Announcement details make the case for Lawyer

Written by K R Parkinson — April 13, 2022 at 06:23

Fans of Law & Order-styled legal dramas should have no objection to news that The Lawyer Episode 1: The Red Bathtub is currently in production by indie Polish developer ManyDev Studio.

The upcoming episodic adventure series, set in the 1990s "when pagers were still widely used rather than cellphones," combines active crime investigation with courtroom drama. Players alternate control between Mark Ferry, a "fallen attorney-at-law" who is starting to rebuild his life and career after leaving rehab, and Hector Diaz, a "private eye who works for Mark and helps with investigation and evidence gathering." Ferry and Diaz have various strengths as well as flaws, which will have "different impacts" on the story in certain situations.

Unlike the more cartoony presentation style of a Phoenix Wright game, The Lawyer offers a much more serious and realistic approach to criminal justice – or injustice if that's what you decide. Gameplay will be split into two parts: the investigation and the "courtroom battle." During the former, players will become familiar with the case at hand and decide how to deal with possible evidence (even if that means fabricating it). In this phase you will visit the crime scene, interview witnesses, and interact with the police and district attorney as you "prepare your client for the trial and eventually prepare your line of defense." 

The courtroom segment will see players "use all their knowledge about the case and previously formed conclusions during evidence analysis, listen to testimonies and cross-examine potential witnesses." Of course, the district attorney will try to undermine your case in front of the jury, so the outcome of the trial will be determined by your previous decisions, as well as your performance during the trial itself. Ultimately, it will be up to you to choose between following the letter of the law or being an underhanded rogue who uses any means necessary to win your case, no matter the cost. Beware, however, that these decisions will not only impact the current case, but also "further events in later episodes."

The Lawyer Episode 1: The Red Bathtub will appear on Steam for Windows PC, although no release date is currently set.