The gameplay itself felt like a step backwards, and that's ALOT to say regarding what is essentially a point and click visual novel. While the new Minuku system was a nice addition, too many other elements were taken out.
1) The life bar: I enjoyed the life bar in JFA and T&T. Even if you messed up in court, it was easy to refill during investigations. Having it refill at hte beginning of each trial took away from it, especially with the investigations, and gave less of that wonderful desparation feeling that you get when you know the trial is on the line.
2) The minuku (percieve) system: I think this was a nice new addition to the series and has alot of potential as a gameplay element, if they make some changes. I can see the Minuku system being the replacement for the psyche lock system, however, without it replacing it in the investigations, all you're really doing is using the psyche lock system on the witness stand in combination with evidence and pressing testimony. It was a nice new feature for the courtroom, but it took far too much out of the investigation phases (and lets face it, the only reason you play through the investigations is to get back in the courtroom and nail the guilty SOB to the wall). The investigations felt like they were in the first game, and that's not a good thing.
3) Lack of profiles as evidence: This was a HUGE factor as far as gameplay went. In the second and third games, presenting profiles were a major improvement, either on the witness stand or during investigations. It also provided an extra element of risk ("Who or what was the cause of this?") when presented with a question where the answer could go either way.
4) In 1-5, you had to pick apart the video several times and point out contradictions in it. When the video for 4-3 was shown, I was watching it carefully, even from the start, because I just KNEW I would have to point things out in it later. The brooch, and when the guitar flashes and starts to burn before igniting completely. I was so ready to present that in the trial, and then when the game does all the work for you...huh? What? The only reason you really have the video is just to watch it and not point out errors with it? They did it in 1-5, there's no reason they couldn't have done it in 4-3.
5) Mason system: Good concept, but DAMN was it aggrivating. Maybe because it was an investigation that wasn't presented the same way that the previous 17 cases were and we're all used to that.
6) Jurist system - you get all the way to the end of the game and BAM! You play the role of a juror who makes the decision? So basically, all that work in the entire case leading up to the climactic moment and "you" as Apollo, or "you" even as Phoenix have nothing to do with it? At least in the end of JFA YOU were the one making the decision. This can be improved quite a bit - I would like to see the system improved, and have a few ideas on how it can be.
Overall, gameplay was a huge dissapointment. All the features from the remake of AA, the improvements in JFA, and not changing anything gameplaywise in T&T because the gameplay was solid and really didn't NEED anything else - In a game as relatively simple from the programming end as the Ace Attorney series is, there's absolutely no excuse as to why such simple and solid gameplay elements like the Psycelock system, video analysis, and profiles needed to be scrapped when the only additional features were the new 3D crime scenes and Minuku system.
