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FoolyCharged
Oct 11, 2012

Cheating at a raffle? I sentence you to 1 year in jail! No! Two years! Three! Four! Five years! Ah! Ah! Ah! Ah!
Somebody call for an ant?

I liked the touch where Gumshoe mentioned he got in trouble for having stuff block his locker from shutting all the way and then when he opened the locker to demo it to Phoenix his jacket sleeve fell out. Never noticed that before.

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ApplesandOranges
Jun 22, 2012

Thankee kindly.


I know it's a mid-blink animation but I like that it looks like Smug Gumshoe is looking down on Phoenix.

Quorum
Sep 24, 2014

REMIND ME AGAIN HOW THE LITTLE HORSE-SHAPED ONES MOVE?


:hellyeah: Cyberpunk Gumshoe knows the score!

Dirk the Average
Feb 7, 2012

"This may have been a mistake."

ApplesandOranges posted:



I know it's a mid-blink animation but I like that it looks like Smug Gumshoe is looking down on Phoenix.

Smug, or extremely high (on blue badger paint fumes).

Omobono
Feb 19, 2013

That's it! No more hiding in tomato crates! It's time to show that idiota Germany how a real nation fights!

For pasta~! CHARGE!

ApplesandOranges posted:



I know it's a mid-blink animation but I like that it looks like Smug Gumshoe is looking down on Phoenix.

Blink animation is the co-commentator from heaven. Just ask any Megaman Battle Network or Star Force LPer.

wologar
Feb 11, 2014

නෝනාවරුනි


:lmao:

wologar
Feb 11, 2014

නෝනාවරුනි
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oyqxGzd80ho

Commander Keene
Dec 21, 2016

Faster than the others



I played this game on DS (and 3DS) so the picture inside Gumshoe's locker and the flyer he wrote his "report" on were completely indistinguishable pixelated messes, so seeing them now is a bit of a "hah, I never knew this" moment.

Zerbin7
Oct 15, 2014

It's a living.
It's a nice little easter egg that adds a bit of depth to his character, in retrospect. It's endearing, really.

DKII
Oct 21, 2010

Part 137: Episode 5, Day 2, Investigation: Roundabout Duster



Before we leave the evidence room behind, some of the examination scenes are a bit different without Gumshoe around.

A piece of white cloth is sticking out... looks like a shirt.



Hey, don't look at me! I didn't leave it hanging out like that!




Sound: Light Bulb

Aren't you being a little dramatic?




Sound: Light Bulb

Can't junk just be plain old junk?

I guess Phoenix doesn't recognize the metal detector this time.



Detective Goodman's evidence locker. It's empty.

Only Detective Goodman himself can open this locker.



(But why was it wrapped in the "scarf" muffler and stuck inside the "car" muffler?)

I'm still not sure how Lana fits into all of this. But that knife was definitely wrapped up in her scarf, so she had her hands on it at one point, and tried to hide it for some reason.





It was always my dream to push through the crowd and just step over the tape!



(I think maybe you're overreacting a little...)

Odd that this conversation doesn't actually mention the glove, but it's impossible for Gumshoe to have left without having already looked at the glove, so it still works.



There's blue and yellow paint here.



I am wearing a red necktie, you know...



We missed this one the first time, but it isn't any different after Gumshoe leaves.

That's the door we just came in through.

Looks like you don't need an ID card to get out.



...

(Let's hope he remembers we're in here.)



Another one we skipped over the first time, but isn't any different now...

Wow! Look at this big pile of junk in the corner!

That looks like... a car door.


Sound: Realization

Maybe the guy they caught was some sort of escape artist and he got away.



Random stuff that was too big to fit in a locker?

He's been shot square in the forehead.

Better him than us.

quote:

I missed one other minor scene, but couldn't revisit it after Gumshoe left. When assembling the jar, there's an option to back out, and some dialogue that goes with it:

It's no use. The pieces just don't add up to anything!
Sound: Stab

Maybe some of the pieces are missing?

Let's just try to put as many of the pieces in place as we can!

(Hmm... maybe I'll give it another shot later.)

We of course have to examine the pieces again and succeed at putting it back together in order to continue - Edgeworth won't be around if we don't.



All right, let's get out of here. Edgeworth awaits!



On the way here, I tried showing all our new evidence to Marshall, Meekins, Ema, and Angel Starr. No luck on any of them. Gant had taken off, so I couldn't check his reaction to any of it. Hopefully Edgeworth will have more to say. And actually be here this time.


Sound: Realization

The hell? Why is the hotel bellboy here?

Ah, guests! My apologies.

Oh! It's you!
Sound: Light Bulb

Have we met somewhere...?

Huh!?



That was a weird cameo.

(Is Edgeworth here...?)


Sound: Light Bulb

Wright.
Sound: Realization

quote:

Original line: "Ah, it's you." Edgeworth just grunting out Phoenix's last name suits his grumpy personality better.

(He has the hotel bring him tea service!?)

Someday I'm going to make a map of this city. Phoenix's office is across from the hotel, which is apparently close enough to Edgeworth's office to provide tea service. And they're all a 30 minute drive from the Police Department and Criminal Affairs, which are in adjacent but separate buildings. Somewhere in there we also have a movie studio and a park featuring a lake.



I am.

quote:

Original line: "Precisely." Again, slightly more awkward wording.

By the way, Detective Gumshoe was looking for you.



Really? Was it helpful?
Sound: Light Bulb

Apparently, a new French restaurant is opening near here.



(Um, the real info is on the other side, Edgeworth...)



Music: Investigation - Opening

It's interesting that despite being such a central character in the game, Edgeworth doesn't have his own theme music. Neither does Phoenix, for that matter. I guess they're well-developed enough to stand on their own without it?



We've already seen everything there is to see in Edgeworth's office, so we can get straight to the questions we want to ask him.

So, how did the inquiry committee go?



But as a communications error during the investigation.

"Concealing evidence"...?
Sound: Light Bulb

Yes. Apparently, there are some who believe...

that I concealed evidence.


Sound: Realization

"Again"...?

I've heard them say that so many times.

Ever since that case two years ago...



Maybe we can get him to open up more about SL-9 later.

Are you okay for the trial tomorrow?



Something happened?


Sound: Realization

The Police Department!



Somewhat concerning considering how much this case smells like a police cover-up or frame-job.

I can do nothing but wait for his results...

I... see.

Why, I ask you? Why!?



A rare moment of honest emotion out of Edgeworth.

But still...

(Wow, I've never seen him this out of sorts...)



We have a lot of evidence to go through.

...

Wright, please. I'm the prosecutor on this case!


Sound: Realization

I'll pass on the tea. Just tell me about the case...


Sound: Whack

(Whose side are you on, anyway?)



So that's Edgeworth's reaction to most of our evidence. Phoenix is right; only a few things will get his attention.



SL-9 has been a hot topic today, so maybe one of these items will get Edgeworth talking?

...

Music: Silence



It all has to do with that case you were on... the SL-9 Incident.

And some "dark suspicion" you were wrapped up in.
Sound: Realization



I figured I'd be telling you about this sooner or later.


Sound: Wipe



Gee, you think?



Music: Investigation - Opening

Okay, Edgeworth. Why don't you tell me about it. Tell me the truth.



We probably have a new conversation topic, but we have one more thing to show Edgeworth. The SL-9 knife would've produced the same reaction as Goodman's note, by the way.

Oh, right! I'd better check this now...
Sound: Light Bulb

As I was saying, I...

