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[[Image:Dai_Gyakuten_Saiban_Logo.png|center|300px]]
 
[[Image:Dai_Gyakuten_Saiban_Logo.png|center|300px]]
'''Dai Gyakuten Saiban: Naruhodō Ryūnosuke no Bōken''' (大逆転裁判 -成歩堂龍ノ介の冒險-; lit. "Grand Turnabout Trial: The Adventures of Ryūnosuke Naruhodō") is an visual text-based adventure game and a spin-off title in [[Capcom]]'s ''[[Ace Attorney Series|Ace Attorney]]'' series of visual novel legal thriller adventure games. Released for the Nintendo 3DS, published by [[Capcom]], directed by [[Shu Takumi]], and produced by Shintaro Kojima, ''Dai Gyakuten Saiban'' is the ninth title overall in the ''Ace Attorney'' series. The game was released in Japan on July 9, 2015. It is not planned for release in the West.<ref>https://twitter.com/capcom_france/status/638738807010029568</ref> Art is done by [[Kazuya Nuri]].
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'''Dai Gyakuten Saiban: Naruhodō Ryūnosuke no Bōken''' (大逆転裁判 -成歩堂龍ノ介の冒險-; lit. "Grand Turnabout Trial: The Adventures of Ryūnosuke Naruhodō") is an visual novel adventure game and a spin-off title in [[Capcom]]'s ''[[Ace Attorney (series)|Ace Attorney]]'' series of visual novel law-themed adventure games. Released for the Nintendo 3DS, published by Capcom, directed by [[Shu Takumi]], and produced by Shintaro Kojima, ''Dai Gyakuten Saiban'' is the ninth title overall in the ''Ace Attorney'' series. The game was released in Japan on July 9, 2015. It is not planned for release in the West.<ref>https://twitter.com/capcom_france/status/638738807010029568</ref> Art is done by [[Kazuya Nuri]].
   
A [[Dai Gyakuten Saiban 2: Naruhodou Ryuunosuke no Kakugo|sequel]] is currently in development.
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A [[Dai Gyakuten Saiban 2: Naruhodou Ryuunosuke no Kakugo|sequel]] was released in 2017.
  +
 
==Gameplay==
 
The game incorporates the basic investigation/trial formula used in previous ''Ace Attorney'' titles, with some changes especially to the trial portions. Unlike previous games, some text graphics in ''Dai Gyakuten Saiban'' use English translations alongside or in place of some of the Japanese terms, such as "cross-examination" and episode titles.
  +
 
Like the other 3DS titles, ''[[Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney]]'' and ''[[Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney: Dual Destinies]]'', the game features 3D character models and backgrounds. However, it also expands on the camera work and animations, treating these aspects with special care to help depict Sherlock Holmes's legendary ability to infer details from even the subtlest of movements. For this purpose, actors from the [[Wikipedia:Himawari Theatre Group|Himawari Theatre Group]] were brought in for motion capture.
  +
 
===Investigations===
 
''Dai Gyakuten Saiban'' introduces a new element to investigations, known as "joint reasoning" (共同推理 ''kyōdō suiri''). This feature involves Sherlock Holmes using his rapid-fire reasoning to come to a conclusion based on various details that he notices. Naruhodō then has a chance to rebut this train of logic by pointing out flaws and contradictions. One way of doing so is to inspect an individual from various angles to find hidden clues that have escaped Holmes's notice, possibly leading to an entirely different conclusion. Investigations in ''Dai Gyakuten Saiban'' also allow for more in-depth background exploration. Additionally, joint reasoning sequences feature heavy usage of spotlights and flashy poses, in a fashion reminiscent of ''[[Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective]]''.
  +
 
===Trials===
 
The trial system has undergone an overhaul, with many elements similar to the witch trials from ''Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney''. This includes the five-strike penalty system from the original [[Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney|''Ace Attorney'' game]] and cross-examining multiple witnesses at once. Also like ''Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney'', pressing a witness results in a dialogue that can be interrupted if the player catches one witness thinking. When pressing a witness, Ryūnosuke Naruhodō says, "Hai!" ("はいッ!") instead of "Hold it!" ("待った!")
  +
 
The English courts use a [[wikipedia:jury trial|jury system]] involving six jurors and a judge. The jurors vote by launching flaming knives in a firework-like manner onto a set of scales, one side representing a guilty vote and the other representing a not guilty vote. The jurors can change their votes as the trial progresses. If all six jurors vote "guilty", the defense has the right to a "jury examination" to try to convince them to overturn their guilty votes. The jury examination works much like cross-examinations, with each juror having his or her own ideas about the case at hand. Like ''Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney'', the defense can point out a contradiction between two jurors' statements, though in this game there is a button dedicated to this feature, allowing the player to choose any two statements instead of having one already picked out by the game. If a majority of jurors reverse their decision, the jury examination ends in the defense's favor.
  +
 
The court record appears similar to the one used in ''Dual Destinies'', with five evidence icons fully visible at a time, though two other evidence slots are visible, partially obscured by the arrow buttons used to scroll through the evidence.
   
 
== Plot ==
 
== Plot ==
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*'''[[Susato Mikotoba]]''' (御琴羽 寿沙都) - A judicial assistant working alongside Naruhodō. Described as a "[[Wikipedia:Yamato nadeshiko|yamato nadeshiko]]" with a progressive frame of mind and a love for books on law and foreign mystery novels. She also has something of a sweet tooth.
 
*'''[[Susato Mikotoba]]''' (御琴羽 寿沙都) - A judicial assistant working alongside Naruhodō. Described as a "[[Wikipedia:Yamato nadeshiko|yamato nadeshiko]]" with a progressive frame of mind and a love for books on law and foreign mystery novels. She also has something of a sweet tooth.
   
*'''[[Kazuma Asōgi]]''' (亜双義 一真) - A close friend of Ryūnosuke's and fellow student at Teito Yūmei University. He is studying to become a defense attorney, but supporters say that he is more than qualified to become one. He seeks to travel to Britain to continue his studies. Asōgi is calm and confident compared to the inexperienced Naruhodō, and stands alongside him in Episode 1
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*'''[[Kazuma Asōgi]]''' (亜双義 一真) - A close friend of Ryūnosuke's and fellow student at Teito Yūmei University. He is studying to become a defense attorney, but supporters say that he is more than qualified to become one. He seeks to travel to Britain to continue his studies. Asōgi is calm and confident compared to the inexperienced Naruhodō, and stands alongside him in Episode 1.
   
 
* '''Sherlock Holmes''' (シャーロック ホームズ) - Based on the famous fictional English detective of the [[w:c:bakerstreet:Sherlock Holmes|same name]] created by real-life author [[wikipedia:Arthur Conan Doyle|Arthur Conan Doyle]], the legendary Holmes is well-known for his talent for rapid-fire [[wikipedia:Abductive reasoning|abductive reasoning]]. He assists Naruhodō with crime investigations.
 
* '''Sherlock Holmes''' (シャーロック ホームズ) - Based on the famous fictional English detective of the [[w:c:bakerstreet:Sherlock Holmes|same name]] created by real-life author [[wikipedia:Arthur Conan Doyle|Arthur Conan Doyle]], the legendary Holmes is well-known for his talent for rapid-fire [[wikipedia:Abductive reasoning|abductive reasoning]]. He assists Naruhodō with crime investigations.
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* ''The Adventure of the Unspeakable Story ''(語られない物語の冒険)'': The Hound of the Baskervilles'' - A fifth episode teased in the late June trailer. Ryūnosuke Naruhodō takes on the defense of a girl named Gina Lestrade. The subtitle is a direct reference to a [[w:c:bakerstreet:The Hound of the Baskervilles|Sherlock Holmes novel of the same name]].
 
* ''The Adventure of the Unspeakable Story ''(語られない物語の冒険)'': The Hound of the Baskervilles'' - A fifth episode teased in the late June trailer. Ryūnosuke Naruhodō takes on the defense of a girl named Gina Lestrade. The subtitle is a direct reference to a [[w:c:bakerstreet:The Hound of the Baskervilles|Sherlock Holmes novel of the same name]].
 
* ''Randst Magazine'' - Downloadable content to be released as weekly "issues" like a magazine. The first issue is available for free from July 9 to July 19, while the next eight will cost 300 yen each. Each issue may contain a short "episode", music from the game, voice clips, concept art and commentary, making-of videos, and Nintendo 3DS home themes. The title is a reference to ''[[Wikipedia:The Strand Magazine|The Strand Magazine]]'', where [[wikipedia:Arthur Conan Doyle|Arthur Conan Doyle]] first published his Sherlock Holmes short stories.
 
