Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney

Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney is a visual novel adventure puzzle video game for the Nintendo 3DS, and was developed by both Capcom and Level-5, the latter publishing it in Japan while Nintendo published it worldwide. 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.

he latter enhanced by the addition of a few new elements, including multiple witnesses and jury trials, a concept continued with into the prequel series The Great Ace Attorney. Shu Takumi, the series director for the Ace Attorney series, assisted with the scenario designs for the game. The plot focuses on Professor Layton and Phoenix Wright, along with their respective assistants, working together to solve the mystery behind a young girl that they both encounter separately, and a strange world they are brought to through her.

With Layton focused on solving puzzles and finding clues to solve the mystery, while Wright focuses on defending people who are put on trial for being “witches”. 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. Afterwards, he and his assistant Maya Fey are drawn into Labyrinthia through Espella’s book as well. The game follows Professor Layton, Luke Triton, Phoenix Wright and Maya Fey as they attempt to solve the mystery of Labyrinthia.

The game has two main styles of gameplay, Adventure and Witch Trial, which feature elements from the Professor Layton and Ace Attorney series respectively. The game features voice acting and animated cutscenes, a staple in the Professor Layton games but a first for the Ace Attorney series. This has since become a new standard for the latter series, starting with Dual Destinies, which was released in Japan after the crossover title.