Gamertell

Title: Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney
Price: $29.99
System(s): Nintendo DS
Release Date: 2/19/08
Publisher (Developer): Capcom (Capcom)
ESRB Rating: “Teen” for mild blood, suggestive themes and violent references
Pros: Really uses all aspects of the DS hardware, great writing, challenging cases and an overall great game.
Cons: Some cases will have you running for assistance online and sometimes things feel a bit slow
Overall Score: 9/10

Dear Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney,

This is probably one of the hardest reviews I have had to write. For a long time the Phoenix Wright games have been a source of entertainment and joy to me, like a favorite cousin who comes to visit every year or two. However times have changed. I’ve met someone new. The worst part is, it is someone you know, Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney. It is difficult to say, but Apollo Justice is not only everything that you are, but everything you could never be.

Of course Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney is prettier and more polished than your series ever was or could be. The opening teasers for cases are all animated, as opposed to the static images in your trilogy. The touch screen is constantly being used for all sorts of activities, so I feel like a part of the cases rather than a casual observer.

Plus there is a magic in Apollo Justice that simply wasn’t present in the later two entries of Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney. It is a sense of discovery, a freshness and a charm which had faded and disappeared from the original series. It may fade in future Apollo Justice titles, but for now it makes each playthrough feel special and unique.

I hate to even bring it up, but it isn’t like you didn’t see this coming. You’re a port after all. There, I’ve said it. All the Phoenix Wright games were ports of GBA titles, so it isn’t any wonder I would prefer Apollo Justice, which was created specifically to utilize all of the DS’ abilities. You did all you could to try and overcome that, but now that Apollo Justice has shown up, I know exactly what I have been missing.

It isn’t like we’ll never see each other again. After all, there are numerous cameo appearances from Phoenix Wright characters in Apollo Justice. Plus the writing in Apollo Justice is hauntingly similar to the sharp, comedic and intelligent writing found in your original series. Perhaps that is one of the reasons it was so easy to fall for it.

Remember Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney, we’ll always have “The Steel Samurai.” Now if you would excuse me, Apollo Justice requires my assistance in court.

Gameplay – 10/10

The events in Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney are set approximately seven years after the events in Phoenix Wright: Trials and Tribulations. A lot has changed since then, but to avoid any spoilers I will just say this - certain events have happened which prevent Phoenix from starring in this and any future titles, so instead rookie defense attorney Apollo Justice is the star. The gameplay is nearly identical to the original series, or more specifically, the final case in Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney, so it’s new yet familiar all at once.

All of the action takes place on the touch screen in this entry. Players will get to really be involved in the court proceedings, as cases will require making casts of footprints with cement, dusting for fingerprints, thoroughly examining evidence and looking at crime scene maps from all angles. In Apollo Justice you aren’t just an observer, following along and tapping on correct answers to show you’ve been listening. You are finding the answers through close investigation and work.

Design – 7/10

Call me cyncial, but I would have liked to have heard more voice acting in Apollo Justice Yes, you will frequently hear the trademark “Objection!”, “Gotcha!” and “Hold it!” throughout the game, but I guess I was expecting a bit more. Perhaps I’ve been spoiled by Luminous Arc and Tokimeki Memorial: Girl’s Side 1st Love, both of which featured extensive voice acting. I just think it would have been kind of fun to actually hear testimony in court.

The graphics are slightly improved this time around, which is a nice change of pace. The opening scenes of a case, which display a veiled view of the crime in question, are animated this time around. It feels more realistic and smooth than the Phoenix Wright series’ static images. Crime scene maps are also presented in 3D, which makes it easier to understand how events could have happened. Characters are all static images for the most part, like cardboard figures which occasionally move. Better animations would have been nice, but as it is, it actually is kind of a pleasant reminder of the original series.

Features – 10/10

Apollo Justice is genuinely fun to play. Like I mentioned earlier, investigations no longer involve just clicking on the right spot. You have to turn, rub, blow, poke, scrape and draw on the touch screen to get things done and discover evidence for cases. You actually need to put forth effort to get things done, rather than relying on tapping the right position at the right time.

The real highlight is the new Perceive system. Rather than relying on psychics to discover the hidden secrets of people on the stand in court, Apollo can see when they are lying based on barely discernable movements or tics. It feels more believable that psyche locks and I found it was more entertaining and engaging to discover secrets through observation. It is a great new addition.

Overall – 9/10

Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney is the best entry in the Ace Attorney series in years. It really draws the player into the game in a way the Phoenix Wright titles couldn’t. The stories contained are all intelligent and genuinely funny and the characters are all lovable. It is a phenomenal game, and I can see it being remembered as one of those classic DS titles that must be played.

Editor’s Note: The overall score is not necessarily an average. Sections might have been weighted to reflect the importance of some features over others.