Music: Silence


Sound: Light Bulb

Edgeworth, you went into the evidence room that day, didn't you?

Just before the incident occurred, no less.
Sound: Realization

Yes, that's true.

Music: Suspense



Please don't look at me like that.
Sound: Stab



Hmm. More signs of a setup. Edgeworth is lured to the evidence room... right around the time that Goodman would have had to have been stuffed into his trunk, to get transported to the parking garage.

The Chief of Police...?


Sound: Realization

He told me he wanted me to keep it here in the Prosecutor's Office.

Thus also getting Edgeworth to unknowingly transport Goodman to the parking garage. Gant is looking pretty suspicious, but this case also feels like a police-wide conspiracy at this point. What I still don't get is how Lana got caught up in all of it instead of Edgeworth.

But... it was solved, right? It would have to be if the evidence was already filed...

The Chief is never one to explain himself.



Can I ask what kind of case it was?
Sound: Light Bulb

I... can't say.
Sound: Realization



Despite Edgeworth's shifty eyes, I'm inclined to believe him here. The whole request feels more like a scheme to move Edgeworth around the game board; the actual evidence itself doesn't matter.

(Now I'm curious about this other case. I'd better make a note of it.)

Music: Silence


Sound: Select Jingle

Music: Investigation - Opening





We do get a third page of evidence with this screwdriver.



Another evidence tag...

The tag says, "AI-16."



Nothing, apparently.

At least, that's what Edgeworth said.

Hm. That makes it seem all the more suspicious.



Wouldn't that be nice...



Back to talking to Edgeworth...

The SL-9 Incident was a heinous serial killing case.



Damon Gant.
Sound: Realization

(That wacky old coot was involved in the case two years ago too then...)

It feels like Gant is at least the third person the game has claimed to be in charge of that case.



Wow, you get nervous, too, Mr. Edgeworth?

(What I want to know is why was a Deputy Chief of Police on the investigation?)



We were dealing with a vicious murderer. If I let him go, the blood would be on my hands.

For the first time, we get a pretty good view into the ethical dilemma that prosecutors face. What if you knew that you had a serial killer, knew they were guilty, but couldn't prove it in court? And if you let them go, you'd know they'd be killing again before you could do anything about it?



Wait, you didn't...
Sound: Realization

Of course not!

I didn't touch the evidence.

Yes, I will do anything in my power to win a trial.



Maybe. I haven't forgotten Mia's "updated" autopsy report.

Music: Silence



This sudden change of conversation pops up once we've presented the ID record and cleared all three of Edgeworth's topics.

M-my sister? What?
Sound: Light Bulb



quote:

Original line: "You still working on that scientific investigation?" Another case where the re-release seems to have updated the line for better clarity.

Huh? Y-yes! Of course!



Luminol testing fluid, hm?


Sound: Realization

Ooh. Looks like fingerprint powder?


Sound: Light Bulb

It's been chemically treated for better adhesion.

F-for me? Are you sure?

We are the "enemy" you know.



I heartily approve of Edgeworth's subtle "gently caress you" to Gant.

Edgeworth... I'm really--

No need to thank me.



Edgeworth also comes through with a way to identify any fingerprints we find.

I, uh, th-thanks! (How about giving these to Detective Gumshoe as well!?)


Sound: Select Jingle

The police should have already gone all over the crime scene for fingerprints. But if they're really involved in this crime somehow, we can't trust that they actually did that, or that they'd share the true results with anyone. So let's hope we can go recover some fingerprint evidence ourselves!



Right!

(I do seem to remember seeing a suspicious handprint somewhere...)
Sound: Realization

Music: Investigation - Core



Unlike with the luminol, we can't just dust for prints everywhere we go. Instead this evidence must act more like a plot flag, similar to the metal detector last episode. Examining it doesn't reveal anything of interest, either.



A timeline is starting to come together here. I'm assuming that multiple people can access the evidence room with a single card swipe, here, but what I think happened:
  1. At 4:20 PM, the killer enters the evidence room with Goodman, and stabs him there after getting him to open the locker.
  2. At 4:40 PM, Edgeworth enters the evidence room -- likely a separate area, not noticing the murder scene -- and the killer uses the distraction to put Goodman's body into Edgeworth's trunk, sending it to the Prosecutor's Office as a result.
  3. At 5:14 PM, the killer uses Goodman's ID to re-enter the evidence room, and then is confronted by Meekins. Is Meekins the other ID at this time and 24 minutes earlier? Why did the killer go back? Was it just establishing an alibi, confusing the murder timeline, or something else?
  4. At the same time, 30 minutes across town, Edgeworth arrives at the parking garage and goes up to his office. Lana somehow gets into Edgeworth's trunk, discovers Goodman, and is seen "stabbing" him. During the five minutes where Angel Starr is running into the garage, Lana wraps the SL-9 knife inside her scarf and stuffs it in the exhaust pipe of Edgeworth's car. I still have no idea how Lana got the knife.

Music: Silence



After two days of investigation, we have a lot of the "what happened", but not a lot of the "why" yet. I think identifying these bloody handprints in the evidence room will help answer some remaining questions.



I did stop by the other locations first. Meekins and Ema don't care about our new evidence. Angel Starr and Jake Marshall have both vanished. So here we are.

(Our investigation turned up a suspicious handprint.)


Sound: Realization

Let's use the secret weapon we just borrowed!


Sound: Photo Snap x 3

We don't have to select the locker or the handprint or anything, we're zoomed straight in.

Music: Logic and Trick



A finger...?
Sound: Realization

Each finger leaves behind a slightly different imprint.



I really can't tell the difference at a glance...


Sound: Light Bulb



The cursor lights up in five places; four fingers and a thumb. This one looks like it could be pretty clear?



Let me show you how it's done.
Sound: Realization

(Ema's starting to get that sparkle in her eyes...)



Huh? How do you do that?
Sound: Light Bulb



Ah... it looks like that did the trick.
Sound: Realization



Once the powder is well spread...

just blow away the excess.

Huh? How do I do that?
Sound: Light Bulb




Sound: Light Bulb

This entire mechanic screams of something shoehorned-in to take advantage of / show off the Nintendo DS features. I'm guessing there was a screen-tap to shake the powder out and then blowing into the microphone to blow it away?

Wow... that looks like fun! (It might take some getting used to though...)
Sound: Realization

It's fine! It won't go up your nose or anything.



Those are the basics of fingerprinting, Mr. Wright!

(I guess I'd better give it a try...)



We're left with a blank screen. Time to spread some dust around...



Uh, that doesn't look much like a fingerprint.


Sound: Light Bulb

But... this looks nothing like a fingerprint.
Sound: Realization

quote:

You can also back out, if you want to choose a different finger.

(I think I'd like to try one of the other fingerprints.)

Okay, let's move on to a different finger!

However... they all have the same result...



What does it mean?

I think it means...

we're out of luck.
Sound: Light Bulb

Out of luck...?



Right, gloves. poo poo. Won't be so easy to identify the killer, then.

...

Music: Silence

Don't tell me we've been wasting our time here!
Sound: Whack



But... it does seem a shame.



Other prints...?

Looking at the locker door again closely...

Music: Logic and Trick


Sound: Realization

Let's see if we can find a clear print!

(Hmm... fingerprints outside the blood...)



We're looking at this smudge here.



Here's the most annoying part of this mechanic. It sure looks like a fingerprint was revealed here, right? Yet we're still stuck on this screen. I have to put multiple layers of dust over the entire print and blow it off over and over until almost all of the pixels of the print itself are actually covered.



