fans of both franchises; it's a crossover that, when experienced, seems entirely natural. The individual parts are pleasurable and entertaining, as always, though perhaps fall a little below the exceptional standards of their main-series contemporaries, and there's a lingering sense that more gameplay innovation to blend the two brands could have been explored. These are minor complaints in the grand scheme of a lengthy adventure, however, and the storytelling — combined with character development — has been delicately constructed; Level-5 and Capcom have done a commendable job. The end result is another 3DS title that exemplifies much of what sets Nintendo's portable hardware and supporting software apart; it provides heart-warming, accessible fun, and entertainment to last for many hours.
Edge Online: 7/10
Though the necessities of catering to two different audiences mean that it perhaps never quite reaches the heights of either of the pair’s best individual outings, as the credits roll, you’ll likely experience a hollow feeling, the emptiness that only the best stories leave behind. In the end, Professor Layton vs Phoenix Wright is a collaboration that rarely feels like a compromise; few, we imagine, would object to a rematch.
Metro: 9/10
In Short: Probably the most satisfying video games crossover ever made, and one that plays with the conventions of both franchises and still delivers a funny and touching story.
Pros: Utterly charming from the first moment, with a structure that never short changes either game or its characters. Some interesting twists to Ace Attorney’s gameplay and fantastic presentation.
Cons: It is still possible to get completely stuck on the Layton puzzles, although there’s a little more help than usual with Phoenix. It’s pretty easy to guess how the plot is going to end.
The Sixth Axis: 7/10
Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney is very much a jack of all trades, master of none. The puzzles in the Adventure scenario can be enjoyable, but are mostly far too easy and it feels like the whole thing was designed on autopilot, and I was disappointed with the way the plot explained certain things away. Thankfully, the witch trials are a lot better, and certainly provide the high points for the game.
Don’t get me wrong, the game is certainly above average, but doesn’t come close to touching the best that Professor Layton or Phoenix Wright has to offer.
God is a Geek: 7/10
Fittingly, the combination of the two series is a logical one. You use puzzles to find evidence to support a case, and it all makes sense, which is vital for this kind of crossover. Similarly, creating a new setting blends the world together better than making only one of them a fish out of water. But while the crossover may make sense, neither the Layton or the Wright sections are perfect. It’s all a bit too “entry level” on both counts.
Japanator: 8/10 (import)
Rather than relying on multidimensional portals or hackneyed excuses as to why these two franchises can come together, Shu Takumi (Ace Attorney) and his staff keep it simple. Layton lives in England and Phoenix lives in Japan. There's absolutely no reason why the two of them can't meet, which lends Layton vs AA consistency in terms of its overall narrative. These are the characters you know and love, and it feels surprisingly natural to see them interact and work together on screen. Professor Layton's wisdom and confidence complement Phoenix Wright's goofy underdog personality in ways that play with player expectations. Likewise, Luke and Maya are adorable together, forming something of an older sister/little brother bond. Bringing Shu Takumi, on board was clearly the right decision, as he manages to make these crossover relationships feel natural.
So Professor Layton vs Ace Attorney somehow manages to come together on a narrative level, but what about the gameplay? This is where I think people might need to temper their expectations. The game is divided into two very clear sections: the Layton part, and the Ace Attorney part. The different gameplay in both sections never really comes together in a cohesive way, which is something of a disappointment.
CVG: 8/10
The rest of the game follows the same structure as that featured in the prologue: a Layton exploration section, then a Wright courtroom section, then back to Layton again and so forth. Given the story's unusually long adventure - taking us around 30 hours to finish it, it's twice as long as an entry from either series - it's essentially two full games split into chapter-sized chunks and mixed together.
Does it work in practice? For the most part, yes. Fans of both series can be satisfied that each game is respectfully handled and well represented in this joint-venture, though there's still room for improvement.
IGN: 7.8/10
Ace Attorney and Professor Layton complement each other well, but in coming together, both have lost a little something of their challenge. I actually liked it most in the first two hours, before I was transported to Labyrinthia with all its medieval tropes and supernatural goings-on, when the thrill of hearing Ace Attorney sound effects against an aural backdrop of Layton background music was still fresh. Whatever else it is, Layton vs Wright is excellent fan service, and at 20-plus hours it’s far from insubstantial.
This unique crossover is a powerful draw for fans of either series, but it doesn’t make the most of its potential. It sacrifices some of both series’ challenge, and the alternate-universe story feels like a missed opportunity where there could have been more meaningful interaction between the worlds of Wright and Layton. The witty dialogue writing, however, is as charming and enjoyable as ever.
Pocket Gamer: 8/10 (import)
Digital Spy: 4/5
Nintendo Insider: 9/10
Games TM: 7/10
Metacritic compilation
Gamerankings compilation