Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law is a 2008 visual novel adventure game developed by High Voltage Software and published by Capcom for the Wii,[1] PlayStation 2, and PlayStation Portable. It was released on January 8, 2008.[2] The game is based on the animated television series of the same name, with collaboration of the show's writers and voice actors. The gameplay heavily borrows from Capcom's Ace Attorney series.[3][4]
| Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law | |
|---|---|
 North American Wii version box art | |
| Developer(s) | High Voltage Software |
| Publisher(s) | Capcom |
| Platform(s) | PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, Wii |
| Release | January 8, 2008 |
| Genre(s) | Adventure, visual novel |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
Gameplay
edit
Gameplay is based on that of Capcom's Ace Attorney series, with players collecting evidence from crime scenes and cross-examining witnesses during trials, but with Harvey Birdman humor and aesthetic. Each of the game's five cases features a hidden Street Fighter character cameo; finding each one will unlock one of five bonus videos featuring bloopers from the game and compilations of running gags.[3]
All of the show's voice cast reprise their roles for the video game, with the exception of Stephen Colbert;[5] actors Stephen Stanton and Crispin Freeman respectively voice Phil Ken Sebben and Myron Reducto in his stead.[6][7]
Plot
editIn the game's first case, "The Burning Question", Peter Potamus is accused of burning down half of Harvey Birdman's house. In the second case, "The Cleaning Crew", Magilla Gorilla and Secret Squirrel are accused of robbing Harvey's office. In the third case, "From Glamour to Slamour", Yakky Doodle's latest name change lands him in jail when the Nailgun name makes the authorities think that he's the criminal of the same name. Harvey comes to Yakky's defense, but winds up being jailed himself after it is discovered that his license has expired. In the fourth case, "Personal Piracy", Peanut is suspected of copying music controlled by the RIAA without permission. In the game's final case, "Two Birds, One Throne", Blue Falcon is put in charge during Phil's absence, and tricks Birdman into hiring prosecutors for his own "embezzling" trial.
Reception
edit| Aggregator | Score | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| PS2 | PSP | Wii | |
| Metacritic | 63/100[26] | 62/100[27] | 60/100[28] |
| Publication | Score | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| PS2 | PSP | Wii | |
| Adventure Gamers | N/A | N/A |    [8] |
| Electronic Gaming Monthly | 5.83/10[9] | N/A | 5.83/10[9] |
| Eurogamer | N/A | 5/10[10] | N/A |
| Game Informer | N/A | N/A | 6/10[11] |
| GamePro | N/A | 3.75/5[12] | N/A |
| GameRevolution | D−[13] | D−[13] | D−[13] |
| GameSpot | 6.5/10[14] | 6.5/10[14] | 6.5/10[14] |
| GameSpy | [15] | N/A | [16] |
| GameTrailers | 6.5/10[17] | N/A | 6.5/10[17] |
| GameZone | 7.1/10[18] | N/A | 7.5/10[19] |
| IGN | 7.4/10[20] | 7.4/10[20] | 7/10[4] |
| Nintendo Life | N/A | N/A |   [21] |
| Nintendo Power | N/A | N/A | 6.5/10[22] |
| PlayStation: The Official Magazine | [23] | N/A | N/A |
| The A.V. Club | C−[24] | N/A | N/A |
| The New York Times | (unfavorable)[25] | (unfavorable)[25] | (unfavorable)[25] |
The game received "mixed" reviews on all platforms according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[26][27][28]
Maxim gave the game a score of three stars out of five and said that it was "actually funny, and unlike The Simpsons Game, it's actually fun to play. Game play is lifted straight out of Capcom's own Phoenix Wright series. [...] It's short enough that you can finish it in a couple of nights, but all the show's characters are in effect... along with their respective voice actors. Finally, the game's budget price (around $30) means there's no need to shout, 'I object!' when the game store clerk rings you up."[29]
However, The A.V. Club gave the PlayStation 2 version a C−, calling it "A decent rental, but not a wise investment."[24] The New York Times gave the game an unfavorable review, stating that the game design was "just plain bad".[25]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Wii Takes the Case – Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law Comes Home To Roost on the Latest Nintendo Video Game System". Capcom (Press release). September 4, 2007. Archived from the original on January 18, 2013.