* ''Randst Magazine'' - Downloadable content to be released as weekly "issues" like a magazine. The first issue is available for free from July 9 to July 19, while the next eight will cost 300 yen each. Each issue may contain a short "episode", music from the game, voice clips, concept art and commentary, making-of videos, and Nintendo 3DS home themes. The title is a reference to ''[[Wikipedia:The Strand Magazine|The Strand Magazine]]'', where [[wikipedia:Arthur Conan Doyle|Arthur Conan Doyle]] first published his Sherlock Holmes short stories.
 
==Gameplay==
 
The game incorporates the basic investigation/trial formula used in previous ''Ace Attorney'' titles, with some changes especially to the trial portions. Unlike previous games, some text graphics in ''Dai Gyakuten Saiban'' use English translations alongside or in place of some of the Japanese terms, such as "cross-examination" and episode titles.
 
 
Like the other 3DS titles, ''[[Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney]]'' and ''[[Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney: Dual Destinies]]'', the game features 3D character models and backgrounds. However, it also expands on the camera work and animations, treating these aspects with special care to help depict Sherlock Holmes's legendary ability to infer details from even the subtlest of movements. For this purpose, actors from the [[Wikipedia:Himawari Theatre Group|Himawari Theatre Group]] were brought in for motion capture.
 
 
===Investigations===
 
''Dai Gyakuten Saiban'' introduces a new element to investigations, known as "joint reasoning" (共同推理 ''kyōdō suiri''). This feature involves Sherlock Holmes using his rapid-fire reasoning to come to a conclusion based on various details that he notices. Naruhodō then has a chance to rebut this train of logic by pointing out flaws and contradictions. One way of doing so is to inspect an individual from various angles to find hidden clues that have escaped Holmes's notice, possibly leading to an entirely different conclusion. Investigations in ''Dai Gyakuten Saiban'' also allow for more in-depth background exploration. Additionally, joint reasoning sequences feature heavy usage of spotlights and flashy poses, in a fashion reminiscent of ''[[Wikipedia:Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective|Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective]]''.
 
 
===Trials===
 
The trial system has undergone an overhaul, with many elements similar to the witch trials from ''Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney''. This includes the five-strike penalty system from the original [[Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney|''Ace Attorney'' game]] and cross-examining multiple witnesses at once. Also like ''Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney'', pressing a witness results in a dialogue that can be interrupted if the player catches one witness thinking. When pressing a witness, Ryūnosuke Naruhodō says, "Hai!" ("はいッ!") instead of "Hold it!" ("待った!")
 
 
The English courts use a [[wikipedia:jury trial|jury system]] involving six jurors and a judge. The jurors vote by launching flaming knives in a firework-like manner onto a set of scales, one side representing a guilty vote and the other representing a not guilty vote. The jurors can change their votes as the trial progresses. If all six jurors vote "guilty", the defense has the right to a "jury examination" to try to convince them to overturn their guilty votes. The jury examination works much like cross-examinations, with each juror having his or her own ideas about the case at hand. Like ''Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney'', the defense can point out a contradiction between two jurors' statements, though in this game there is a button dedicated to this feature, allowing the player to choose any two statements instead of having one already picked out by the game. If a majority of jurors reverse their decision, the jury examination ends in the defense's favor.
 
 
The court record appears similar to the one used in ''Dual Destinies'', with five evidence icons fully visible at a time, though two other evidence slots are visible, partially obscured by the arrow buttons used to scroll through the evidence.
 
   
 
==Development==
 
==Development==
Development began in 2013, a few months after the November 2012 Japanese release of ''Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney'', when Takumi was asked to start work on a new ''Ace Attorney'' game.<ref>"[https://twitter.com/takumi_gt/status/459310769624997888 Twitter / takumi_gt: コトの始まりは…去年。《レイトン教授VS逆転裁判》が発売され]". [https://twitter.com/ Twitter]. 2014-04-24. Retrieved 2014-09-13.</ref> Because the series had become so long, spanning eight text adventure titles up to that point, a more accessible game was desired. Takumi initially looked to civil trials as a concept, but realizing that it would not lead to very clear-cut conclusions. <ref name="takumi interview">https://twitter.com/takumi_gt/status/459310769624997888</ref> He later remembered a game idea he had come up with earlier:<ref name="takumi twitter 2014-04-24 C"/> around 2000, he had the idea of a mystery game in which a detective makes incorrect deductions, and where players have to correct the detective and lead him towards the truth.<ref>http://www.capcom.co.jp/dai-gyakuten/miryoku/m06.html</ref> he instead developed the "joint reasoning" concept with Sherlock Holmes, which he had had in his mind ever since the development of the original ''Ace Attorney'' trilogy. The idea was somewhat vague at first, with Takumi only writing in concept plans, "Holmes says something strange, and you correct that." The concept was later made into a demo in December 2013 and presented to higher-ups at Capcom, signaling a more concrete notion of how these interactions would unfold. Takumi did not actually expect Capcom to accept the proposal.<ref>"[https://twitter.com/takumi_gt/status/459311125582983168 Twitter / takumi_gt: そこで、なにができるかな…と考えたとき。 そういえば…ムカシ]". [https://twitter.com/ Twitter]. 2014-04-24. Retrieved 2014-09-13.</ref><ref name="takumi twitter">Apr 24 (2014-04-24). "[https://twitter.com/takumi_gt/status/459311452927434752 Twitter / takumi_gt: この機会に、セッカクなので《逆転裁判》と、その“企画”を融合"]. [https://twitter.com/ Twitter]. Retrieved 2014-09-13.</ref> The Meiji Japan setting was Nuri's idea, as Takumi originally conceived of the game taking place entirely in London.
+
Development began in 2013, a few months after the November 2012 Japanese release of ''Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney'', when [[Shu Takumi]] was asked to start work on a new ''[[Ace Attorney (series)|Ace Attorney]]'' game.<ref>"[https://twitter.com/takumi_gt/status/459310769624997888 Twitter / takumi_gt: コトの始まりは…去年。《レイトン教授VS逆転裁判》が発売され]". [https://twitter.com/ Twitter]. 2014-04-24. Retrieved 2014-09-13.</ref> Because the series had become so long, spanning eight text adventure titles up to that point, a more accessible game was desired. Takumi initially looked to [[wikipedia:Civil trials|civil trials]] as a concept, but realizing that it would not lead to very clear-cut conclusions.<ref name="takumi interview">https://twitter.com/takumi_gt/status/459310769624997888</ref> He later remembered a game idea he had come up with earlier; around 2000, he had the idea of a mystery game in which a detective makes incorrect deductions, and where players have to correct the detective and lead him towards the truth.<ref>http://www.capcom.co.jp/dai-gyakuten/miryoku/m06.html</ref> he instead developed the "joint reasoning" concept with Sherlock Holmes, which he had had in his mind ever since the development of the original ''Ace Attorney'' trilogy. The idea was somewhat vague at first, with Takumi only writing in concept plans ("''Holmes says something strange, and you correct that.''"). The concept was later made into a demo in December 2013 and presented to higher-ups at Capcom, signaling a more concrete notion of how these interactions would unfold. Takumi did not actually expect Capcom to accept the proposal.<ref>"[https://twitter.com/takumi_gt/status/459311125582983168 Twitter / takumi_gt: そこで、なにができるかな…と考えたとき。 そういえば…ムカシ]". [https://twitter.com/ Twitter]. 2014-04-24. Retrieved 2014-09-13.</ref><ref name="takumi twitter">Apr 24 (2014-04-24). "[https://twitter.com/takumi_gt/status/459311452927434752 Twitter / takumi_gt: この機会に、セッカクなので《逆転裁判》と、その“企画”を融合"]. [https://twitter.com/ Twitter]. Retrieved 2014-09-13.</ref> The game's setting in Meiji Japan was character designer [[Kazuya Nuri|Nuri]]'s idea, as Takumi originally conceived of the game taking place entirely in London.
   
