Hands on Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law

The best thing about the Harvey Birdman game is it feels like you’re playing an episode straight from the show. Instead of having the case told through text boxes like Capcom’s other legal drama game, Harvey Birdman tells the story through videos, voiced by the TV cast. In the demo case Peter Potamus is accused of arson and Birdman takes the task of defending him. The scene switches straight to the courtroom after Birdman shouts “I’ll take the case!” Vulturo acts as the prosecutor and brings Gigi up as the witness. At this point the gameplay switches into Phoenix Wright mode where you press Gigi with questions and present evidence. On the side of the screen there are two “life bars”. The one for Vulturo is on the left and Birdman’s is on the right. If you make mistakes you lose points to your life bar, similar to the five strikes and you’re out system in the first Phoenix Wright game. When you present the right evidence you chip away at Vulturo’s meter. Knock out all his points and you win the case.

Something unique about Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law is there are hilarious secret movies that you can unlock during the courtroom session. Without spoiling too much Birdman has to explain why the lighter isn’t relevant in the case. Street Fighter II fans will get a chuckle out of the “it’s a trick lighter” option…