I think we need a DS section :p
Or this can go in "Others" >.>
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney
Story
You are Phoenix Wright, you just became a defense attorney, and are about to do your first trial…
Heck. I’m stopping now. This game is all about the story.
This isn’t one of the best stories around, but right off the bat, they give you a mystery, why did Phoenix become? This one question arises more questions, and they don’t get answered till the end, and believe me, you want them answered.
One of the most addictive stories I have had the pleasure to play through.
Game Play
This is a visual novel-type adventure game, so if you don’t like reading. You’ll hate this game. It’s all about reading.
There are two steps to this game, investigation and the court room.
Investigation
In this part of the game you move around the available areas (You’re pretty restricted) and find clues to back up your arguments in court.
This is where I got stuck; you have to find all the evidence in order to move on to the next part. That’s what I didn’t like. I would have enjoyed if we could have stopped the investigating early and try to win with what you had. Of course, with less evidence, your less likely to win, but this would have been nice, and make you *want* to investigate in order to make your defense unbreakable. Sadly that’s not the way it works, but what are you going to do?
Court Room
This is where the game really shines. Using the evidence you have acquired, you find contradictions in a witness’s testimony. May not sound that fun, but if you like puzzles, this is a thinking game you’ll enjoy. You read through the witness’s testimony and press him to tell you more, and try to find contradictions in order to prove your client’s innocence. Once you find said contradiction, you present the evidence to support your claim. If the evidence doesn’t support it, you get penalized, and if all your warnings are up, you lose. Oh course this doesn’t sound all that fun, but there are numerous puns and stories to keep you interested.
Overall, great game play, they utilize the DS touch screen and microphone very well.
And (from what I heard) they have added a lot of features using the touch screen for the DS during investigations, which will brighten that part of the game. The actual story of Ace Attorney is a port of the GBA game, which was never released in America, however, after you beat the story, you unlock a new episode using these added features. I just unlocked it, and I will tell you more about it once I beat “Justice for All”.
Graphics
For a GBA port, this has insane graphics.
Since it’s comic-book style, it doesn’t have many animations, and focuses more on the expressions of the characters speaking. However, when they do have the animations, I’m afraid to say it doesn’t look to good. (Main point, when you win a case and confetti is thrown across the court room.) It looks horrible. Thankfully, you don’t see much of it. Perhaps 7 times in this uber long game. Which take up about 10 seconds of the game.
Overall, great graphics and those short times in between are so tiny, you can’t say it effects much. Once the confetti stops falling, you already forgot about it and are getting deeper into the story.
Music
Amazingly, they even did this very well. Not many games would be doing this well with me. But this one is just on a roll. And thus, why I felt I should share it with you.
The music goes great with the game. When you’re in an intense roll with your objections and getting into the witness’s skull, they play some intense music, that make you fell like are getting into that witness’s skull. When you’re relaxing in your office, they have some relaxing music going on. Talking to a sad defendant in the detention center? You guessed it, some sad music. As a “novel” they d everything they can to trigger your emotions, and I have to say, once in a while I felt something.
Overall, great music, I couldn’t imagine anything else taking its place.
Story – 9.2/10 – Great story, however, when you beat the game, you realize how little you got out of that super long game.
Game Play – 8.5/10 For a GBA port, this was excellent, and I am expecting a whole lot more fun with the DS features in the bonus episode and in “Justice for All”
Graphics – 8.2/10 I personally could care less about the graphics, the small flaws in the animation where so unnoticeable. I would gladly give it a 9, but for the sake of professionalism…
Music – 9/10 I can’t imagine anything else taking its place. That doesn’t mean they are better possibilities, I just haven’t heard them.
Overall – 8.7/10 – Excellent. A must have or people who love good stories, accompanied by a good game. And if you love puzzles, added bonus.
As for replay ability. No.
It’s like a book. You read it once and it’s done for. Still worth the money though ^_^