The development cycle of the game was long and difficult due to all of the new approaches to the plot and game mechanics. The plot in particular took more effort than Takumi had anticipated. The last ''Ace Attorney'' scenario that he had written in an ordinary setting was the 2007 ''[[Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney]]'', and he wanted to make a series that could compete with the original trilogy in terms of quality. The game script was huge and changed drastically multiple times before being finalized in April 2015. This in turn provided a daunting challenge for Nuri and the other asset developers. It was as if no one really knew what the final product would look like.
+
The development cycle of the game was long and difficult due to all of the new approaches to the plot and game mechanics. The plot in particular took more effort than Takumi had anticipated. The last ''Ace Attorney'' scenario that he had written in an ordinary setting was ''[[Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney]]'' released in 2007, and he wanted to make a series that could compete with the original trilogy in terms of quality. The game script was huge and changed drastically multiple times before being finalized in April 2015. This in turn provided a daunting challenge for Nuri and the other asset developers. It was as if no one really knew what the final product would look like.
   
 
Nuri designed the graphics to have an illustration-like touch to them and convey the feel of the material of the clothing and other objects of the period. The characters were designed to have a more realistic feel with their expressions and movements, though witnesses and jurors were still more comic-looking to make them more recognizable when sitting next to each other. Nuri had difficulty with designing characters due to the limited selection of clothing and hairstyles available for the period, as well as the need to design so many jurors. He had to bring out their personalities in different ways.<ref>Ash. [http://forums.court-records.net/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=31283 Capcom Legends interview with Nuri (art director DGS)]. [http://forums.court-records.net/ Court Records Forums]. Retrieved 2015-07-26.</ref>
 
Nuri designed the graphics to have an illustration-like touch to them and convey the feel of the material of the clothing and other objects of the period. The characters were designed to have a more realistic feel with their expressions and movements, though witnesses and jurors were still more comic-looking to make them more recognizable when sitting next to each other. Nuri had difficulty with designing characters due to the limited selection of clothing and hairstyles available for the period, as well as the need to design so many jurors. He had to bring out their personalities in different ways.<ref>Ash. [http://forums.court-records.net/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=31283 Capcom Legends interview with Nuri (art director DGS)]. [http://forums.court-records.net/ Court Records Forums]. Retrieved 2015-07-26.</ref>
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Unlike past games, ''Dai Gyakuten Saiban'' makes extensive use of camera movements. For the asset designers, this meant that they could no longer get away with skimping on details on characters and settings that would not have been very visible in past games. Keeping the hand-drawn feel of the backgrounds even with camera zooming and movement required putting much more detail into the assets. Despite this, the asset designers pulled through and the assets were finished by the end of 2014.
 
Unlike past games, ''Dai Gyakuten Saiban'' makes extensive use of camera movements. For the asset designers, this meant that they could no longer get away with skimping on details on characters and settings that would not have been very visible in past games. Keeping the hand-drawn feel of the backgrounds even with camera zooming and movement required putting much more detail into the assets. Despite this, the asset designers pulled through and the assets were finished by the end of 2014.
   
Takumi had been wanting to make a Sherlock Holmes game for a long time; because of this, Holmes was part of the concept all the way from the start. According to Takumi, he had several reasons for wanting Holmes in the game: both due to the gameplay, and as a way to separate the game from the main ''Ace Attorney'' series, as Holmes is from a different time period than the one the main series games take place in. This led to Takumi thinking about how Japan was at that time, and lead to new possibilities for the game's mysteries.<ref name="takumi interview"/>
+
Takumi had been wanting to make a Sherlock Holmes game for a long time; because of this, Holmes was part of the concept all the way from the start. According to Takumi, he had several reasons for wanting Holmes in the game: both due to the gameplay, and as a way to separate the game from the main ''Ace Attorney'' series, as Holmes is from a different time period than the one the main series games take place in. This led to Takumi thinking about how Japan was at that time, and lead to new possibilities for the game's mysteries.<ref name="takumi interview" />
   
According to Takumi, it was challenging to write dialogue and using expressions appropriate for the way the Japanese language was during the Meiji period, as he had to avoid both too old-fashioned and too modern dialogue. As the Meiji period was a time when the lawyer profession was new in Japan, and when there was a lot of focus on becoming a part of "the new world" and becoming more Western, Takumi made sure to make the game reflect this.<ref name="siliconera 2014-04-24"/> The protagonist Ryūnosuke's character was based on how the main series protagonist [[Phoenix Wright]] would speak and act if he had lived during the Meiji period. When the development team wrote a list of ideas for names for the protagonist, "Ryūnosuke" was the first one to be suggested; it only took a few seconds for them to decide on it.<ref name="siliconera created ancestor">http://www.siliconera.com/2015/06/03/the-great-ace-attorney-makers-explain-how-they-created-phoenix-wrights-ancestor/</ref> Susato is based on the same concept as that of previous ''Ace Attorney'' heroines: she was designed to be a "perfect partner" and fun to spend time with, as the heroines of the series always are by the main characters' side.<ref name="takumi interview"/> her name was decided by choosing kanji characters that Takumi found pretty.<ref name="siliconera heroine">http://www.siliconera.com/2015/06/10/the-great-ace-attorney-creator-talks-about-how-they-came-up-with-the-heroine/</ref> The development team decided to change "Sherlock's Watson" from the original, as they thought it would be more interesting if Watson weren't another English gentleman.<ref name="takumi interview"/>
+
According to Takumi, it was challenging to write dialogue and using expressions appropriate for the way the Japanese language was during the Meiji period, as he had to avoid both too old-fashioned and too modern dialogue. As the Meiji period was a time when the lawyer profession was new in Japan, and when there was a lot of focus on becoming a part of "the new world" and becoming more Western, Takumi made sure to make the game reflect this.<ref name="siliconera 2014-04-24" /> The protagonist Ryūnosuke's character was based on how the main series protagonist [[Phoenix Wright]] would speak and act if he had lived during the Meiji period. When the development team wrote a list of ideas for names for the protagonist, "Ryūnosuke" was the first one to be suggested; it only took a few seconds for them to decide on it.<ref name="siliconera created ancestor">http://www.siliconera.com/2015/06/03/the-great-ace-attorney-makers-explain-how-they-created-phoenix-wrights-ancestor/</ref> Susato is based on the same concept as that of previous ''Ace Attorney'' heroines: she was designed to be a "perfect partner" and fun to spend time with, as the heroines of the series always are by the main characters' side.<ref name="takumi interview" /> her name was decided by choosing kanji characters that Takumi found pretty.<ref name="siliconera heroine">http://www.siliconera.com/2015/06/10/the-great-ace-attorney-creator-talks-about-how-they-came-up-with-the-heroine/</ref> The development team decided to change "Sherlock's Watson" from the original, as they thought it would be more interesting if Watson weren't another English gentleman.<ref name="takumi interview" />
   
 
=== Character design and visuals ===
 
=== Character design and visuals ===
Nuri designed the characters to make them look simple while also conveying a lot of information. He intended to make the graphics look like illustrations, and wanted to convey the feeling of the materials clothes and items from the Meiji period were made from. Characters were designed to be partially realistic, as realistic animations and facial expressions were needed for the game. Witnesses and jury members were however designed in a more stylized way, to ensure that players immediately recognize them when they see the characters sitting next to each other.<ref name="nuri interview"/>
+
Nuri designed the characters to make them look simple while also conveying a lot of information. He intended to make the graphics look like illustrations, and wanted to convey the feeling of the materials clothes and items from the Meiji period were made from. Characters were designed to be partially realistic, as realistic animations and facial expressions were needed for the game. Witnesses and jury members were however designed in a more stylized way, to ensure that players immediately recognize them when they see the characters sitting next to each other.<ref name="nuri interview" />
   
