LogFAQs > #979542053

Case 1 down!

Well, they've learned to cut the case length by an hour or two, I see. Much like the first game, I like a lot of the character stuff and arching intrigue, but the nuts and bolts of the case are still a bit lacking. We establish that the pen in the hut is probably Menimemo's, and then don't touch on that topic again until the end of the trial. And everybody accepts our rather flimsy 'knife through the back of the hut' evidence far too easily! I'm not too fond of 'he had to stab her after poisoning her or he'd be found out' angle either, given that nobody knew he was there and both Soseki and Rei would be far more likely to be found guilty of her murder than him. He's also weirdly treated no differently after admitting to having stabbed Brett.

I mostly enjoy Raiten as a character, though I think the game bounces back and forth a bit between whether he's awful or sympathetic. I enjoy him much more in the latter category, though I'm glad Susato points out how willing he was to frame an innocent of murder. He's not as bad as Brett though, come on Susato, didn't you see that flashback? She really was a dreadful person, lol. The angle of him sincerely trying to report the truth and uncover government cover-ups though, and being so frustrated at the lack of justice in the world that he snaps, that's all great. Also how the heck is he supposed to be older than Natsume and Hosonaga >_>

I thought that our rather favourable treatment from the judge was due to this being a tutorial case and to contrast with Britain later on, but after the trial we see that the judge is friends with Susato's father, who is looking shadier by the second. Now this could be really interesting. I was disappointed at Yujin being rather bland throughout the case, but we know now that he traveled to GB when Susato was born and is a government adviser, Menimemo even indicates that he was involved with Kazuma's death before being manhandled by the (corrupt?) judge! (Sidenote, is this the first time we've seen a judge out of court? And with a name!) Will Ryutaro have to take him down by the end of the game? If he's the one who invited Wilson to Japan, I wonder how this fits in with his murder... Move over Stronghart, we have a new candidate for big bad. Though I'm getting ahead of myself.

Before we wrap up, Soseki and Hosonaga talk with Susato (who drops her disguise before she's even left the courthouse), and I'm reminded that Hosonaga is really very bad at keeping the people he's meant to protect alive. Maybe he's a secret mastermind! Soseki and Susato talk about a secret second case that took place during the events of the first game. Was this hinted at last game and I missed it, or are they pulling it out of their ass? Either way, it's not what I expected, and I am intrigued. I doubt this is the last time we'll be in Japan this game, but for now Susato hangs up her dashing disguise and hands the reins back to her cousin.

...

'Sprig of my topknot
the time is right for farewell
Hope is lost forever.' - Taketsuchi

OK and Auchi is mostly unironically the case highlight. His slight growth from the last game has him treated more like a real character than ever before, and I appreciate how every character reacts appropriately to his sacrifice. I'm not even mad they use the sad Kazuma theme here, what a hilarious scene.