The final result.

Yay! A print so clear it's dazzling!
Sound: Light Bulb

Music: Silence

D-dazzling...?



Let's match it up right away!
Sound: Realization

So we're not done yet? This is quite a process...



and not knowing who the owner is, right?

(I guess she's right...)

Music: Logic and Trick



and point out the person you think left these prints!

Huh? How am I supposed to know who it was?
Sound: Light Bulb
Sound: Stab

I could make a pretty good guess.



That means that the prints probably don't have anything to do with our case.



Probably the owner of the locker then.



But being right the first time is no fun. We have eight profiles to choose from here (Lana is also an option, scrolled off the screen).


Sound: Scan x 2

Some computer noises as we search for matches between the prints. I'm guessing "2" isn't enough matching points...


Sound: Whoops

Hmm... no match.
Sound: Realization

C'mon! How am I supposed to guess whose they are?

Isn't it obvious?



That means that the prints probably don't have anything to do with our case.


Sound: Realization

...

S-something wrong?

I was just thinking, if you're so sure who it is, why don't you match the fingerprints?

Mr. Wright!
Sound: Whack


Sound: Damage 2

It's a tutorial, after all!

F-fine, fine!

(Let me think... who could have left these prints...?)



Ema spelled it out pretty explicitly for us. The only tricky part is remembering who owns this locker.


Sound: Scan x 3

Looks a lot more promising.



We get a happy-sounding chime with the match, though I couldn't find the wav file for it to convert/upload it. You'll just have to imagine it.

Ah hah!
Sound: Light Bulb

Music: Silence


Sound: Realization

Well, it is his locker.

...

Something wrong, Mr. Wright?
Sound: Realization

You gave me this "so what?" look.

I guess that's probably because I was thinking "so what?"


Sound: Light Bulb

Sometimes you hit, sometimes you miss!



Thanks for the sympathy.

(Wait... If I remember correctly...)


Sound: Realization

Music: Investigation - Core



We don't have to go spray the luminol around again, but it's an option if you forgot where it was. We just have to look at this locker again.

This is where we got a luminol fluid reaction, right?
Sound: Realization

Right!
Sound: Light Bulb

There was a handprint here!
Sound: Whack





Let's do it!

Okay, let's check for prints!
Sound: Realization

That's the spirit!
Sound: Light Bulb



What?
Sound: Realization

quote:

Backing off just leaves us stuck with no way to progress:

Actually, let's not check.
Sound: Realization

What!? Why not!?
Sound: Whack

Try my patience any longer and I'll dump this powder over your head!

(Hmm... maybe I better check for those prints after all.)

We're dumped back on the examine screen, but there's nothing to do but examine the locker anyway.



We only ended up finding it using chemical means.



I was wondering if they were going to bring that point up. Two points for this episode.

Oh... right.
Sound: Light Bulb

So... that means no prints.



D-don't ask me!
Sound: Stab



(Prints other than the ones left by the bloody hand...)

Music: Logic and Trick


Sound: Photo Snap x 3

Ah, I didn't notice before, but the handprint only has three fingers (or maybe a thumb and two fingers; hard to tell). So maybe there are two prints that weren't wiped away?



There are two spots we can dust here. I'll go for the one further away first.


Sound: Light Bulb

Ta-da! ...Doesn't look like much, does it?

Hmm... I gave it my best shot.



But it doesn't look like we'll get a clearer result from this print.

Okay, let's try a different finger, then!



Last chance...


Sound: Light Bulb

I'll spare you the full sixty seconds of dusting and blowing repeatedly in every corner of this giant print and just skip straight to the payoff.



We don't get any hints for this one. So I picked the least-likely result to start.


Sound: Scan x 3


Sound: Whoops

No surprise there. We don't get any dialogue about how to be better at life, we're just left on the same screen to try again. We've got a few likely suspects to try out here, but eventually...





We get a match. Not exactly who I was expecting, but that's also expected; we're only on Day 2, after all.

Hey, these fingerprints, they...
Sound: Realization

Music: Silence


Sound: Whack
Sound: Damage 2

It's Officer Marshall!!!
Sound: Realization

Music: Suspense

Huh? O-Officer Jake Marshall!?
Sound: Light Bulb


Sound: Select Jingle

And I was just starting to like the guy, too.


Sound: Whack

Ema.

This is decidedly different from Detective Gumshoe's prints.

...!
Sound: Light Bulb


Sound: Realization

Oh.. Oh!!!


Sound: Wipe

Jake's definitely not telling us something. Meekins said that Marshall wasn't around when he showed up. And the wannabe cowboy said he'd ridden off before everything went down. But we have some evidence indicating he was in the evidence room, and tried to hide that fact. Is the blood from that day? Is that locker his? Did he try to hide something inside it?





Here's why I don't think Jake Marshall is the killer, though. (Other than knowing there's a lot of episode left to go.) There was another bloody handprint, from someone else in the evidence room, that was wearing gloves at the time. However, our cowboy may be an accomplice of some sort. We haven't really dug into anyone's motive very well yet, other than vague ideas of revenge against the prosecutors. None of which explains why a fellow detective was murdered!

It looks like our investigation is finally turning up some results!

...!

I guess this is what you'd call "decisive evidence"!

Music: Silence



I do like Phoenix's tone-deaf excitement here.





We fade out in silence for a change; a nice touch for the mood.

Music: Jingle - It Can't End Here



We have a cornucopia of evidence, though I am having trouble figuring out how it all ties together still. It seems rather obvious that Goodman was not killed in the parking garage by Lana, but I have no idea how Edgeworth is going to kick off things at trial tomorrow. I'm sure we're in for some shocking revelation, too. We'll just have to be in our usual reaction mode and see what happens!

ApplesandOranges
Jun 22, 2012

Thankee kindly.
It was clearly Gumshoe, duh. And he even gave Edgeworth a confusing flyer to confound him further!

Dastardly.

Quackles
Aug 11, 2018

Pixels of Light.


ApplesandOranges posted:

It was clearly Gumshoe, duh. And he even gave Edgeworth a confusing flyer to confound him further!

Dastardly.

I can't believe Gumshoe was the culprit... :O

EDIT: Yes, in the original DS version, you did tap on the bottom screen and blow into the mic to do the fingerprinting thing.

Quackles fucked around with this message at 04:10 on Nov 4, 2023

Zulily Zoetrope
Jun 1, 2011

Muldoon

DKII posted:



Music: Investigation - Opening

It's interesting that despite being such a central character in the game, Edgeworth doesn't have his own theme music. Neither does Phoenix, for that matter. I guess they're well-developed enough to stand on their own without it?

I dunno if it was something that was only decided after the first game was released and got popular, but the Objection! theme is Phoenix' official theme music.

Edgeworth has to make do with the Reminiscence ~ DL-6 theme, though.

Blueberry Pancakes
Aug 18, 2012

Jack in!! MegaMan, Execute!
I'm not sure what to make of the waiter. There are supposed to be multiple Gatewaters in the city, as I recall, so I guess the Prosecutor's Office isn't necessarily nearby Phoenix's place of work. But it seems odd the bellboy would be transferred, unless they got really sick of him trying to market that wiretapping room and washed their hands of him.

Or maybe he's just doing DoorDash.

Regarding Edgeworth never forging evidence, I'm going to call that retroactive whitewashing since he became a popular character and the writers probably don't want to dwell much on how many innocent lives he destroyed during his tenure.