Ryūnosuke was designed to have "the sharp look of a university student", which went without problems. It did, however, take a long time to design his haircut; Takumi wanted the haircut to be recognizable from Ryūnosuke's silhouette, but said that most people during the Meiji period had simple haircuts.<ref name="siliconera created ancestor"/> Nuri tried designing various haircuts from that time, and designed around 50 variations.<ref name="nuri interview"/> Susato was designed to be an elegant Japanese woman; because of the time period, it was decided that she was to wear a kimono. Takumi had several ideas for various items she could hold, but it was decided that it was best to keep her design simple,<ref name="siliconera heroine"/> as contrast to the English characters. Several different variations were made for Holmes' design, including "depressed", "cute", "adventurous", "dark", and "sleeping" variations; eventually, they used a variation on how Holmes traditionally is depicted, as contrast to his personality. Additionally, he was given a gun as contrast to Ryūnosuke's sword. Iris' design included gothic elements, as well as elements of a mad scientist, and was created to look good when appearing together with Holmes. Asōgi's clothes were designed with influences from both Japanese and Western cultures. His headband, which flutters in the wind, was something Nuri really wanted in the game, and was something they were only able to do with 3D graphics.<ref name="nuri interview"/> Van Zieks was designed to give off a "dark aura",<ref name="siliconera death god">http://www.siliconera.com/2015/06/12/the-great-ace-attorneys-rival-prosecutor-was-made-to-be-a-death-god/</ref> with elements of vampires, wolves, and fallen angels.<ref name="nuri interview"/>
+
The protagonist Ryūnosuke was not only based on how the series' primary main character [[Phoenix Wright]] would speak and act if he had lived during the Meiji period but was also designed to have "the sharp look of a university student", which went without problems. It did, however, take a long time to design his haircut; Takumi wanted the haircut to be recognizable from Ryūnosuke's silhouette, but said that most people during the Meiji period had simple haircuts.<ref name="siliconera created ancestor" /> Nuri tried designing various haircuts from that time, and designed around 50 variations.<ref name="nuri interview" /> Susato was based on two concepts; one was the same as that of previous ''Ace Attorney'' heroines, a "perfect partner" and fun to spend time with as the heroines of the series always are by the main characters' side,<ref name="takumi interview">http://www.capcom.co.jp/dai-gyakuten/miryoku/m06.html</ref> and the other was that of an [[wikipedia:yamato nadeshiko|elegant Japanese woman]]. Because of the time period, it was decided that she was to wear a kimono. Takumi had several ideas for various items she could hold, but it was decided that it was best to keep her design simple,<ref name="siliconera heroine" /> as contrast to the English characters. Asōgi's clothes were designed with influences from both Japanese and Western cultures. His headband, which flutters in the wind, was something Nuri really wanted in the game, and was something they were only able to do with 3D graphics.<ref name="nuri interview" />
   
  +
Several different variations were made for Holmes' design, including "depressed", "cute", "adventurous", "dark", and "sleeping" variations; eventually, they used a variation on how Holmes traditionally is depicted, as contrast to his personality. Additionally, he was given a gun as contrast to Ryūnosuke's sword. Iris' design included gothic elements, as well as elements of a mad scientist, and was created to look good when appearing together with Holmes. Van Zieks was designed to give off a "dark aura",<ref name="siliconera death god">http://www.siliconera.com/2015/06/12/the-great-ace-attorneys-rival-prosecutor-was-made-to-be-a-death-god/</ref> with elements of vampires, wolves, and fallen angels.<ref name="nuri interview" />
Unlike previous ''Ace Attorney'' games, both characters and environments are fully made in 3D.<ref name="Gematsu 2014-09-09">http://gematsu.com/2014/09/sherlock-holmes-joins-great-ace-attorney</ref> Like Takumi's earlier game ''[[Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective]]'', [[Wikipedia:Spotlight (theatre lighting)|spotlights]] light up characters while they dance; this was something that had not been done in previous ''Ace Attorney'' games.<ref name="takumi interview"/> Motion capture of the former [[Wikipedia:Takarazuka Kagekidan|Takarazuka Kagekidan]] actress Shiotsuki Shuu was used for some animations; as the ''Ace Attorney'' series is known for its poses and animations, this was chosen as a way to make the animation more dynamic.<ref>http://www.siliconera.com/2015/06/19/a-look-at-how-the-great-ace-attorneys-animations-were-created/</ref>
 
  +
 
Unlike previous ''Ace Attorney'' games, both characters and environments are fully made in 3D.<ref name="Gematsu 2014-09-09">http://gematsu.com/2014/09/sherlock-holmes-joins-great-ace-attorney</ref> Like Takumi's earlier game ''[[Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective]]'', [[Wikipedia:Spotlight (theatre lighting)|spotlights]] light up characters while they dance; this was something that had not been done in previous ''Ace Attorney'' games.<ref name="takumi interview" /> Motion capture of the former [[Wikipedia:Takarazuka Kagekidan|Takarazuka Kagekidan]] actress Shiotsuki Shuu was used for some animations; as the ''Ace Attorney'' series is known for its poses and animations, this was chosen as a way to make the animation more dynamic.<ref>http://www.siliconera.com/2015/06/19/a-look-at-how-the-great-ace-attorneys-animations-were-created/</ref>
   
 
===Announcement===
 
===Announcement===
Line 113: Line 115:
 
The ''Famitsu'' feature was followed by a teaser trailer for the game. According to Takumi, development of the game had only begun recently. He described this situation as chaotic and was not certain of how the game would turn out, but also said that it was always like this in the beginning of his projects, which was both scary and fun.<ref name="takumi twitter" />
 
The ''Famitsu'' feature was followed by a teaser trailer for the game. According to Takumi, development of the game had only begun recently. He described this situation as chaotic and was not certain of how the game would turn out, but also said that it was always like this in the beginning of his projects, which was both scary and fun.<ref name="takumi twitter" />
   
  +
==Merchandise and promotions==
 
===Tokyo Game Show and Jump Festa===
 
===Tokyo Game Show and Jump Festa===
 
In September 2014, the game was featured again on ''Famitsu'', and introduced Sherlock Holmes and Iris Watson. On September 18, another trailer for the game was released. In December, ahead of Jump Festa, the official site updated with a profile of a new character, Kazuma Asōgi (亜双義 一真). A ''Famitsu'' feature of the game around the same time showed some details about the first trial. The Jump Festa event itself featured a playable demo of the game.
 
In September 2014, the game was featured again on ''Famitsu'', and introduced Sherlock Holmes and Iris Watson. On September 18, another trailer for the game was released. In December, ahead of Jump Festa, the official site updated with a profile of a new character, Kazuma Asōgi (亜双義 一真). A ''Famitsu'' feature of the game around the same time showed some details about the first trial. The Jump Festa event itself featured a playable demo of the game.
Line 121: Line 124:
 
===''Ken Gyakuten Saiban''===
 
===''Ken Gyakuten Saiban''===
 
On April 1, 2015 local time, the official Japanese site for ''Dai Gyakuten Saiban'' celebrated April Fools' Day by renaming the game '''''Ken Gyakuten Saiban: Inuhodō Ryūnosuke no Bōken''''' (犬逆転裁判 -戌歩堂龍ノ介の冒險-; lit. "''Dog Turnabout Trial: The Adventures of Ryūnosuke Inuhodō''") and showing dog-like versions of the main characters. Sherlock Holmes design as a dog is based on the "Meitantei Holmes" 1984 anime. The first kanji of the title was changed from 大 (meaning "big"/"great"/"large") to the slightly different-looking 犬 (meaning "dog"). Similarly, the first kanji of the Naruhodō surname was changed from 成 (meaning "to accomplish/finish/become") to the slightly different-looking 戌 (the [[Wikipedia:Earthly Branches|Earthly Branch]] for the dog). The other characters' names each had a kanji or syllable replaced with ワン (''wan'', the sound of a dog barking) (Kazu''wan'' Asougi, Susato Mikoto''wan'', Iris ''Wan''tson) except Sherlock Holmes, whose name stayed intact. A trailer was also shown, based on the Tokyo Game Show trailer of ''Dai Gyakuten Saiban''.
 
On April 1, 2015 local time, the official Japanese site for ''Dai Gyakuten Saiban'' celebrated April Fools' Day by renaming the game '''''Ken Gyakuten Saiban: Inuhodō Ryūnosuke no Bōken''''' (犬逆転裁判 -戌歩堂龍ノ介の冒險-; lit. "''Dog Turnabout Trial: The Adventures of Ryūnosuke Inuhodō''") and showing dog-like versions of the main characters. Sherlock Holmes design as a dog is based on the "Meitantei Holmes" 1984 anime. The first kanji of the title was changed from 大 (meaning "big"/"great"/"large") to the slightly different-looking 犬 (meaning "dog"). Similarly, the first kanji of the Naruhodō surname was changed from 成 (meaning "to accomplish/finish/become") to the slightly different-looking 戌 (the [[Wikipedia:Earthly Branches|Earthly Branch]] for the dog). The other characters' names each had a kanji or syllable replaced with ワン (''wan'', the sound of a dog barking) (Kazu''wan'' Asougi, Susato Mikoto''wan'', Iris ''Wan''tson) except Sherlock Holmes, whose name stayed intact. A trailer was also shown, based on the Tokyo Game Show trailer of ''Dai Gyakuten Saiban''.
  +
 
===Soundtrack===
 
The ''Dai Gyakuten Saiban'' soundtrack contains 67 tracks on 2 CDs. It was released on July 15, 2015.
  +
  +
==Release==
  +
''Dai Gyakuten Saiban: Naruhodō Ryūnosuke no Bōken'' was released on July 9th, 2015 only in Japan. In 2017, an "Special Edition" consisting of the game and its sequel was released.
   
