Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney

Lately we’re seeing games that are testing the true potential of the Nintendo DS and as a fan of Nintendo’s new handheld this is very good news indeed.  Whether you like performing surgeries or attempting to survive a deserted island, innovation is in and we couldn’t be happier.  Joining these games is Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney, a text adventure game that has you filling the loafers of a defense lawyer.  Well, my mother always wanted a lawyer in the family.

You assume the role of rookie defense attorney Phoenix Wright who, on his first day in court, is seeing to a murder trail.  It’s no ordinary murder trail, mind you, it’s one that involves a model who was bludgeoned to death and your best friend since grade school.  Worse yet is that your friend is the one on trail for her murder and you have very little to work with … or so you think.  Guided by your mentor and boss, you take on a trial that come back to bite you a bit later.  It isn’t until after your first case that Wright becomes a top dog in his firm.

As a lawyer simulator, Ace Attorney’s scenarios touches on all the basic legal proceedings.  From the very start you’ll learn quickly about listening to testimony, cross-examination and presenting and documenting evidence during each court proceedings.  Paying attention to the littlest details will go a long way in your decision-making.  Ok, so it might sound like a complicated and boring game right about now but, surprisingly enough, the game’s charming way of going through the legal actions is far from boring.  In fact, by the time you get to the cross-examination you’ll be hooked.

Wright is armed with very few tools but the most important tool just so happens to be his instant access to the Court Records.  Here you can review profiles of all those involved in each particular case as well as any evidence presented in court.  You’ll listen to witness testimony and search for inconsistencies in their testimony.  Then, in the cross-examination sequence, you’ll bring up these inconsistencies by presenting evidence that contradicts their statement or by yelling “Objection!” into the DS’s microphone.  You’ll have to have a good reason for objecting to a witness’ statement because presenting the wrong piece of evidence or not being able to back up your objection results in losing an exclamation mark.  Lose all exclamation marks and you lose the trial and it’s game over.

One of he game’s many highlights is its story that has interesting twists and turns.  Aside from courtroom antics you’ll be snooping around in crime scenes, interview witnesses and collect evidence.  It might not be accurate defense attorney behavior to do the CSI work yourself (is fingerprint collecting and forensic work a defense attorney‘s job?) but it does add an interesting twist and a refreshing change of pace.  In the game’s second chapter you’ll make a grim discovery, one that will have you moving a cursor around a crime scene as you collect evidence.  It is also where you come to meet your most helpful ally, Maya Fey (who also happens to be psychic).

The good news is that the game utilizes the touch screen perfectly.  You tap the screen to move from screen to screen and to bring up your Court Records and any piece of evidence you’d like to examine.  Throughout the game you’ll have to choose from different conversational topics and that’s done by touch.  There’s also some good use of the microphone, having you shout a few phrases to present evidence (“Take that!”) or bring up an objection.  The bad news is that while the game is lengthy and the case scenarios rich in drama, there’s not much to come back to when you’re finished.  Worse yet is the fact that the judge tends to voice his opinions way too much and tends to change his mind even more often to be legally accurate.

Well, at least the game looks great and the anime-style is gorgeous.  The characters don’t move much but there’s some animation that usually is made up of tears flowing or beads of sweat pouring from Wright or a witness who is lying.  The backgrounds are also decent and nicely detailed.  Overall, this is a good-looking Nintendo DS game.  The game’s score is also good, although often times the change of tempo can be a bit strange.  Still is a beautiful score when the setting is right and it sets the mood perfectly.  There’s no voice work and very little in terms of sound effects (unless you like the sound of the judge’s gavel). 

A unique experience from start to finish, Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney is just one of those interesting games that will make you glad you own a Nintendo DS.  While the game has a great story, a cast of good characters and fun (and occasionally baffling) case scenarios, the real highlight is how all these things gel wonderfully with the gameplay style that takes advantage of all the DS’s features.  If you’re looking for something different and interesting for your Nintendo handheld, look no further. 

Gameplay: 7.5
It’s a text adventure so expect cerebral puzzles that have you determining your next move with the touch of the bottom screen.  The scenarios are both challenging and interesting and there’s even some CSI-like crime scene investigating. 

Graphics: 8.0
A beautiful overall presentation with colorfully detailed anime-styled characters and backgrounds.  There’s not much in terms of animation but the somewhat comic book-like visuals say more than the game’s simplistic text does.

Sound: 7.5
The soundtrack is appropriately moody at times but then again it strangely rocks out at all the wrong moments.  Still it’s a good soundtrack that makes up for the lack of real dialogue … although there are some snippet of words here and there.

Difficulty: Medium
Like most text adventures you have to really think over your every decision and even more so in a game that has an entire case riding on your every move.  Some scenarios have obvious solutions but other fall victim to some really strange decisions on the part of the judge.

Concept: 8.5
The game is wonderfully lengthy and there are some interesting case scenarios that really stand out but as far as replay value is concerned there’s very little to come back to when you’re done.  There’s some good use of the Nintendo DS touch screen and microphone.

Overall: 8.5
What can be said about a game that’s not only downright interesting and fun but also a wonderfully unique experience perfect enough to carry with you?  Ace Attorney is all these things and more and if you like something worthy of your Nintendo DS then this is the game you should buy.