Objection! is an interesting game that revolves around the courtroom drama. It was created by Transmedia and can easily be slid into the category of edutainment for its realism about the justice system. It is a subject that is seldom tackled in the field of video gaming, and Transmedia did a wonderful job of simulating the action inside a courtroom. The game can be favorably compared to games such as Perry Mason or First Degree, the latter being more similar in overall feel.
The user, in this game, will play the part of a defense attorney within the courtroom. With his knowledge of the law and overall intelligence (and sometimes craftiness), the gamer will have to successfully defend various criminals. “Success” is a relative term, and the player may either lessen the charges against his client or see them dropped altogether. A very good portion of the game will be paying very close attention as the prosecution examines the witness. Much of the time, you will sit idly by and listen, but if the prosecution strays from the straight and narrow, it is time for you to call out the most famous courtroom word: “Objection!”
The game offers many sound
reasons to object to the line of questioning, and all of them are based on the real facts of the courtroom. Perhaps the prosecuting attorney has asked the witness to repeat a rumor, violating the hearsay policy or the line of questioning may seem to run off on some inexplicable tangent. The prosecution may ask irrelevant questions or possibly badger the witness, making the courtroom environment tense and argumentative. There are worlds of reasons to call for an objection, you just have to learn what they are and when is the best time to use them. If the defense calls for an objection at what is considered an appropriate time, his score will go up. He also will gain points for remaining silence through sound lines of questioning. He will lose points if he objects out of spite or if he is baited into objecting to a question.
There are several different games to play, and numerous types of court cases. The game is designed to include different ways to play, as well, by including features such as the Expert Witness. This basically amounts to the level of detail in the testimonies and how much more difficult particular cases are. It is a very interesting game, to be sure, and it is a very solid game.