 
==Reception==
 
==Reception==
 
''Famitsu'' gave ''Dai Gyakuten Saiban'' scores of 9/9/9/8 out of 10, for a total score of 35/40.<ref name="CRfamitsu6" /> The game sold 135,690 physical units in its first week, surpassed only by LEVEL-5's ''[[w:c:yokaiwatch:Yo-Kai Watch Busters: Red Cat Team & White Dog Corps|Yo-Kai Watch Busters: Red Cat Team & White Dog Corps]]''.<ref>Chris1964. [http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1079908 Media Create Sales: Week 28, 2015 (Jul 06 - Jul 12)]. [http://www.neogaf.com/forum/ NeoGAF]. Retrieved 2015-08-11.</ref>
 
''Famitsu'' gave ''Dai Gyakuten Saiban'' scores of 9/9/9/8 out of 10, for a total score of 35/40.<ref name="CRfamitsu6" /> The game sold 135,690 physical units in its first week, surpassed only by LEVEL-5's ''[[w:c:yokaiwatch:Yo-Kai Watch Busters: Red Cat Team & White Dog Corps|Yo-Kai Watch Busters: Red Cat Team & White Dog Corps]]''.<ref>Chris1964. [http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1079908 Media Create Sales: Week 28, 2015 (Jul 06 - Jul 12)]. [http://www.neogaf.com/forum/ NeoGAF]. Retrieved 2015-08-11.</ref>
 
==Soundtrack==
 
The ''Dai Gyakuten Saiban'' soundtrack contains 67 tracks on 2 CDs. It was released on July 15, 2015.
 
   
 
== Trivia ==
 
== Trivia ==
*The ''Dai Gyakuten Saiban'' games are chronologically the earliest game in the series' timeline.
+
*''Dai Gyakuten Saiban: Naruhodō Ryūnosuke no Bōken'', and the ''Dai Gyakuten Saiban'' sub-series in general, is notable for having these distinctions in the ''[[Ace Attorney series|Ace Attorney]]'' series.
  +
**The sub-series are chronologically the earliest games in the series' timeline.
 
*''Dai Gyakuten Saiban'' is also the second ''[[Ace Attorney Series|Ace Attorney]]'' side game installment that is exclusive to Japan and is not planned for any release in the West, the first being ''[[Gyakuten Kenji 2]]''.
+
**This game is the second ''Ace Attorney'' side game installment that is exclusive to Japan and is not planned for any release in the West, the first being ''[[Gyakuten Kenji 2]]''.
  +
**It is the first ''Ace Attorney'' game that doesn't feature an appearance of [[Phoenix Wright]], due to the time setting.
  +
**It is the third game to have a culprit appear in the end-credits.
  +
**Not counting the crossover game ''[[Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney]]'', ''Dai Gyakuten Saiban: Naruhodō Ryūnosuke no Bōken'' is the first game in the series that don't have ''Gyakuten'' ("Turnabout") in the episodes' titles (it should be noted that the [[Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney|original game]]'s "Rise from the Ashes" episode in the DS port has the word "Gyakuten" in its Japanese title). Instead, all episodes (excluding the DLC "issues") have "The Adventure of the" in the titles.
   
 
==Gallery==
 
==Gallery==
==='''Box Art'''===
+
===Box Art===
 
<gallery>
 
<gallery>
 
File:Dai_Gyakuten_Saiban_Naruhodō_Ryūnosuke_no_Bōken.png
 
File:Dai_Gyakuten_Saiban_Naruhodō_Ryūnosuke_no_Bōken.png
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
   
==='''Merchandise'''===
+
===Merchandise===
 
<gallery>
 
<gallery>
 
File:Dai_Gyakuten_Saiban_Nintendo_Magazine.png|Japanese magazine
 
File:Dai_Gyakuten_Saiban_Nintendo_Magazine.png|Japanese magazine
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*[[Wikipedia:Dai Gyakuten Saiban: Naruhodo Ryunosuke no Boken|Wikipedia article]]
 
*[[Wikipedia:Dai Gyakuten Saiban: Naruhodo Ryunosuke no Boken|Wikipedia article]]
   
*[[w:c:aceattorney:Dai Gyakuten Saiban: Naruhodō Ryūnosuke no Bōken|Article at ''Ace Attorney'' Wikia]]
+
*[[w:c:aceattorney:Dai Gyakuten Saiban: Naruhodō Ryūnosuke no Bōken|''Ace Attorney'' wikia article]]
   
 
{{Aceattorney}}
 
{{Aceattorney}}
 
[[Category:Games]]
 
[[Category:Games]]
 
[[Category:Ace Attorney Games]]
 
[[Category:Ace Attorney Games]]
[[Category:Point-and-Click Games]]
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[[Category:Visual Novel Games]]
 
[[Category:Japan-only Games]]
 
[[Category:Japan-only Games]]
 
[[Category:Adventure Games]]
 
[[Category:Adventure Games]]
[[Category:Visual Novel Games]]
 
 
[[Category:3DS Games]]
 
[[Category:3DS Games]]
[[Category:Under Construction]]
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[[Category:IOS Games]]
 
[[Category:2015 video games]]

Revision as of 15:37, 11 June 2018

Dai Gyakuten Saiban Logo

Dai Gyakuten Saiban: Naruhodō Ryūnosuke no Bōken (大逆転裁判 -成歩堂龍ノ介の冒險-; lit. "Grand Turnabout Trial: The Adventures of Ryūnosuke Naruhodō") is an visual novel adventure game and a spin-off title in Capcom's Ace Attorney series of visual novel law-themed adventure games. Released for the Nintendo 3DS, published by Capcom, directed by Shu Takumi, and produced by Shintaro Kojima, Dai Gyakuten Saiban is the ninth title overall in the Ace Attorney series. The game was released in Japan on July 9, 2015. It is not planned for release in the West.[1] Art is done by Kazuya Nuri.

A sequel was released in 2017.

Gameplay

The game incorporates the basic investigation/trial formula used in previous Ace Attorney titles, with some changes especially to the trial portions. Unlike previous games, some text graphics in Dai Gyakuten Saiban use English translations alongside or in place of some of the Japanese terms, such as "cross-examination" and episode titles.

Like the other 3DS titles, Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney and Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney: Dual Destinies, the game features 3D character models and backgrounds. However, it also expands on the camera work and animations, treating these aspects with special care to help depict Sherlock Holmes's legendary ability to infer details from even the subtlest of movements. For this purpose, actors from the Himawari Theatre Group were brought in for motion capture.

Investigations

Dai Gyakuten Saiban introduces a new element to investigations, known as "joint reasoning" (共同推理 kyōdō suiri). This feature involves Sherlock Holmes using his rapid-fire reasoning to come to a conclusion based on various details that he notices. Naruhodō then has a chance to rebut this train of logic by pointing out flaws and contradictions. One way of doing so is to inspect an individual from various angles to find hidden clues that have escaped Holmes's notice, possibly leading to an entirely different conclusion. Investigations in Dai Gyakuten Saiban also allow for more in-depth background exploration. Additionally, joint reasoning sequences feature heavy usage of spotlights and flashy poses, in a fashion reminiscent of Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective.

Trials

The trial system has undergone an overhaul, with many elements similar to the witch trials from Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney. This includes the five-strike penalty system from the original Ace Attorney game and cross-examining multiple witnesses at once. Also like Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney, pressing a witness results in a dialogue that can be interrupted if the player catches one witness thinking. When pressing a witness, Ryūnosuke Naruhodō says, "Hai!" ("はいッ!") instead of "Hold it!" ("待った!")

The English courts use a jury system involving six jurors and a judge. The jurors vote by launching flaming knives in a firework-like manner onto a set of scales, one side representing a guilty vote and the other representing a not guilty vote. The jurors can change their votes as the trial progresses. If all six jurors vote "guilty", the defense has the right to a "jury examination" to try to convince them to overturn their guilty votes. The jury examination works much like cross-examinations, with each juror having his or her own ideas about the case at hand. Like Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney, the defense can point out a contradiction between two jurors' statements, though in this game there is a button dedicated to this feature, allowing the player to choose any two statements instead of having one already picked out by the game. If a majority of jurors reverse their decision, the jury examination ends in the defense's favor.

