Holy shit Von Karma, that's it. That's the review.
This review contains spoilers
Going through case by case
2-1
Really shitty rehash of the original opening case with a dumb excuse for why everything is getting re-explained. The killer is dumb though I do enjoy Maggey. I'd be willing to bump the case up a point for her but she shows up later on and does just as well if not better. 1/5
2-2
One of my sleeper favorite cases actually. I very openly am not a huge fan of Maya (though Pearl is adorable and a great secondary assistant for the game) but any time they use spirit channeling and it's implications in the mystery is some of my favorite stuff. I like the killer sort of ambiently, she's not my favorite by any regard but she does what she needs to, with the real star antagonist being Morgan who I love. Unfortunately, a bit overshadowed by a later case involving spirit channeling and Morgan Fey...
Oh yeah Franziska shows up here and she's good 4/5
2-3
Yeah it's turnabout big top, I don't know what else to tell ya...
I hate Moe less than the average person and I actually think the killer's motivation and final reveal is pretty neat but that's about where it stops for me. Max is a middling defendant who gets in the way far too often, and Ben Woodman is a strong contender for my least favorite character in the series. I'm a fan of fun dumb murders but the execution that defies the laws of physics reaches way too far over the line in the name of a concept that isn't fun in the first place. Also hate that there's a really prominent plot point of a love triangle between a 21 year old, a 31 year old, and a fucking 16 year old.
That's all I can really say for this, especially when every complaint of this case has already been made somewhere online. 2/5
2-4
Ooh boy this is the biggun. If you play Justice for all, play it for this case because it is phenomenal and absolutely worth the slog of 2-1 and 2-3. Franziska being smacked out of an opportunity to have the final case for this game irks me a a bit but her final conversation with Edgeworth makes up for it in my mind and I really like how she ends up here. I love the habit of bringing back a few old characters who make sense for the scenario, though this mainly extends to Will powers since Wendy exists more or less as the amazing human obstacle without her fun dynamic with Edgeworth for the time we had it in 1-3. Adrian Andrews is such a good character who has been put through the ringer so much and it hurts every time you have to try and corner her.
Speaking of which, this case is great at constantly keeping you on your toes with Phoenix needing to walk the tightrope of figuring out the truth while keeping Maya safe. It's part of what makes Matt Engarde such a great despicable killer. Ultimately, a phenomenal ending to a somewhat middling entry to the series. 5/5
Overall, Justice for all is absolutely worth your time if only for that final case, but that's not to say it's without merit. The second case is also great and some of the new additions like Psyche locks give the investigations more depth that they sorely needed.
2-1
Really shitty rehash of the original opening case with a dumb excuse for why everything is getting re-explained. The killer is dumb though I do enjoy Maggey. I'd be willing to bump the case up a point for her but she shows up later on and does just as well if not better. 1/5
2-2
One of my sleeper favorite cases actually. I very openly am not a huge fan of Maya (though Pearl is adorable and a great secondary assistant for the game) but any time they use spirit channeling and it's implications in the mystery is some of my favorite stuff. I like the killer sort of ambiently, she's not my favorite by any regard but she does what she needs to, with the real star antagonist being Morgan who I love. Unfortunately, a bit overshadowed by a later case involving spirit channeling and Morgan Fey...
Oh yeah Franziska shows up here and she's good 4/5
2-3
Yeah it's turnabout big top, I don't know what else to tell ya...
I hate Moe less than the average person and I actually think the killer's motivation and final reveal is pretty neat but that's about where it stops for me. Max is a middling defendant who gets in the way far too often, and Ben Woodman is a strong contender for my least favorite character in the series. I'm a fan of fun dumb murders but the execution that defies the laws of physics reaches way too far over the line in the name of a concept that isn't fun in the first place. Also hate that there's a really prominent plot point of a love triangle between a 21 year old, a 31 year old, and a fucking 16 year old.
That's all I can really say for this, especially when every complaint of this case has already been made somewhere online. 2/5
2-4
Ooh boy this is the biggun. If you play Justice for all, play it for this case because it is phenomenal and absolutely worth the slog of 2-1 and 2-3. Franziska being smacked out of an opportunity to have the final case for this game irks me a a bit but her final conversation with Edgeworth makes up for it in my mind and I really like how she ends up here. I love the habit of bringing back a few old characters who make sense for the scenario, though this mainly extends to Will powers since Wendy exists more or less as the amazing human obstacle without her fun dynamic with Edgeworth for the time we had it in 1-3. Adrian Andrews is such a good character who has been put through the ringer so much and it hurts every time you have to try and corner her.
Speaking of which, this case is great at constantly keeping you on your toes with Phoenix needing to walk the tightrope of figuring out the truth while keeping Maya safe. It's part of what makes Matt Engarde such a great despicable killer. Ultimately, a phenomenal ending to a somewhat middling entry to the series. 5/5
Overall, Justice for all is absolutely worth your time if only for that final case, but that's not to say it's without merit. The second case is also great and some of the new additions like Psyche locks give the investigations more depth that they sorely needed.
A sequel done greatly. PW:AA 1 set the stage for the story of this one and JFA ran with it. I agree with the general consensus that case 4 of this game is the best of all, but I really love all 3 others in this game, as well!
similar to the first game in score if u include RftA but it does feel far less cohesive and consistent, sometimes seeming as if they just crammed a few random cases to fill in a second game while they were working on Trials & Tribulations
net win still tho
net win still tho