Blueberry Pancakes fucked around with this message at 07:45 on Nov 4, 2023

bunnyofdoom
Mar 29, 2008

I've been here the whole time, and you're not my real Dad! :emo:
Alternatively, him delivering tea to Edgeworth was a convenient lie and he was there for some other reason

chrome line
Oct 13, 2022

Blueberry Pancakes posted:

Regarding Edgeworth never forging evidence, I'm going to call that retroactive whitewashing since he became a popular character and the writers probably don't want to dwell much on how many innocent lives he destroyed during his tenure.

I've always felt like the updated autopsy report was the last remnant of a much more antagonistic Edgeworth and that he was meant to be a little shady but not outright corrupt from the first 4 cases of this game. The kind of guy who (pre character development) might overlook other people doing things but isn't forging anything himself. That feels like the version of him they go with here, though it's very possible that it wasn't their original intent

Tree Reformat
Apr 2, 2022

by Fluffdaddy

chrome line posted:

I've always felt like the updated autopsy report was the last remnant of a much more antagonistic Edgeworth and that he was meant to be a little shady but not outright corrupt from the first 4 cases of this game. The kind of guy who (pre character development) might overlook other people doing things but isn't forging anything himself. That feels like the version of him they go with here, though it's very possible that it wasn't their original intent

I imagine Edgeworth was originally conceived as what would become Von Karma, and the character was split in two to make the plot more interesting.

Zulily Zoetrope
Jun 1, 2011

Muldoon
I always assumed that the updated autopsy report was legit, and the only shady thing he did was fail to submit it until pressed. He didn't really need to produce a second one, unless he had figured out in the meantime that the bloody receipt was a frame job, and he was actively working to let Redd White get away with murder the whole time. That does not fit his character in the original release at all.

GilliamYaeger
Jan 10, 2012

Call Gespenst!

Zulily Zoetrope posted:

I always assumed that the updated autopsy report was legit, and the only shady thing he did was fail to submit it until pressed. He didn't really need to produce a second one, unless he had figured out in the meantime that the bloody receipt was a frame job, and he was actively working to let Redd White get away with murder the whole time. That does not fit his character in the original release at all.
Honestly, considering that Gumshoe seems to feel genuinely guilty over failing to submit the updated report and inform Wright about it when Edgeworth dresses him down over it, it's highly likely that the only shady thing Edgeworth actually did was entrust Gumshoe with it after he got it.

AncientSpark
Jan 18, 2013
Also have to remember that a) this case was written after the original 3 games were out on the GBA and b) The 1st game was written without assumptions of there being sequels. Without spoiling, Edgeworth's character evolves over the series, and they are going back in Case 5 to help try and make some of that evolution more smooth now that they got a chance to back write. So it make sense that Edgeworth in Case 2's actions is somewhat disconnected because it was written with different assumptions about who Edgeworth is.

AncientSpark fucked around with this message at 11:35 on Nov 4, 2023

whitehelm
Apr 20, 2008
Edgeworth definitely would've noticed the same contradiction Phoenix did when he read the first version of the autopsy report, and would've gone and talked to the coroner. There are a few possibilities for why it got changed.

1. Mia legitimately could've been alive a couple seconds after being hit and the coroner just meant "not long enough to drag herself to another location or move around a lot" when they wrote "immediately", not knowing it would cause a problem. Edgeworth tells the coroner about the bloody note, and the coroner goes "Sorry, she actually was able to write it" and corrects the report.
2. Mia died immediately and the second report was made up by the coroner without Edgeworth knowing it was wrong. The coroner could've done this because:
a: They were blackmailed by Redd White directly.
b: They were pressured by the "Chief Prosecutor" we see Redd White call later (if I remember correctly, in the Japanese dialogue this is actually a different position than Lana Skye)
c: They were pressured by Von Karma.
d: They decided on their own to falsify the autopsy because they were scared of what Edgeworth might do given his reputation.


DKII posted:



We don't get any hints for this one. So I picked the least-likely result to start.



I'm a bit confused, you can see whether or not the prints match without actually hitting compare on each one, were you just doing that for flavor?

whitehelm fucked around with this message at 12:31 on Nov 4, 2023

Staltran
Jan 3, 2013

Fallen Rib
Mia was alive for a couple seconds after being hit, wasn't she? We see her murder in the beginning of the case, and she has the time to say "Red... White... Blue..." before dying. So we know the original report really was wrong.

DKII
Oct 21, 2010

whitehelm posted:

I'm a bit confused, you can see whether or not the prints match without actually hitting compare on each one, were you just doing that for flavor?

...Okay, time pressure while recording does weird things to my brain I guess. I didn't really look at the prints themselves until editing after writeup.

Speaking of time, I'm going to take a week off before the next update. These investigation sequences are noticeably longer than last episode, and now I know the upcoming trial day is long enough for two segments.

Samovar
Jun 4, 2011

I'm 😤 not a 🦸🏻‍♂️hero...🧜🏻



DKII posted:

...Okay, time pressure while recording does weird things to my brain I guess. I didn't really look at the prints themselves until editing after writeup.

Speaking of time, I'm going to take a week off before the next update. These investigation sequences are noticeably longer than last episode, and now I know the upcoming trial day is long enough for two segments.

It's good to pace yourself, so take all the time y'need.

DKII
Oct 21, 2010

Part 138: Episode 5, Day 3, Trial Former: Security Video

Music: Silence



Music: Courtroom Lobby ~ Beginning Overture



I think that entering this trial day I have zero idea what to expect. Though I fear that Meekins will be our first witness, such as he is.

I think the prosecution is as confused as we are.

After all...


Sound: Realization

Note the speaker.


Sound: Realization

Lana!

Good morning, Mr. Wright.



I hope they didn't hold you too long for questioning.



So, how'd it go?

It's as Mr. Wright suspects. The police are clueless.



You what now? We're going to have to discredit our own client's confession on the stand again, aren't we?

A plea bargain? What do you mean by that?



they wouldn't seek capital punishment.

That's what I mean, Ema.


Sound: Light Bulb

Much to my regret,



...So you made a plea deal you knew you couldn't keep? I don't get it.

Ms. Skye.

Hmm?

We found trace evidence of a certain person in the Police Department's evidence room.

They belonged to Officer Jake Marshall.
Sound: Realization



Blood-stained fingerprints, to be exact.

!
Sound: Light Bulb

That's the trump card I have up my sleeve today.

You do understand what this means, don't you?



We have to play the cards we're dealt. Isn't that right, Ms. Skye?

...



We have as many hostile clients as Edgeworth has hostile witnesses.

Music: Silence






Sound: Gallery

I've grown to find this courtroom scene comforting somehow.


Sound: Gavel

Music: Trial



Lana is still on trial here, despite no one having any clear idea of what actually happened that day.

The defense is ready, Your Honor.



I guess Edgeworth can't exactly describe his current state as "ready".







But, that's not physically possible, is it?
Sound: Whack





As long as yesterday's investigation sequence was, it doesn't quite seem like anyone's ready for trial today, does it?

(Wow... this is one messed up trial...)



Today I will present evidence relating to the murder at the Police Department.



Edgeworth: Winging it



even though he doesn't know what's going on himself!

And that's supposed to be an admirable trait?

Music: Silence


Sound: Gavel

Very well, let the trial resume.



Mr. Edgeworth, you may call your first witness of the day to the stand.

For its first witness, the prosecution calls...