The court record appears similar to the one used in Dual Destinies, with five evidence icons fully visible at a time, though two other evidence slots are visible, partially obscured by the arrow buttons used to scroll through the evidence.

Plot

Many names in this section are non-Japanese and written out in katakana. English transliterations for these names are provided; names in italics are unofficial/speculative, while other names are official.

Unlike previous canonical games in the series, which are set in the near future and feature somewhat futuristic technology, Dai Gyakuten Saiban is set near the end of Japan's Meiji period, when the profession of "defense attorney" was still a fairly new concept in Japanese society. The game stars Phoenix Wright's ancestor, Ryūnosuke Naruhodō, as well as a female judicial assistant named Susato Mikotoba. Although the game initially takes place in Japan, the two later travel to the United Kingdom and work cases alongside the renowned detective Sherlock Holmes.

In developing the plot, Shu Takumi wanted to introduce the classic mystery stories that he loves to the player. Additionally, previous games in the series placed emphasis on the true culprits' breakdowns at the climax of each episode, but this is less emphasized in Dai Gyakuten Saiban.[2]

Characters

Dai Gyakuten Saiban Art

Main characters

  • Ryūnosuke Naruhodō (成歩堂 龍ノ介) - An ancestor to Ryūichi Naruhodō, Ryūnosuke is a second-year university student who gets caught up in an incident and finds himself on the defense's bench three days later. He has a strong sense of justice and is prone to putting himself in dangerous situations.
  • Susato Mikotoba (御琴羽 寿沙都) - A judicial assistant working alongside Naruhodō. Described as a "yamato nadeshiko" with a progressive frame of mind and a love for books on law and foreign mystery novels. She also has something of a sweet tooth.
  • Kazuma Asōgi (亜双義 一真) - A close friend of Ryūnosuke's and fellow student at Teito Yūmei University. He is studying to become a defense attorney, but supporters say that he is more than qualified to become one. He seeks to travel to Britain to continue his studies. Asōgi is calm and confident compared to the inexperienced Naruhodō, and stands alongside him in Episode 1.
  • Sherlock Holmes (シャーロック ホームズ) - Based on the famous fictional English detective of the same name created by real-life author Arthur Conan Doyle, the legendary Holmes is well-known for his talent for rapid-fire abductive reasoning. He assists Naruhodō with crime investigations.
  • Iris Watson (アイリス ワトソン) - A ten-year old girl who has a medical doctorate and is also Holmes's assistant. Iris is a genius inventor and doctor who has invented rudimentary forensic instruments for use in Holmes's investigations. In this continuity, she is the author of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. Takumi's familiarity with Arthur Conan Doyle's original Sherlock Holmes stories, and their various theories and parodies in particular, led him to create the Iris Watson character rather than the usual character of Dr. John Watson.
  • Barok van Zieks - A "cursed" English prosecutor known colloquially as the "Death God of the Old Bailey". He has returned to the courtroom after a five-year absence.

Other characters

Episode 1

  • Yūjin Mikotoba (御琴羽悠仁) (Age: 42) - Professor at Teito Yūmei University. Kazuma Asōgi's mentor and Susato's father.
  • John H. Watson (ジョン・H・ワトソン) (Age: 47) - The victim. An English professor from London who has taught at Teito Yūmei University for the past three years. Based on Dr. John Watson of Sherlock Holmes fame.
  • A judge (Japan).
  • Taketsuchi Auchi (亜内武土) (Age: 51) - The prosecutor in this case and the ancestor of Takefumi (Winston Payne) and Fumitake (Gaspen Payne) Auchi.
  • Satoru Hosonaga (細長悟) - A waiter with a bad cough. The first witness.
  • Taizou Uzukumaru (渦久丸 泰三) - A soldier who appears as a witness.
  • Sanmon Sonohigurashi (園日暮 三文) - An old man who appears as a witness alongside Uzukumaru.
  • Jezail Brett (ジェゼール・ブレット) - A woman in a blue dress and hat whom Naruhodō claims to have seen at the scene of the crime. Her name is a pun on "jezail bullet", the weapon that wounded the John Watson of the Sherlock Holmes stories during his military service in Afghanistan.

Episode 2

  • Nikomina Borschevic (ニコミナ・ボルシビッチ) - A 15-year-old ballet dancer who is running away from Novavic Ballet (ノバビッチ・バレエ), her ballet group. While searching for her, Holmes encounters a bearded man calling himself Roylott (ロイロット). The detective goes on to accuse Roylott of being a Russian revolutionary named Dmitri Demiglaski (デミトリ・デミグラスキー) and trying to break open a trunk with Nikomina Borschevic inside. The name "Roylott" may be a reference to Dr. Grimesby Roylott, a character from "The Adventure of the Speckled Band".
  • Mitrov Stroganov (ミトロフ・ストロガノフ) - A sailor who was on patrol at the time of the incident.
  • At least one other sailor.

Episode 3

  • Hart Vortex (ハート・ヴォルテックス) - The Chief Justice in England. He is a strict adherent to science with a focus on time. He assigns Naruhodō to an allegedly simple case. He was first seen on the box art for Dai Gyakuten Saiban.
  • Cosney Megundal (コーゼニ・メグンダル) - The defendant. Although he is well-liked, nobody wants to take his case due to the prosecution being handled by the legendary Barok van Zieks.
  • Mortar Milverton (モルター・ミルバートン) - The victim. He is a brick-worker who lives in the East End, and is found dead in a carriage. The name 'Milverton' is likely a reference to the Arthur Conan Doyle work "The Adventure of Charles Augustus Milverton", a Sherlock Holmes story from 1904.
  • Gina Lestrade (ジーナ・レストレード) - A pickpocket who witnessed the murder. Her surname may be a reference to Inspector G. Lestrade in the Sherlock Holmes stories. She was first seen on the box art.
  • An unnamed carriage driver is shown on the box art.

Episode 4

  • Natsume Sōseki (夏目漱石) - A transfer student from Japan living with his cat Wagahai. He finds himself accused of murder when a woman is stabbed and he runs away.
  • John Garrideb - A wealthy man with a maid who lives near the crime scene. His name may be a reference to the Sherlock Holmes short story "The Adventure of the Three Garridebs".
  • Joan Garrideb - John Garrideb's wife and maid. She also appears as a jury member in the trial phase of Episode 4.
  • Patrick and Lola O'Malley - Husband and wife pair called as witnesses in the trial phase of Episode 4. Patrick works as a patrol officer of the London Metropolitan Police, working a beat near the building where Sōseki lives.
  • Tobias Gregson (トバイアス・グレグソン) - A detective at Scotland Yard who loves fish and chips. He is based on the Sherlock Holmes character of the same name, even appearing in Iris's books. Shu Takumi describes him as serving a similar role to Dick Gumshoe's role in the original Ace Attorney trilogy. He was first seen on the box art.

Episode 5

  • Hatch - Owner of a pawnshop that Sherlock and Gina Lestrade use from time to time.
  • Robert Crogley/Egg Benedict - A twirling man with a white hat looking to retrieve a coat from Hatch's pawnshop. He was first seen on the box art.
  • Nemmy and Tully Tinpillar (ネミー・ティンピラ & タリー・ティンピラ) - Two common crooks who stand as witnesses in Episode 5. They are brothers, and claim to be looking for a third who they were separated from at birth, named Uzzeh Tinpillar. All three of their names involve worldplay of a slurred adjective + the Japanese word for 'thug' or 'punk'. These are 'Nemui Chinpira' (Sleepy Punk), 'Darui Chinpira' (Sluggish Punk), and 'Uzai Chinpira' (Annoying Punk), respectively.

Other characters

  • A judge (United Kingdom).
  • Beppo (ベッポ) - An elderly man wearing a green suit and top hat.
  • Oscar Fairplay (オスカー・フェアプレイ) - A tall, dark-haired man in a suit and top hat, he works as a banker in London. His name is a pun on the phrase "fair play".
  • Adam Redifast (アダム・レディファスト) - A blonde-haired man in a black suit and top hat, and he himself works as a hat-maker. His name may be a pun on the phrase "ladies first".
  • Dmitri Demiglaski (デミトリ・デミグラスキー) - Though he is only seen in a newspaper article in Episode 2, he appears in person as Juror #6 in Episode 5. He claims to have come to Britain as a tourist to see the Crystal Tower, but the truth of this is suspect as he reads from a notebook every time he says it. He also states that he is an expert on firearms.
  • Episodes 3-5 have trials involving six-member juries. The jurors are identified only by numbers, though some make appearances outside of the jury as individual characters.

