Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney

"Justice - more of the same justice - is served."

Finally - the first true DS entry of the Gyakuten Saiban/Ace Attorney series is here, and sporting a new protagonist, no less.

Going through the first three Ace Attorney games, many of us have grown to love Phoenix Wright, the defense attorney that seems to find himself right in middle in the most insane and over the top murder cases - but this time, we're introduced to rookie lawyer Apollo Justice, with hair that rivals Mr. Wright's spiky cut, to boot. Much like Phoenix in the original, we get to watch Apollo grow throughout the game's four cases.

Story - 8/10

This series has always been about the story - each case is a new tale, full of surprises and climactic twists and turns. Anyone who appreciates a good, healthy dose of drama will not be disappointed, and while having played the earlier entries is recommended, it's not needed to understand and enjoy Justice.

For those who have played the earlier titles, a few characters from the previous three Ace Attorneys make appearances, and they're just as lovable as always. Phoenix Wright himself is an important part of the story, although you won't be able to control him this time around - a slight disappointment for a few fans, and while Apollo's inexperience is a turn-off for some, it provides a slightly fresh perspective for the series, saving it from being "just another Phoenix Wright game."

Also, the game is filled with puns (some bad, some good) and references to pop culture - in fact, sometimes it's nice to run through a case again to see what you may have missed.

Gameplay - 7/10

Justice is much like the other entries in the series - a little too much, in most aspects. Of course, there's not much that could be implemented to enhance the experience, but if you've played any of the other titles, you'll feel right at home here, and know what to expect - there's no truly game-changing features implemented here. There's the new "perceive" feature, which allows you to find a witness's "tell" during certain testimonies (whether it be a twitch, sweating, or more), yet it doesn't add anything too interesting to the experience - it's just something that breaks up the typical "press/present/press/repeat" of most witness testimonies.

As per the other games, there's time spent in the courts, and time spent gathering evidence, but now there's the ability to examine evidence in 3D, much like the original Ace Attorney's final "DS bonus" case allowed, along with new forensic minigames to spice things up a bit. The interface while gathering evidence is the same as always - and that's a good thing. It's never too hard to stay on track, and the game will never let you progress unless you have all of the evidence you need, so there's no need to worry about having to restart because you neglected the opportunity to speak to someone, or missed an item in the trash.

In court, you'll need to find ways to point out inconsistencies in a witness's testimony, usually by presenting evidence. There's a set limit to how many times you can make a mistake, but don't worry - you can always save at any time by pressing start, so don't feel afraid to abuse it if you're stuck and not sure what to do next.

The game lasts at least five hours, and while that might not seem like much, it seldom has a dull point.

Graphics/Sound - 9/10

Allow me to be biased: I love the music in this series. Whether you reveal a discrepancy in a testimony, make a new discovery, or reach the climax of the case, there's always a song that just fits perfectly, enhancing the experience like nothing else could. I can safely say that if it wasn't for the music, this series wouldn't be as popular and acclaimed as it is.

Compared to the previous games, which were originally developed for the Game Boy Advance, Justice's graphics are obviously improved with the DS's extra power - characters are more detailed than in past entries, as are the backgrounds. There's even a cutscene complete with full video effects during a certain case. While it's not mind-blowing, it's nothing to scoff at. If you're looking for amazing 3D effects, though, this isn't for you.

Replayability - 5/10

Unless you're a fan of the music/story, you won't have a reason to replay through any of the cases - nothing is added to make the experience any different the second time around, other than the ability to skip through dialogue more quickly. But, if you did enjoy the story, you'll love to go through it all again, just like any good book, and as was said earlier, you might just pick up on a few more references that you missed the first time around.


Final Score - 7/10

Clearly not an average score, but my recommendation. Justice is not for everyone, considering it's very story-driven, with little to no action - so those not looking for a good brain twister/looking for a good shoot-em-up need not apply.

However, if you're looking for a good story, justice will be served here - but be prepared for worse puns in-game.

Reviewer's Score: 7/10, Originally Posted: 12/02/08

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