:sigh: So Meekins is up first after all. Wait, didn't Edgeworth say yesterday between trial segments that he had a second witness, and they just weren't ready yet? I wonder whatever happened to that person.


Sound: Light Bulb
Sound: Objection


Sound: Gallery

(Hoo boy.)
Sound: Gallery


Sound: Gallery


Sound: Gallery



I really hope they at least confiscated his bullhorn before letting him in here.

Music: Trial

Will the witness please state his name and occupation.


Sound: Thud 2

Yes, sir! I am Officer Mike Meekins, sir!


Sound: Gavel

This guy.

Music: Silence

...

...

...

Er...
Sound: Light Bulb



Music: Marvin Grossberg ~ Old Age, Regret, Retribution

Sir. It was me, sir! I'm the one who did it!
Sound: Whack


Sound: Whack
Sound: Ween

So, we can let Lana go and let some other poor rear end in a top hat defend this guy, right?

Uh... Actually, what we'd like to hear from you is...


Sound: Whack

A person whose actions adults can't possibly comprehrend!
Sound: Ween

Meekins is just two years younger than Wright and Edgeworth.


Sound: Stab


Sound: Desk Slam

Officer Meekins.

Y-yes, sir!




Sound: Thud 2

Yes, sir! As you wish!
Sound: Light Bulb



I can't decide if this scene is making fun of the "younger" generation, or making fun of the older generation's attitudes towards and stereotypes of the younger generation. I think more the latter?

You can't fault him for a lack of enthusiasm.

Music: Silence




Sound: Testimony 2

Music: Questioning - Moderato



I spotted a suspicious man on the security screen, and rushed into the room!
Sound: Whack





I was suddenly attacked!


Sound: Stab 2



Music: Silence



Hmm.




Sound: Ween

That's the Meekins family motto, sir!




Sound: Thud 2

Yes, sir! He knocked me upside the head, sir!



Very well.

The defense may begin its cross-examination.



Looks like we'll have to hope that pressing reveals something.




Sound: Testimony 2

Music: Questioning - Moderato

As usual, I'll start with any end-of-testimony hints.



Well, we need to try and skim some more details from him. For starters, what was an

officer from the General Affairs Department doing in there in the first place?


Sound: Light Bulb



Seems like good advice, let's do it!

Although it's not my normal duty, I was assigned to guard the evidence room that day!





Yes, sir!


Sound: Whack

(Yikes! Now there's a scary thought.)

Phoenix read my mind there.



which meant many officers were given special tasks not ordinarily performed.



My two favorite parts of this episode, together at last!

The Blue Badger?
Sound: Realization


Sound: Thud 2




Sound: Wipe

Music: The Blue Badger ~ I Want to Protect You



That was my sole mission for the day, sir!
Sound: Whack



Music: Silence



Music: Questioning - Moderato

I see. Sounds like a very... uh, important mission.




Sound: Thud 2

that I relocated the Blue Badger to the evidence room!

So was your sole mission to protect the Blue Badger, or were you assigned to the evidence room? Wasn't the Blue Badger only in the evidence room at the end of the day?

Oh...



So that's why you went to the evidence room.





It's going to be a long update if every press is going to be that involved.

I spotted a suspicious man on the security screen, and rushed into the room!



In order to enter the evidence room...



Precisely, sir! I have one right here around my neck!


Sound: Realization



Music: Silence




Sound: Ween

Music: Questioning - Moderato

This is the one right here.
Sound: Whack

Could you please read us the number?
Sound: Stab


Sound: Gavel

Yes, sir! It's "4989596." That's my number, sir!



Music: Silence


Sound: Drama Pound

is shown as being used twice!
Sound: Objection


Sound: Desk Slam

Please explain, witness.

It's n-no real mystery, sir!
Sound: Stab

Music: Questioning - Moderato



and the second time is when I went to go get him after everything settled down.

Meekins has his name on the ID record now. I'm not sure I really buy into needing to move the Blue Badger for a 24-minute "busy period" outside the department, but whatever.



Yes, sir! That was when I spotted the man on the security screen!


Sound: Select Jingle

This story makes no sense. Why did Meekins leave after bringing the Blue Badger to the evidence room, if the evidence room was his station and his "only mission" was to protect the Blue Badger. Where did he go during those 24 minutes?



Hang in there, we've only pressed on two statements so far.

I was only doing what I was trained to do, sir! I was suddenly attacked!





It was a knife, sir! A knife!
Sound: Whack
Sound: Damage 2

Detective Goodman pulled a knife on you?

What happened then?


Sound: Thud 2


Sound: Light Bulb

(You aren't exactly the kind of person someone would want to run into...)

That's when I reacted, sir!
Sound: Whack


Sound: Thud 2



That's how I got this gash on my hand.



When I saw the blood trickling down my arm, I panicked!

I grabbed the man by his collar!



I fought for my life! Then I... I did it!



What exactly do you mean when you say you, "did it"?




Sound: Light Bulb

Yeah, that's how you ended up the one with the damaged hand, knocked out and found alone in the evidence room, with the supposed murder victim nowhere in sight.

You took his knife?

Music: Silence


Sound: Objection

I made sure to close my eyes like a man!

I, uh, see... (He must have been desperate.)



Then, the next thing I knew...

Yes?


Sound: Ween

Music: Questioning - Moderato



Anyone notice that none of this testimony actually included Meekins actually stabbing the other person at any point? He even says the other person's coat was covered in Meekins's blood!

After that I passed out... until another officer smacked me awake!



About what time did you regain consciousness?


Sound: Thud 2


Sound: Light Bulb

Isn't that like the first thing someone would ask? "How long was I out?"

Oh... right.



He hit me right in the head too!

I woke up crying tears of pain!
Sound: Ween

That's nice...

Er, I mean... it's nice that you recovered, that is...



Your "mission"...?
Sound: Realization

Yes, sir! The Blue Badger, sir!
Sound: Light Bulb





In the detention center, he said he'd woken up there. But this version of events makes more sense, especially knowing he was trying to deliver a report to Edgeworth the next day.



(Well, we can all rest easy now...)

Music: Silence


Sound: Gavel

The judge cuts us off now that we've pressed on every statement.



Do we? Meekins is like the epitome of an unreliable witness.

Yes, Your Honor. Only one thing remains unclear.


Sound: Realization

I don't get why everyone is saying there was a murder here. We don't have any evidence the other guy was even injured, let alone murdered. I guess that's why Edgeworth has it in quotes there.

(He's got a point...)

Um...
Sound: Light Bulb

Yes, Officer Meekins?

With regard to that, sir...


Sound: Whack

Uh that's one way to get evidence introduced at trial, I guess?

Chief Gant delivered it to me just this morning sir!
Sound: Gavel

The Chief?
Sound: Realization

Delivered it...?
Sound: Realization




Sound: Gavel

Yes, sir! That's absolutely right, sir! A videotape, sir!


Sound: Ween

What, you don't give away key evidence in the case to the man accused of the murder?

Music: Suspense




Sound: Desk Slam

What!? But I specifically asked if there was such a tape,



That's quite a mistake.



(Looks like communication with the Police Department is as good as ever...)


Sound: Gavel

Well then, let's have a look!

Music: Silence


Sound: Objection



You have used that word to describe yourself already.

(A video of a real murder... Just what are we getting ourselves into...?)



