Ready your pointer fingers to shout “Objection!” as we take a trip down memory lane with a remaster of the beloved Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney series. This collection sees the first three instalments getting the HD treatment. As someone who has been meaning to play them for a while, I’m eager to share my thoughts and feelings on these iconic games!
In most cases, you play as the rookie defence attorney himself, Phoenix Wright! Your ultimate goal in each case is to get your client a “Not Guilty” verdict. But you’re the position of the underdog, facing off against the fiercest prosecutors. You must work to win the case by investigating, cross-examining and most importantly, bluffing?! “But you can’t bluff in court, that must be against the law!”, you might be thinking. Whilst these games have been criticised for legal inaccuracies, it doesn’t take away the fact that they are immensely entertaining. At first, I was slightly put off with the bizarre and wacky legal system being presented. However, accepting that this was to make the video game fun and humorous allowed me to enjoy it so much more! Playing these games for the first time on Nintendo Switch with enhanced graphics definitely made the experience feel new and fresh. I’m sure those who no longer have their Nintendo DS at hand will appreciate this remastered classic.
Although Ace Attorney games are visual novels which I’m not always drawn to. However, it incorporates gameplay mechanics that are very interactive. They make you feel as though you are in charge of getting to the truth. My personal favourite was the introduction of Psyche Locks in Justice For All. It added further mystery to the various witnesses you’ll encounter during each case. In cross-examinations, it was super satisfying to present contradicting evidence and hear the music suddenly stop. That’s when you knew you had the upper-hand!
Despite this, I would occasionally be stumped on where the contradictions were, as well as what to do next when investigating. It would have been useful to include some sort of hint system (similar to the Professor Layton series) where evidence and testimony gets narrowed down for a price. A memo or list would have been great to have if you completely stuck on what to investigate next. However, the challenge to pay attention to detail and keep track is something I still enjoyed. It is the job of a defence attorney after all!
Where these games really win is the dialogue. It’s so witty, hilarious and really heart-wrenching at times. I’m not afraid to admit that I’ve had some laugh-out-loud moments and still can’t get over the pop culture references. My favourites were the infamous, “Well, excuuuuuse me, Princess” and Phoenix contemplating why he looked to be “great at somersaults”. Pretty sure he was referring to looking like a particular blue hedgehog! Justice For All’s depth with storytelling didn’t quite live up to what I was hoping. Trials and Tribulations redeemed the series’ bigger plot once again, fleshing out characters and providing enthralling backstories.
By the end of the trilogy, I felt very content with how the overarching plot was resolved, but also left me wanting more from the characters I’d come to love. My personal favourites were the mysterious and secretive Miles Edgeworth, and the foolish yet sweet antics of Detective Gumshoe. This trilogy nailed down memorable characters, bringing their personalities to life through their unique dialogue and facial expressions. I also must address the soundtrack which consists of many catchy, up-beat themes, the best one being “The Steel Samurai” in my opinion!
In conclusion, the Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy was an absolute joy to play. I highly recommend it to those who are looking to get into more classic titles, visual novels, or want to immerse themselves in some eccentric murder-mysteries. With the upcoming Switch release of The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles and my personal hopes for more remasters from the franchise, I can’t wait to see what the future of Ace Attorney has in store!
Overall Rating: 9/10
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