First things first...what the fuck did they do to Phoenix Wright? So he knows a lot now and is very clever while planning his steps ahead? On top of that, he is a step-father? This isn't the Phoenix I'm used to seeing and laughing at. Capcom, why?
Before I continue, I honestly assumed this game was going to take place...well, not in the same vicinity as where Phoenix had his cases. I figured it would be overseas to where Ema Skye was studying her forensic science stuff, thus the whole new cast of characters minus Ema. I just made that assumption, I never read into the game itself other than there was a new attorney and Ema was coming back.
Speaking of Ema, what a bitch! She was much more enjoyable in PW1: Case 5, but here...she has a rotten attitude and when she's angry she eats? Where have I heard that before? It's nice that her love for science hasn't gone away, but overall I don't like what they've done to her either. Also, she is the main detective in this game. I wouldn't have had a problem with that if it didn't take place in Phoenix's area, but since it does I have only one complaint. What happened to Gumshoe? I understand 7 years is a long time, but if you're gonna have Phoenix in there then you damn sure better have more of the old cast returning besides the Judge. At least they had the decency to bring him in near the end where you go back to the case 7 years ago but they didn't even play his theme music and that's one of my favorite songs in the series.
Speaking of the old cast, I'm with The_Griffin. What the hell happened to Maya and Pearl? You'd think they would still be with Phoenix even back in the 7 years ago trial...but no, not even there. I can understand Edgeworth not being around since in the last game he had to get called back from another country to come help the gang, but no Maya and Pearl? Did they have an argument with Phoenix and go back to their village? I just don't get it.
Oh yeah, forgot Winston Payne was in there...that dumbass.
Now on to the new cast...normally, there are a good deal of characters from each game that stand out to me, but there are only two in this one:
1. Trucy - Honestly, I hated her at first and did not want to accept her as the new Maya. Then there was the case of the missing magic panties, to which I could not stop laughing at. Also, her Mr. Hat trick came out of nowhere and scared the shit out of me at first. She's not Maya, but she's not bad either.
2. Prosecutor Gavin - Unfortunately, he's not as intimidating as the previous prosecutors. He has a cool animation of playing an invisible guitar and a rocking theme song. He's no Godot or Edgeworth, but he gets points for being unique.
On to the music, I'll be using this site as a reference since I don't know any other sites with the music.
PW/GS/AA Music Archive - Gyakuten Saiban 4
The tracks that really stood out to me were the following:
Courtroom
Before Cross Examination
Explanation
Inform the Truth 2007
Kyouya Garyuu ~ Starstruck (RABU RABU GUILTY) (Best track in the game)
Search ~ Core 2007
Then there were the returning tracks from Phoenix Wright 1 and those were awesome as usual. You have no idea how happy I was when I heard Objection! 2001 in case 1. That was really unexpected.
Also, there were two tracks I liked from the previous games that they brought back and redid...and I ended up not liking them. It's like when they changed the Turnabout Sisters theme for JFA and T&T...the old version was better. Anyway, the two tracks:
1. Psyche Lock - I really don't have much to comment about this one, it's just the new one didn't sound right to me.
2. Ema Skye ~ Turnabout Sisters' Theme 2007 - What...the...hell. This was one of my favorite tunes back in PW1 and then it's redone like this? Ugh...the melody is the same but what was wrong with the 2005 version? You brought back the other music from PW1 untouched, why not this one?
The gameplay is solid except for the part where you're trying to perceive where the witness was lying. Hold on, before you start throwing stuff at me I will admit I liked it on the first three cases because they were a bit simple...except for the one with Lamiroir, I somehow found that one by accident by aiming at her lips instead of her throat. In the final case, I guess I was too much of a n00b to figure it out so I had to look it up for the reporter guy and Kristoph. They also brought the scientific investigation gameplay and different parts of it too, each one I found to be really interesting and that's what stood out in this game and what I ended up enjoying the most.
Also, it was awesome when they had you play as Phoenix Wright again. PW1 music and PW1 courtroom...the only thing that sucked was I knew how the case was going to turn out. :(
The story to this game was just...I dunno. Some parts just didn't fit...I liked the twists at the end where you find out about Lamiroir's true identity (that's gonna cause a lot of fun in the h-community between Apollo and Trucy XD) but overall my main problem was that it took place seven years later, crushing any hope of being able to play a new Phoenix Wright game. For some reason, I can't get used to Apollo. He seems more emotional with his yelling than Phoenix, but I just can't like the guy.
Overall, it's not a bad game but there are areas that could've been improved. I know I nit-picked the hell out of this game, but maybe it's due to being spoiled by the previous games. Honestly I also agree that it's probably the weakest in the series, either this or Justice for All. Oh well, you can't hope to have every game in the series be good.