Music: The Blue Badger ~ I Want to Protect You



Oh, hell. The camera swivels back and forth, and that thing is blocking half the view. There's no way I'm going to be able to capture all this footage in animated GIFs, so here's a video link. Here's what I noticed on the first look:



Our mystery guest enters the scene.



Face conveniently hidden as they open the locker.



Yeah it wouldn't be that easy.



Our hero sneaks up on this suspicious character. Why are they suspicious, anyway? They can only get in with an ID card. Does everyone who enters the evidence room get accosted about it?



The mystery man lashes out, his face still hidden by the pesky Blue Badger.



Meekins lunges back at his attacker!



But he's thrown off!



Our hero meekly surrenders, only for the victim(?) to lunge at him as the camera pans away from the action...



By the time the camera returns, Meekins is unconscious on the floor, and the other figure is nowhere to be seen. Are they bleeding out on the floor? Did they crawl away underneath the camera's view, or hide behind the Blue Badger? Impossible to know...



Music: Silence

At last, the music finally stops.

...

...

...



That there's no proof of a murder, or proof that the other man was Goodman? That Meekins is not a kung-fu master?


Sound: Realization


Sound: Desk Slam



Oh. Everyone was just distracted/disturbed by the Blue Badger. I admit to having been a bit mesmerized myself; there were at least three key details in that video that I missed on first watch. Can you figure them out without rewatching it?


Sound: Thud 2



Now why did Meekins leave it turned on when he put it in the evidence room?

It's the Blue Badger, sir!
Sound: Objection

(Why am I not surprised this isn't going smoothly?)


Sound: Select Jingle

We can replay the video at any time from the court record now. If we can tolerate it.

Yes, well anyway...



in the evidence room, and some sort of... er, "activity" did take place...

My feelings exactly. On further thought, though... shouldn't we be trying to prove that person in the video is Goodman? Hard for Lana to have killed Goodman if he was somewhere else entirely at the time, right? If Goodman wasn't the one in the video, aren't we just back to Angel Starr saying Lana stabbed him?


Sound: Desk Slam



the witness's testimony will suffice.

I don't think I trust this witness's testimony to be any more complete than that video.



Yes, sir! As you wish sir!
Sound: Light Bulb




Sound: Testimony 2

So, we've managed to move on to testimony #2. Let's hear what crazy story Meekins has for us this time.

Music: Questioning - Moderato

His face can't be clearly seen in the video,

but there's no question that the other person was Detective Goodman, sir!


Sound: Thud 2

I mean, he opened the locker, which required Detective Goodman's fingerprint to do!


Sound: Gavel

The locker he opened is unquestionably Detective Goodman's locker, sir!

So it must be him! No one else could have unlocked it!
Sound: Ween

Music: Silence



Looks like we now have to solve the mystery of how the person in the video opened a fingerprint-locked locker.

What's this about a fingerprint?



These locks ensure that each locker can only be opened by the detective it belongs to.

Intriguing...

That would mean...



Yup, case closed, Meekins murdered Goodman, Lana is off the hook, let's all get out of here!

Very well! The defense my begin its cross-examination!

(I don't know where this cross-examination will lead,)






Sound: Testimony 2

Music: Questioning - Moderato

(This all sounds true enough,)



(There has to be a mistake somewhere...)

The real thing's so much more intense than in the movies!



The security video...
Sound: Realization

(Maybe I should take another look at the footage...)



I took the game's advice - here's the video link again if you'd like a second look as well. I spotted two suspicious details on the second look, and I'm pretty sure I don't even need to press to figure out how to proceed now. If you followed the rules and only watched the video twice, what have you noticed? I'm going to set up the vote a little bit differently this time: The video has eight panning segments, and while three of them show something important, only one has the key detail we need right now. Which one?

DKII fucked around with this message at 05:16 on Nov 15, 2023

Quackles
Aug 11, 2018

Pixels of Light.


Oh boy, here we go :allears:

The video is perhaps the most in-depth piece of evidence we've seen in an Ace Attorney game, and I am here for it.

FoolyCharged
Oct 11, 2012

Cheating at a raffle? I sentence you to 1 year in jail! No! Two years! Three! Four! Five years! Ah! Ah! Ah! Ah!
Somebody call for an ant?

There's just something unnaturally maddening about this video. It's not just how much time you spend watching and rewatching it, but there's also that edlritch tune accompanying the badgers soulless gaze.

SirSamVimes
Jul 21, 2008

~* Challenge *~


The Detective's face being perfectly blocked by the flag or the locker at all times is a really good joke.

ApplesandOranges
Jun 22, 2012

Thankee kindly.
The real answer is that Gumshoe, being the true criminal, adjusted the Blue Badger so that it would not only conveniently block the face of his co-conspirator during the security footage, but also play that maddening tune to exasperate anyone who would try to get to the bottom of it.

davidspackage
May 16, 2007

Nap Ghost
Edgeworth's reaction to seeing the Blue Badger sent me to pieces.

I remember being frustrated that Meekins is on trial for a murder with no body (at the location where he's found) and the video showing him getting knocked out by the supposed murder victim. But I suppose Meekins being delivered the tape in his cell indicates this nonsense is deliberate.

Is it a plothole that Meekins goes to deliver a report on the murder (that he stands accused of) to Edgeworth despite being arrested? Or did all of that happen in sequence?

Cyouni
Sep 30, 2014

without love it cannot be seen
I hope you like watching this video.

Blueberry Pancakes
Aug 18, 2012

Jack in!! MegaMan, Execute!

davidspackage posted:

I remember being frustrated that Meekins is on trial for a murder with no body (at the location where he's found) and the video showing him getting knocked out by the supposed murder victim. But I suppose Meekins being delivered the tape in his cell indicates this nonsense is deliberate.

I feel like every Ace Attorney game has at least one frustratingly impossible scenario that no one contests.

FoolyCharged
Oct 11, 2012

Cheating at a raffle? I sentence you to 1 year in jail! No! Two years! Three! Four! Five years! Ah! Ah! Ah! Ah!
Somebody call for an ant?

Given how much Gant seems to love loving with Edgeworth, him showing that antagonism towards another person isn't too far out.

Dirk the Average
Feb 7, 2012

"This may have been a mistake."

davidspackage posted:

Edgeworth's reaction to seeing the Blue Badger sent me to pieces.

I remember being frustrated that Meekins is on trial for a murder with no body (at the location where he's found) and the video showing him getting knocked out by the supposed murder victim. But I suppose Meekins being delivered the tape in his cell indicates this nonsense is deliberate.

Is it a plothole that Meekins goes to deliver a report on the murder (that he stands accused of) to Edgeworth despite being arrested? Or did all of that happen in sequence?

Meekins was arrested after delivering the report to Edgeworth, presumably after the investigation at the precinct was concluded.

whitehelm
Apr 20, 2008

DKII posted:

Part 138: Episode 5, Day 3, Trial Former: Security Video

You've got quite a few gifs cropped too small unless that was intentional to reduce filesize.

DKII
Oct 21, 2010

whitehelm posted:

You've got quite a few gifs cropped too small unless that was intentional to reduce filesize.

Most of the ones that get repeated frequently I'll crop down, but the one with Meekins slamming his injured hand I left some extra height on in the detention center version and forgot to do that in the courtroom version. I'll see if I can fix that one.

Edit: Okay should be fixed now, there were three of those.

DKII fucked around with this message at 05:17 on Nov 15, 2023

DKII
Oct 21, 2010

Part 139: Episode 5, Day 3, Trial Former: Freeze Frame



Before I dive into the video further, I do still want to show the results of pressing on Meekins here.