- ^ Bergfeld, Carlos (October 22, 2007). "Did You Get That Thing I Sent You? No, Not Until 2008 (Harvey Birdman Delayed)". Shacknews. Archived from the original on April 28, 2018. Retrieved February 24, 2017.
- ^ a b Bergfield, Carlos (July 20, 2007). "E3 07: Harvey Birdman: Attorney At Law Preview". Shacknews. Archived from the original on April 28, 2018. Retrieved February 24, 2017.
- ^ a b Miller, Greg (January 14, 2008). "Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law Review (Wii)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on August 11, 2016. Retrieved February 24, 2017.
- ^ "PS2 Review - 'Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law'". Archived from the original on 2019-10-06. Retrieved 2021-04-05.
- ^ "Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law // Random.access". Archived from the original on 2021-10-22. Retrieved 2021-04-06.
- ^ "Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law: The Video Game". Archived from the original on 2021-01-18. Retrieved 2021-04-06.
- ^ Allin, Jack (February 25, 2008). "Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law review (Wii)". Adventure Gamers. Archived from the original on April 28, 2017. Retrieved February 24, 2017.
- ^ a b EGM staff (February 2008). "Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law (PS2, Wii)". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 225. Ziff Davis. p. 78.
- ^ Walker, John (February 27, 2008). "Harvey Birdman: Attorney At Law (PSP)". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on March 24, 2019. Retrieved February 24, 2017.
- ^ Juba, Joe (February 2008). "Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law (Wii)". Game Informer. No. 178. GameStop. Archived from the original on January 12, 2008. Retrieved February 24, 2017.
- ^ Balistrieri, Emily (April 2008). "Review: Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law (PSP)". GamePro. IDG Entertainment. p. 84. Archived from the original on March 8, 2008. Retrieved February 24, 2017.
- ^ a b c Morse, Blake (January 18, 2008). "Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law Review". Game Revolution. CraveOnline. Archived from the original on September 6, 2015. Retrieved February 24, 2017.
- ^ a b c Navarro, Alex (January 11, 2008). "Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law Review". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on April 28, 2018. Retrieved February 24, 2017.
- ^ Villoria, Gerald (January 8, 2008). "GameSpy: Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law (PS2)". GameSpy. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on February 9, 2017. Retrieved February 24, 2017.
- ^ Villoria, Gerald (January 16, 2008). "GameSpy: Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law (Wii)". GameSpy. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on September 8, 2015. Retrieved February 24, 2017.
- ^ a b "Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law Review (PS2, Wii)". GameTrailers. Viacom. January 16, 2008. Archived from the original on January 22, 2008. Retrieved February 24, 2017.
- ^ Aceinet (January 21, 2008). "Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law - PS2 - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on October 5, 2008. Retrieved February 24, 2017.
- ^ Platt, Dylan (January 30, 2008). "Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law - WII - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on October 6, 2008. Retrieved February 24, 2017.
- ^ a b Miller, Greg (January 8, 2008). "Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law Review (PS2, PSP)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on April 28, 2018. Retrieved February 24, 2017.
- ^ Kaplan, Zach (July 31, 2010). "Review: Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law". Nintendo Life. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on September 27, 2017. Retrieved February 24, 2017.
- ^ "Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law". Nintendo Power. Vol. 224. Future US. January 2008. p. 89.
- ^ Dun, Teresa (January 2008). "Review: Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law (PS2)". PlayStation: The Official Magazine. No. 2. Future US. p. 81.
- ^ a b Wolinsky, David (February 25, 2008). "Harvey Birdman: Attorney At Law (PS2)". The A.V. Club. The Onion. Archived from the original on February 28, 2008. Retrieved February 24, 2017.
- ^ a b c d Herold, Charles (January 17, 2008). "In Mimicking Adult Swim Cartoon Series, Designers May Have Gone Too Far". The New York Times. Archived from the original on February 22, 2018. Retrieved February 24, 2017.
- ^ a b "Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law for PlayStation 2 Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on April 28, 2017. Retrieved February 24, 2017.
- ^ a b "Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law for PSP Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on May 10, 2017. Retrieved February 24, 2017.
- ^ a b "Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law for Wii Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on March 23, 2017. Retrieved February 24, 2017.
- ^ "Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law". Maxim. Biglari Holdings. 2008.