Episodes

  • The Adventure of the Great Departure (大いなる旅立ちの冒險) - On November 19, college student Ryūnosuke Naruhodō finds himself accused of murdering Professor John H. Watson in the restaurant La Quantos. Three days later, he ends up in a special trial organized by the government. Naruhodō's close friend Kazuma Asōgi comes to represent him as his defense attorney. However, not wanting to jeopardize Asōgi's trip to England, Naruhodō decides to represent himself instead. Asōgi stands by his side to help him learn the ways of the courtroom.
  • The Adventure of the Unbreakable Speckled Band (友とまだらの紐の冒險; lit. "The Adventure of the Friend and the Speckled Band") - In this investigation-only episode, Ryūnosuke Naruhodō travels to England with Susato Mikotoba on the steamship Alaclair (アラクレイ), but during the trip he is accused in another incident involving a locked room and an adder. The mystery attracts the attention of fellow passenger Sherlock Holmes. The title is a reference to the Sherlock Holmes story "The Adventure of the Speckled Band".
  • The Adventure of the Runaway Room (疾走する密室の冒険) - Upon his arrival in London, Ryūnosuke Naruhodō is assigned to a trial involving a murder in a horse-drawn carriage. Although the young lawyer is told that this will be a simple case, Naruhodō soon finds out why nobody else would take the case: his opponent is the legendary prosecutor Barok van Zieks. The trial is further complicated when a fire breaks out in the courtroom. Before the coverage of this episode by Famitsu, the carriage murder was alluded to in the trailer released after the April 1, 2015 Nintendo Direct.
  • The Adventure of the Clouded Kokoro (吾輩と霧の夜の冒険; lit. "The Adventure of The Foggy Night and Me") - After his English court debut, Ryūnosuke Naruhodō is assigned to another case. His defendant this time is Natsume Sōseki, a Japanese transfer student living with his cat Wagahai, who has been charged with stabbing a woman to death. The defendant is based on Japanese author Natsume Sōseki. The reference is further reflected in the use of the Japanese first-person pronoun Wagahai (吾輩) in the title and as the cat's name, referencing I Am a Cat, one of Sōseki's books. The English title is not a direct translation of the Japanese but instead references Kokoro, another of Sōseki's books.
  • The Adventure of the Unspeakable Story (語られない物語の冒険): The Hound of the Baskervilles - A fifth episode teased in the late June trailer. Ryūnosuke Naruhodō takes on the defense of a girl named Gina Lestrade. The subtitle is a direct reference to a Sherlock Holmes novel of the same name.
  • Randst Magazine - Downloadable content to be released as weekly "issues" like a magazine. The first issue is available for free from July 9 to July 19, while the next eight will cost 300 yen each. Each issue may contain a short "episode", music from the game, voice clips, concept art and commentary, making-of videos, and Nintendo 3DS home themes. The title is a reference to The Strand Magazine, where Arthur Conan Doyle first published his Sherlock Holmes short stories.

Development

Development began in 2013, a few months after the November 2012 Japanese release of Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney, when Shu Takumi was asked to start work on a new Ace Attorney game.[3] Because the series had become so long, spanning eight text adventure titles up to that point, a more accessible game was desired. Takumi initially looked to civil trials as a concept, but realizing that it would not lead to very clear-cut conclusions.[4] He later remembered a game idea he had come up with earlier; around 2000, he had the idea of a mystery game in which a detective makes incorrect deductions, and where players have to correct the detective and lead him towards the truth.[5] he instead developed the "joint reasoning" concept with Sherlock Holmes, which he had had in his mind ever since the development of the original Ace Attorney trilogy. The idea was somewhat vague at first, with Takumi only writing in concept plans ("Holmes says something strange, and you correct that."). The concept was later made into a demo in December 2013 and presented to higher-ups at Capcom, signaling a more concrete notion of how these interactions would unfold. Takumi did not actually expect Capcom to accept the proposal.[6][7] The game's setting in Meiji Japan was character designer Nuri's idea, as Takumi originally conceived of the game taking place entirely in London.

The development cycle of the game was long and difficult due to all of the new approaches to the plot and game mechanics. The plot in particular took more effort than Takumi had anticipated. The last Ace Attorney scenario that he had written in an ordinary setting was Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney released in 2007, and he wanted to make a series that could compete with the original trilogy in terms of quality. The game script was huge and changed drastically multiple times before being finalized in April 2015. This in turn provided a daunting challenge for Nuri and the other asset developers. It was as if no one really knew what the final product would look like.

Nuri designed the graphics to have an illustration-like touch to them and convey the feel of the material of the clothing and other objects of the period. The characters were designed to have a more realistic feel with their expressions and movements, though witnesses and jurors were still more comic-looking to make them more recognizable when sitting next to each other. Nuri had difficulty with designing characters due to the limited selection of clothing and hairstyles available for the period, as well as the need to design so many jurors. He had to bring out their personalities in different ways.[8]

Unlike past games, Dai Gyakuten Saiban makes extensive use of camera movements. For the asset designers, this meant that they could no longer get away with skimping on details on characters and settings that would not have been very visible in past games. Keeping the hand-drawn feel of the backgrounds even with camera zooming and movement required putting much more detail into the assets. Despite this, the asset designers pulled through and the assets were finished by the end of 2014.

Takumi had been wanting to make a Sherlock Holmes game for a long time; because of this, Holmes was part of the concept all the way from the start. According to Takumi, he had several reasons for wanting Holmes in the game: both due to the gameplay, and as a way to separate the game from the main Ace Attorney series, as Holmes is from a different time period than the one the main series games take place in. This led to Takumi thinking about how Japan was at that time, and lead to new possibilities for the game's mysteries.[4]

According to Takumi, it was challenging to write dialogue and using expressions appropriate for the way the Japanese language was during the Meiji period, as he had to avoid both too old-fashioned and too modern dialogue. As the Meiji period was a time when the lawyer profession was new in Japan, and when there was a lot of focus on becoming a part of "the new world" and becoming more Western, Takumi made sure to make the game reflect this.[9] The protagonist Ryūnosuke's character was based on how the main series protagonist Phoenix Wright would speak and act if he had lived during the Meiji period. When the development team wrote a list of ideas for names for the protagonist, "Ryūnosuke" was the first one to be suggested; it only took a few seconds for them to decide on it.[10] Susato is based on the same concept as that of previous Ace Attorney heroines: she was designed to be a "perfect partner" and fun to spend time with, as the heroines of the series always are by the main characters' side.[4] her name was decided by choosing kanji characters that Takumi found pretty.[11] The development team decided to change "Sherlock's Watson" from the original, as they thought it would be more interesting if Watson weren't another English gentleman.[4]

Character design and visuals

Nuri designed the characters to make them look simple while also conveying a lot of information. He intended to make the graphics look like illustrations, and wanted to convey the feeling of the materials clothes and items from the Meiji period were made from. Characters were designed to be partially realistic, as realistic animations and facial expressions were needed for the game. Witnesses and jury members were however designed in a more stylized way, to ensure that players immediately recognize them when they see the characters sitting next to each other.[12]

The protagonist Ryūnosuke was not only based on how the series' primary main character Phoenix Wright would speak and act if he had lived during the Meiji period but was also designed to have "the sharp look of a university student", which went without problems. It did, however, take a long time to design his haircut; Takumi wanted the haircut to be recognizable from Ryūnosuke's silhouette, but said that most people during the Meiji period had simple haircuts.[10] Nuri tried designing various haircuts from that time, and designed around 50 variations.[12] Susato was based on two concepts; one was the same as that of previous Ace Attorney heroines, a "perfect partner" and fun to spend time with as the heroines of the series always are by the main characters' side,[4] and the other was that of an elegant Japanese woman. Because of the time period, it was decided that she was to wear a kimono. Takumi had several ideas for various items she could hold, but it was decided that it was best to keep her design simple,[11] as contrast to the English characters. Asōgi's clothes were designed with influences from both Japanese and Western cultures. His headband, which flutters in the wind, was something Nuri really wanted in the game, and was something they were only able to do with 3D graphics.[12]