His face can't be clearly seen in the video,



Tell me, were you able to get a good look at him?

At the face of the man who attacked you with a knife?



I believe I would be classified as... the latter?


Sound: Stab

More to the point, you are the person who fought him, aren't you?
Sound: Stab

Oh, yes sir! But... I didn't get a clear look at his face, sir.



I probably would've been busy looking at the knife, myself.

(Yeah, that's a good trait for a police officer...)


Sound: Ween

Ugh pressing was a bad idea.



but there's no question that the other person was Detective Goodman, sir!



But you don't know that for sure, do you?



Well... I suppose you might say that.



Since his face can't be identified in the video, only you can verify it.

!
Sound: Light Bulb

W-w-why is everyone l-looking at me?




Sound: Desk Slam

Meekins!
Sound: Whack


Sound: Stab
Sound: Rooster



Now please be more certain when you testify!

Y-y-yes, sir!



Tell us why you are positive it was him!



I mean, he opened the locker, which required Detective Goodman's fingerprint to do!





No, sir! I myself tried all kinds of methods in the past!
Sound: Light Bulb



(I wonder what kind of methods he's tried...?)



then he must be the person the locker was assigned to.


Sound: Ween



The locker he opened is unquestionably Detective Goodman's locker, sir!



How do you know that information?



"People in the know"?




Sound: Thud 2

They also listen to my... romantic troubles, sir!
Sound: Light Bulb

...

For the record...

the opened locker did indeed belong to Detective Goodman.



Hmm...





So it must be him! No one else could have unlocked it!




Sound: Desk Slam



Music: Silence

S-sir!
Sound: Objection

If I may say something, sir!
Sound: Realization

Please do. After all, you are the one being examined.



I mean, it was his hand that opened the fingerprint lock...


Sound: Whack


Sound: Ween

Yes, you have a point.

The footage doesn't lie.

That is...


Sound: Realization

Edgeworth with the lob pass...

Mr. Wright! Let's check the Court Record again!
Sound: Light Bulb

Music: Logic and Trick



Music: Silence

Regarding the video contained on this tape,



Strange?

This contradiction leads to the possibility that...


Sound: Desk Slam



quote:

Backing out here just takes us back to the cross:

The tape was provided by the Police Department, so there's no problem with it.

I admire your trust in the Police Department,

Mr. Wright.

Well, if you ask me,

Music: Silence

I think there's a problem with what's shown on the tape...

rather than with the actual tape itself.
Sound: Realization

Music: Questioning - Moderato

Time to loop back and try again...

quote:

The scene here for stating that there's a problem with the video can also be accessed by simply presenting the video as contradicting evidence on any line of Meekins's testimony except for the first one.

Music: Investigation - Core


Sound: Whack



Interesting...



Your Honor, I have a proposal.

Yes, Mr. Edgeworth?
Sound: Light Bulb

I propose we have the defense...


Sound: Realization

Time to dunk the pass Edgeworth set up for us.

(He would want me to point it out...)






Sound: Gavel

I will now play the security tape.

Music: Silence



(I have to point out a problem in the video?)

(This is the first time I've ever had to do that.)

You can do it, Mr. Wright!



Just take a good look and be sure to point out the right thing!


Sound: Thud 2


Sound: Light Bulb

I don't think there's any actual restriction.

(How did this guy ever become a police officer?)

Now then, Mr. Wright. Please enlighten us!





The tape is apparently put into a VCR. Two very old-fashioned terms.

Music: The Blue Badger ~ I Want to Protect You



The video automatically starts playing, complete with distracting Blue Badger dancing and music. We can pause, rewind, or fast forward, giving us full control over what frame of the video to present. We also have to move the cursor to the exact location in the frame with the contradiction. I really like this mechanic, even if it is hard to look for alternative/interesting incorrect results in this format. Anyway, a lot of people voted for the video segment showing the mystery man opening the locker, but that's not quite right here.



I'm really impressed with how this video is set up. Between the music and the dancing Blue Badger being front-and-center demanding attention, it's incredibly easy to overlook that before anyone has even entered the evidence room, Goodman's locker is lit up. It's already unlocked!



Music: Silence


Sound: Desk Slam


Sound: Objection

Officer Meekins.


Sound: Thud 2

Sir! D-do you mean me, sir?
Sound: Light Bulb

Music: The Blue Badger ~ I Want to Protect You











A beep as Gumshoe's locker opens again.

the light turns on and the lock is released.


Sound: Thud 2


Sound: Light Bulb


Sound: Desk Slam

If so, then something is seriously wrong with this picture!


Sound: Wipe



We're back watching the first few seconds of the video...



Let's rewind to a little earlier...

Watching the video backwards isn't particularly interesting, so I'll just skip ahead...




Sound: Stab

quote:

Almost anywhere else, and we just get a generic failure.



Music: Silence


Sound: Desk Slam

The thing that's strange about this video...

would have to be... uh, this?
Sound: Realization

...

Hold on a second. I need to use my eye drops.

...

Well, I don't get it.
Sound: Realization

...

Um, would you mind if I borrowed your eye medicine?
Sound: Realization

Don't look at me with those bleary eyes!
Sound: Whack

Before your eyes get too teary, perhaps you should think this through again, hmm?

(Now what do I do?)

We're given a choice to either "Play video again" or "Return to cross-examination". Both options do exactly what they say. The right answer is, of course, to go back to the video.

Very well. Let's try this again.

Just remember one thing, Mr. Wright:

Every time you point your finger, someone gets hurt.

Says the one pointing his finger at us...


Sound: Gavel

I will now play the security tape.

Mr. Wright. Please show us this contradiction you speak of.

From here, we get the same scene as the first time we went into playing the video, including all the instructions on how to control it.

quote:

Returning to the cross-examination is possible, but doesn't get us anywhere.

(It seems I've been taking the wrong approach.)


Sound: Gavel

Music: Questioning - Moderato

Now then, the defense may resume its cross-examination.

Assuming the witness is still willing to continue, that is. Officer Meekins?


Sound: Thud 2

Yes, sir! It is my duty as a police officer to help the lost, sir!
Sound: Light Bulb

(Great. Now they think I'm lost...)

We get brought back to the beginning of Meekins's testimony, since we could have entered this flow from just about anywhere.

quote:

Since so many insisted there was something wrong in the video when the mystery man opened the locker, I'll go ahead and show what happens if we select that little inconsistency instead, without getting specific on what it was.



Music: Silence


Sound: Desk Slam

The thing that's strange about this video...

has got to be this!
Sound: Objection

Hmm... Yes, that is strange.

Something certainly seems unnatural about that.
Sound: Light Bulb

What could it mean?



Sorry to interrupt, Mr. Wright...

but you seem to have forgotten the point of this exercise.

The point...?

What you are looking for is one thing and one thing only:

Something that indicates the man may not be Detective Goodman.
Sound: Realization

Oh, yeah.
Sound: Light Bulb

Whew... I almost walked right into the defense's trap!


Sound: Gavel

I'll place him under arrest, sir!

(Rats... I need to slow down and tackle these things one piece at a time.)

(Now what do I do?)

We get the same two options there as any other incorrect choice, and both play out the same as in the generic failure. This scene is a good way to remind the player that we are looking for the relevant contradiction, not just anything that looks interesting.

Music: Silence



Precisely my point, Your Honor.


Sound: Objection

Music: Objection!


