Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney

"The choice is yours... Is the defendant Guilty or Innocent?"

The game, the newest in the “Ace Attorney” series, revolves round a character called Apollo Justice who is a novice Defense Attorney . There are four cases in all, the last case being the most complex and complicated one, involving a case seven years ago in which Phoenix Wright, Apollo's 2nd boss besides Kristoph Gavin, lost his attorney badge. Things that should be not related are related and Phoenix should not have even lose his badge!

Some may argue that some of the evidence are illogical for the last case. Using the MASON system , a system created by Phoenix Wright , we can use evidence from the present and present it to the people in the past. For example, Nail Polish, taken from the present, is presented to somebody in the past.

Not only that, the game also solves the mystery of Apollo and Trucy, the daughter of Phoenix Wright, who is really just her guardian. Who are their real parents and where are they now? Many questions were raised through out the game. However, most of the answers would only be found in the last case. However, some of the answers will never be known. All we can do is to wait for the sequel.

The graphics are not really good, if compared to other popular titles. But, they are a lot better than the other games in the series. They reminded me of Japanese manga though, especially the characters' hair.

The music was pretty good as it fitted what was happening in the game that moment. For example , the music will get all tense when the case gets exciting. There is a concert that can be watched in the game, however, there is no singing! There should be at least some singing, right?

However, the characters are not introduced really good and we do not know the characters' character, except for people like Apollo and Trucy. Not to mention their backgrounds and such.

The game is easy to beat. You can save before every time you need to present or prove something and you can try it over and over again. Then, when it is detective time, just examine everything and talk to every person, visiting every place and you'll get it in no time. Of course, you would have to use a little common sense sometimes. The game usually hints you on what to do next though. Also, press every statement that the witness says and the game will hint you on what to present as contradictory evidence.

In fact, Apollo's bracelet may even “react” to the witness when that person is tense. You will find out later in the game that there is a scientific theory behind it, along with “genetic power”.

You can focus on that witness and find the habit that they have when they are lying. There are quite a lot of habits, such as sweating or touching the back of their neck.
Well, you also can shout “Objection!” or “Hold It!” with Apollo if you hold the “Y” button and shout as there is a microphone attached to the DS. Actually, you can shout anything you like. Present wrong evidence or witness and you get a penalty. If the “penalty bar” gets to zero, the defendant is pronounced guilty and you lose the case immediately.

At crime scenes, you may even meet a forensic scientist called Ema. She will teach you how to use some of the gadgets forensic scientists use. The gadgets make use of the touch screen and they are very interesting and vital to the court case. My favourite
one was the fingerprint powder though. You have to cover the fingerprint with powder and blow it off. The fingerprint will then appear !

All the evidence is stored in something called the “Court Record”. There, you can examine evidence by using the touch screen to turn the 3D image like as if the evidence was in a washing machine and you are the washing machine. Then, you can focus on an interesting part of the evidence, that is, if it has one.

At the end of the game, Phoenix sets up a system called the “Jurist System”. It is to address the problem of only relying on decisive evidence to judge a case, which proves to be illogical at some times. There will be six juries, in which we are the “Sixth Jury”. You can choose if the defendant is “Guilty” or “Innocent”. Therefore, the game has two endings. The bad ending is when you choose “Guilty” and the good ending is when you choose “Innocent”.

Overall, the game has left a good impression on me, although I had never played any of the other games in the series. There should be more voice-acting and maybe more paths to choose, instead of a path set in stone.

SCORE : 9/10

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 08/04/08

Game Release: Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney (US, 02/19/08)