Several different variations were made for Holmes' design, including "depressed", "cute", "adventurous", "dark", and "sleeping" variations; eventually, they used a variation on how Holmes traditionally is depicted, as contrast to his personality. Additionally, he was given a gun as contrast to Ryūnosuke's sword. Iris' design included gothic elements, as well as elements of a mad scientist, and was created to look good when appearing together with Holmes. Van Zieks was designed to give off a "dark aura",[13] with elements of vampires, wolves, and fallen angels.[12]

Unlike previous Ace Attorney games, both characters and environments are fully made in 3D.[14] Like Takumi's earlier game Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective, spotlights light up characters while they dance; this was something that had not been done in previous Ace Attorney games.[4] Motion capture of the former Takarazuka Kagekidan actress Shiotsuki Shuu was used for some animations; as the Ace Attorney series is known for its poses and animations, this was chosen as a way to make the animation more dynamic.[15]

Announcement

On December 27, 2013, Capcom announced that Takumi was working on a new game that was planned to be presented in 2014.[16] A February 13, 2014 Nintendo Direct event revealed the game was a "totally different" Ace Attorney game for the Nintendo 3DS.[17]

In April 2014, the game's title was finally revealed and the game was featured in Famitsu. An interview with director Takumi and producer Kojima described the basic details of the game, including the protagonists Ryūnosuke Naruhodō and Susato Mikotoba, and the Meiji period setting.[18] Takumi said that he had not gotten to know the characters very well yet, but that he learned more about them as he wrote more of the script. He also mentioned the challenge of writing dialogue appropriate to the Meiji period, when Japan was focused on becoming part of "the new world" and becoming more Western, which included the Western court system complete with defense attorneys. Kojima revealed that the game is planned to be the first in a series, and that they would show players that the game was capable of being more than just a spin-off.[19]

The Famitsu feature was followed by a teaser trailer for the game. According to Takumi, development of the game had only begun recently. He described this situation as chaotic and was not certain of how the game would turn out, but also said that it was always like this in the beginning of his projects, which was both scary and fun.[7]

Merchandise and promotions

Tokyo Game Show and Jump Festa

In September 2014, the game was featured again on Famitsu, and introduced Sherlock Holmes and Iris Watson. On September 18, another trailer for the game was released. In December, ahead of Jump Festa, the official site updated with a profile of a new character, Kazuma Asōgi (亜双義 一真). A Famitsu feature of the game around the same time showed some details about the first trial. The Jump Festa event itself featured a playable demo of the game.

Subsequent promotions

Dai Gyakuten Saiban enjoyed promotions on a regular basis starting on April 1, 2015 local time, when a trailer was released shortly after a Nintendo Direct. The promotions involved features of the first four episodes in Famitsu over Q2 2015, as well as demos of the first and second episodes, shown on Capcom TV by producer Kojima. Near the end of April, details on the official soundtrack were revealed, and Dai Gyakuten Saiban was one of the games shown at NicoNico Chou Kaigi. A playable demo became available on the eShop for Japanese Nintendo 3DS systems on June 2. A final trailer on June 29 changed Iris's age and revealed title cards for five episodes.

Ken Gyakuten Saiban

On April 1, 2015 local time, the official Japanese site for Dai Gyakuten Saiban celebrated April Fools' Day by renaming the game Ken Gyakuten Saiban: Inuhodō Ryūnosuke no Bōken (犬逆転裁判 -戌歩堂龍ノ介の冒險-; lit. "Dog Turnabout Trial: The Adventures of Ryūnosuke Inuhodō") and showing dog-like versions of the main characters. Sherlock Holmes design as a dog is based on the "Meitantei Holmes" 1984 anime. The first kanji of the title was changed from 大 (meaning "big"/"great"/"large") to the slightly different-looking 犬 (meaning "dog"). Similarly, the first kanji of the Naruhodō surname was changed from 成 (meaning "to accomplish/finish/become") to the slightly different-looking 戌 (the Earthly Branch for the dog). The other characters' names each had a kanji or syllable replaced with ワン (wan, the sound of a dog barking) (Kazuwan Asougi, Susato Mikotowan, Iris Wantson) except Sherlock Holmes, whose name stayed intact. A trailer was also shown, based on the Tokyo Game Show trailer of Dai Gyakuten Saiban.

Soundtrack

The Dai Gyakuten Saiban soundtrack contains 67 tracks on 2 CDs. It was released on July 15, 2015.

Release

Dai Gyakuten Saiban: Naruhodō Ryūnosuke no Bōken was released on July 9th, 2015 only in Japan. In 2017, an "Special Edition" consisting of the game and its sequel was released.

Reception

Famitsu gave Dai Gyakuten Saiban scores of 9/9/9/8 out of 10, for a total score of 35/40.[20] The game sold 135,690 physical units in its first week, surpassed only by LEVEL-5's Yo-Kai Watch Busters: Red Cat Team & White Dog Corps.[21]

Trivia

  • Dai Gyakuten Saiban: Naruhodō Ryūnosuke no Bōken, and the Dai Gyakuten Saiban sub-series in general, is notable for having these distinctions in the Ace Attorney series.
    • The sub-series are chronologically the earliest games in the series' timeline.
    • This game is the second Ace Attorney side game installment that is exclusive to Japan and is not planned for any release in the West, the first being Gyakuten Kenji 2.
    • It is the first Ace Attorney game that doesn't feature an appearance of Phoenix Wright, due to the time setting.
    • It is the third game to have a culprit appear in the end-credits.
    • Not counting the crossover game Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney, Dai Gyakuten Saiban: Naruhodō Ryūnosuke no Bōken is the first game in the series that don't have Gyakuten ("Turnabout") in the episodes' titles (it should be noted that the original game's "Rise from the Ashes" episode in the DS port has the word "Gyakuten" in its Japanese title). Instead, all episodes (excluding the DLC "issues") have "The Adventure of the" in the titles.

Gallery

Box Art

Merchandise

References

  1. https://twitter.com/capcom_france/status/638738807010029568
  2. Ash. Re: DGS in September 2015 Dengeki Nintendo. Court Records Forums. Retrieved 2015-08-29.
  3. "Twitter / takumi_gt: コトの始まりは…去年。《レイトン教授VS逆転裁判》が発売され". Twitter. 2014-04-24. Retrieved 2014-09-13.
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 https://twitter.com/takumi_gt/status/459310769624997888 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "takumi interview" defined multiple times with different content
  5. http://www.capcom.co.jp/dai-gyakuten/miryoku/m06.html
  6. "Twitter / takumi_gt: そこで、なにができるかな…と考えたとき。 そういえば…ムカシ". Twitter. 2014-04-24. Retrieved 2014-09-13.
  7. 7.0 7.1 Apr 24 (2014-04-24). "Twitter / takumi_gt: この機会に、セッカクなので《逆転裁判》と、その“企画”を融合". Twitter. Retrieved 2014-09-13.
  8. Ash. Capcom Legends interview with Nuri (art director DGS). Court Records Forums. Retrieved 2015-07-26.
  9. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named siliconera 2014-04-24
  10. 10.0 10.1 http://www.siliconera.com/2015/06/03/the-great-ace-attorney-makers-explain-how-they-created-phoenix-wrights-ancestor/
  11. 11.0 11.1 http://www.siliconera.com/2015/06/10/the-great-ace-attorney-creator-talks-about-how-they-came-up-with-the-heroine/
  12. 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named nuri interview
  13. http://www.siliconera.com/2015/06/12/the-great-ace-attorneys-rival-prosecutor-was-made-to-be-a-death-god/
  14. http://gematsu.com/2014/09/sherlock-holmes-joins-great-ace-attorney
  15. http://www.siliconera.com/2015/06/19/a-look-at-how-the-great-ace-attorneys-animations-were-created/
  16. "Capcom Developers Tease New Games to Be Announced Next Year, New Ace Attorney in the Works". DualShockers. 2013-12-27. Retrieved 2014-09-13.
  17. Ashcraft, Brian. "Capcom Is Making a New Ace Attorney". Kotaku. Retrieved 2014-08-20.
  18. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named polygon
  19. Sato. "The Great Ace Attorney Is The Start Of A New Series". Siliconera. 2014-04-24. Retrieved 2014-09-13.
  20. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named CRfamitsu6
  21. Chris1964. Media Create Sales: Week 28, 2015 (Jul 06 - Jul 12). NeoGAF. Retrieved 2015-08-11.

External Links