Sound: Damage 2
Sound: Rooster

I'll put Meekins's reaction down to shock rather than concern over his testimony. If it wasn't Goodman in there, and there's no other missing person/dead body, then Meekins didn't kill anyone! Maybe he really wanted that street cred with his fellow officers.


Sound: Gallery

Our first crowd reaction with Meekins on the stand. That bullhorn is really ruining his posture.


Sound: Gavel x 3

Order! Order!

What's the meaning of this!?
Sound: Whack

It's very simple, Your Honor.



All of the wild theories I had in my head on how the killer faked Goodman's fingerprint, and it never even occurred to me that the locker was simply left unlocked. :doh:




Sound: Desk Slam



When a door is shut, a sensor is triggered...

and the locker is automatically locked!


Sound: Light Bulb

Of course, I'm not an expert in this...


Sound: Realization

So did Goodman intentionally stage his locker to leave it unlocked somehow? Why?



So then, Mr. Wright. Do you have an explanation?

Me, Your Honor?

Yes. Why wasn't the locker locked?

Me, Your Honor?
Sound: Light Bulb

...

For an inquiry-type judicial system, it sure seems like it's always on the defense attorney to actually figure out what happened.

Music: Silence


Sound: Realization


Sound: Light Bulb

Huh? Oh, um...



(Something... jammed the sensor? Say...)


Sound: Realization

If you spotted the first one, you probably spotted the second one at the same time.

Yeah, I thought so too!
Sound: Light Bulb




Sound: Gavel

Very well. Let's inspect the video once more.





Back to the video we go...

Music: The Blue Badger ~ I Want to Protect You



It happens quickly, but look at the exact moment that our mystery man opens the locker.



Sure looks like something fell out there. It looks a lot like the glove that we found in the evidence room. Was it blocking the door sensor, preventing it from locking?



Music: Silence


Sound: Desk Slam

Please watch closely.

This is the continuation of the part I showed you earlier.



The video moves forward from the first contradiction to the second, and even the judge notices something off this time.

Something white fell out of the locker!
Sound: Realization


Sound: Gavel








Sound: Realization

quote:

Original line: "We can't be sure that item was in the locker to begin with." Kind of unclear; the item was obviously "in" the locker, or at least not visible before the mystery man opened the locker.

What do you mean?



What if something was inserted, say,

between the sensor and the door?
Sound: Realization

In... Inserted...?



The video plays again, stopping at the pivotal moment once more.


Sound: Objection

quote:

The generic failure here is the same as before, except we're forced back into re-examining the video instead of getting a choice to go back to the cross. I guess we're already committed to the video at this point.

quote:

There is one other item of interest in the video. It could be considered a spoiler if you haven't spotted it yet, so I won't show the reaction for presenting it now until it's more relevant.

Music: Suspense


Sound: Gavel

Oh, I understand now, sir! It's just like my tie!



Instead of the door closing, My tie chokes me!


Sound: Whack



It would need to be an insulator.

Yes, an insulator!

But at the crime scene...


Sound: Realization

Fits like a glove, you might say.

But s-sir!
Sound: Light Bulb

By "insulator," you don't mean...

(I think I've finally got this figured out.)


Sound: Gavel



What was this insulator that was stuck in the locker door?



I didn't really notice that the glove was rubber when we picked it up, but nothing else makes any sense here anyway.



Music: Silence



But we can't be sure that was in the victim's locker.


Sound: Realization

!
Sound: Light Bulb

The video seems to depict the victim opening the locker,


Sound: Objection


Sound: Desk Slam

On the day of the crime, even I could have opened that locker!


Sound: Objection

quote:

I feel bad for you if you got this one wrong, and not on purpose like I did below.



Behold! This was stuck in the locker door!
Sound: Objection

How about sticking yourself in instead?

Huh?
Sound: Light Bulb

Your presence here is wearing thin. You might just fit...

(I think my own mojo's just been blocked.)

If you have time to think of snarky comebacks, you have time to think it through again.
Sound: Whack

(Something thin enough to slip into the door crack, yet not conductive to electricity...)

quote:

The entire scene was subtly different in the original script:

How about sticking your finger in instead?

Huh?
Sound: Light Bulb

You are rather thin. It just might fit...

(I think my own current's just been blocked.)

Instead of being sarcastic, why don't you think this through again.
Sound: Whack

(Something thin enough to slip in the door, yet not conductive to electricity...)

New script is funnier to me, but maybe that's just because I heard it that way first.


Sound: Gavel

Very well! Will the defense please present the relevant evidence!

What was this insulator that was stuck in the locker door?

Luckily we can try again as much as we want. No penalties on any of this stuff yet.

Music: Telling the Truth

Sir...


Sound: Stab 2
Sound: Rooster
Sound: Drama Pound


Sound: Gallery


Sound: Gavel x 3

Order! Order! Order!


Sound: Wipe



whom this witness stabbed in the evidence room... was not Detective Goodman?
Sound: Realization



Do not be misled, Your Honor.

What do you mean, Mr. Edgeworth?



I've done more to show that the man was not Detective Goodman than you've done to show that anyone was murdered in that evidence room at all.

The "victim" in the video was indeed Bruce Goodman.



All right, this one better be good.

What!?
Sound: Light Bulb


Sound: Drama Pound

Music: Silence



Sir! M-me, sir!?
Sound: Light Bulb



...




Sound: Gavel

O-oh! You mean that, sir! Of course, sir!
Sound: Light Bulb

(Is this a joke...?)


Sound: Gavel






Sound: Testimony 2

Here we go, testimony #3 from Meekins.

Music: Questioning - Allegro

There's one other thing that proves the man was Detective Goodman, sir!



When an ID card is used, there's a record of it!


Sound: Gavel



Music: Silence



Weak.

An ID card record. I see...



How dare you use our own evidence against us!




Sound: Realization





I once again feel compelled to point out that our best strategy here is to say, "Yup it must have been Goodman, I guess that means Lana didn't kill him then, let's all go home!"

However,

one thing does strike me as unusual...

Several hundred cases should have been due for transferal.


Sound: Light Bulb

Because it would have muddied up the narrative with no added value whatsoever, of course.



"Special" cases...?
Sound: Realization

Extremely violent cases involving police staff.

...Just what was the SL-9 Incident about, again?



(Me too, although it doesn't make much of a difference...)










Sound: Testimony 2

Let's see, how do we prove that the ID record is not infallible here?

Music: Questioning - Allegro

Mr. Wright! What do you think?

I'm... confused.

What?
Sound: Light Bulb




Sound: Realization





Fair enough. Well, what have you got?

NullBlack
Oct 29, 2011

I'm as confused as you are.

He said it in court, in the witness stand. That's binding, right? We can get rid of this moron, and solve a murder mystery as a bonus.

NullBlack fucked around with this message at 03:29 on Nov 18, 2023

Blueberry Pancakes
Aug 18, 2012

Jack in!! MegaMan, Execute!
Meekins must be the only person on the force with a lower living wage than Gumshoe.

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comicfan92
Aug 30, 2018

Blueberry Pancakes posted:

Meekins must be the only person on the force with a lower living wage than Gumshoe.

If he isn't, then there really is no justice here. Say what you want about Gumshoe, but even on his worst days he's more reliable than Meekins (if he's made more errors than Meekins, it's only because Gumshoe's been on the force way longer and had the time to do so), and he will often come through in a pinch. With Meekins, it's a miracle that they still employ him, nevermind that he's responsible for recruitment (which is a horrifying thought in many ways).

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