The Let's Play Archive

Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney

by DKII

Part 70: Episode 3, Final Day, Trial: Duct Tape

Part 70: Episode 3, Final Day, Trial: Duct Tape





This situation came up once last episode, though we didn't have a penalty attached that time. We need to back off here, and came at this problem from a different angle. I think last episode it was about Miss May having an alibi?



Pretty much anyone would.

Now what do you mean by that? They said the spear was heavy the other day, but that was more about saying that only Powers could have wielded it.



You see?

Yes...



...

Meaning?


Sound: Realization

You know, I was never convinced that the spear was the murder weapon. Or that Hammer was killed in his costume, at Studio One (the scene of finding the body looked staged, and there was no blood anywhere). Yet I still didn't take that skepticism one step further and figure out that Hammer was in the Steel Samurai costume. Ah well, I'll get over it someday.

quote:

Let's explore our other options. Maybe she could use the spear somehow? Prop it up against something maybe?


Sound: Desk Slam

It's not impossible!



Well, maybe it's not impossible, but--

Silence.
Sound: Realization

I'm speaking.

Mmmph!
Sound: Whoops

The victim was stabbed through the chest from the front, yes?

I believe this would indicate that the victim was aware of the killer's presence.

Now, the Steel Samurai costume is quite light and mobile.

Compared to the victim, I am weaker and slower...

I couldn't possibly win such a fight!

Not to mention, there is proof I did not have the spear!

The photograph of the Steel Samurai shows that the victim himself was holding it!

Or do you mean to suggest that I could have wrested it away from him?

Y-yeah! Take that, Wright!


Sound: Desk Slam

If you still think she did it, show us proof!

Umm... er...

Hey, Nick.

Look at the data we have on that Samurai Spear in the Court Record.

Isn't there something in there that gets to you...?

Something odd about the Samurai Spear...?

...

Wait!
Sound: Light Bulb

Something the matter, Mr. Wright?

S-sorry, Your Honor.

I'd like to take back my previous claim.

Very well, I won't hold you to your claim.

But I'm afraid I will have to penalize you.
Sound: Damage 2

There go two health sections!

(Ugh...)

What's this? You're taking back your claim?

Let's backtrack for a moment.

I want to consider whether the witness could have used the Samurai Spear or not!

However, that has no bearing on this case!

...

Meaning?

The Samurai Spear was not the murder weapon!
Sound: Realization

quote:

How about just admitting that we don't know?

I don't know.




Sound: Desk Slam

You "don't know"!? What kind of a lawyer are you!?
Sound: Whack

Quiet. I'm speaking.
Sound: Realization

M-m-mmph!
Sound: Whoops

You "don't know"!? What kind of a lawyer...

I don't know whether you could have fought with the Samurai Spear...

However, that has no bearing on this case!

...

Meaning?

The Samurai Spear was not the murder weapon!
Sound: Realization

That's right, this option is actually a valid answer as well! So even though there's a penalty on one of the options, we have a good chance of guessing right anyway, and we proceed no matter what choice we make!

Music: Silence


Sound: Stab

Ms. Vasquez has a pretty clear tell here. Whenever we state a fact she doesn't want known, she makes this face.


Sound: Gallery


Sound: Gavel


Sound: Whack

The spear was found lying next to the victim's body!

I have proof, Your Honor.



Looks like we're being prompted for evidence again. This one's actually easier if we take the penalty because Maya gives us a hint, but the answer is in the question.



The spear itself tells us - how could such a flimsy broken weapon really kill someone?





quote:

Choosing anything else is, of course, incorrect:



The judge actually just shakes his head at us here.

Wrong, Mr. Wright.
Sound: Realization

But I haven't said anything yet...?

I know you well enough by now to know when you're going to present the wrong evidence.

I can sense it too, with my Fey blood...

(Okay, okay, so I picked the wrong evidence! Enough with all the sensing!)

Right. Okay, here's the real evidence, Your Honor.

Sheesh, tough crowd. No penalty here, so we just go back to the evidence prompt to try again as much as we want. Which I may have done over and over to make sure nothing else had any alternate dialogue...

Music: Objection!





Not so fast.



But, someone fixed the spear.



She fixed it with duct tape!

Now tell me, how is it possible...



Duct tape can be pretty strong, but I guess it's more likely the spear head would have bent off again rather than penetrated.


Sound: Gallery


Sound: Gavel

O-order! Order!


Sound: Desk Slam



Think about what you're--


Sound: Objection

I'm the one testifying here and I will be heard!


Sound: Whoops

I do rather enjoy the Edgeworth-Vasquez routine we have going on today.

Are you quite sane?



A rare moment where the camera pans over to Phoenix for someone else's line.



How was Hammer killed?



I think I've got this one.





Hey, as far as you know, I've never been wrong on this save file!



quote:

We don't really have the option of not guessing at the murder weapon, as you might expect.

Of course I can't.
Sound: Realization

"O-of course"!?
Sound: Light Bulb


Sound: Desk Slam

Can the antics, Wright!
Sound: Whack

I have to agree, Mr. Wright. At least pretend that you think you might know!
Sound: Whack

(Urk. Note to self: think before speaking.)
Sound: Stab

(Tough crowd...)

It's a classic "But thou must!" loop! We're brought back to the same prompt over and over again until we do what the judge said and at least pretend to think to know the answer...



Obviously this is all the proof we need.



Nick!
Sound: Whack



Huh? Think?

Please!


Sound: Whoops

(Hmm. She has a point.)
Sound: Whoops

Something the matter?



Very well, let's see this murder weapon, then.

Maya saw us slyly reaching for our attorney's badge, didn't she? Anyway, all wrong answers get the same dialogue there. Do you know the right one?