I don't question how Ace Attorney and Professor Layton can play in the same universe when there are quite clear differences. In AA there is some magic through mediums who can talk to the dead, in Layton there is no magic, but at most light elements of Si-Fi and fantasy. AA has modern computers and is set in the 2000s, Layton has only simple computers, if any, and is set in the 1960s (at least that's what I think). But all of this isn't that important, as the game isn't canon in both game series.
Yet this game manages to have a better story than the last two main parts of the Layton series. Also, the atmosphere and mysteries remind me of the first four Layton parts and revive my feelings from back then.
Additionally, I like many of the ideas.
Especially the storyteller reminds me a bit of "The Neverending Story" by Michael Ende. Do yourself a favour and read this book, listen to the audio book or the audio drama, if you don't know it yet.
The resolution also has the typical Layton charm. It is not one hundred percent realistic and has a si-fi/phantasmic element, as you can expect it from a Professor Layton game.
While often said to be more of a Laytons game than an AA game, the core elements of both series came up a bit short for me.
The court cases, except for the last one, were unfortunately stretched out quite a bit. Usually trials in AA can be hit or miss for me. They can be kinda boring when they feel stretched and I more or less can see what really happened for myself or they can be a pretty thrilling experience.
Sure, they are relevant to the plot, but they could have been made shorter. The last one deserved beeing longer, as all the mysteries are solved in it. The group testimonies are a nice new gameplay element, but I didn't like them that much in the long run.
Also, the period between the first meeting and the point where the plot picks up again (after about two-thirds) is quite recurrent.
Otherwise, most of the gameplay is that of a Professor Layton game ... just very stripped down. Movement in the game world feels very stilted and puzzles are few and far between. Also, there are no more places where you have to have solved X puzzles to progress. The final puzzle is then also number 70 and pure formes to assign.
In addition, the maybe 15 puzzles that have to be solved in order to progress are not particularly difficult. For the majority, the solution was either obvious or achievable through try and error. There was only one puzzle that took me longer than a minute.
The background music is again very nice, although I had the impression that much of it was newly recorded music from other Laytons games. I don't think that's too bad.
We also get to hear the Professor Layton theme, which bothered me a little here and there, as it only sounded when the professor had something to say without it being important.
The important characters were also very well done. Espella is considered by many to be boring, I find her rather secretive and that also fits her story.
The Storyteller is nicely mysterious and Inquisitor Barnham, who unfortunately didn't feature at the end, is also a well done antagonist in the courtroom. Apart from that, I think his character model is really good.
Darklaw is my favourite character of the game.
Of the gang around Layton and Phoenix, Phoenix unfortunately came up a bit short, which is a shame and often served just as a comic relief.
On the other hand, the dynamic with him and Layton is right, when it happens.
What works excellently is the dynamic between Luke and Maya.
At the end, the couples are alone again in their familiar surroundings and think of each other. That is nice to see.
Luke and Layton are in London. Luke wonders if Phoenix and Maya are in the courtroom right now, but is interrupted by Layton, who says that a new case is waiting for them. Unless he means Curious Village or Pandora's Box or Lost Future, we get this case just eleven years later.
Phoenix and Maya, meanwhile, are in the courtroom and Edgeworth, who makes a small appearance here, teases them as usual. Maya then wishes the professor were present.
With nearly 26 hours of playing time, PLvsAA:PR is quite long.
Sure, an AA game can take 20 to 30 hours, but the cases there are made more episodic, even if they are interwoven, which means that a single part of the series doesn't have to feel so long.
With Layton, on the other hand, the individual games are usually 12 to 14 hours long (except you are doing a 100% playthrough), and that suits this type of game better in my opinion. A story doesn't have to be long and told in great detail to be good. Don't get me wrong, details are important, but here and there I just wish to move on.
PLvsAA:PR is certainly a game for fans of both series. Even if you only know one series, it's worth it.
Especially if you wanted to have a look at the other series anyway.
Just don't expect to have the best part of a series.
All in all, a solid crossover awaits you.
Yet this game manages to have a better story than the last two main parts of the Layton series. Also, the atmosphere and mysteries remind me of the first four Layton parts and revive my feelings from back then.
Additionally, I like many of the ideas.
Especially the storyteller reminds me a bit of "The Neverending Story" by Michael Ende. Do yourself a favour and read this book, listen to the audio book or the audio drama, if you don't know it yet.
The resolution also has the typical Layton charm. It is not one hundred percent realistic and has a si-fi/phantasmic element, as you can expect it from a Professor Layton game.
While often said to be more of a Laytons game than an AA game, the core elements of both series came up a bit short for me.
The court cases, except for the last one, were unfortunately stretched out quite a bit. Usually trials in AA can be hit or miss for me. They can be kinda boring when they feel stretched and I more or less can see what really happened for myself or they can be a pretty thrilling experience.
Sure, they are relevant to the plot, but they could have been made shorter. The last one deserved beeing longer, as all the mysteries are solved in it. The group testimonies are a nice new gameplay element, but I didn't like them that much in the long run.
Also, the period between the first meeting and the point where the plot picks up again (after about two-thirds) is quite recurrent.
Otherwise, most of the gameplay is that of a Professor Layton game ... just very stripped down. Movement in the game world feels very stilted and puzzles are few and far between. Also, there are no more places where you have to have solved X puzzles to progress. The final puzzle is then also number 70 and pure formes to assign.
In addition, the maybe 15 puzzles that have to be solved in order to progress are not particularly difficult. For the majority, the solution was either obvious or achievable through try and error. There was only one puzzle that took me longer than a minute.
The background music is again very nice, although I had the impression that much of it was newly recorded music from other Laytons games. I don't think that's too bad.
We also get to hear the Professor Layton theme, which bothered me a little here and there, as it only sounded when the professor had something to say without it being important.
The important characters were also very well done. Espella is considered by many to be boring, I find her rather secretive and that also fits her story.
The Storyteller is nicely mysterious and Inquisitor Barnham, who unfortunately didn't feature at the end, is also a well done antagonist in the courtroom. Apart from that, I think his character model is really good.
Darklaw is my favourite character of the game.
Of the gang around Layton and Phoenix, Phoenix unfortunately came up a bit short, which is a shame and often served just as a comic relief.
On the other hand, the dynamic with him and Layton is right, when it happens.
What works excellently is the dynamic between Luke and Maya.
At the end, the couples are alone again in their familiar surroundings and think of each other. That is nice to see.
Luke and Layton are in London. Luke wonders if Phoenix and Maya are in the courtroom right now, but is interrupted by Layton, who says that a new case is waiting for them. Unless he means Curious Village or Pandora's Box or Lost Future, we get this case just eleven years later.
Phoenix and Maya, meanwhile, are in the courtroom and Edgeworth, who makes a small appearance here, teases them as usual. Maya then wishes the professor were present.
With nearly 26 hours of playing time, PLvsAA:PR is quite long.
Sure, an AA game can take 20 to 30 hours, but the cases there are made more episodic, even if they are interwoven, which means that a single part of the series doesn't have to feel so long.
With Layton, on the other hand, the individual games are usually 12 to 14 hours long (except you are doing a 100% playthrough), and that suits this type of game better in my opinion. A story doesn't have to be long and told in great detail to be good. Don't get me wrong, details are important, but here and there I just wish to move on.
PLvsAA:PR is certainly a game for fans of both series. Even if you only know one series, it's worth it.
Especially if you wanted to have a look at the other series anyway.
Just don't expect to have the best part of a series.
All in all, a solid crossover awaits you.