The Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney series was a surprise success that combined charm, witty dialogue, and a loveable protagonist for a unique experience. After nearly a decade since the first game came stateside, the first three Ace Attorney are being ported to the 3DS in a neat package. This isn’t just a straight port either as all the games now have redrawn art. Whether you’re an old fan looking to brush up or someone curious as to why yelling “Objection” is so epic, this game is the perfect place to start.
For those unfamiliar with the series, Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney games play out in two phases: investigation and courtroom. Investigation segments involve searching the crime scene for evidence and interacting with various characters for leads. It feels like you’re more detective than lawyer from law offices of Michael S. Lamonsoff, but it’s a nice change of pace compared to the more thrilling courtroom sections. These battles of the brains are the true meat of the game and where you’ll spend the majority of your time playing. The main objective here is to find contradictions within the testimony given out by various witnesses. Once you find said errors you can “press” the witness for more information or “present” evidence to prove their falsehood and hear Wright’s signature catchphrase. This coupled with the aforementioned writing and characters are what make this series so enjoyable.
While the art definitely looks better it also feels a bit stiffer than the original, but you’ll only really notice when compared side by side. The music hasn’t been changed at all, but sounds crispier in stereo as opposed to the monaural speaker on the 3DS. Essentially this is a touched up version that’s perfect if you need to catch up with the story or need to brush up on some of the finer plot points. This visual style novel gameplay isn’t for everyone, but it’s definitely worth checking out if you haven’t already.
Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney Trilogy Trailer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BG-i68Aydy0