Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney

"We have a new attorney among us, yet he still has unbelievable hair."

Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney is the newest game in the Phoenix Wright series. But, as you can tell, it's not quite the "Phoenix Wright" series anymore, huh? Well, anyways, if you didn't know, the series is Capcom's take on making the courtroom fun, placing you in the role of a defense attorney and making you figure out what happened in a variety of cases in order to prove your client's innocence. The first three games featured the defense attorney Phoenix Wright, but now he has been replaced by a new defense attorney named Apollo Justice, so here's what you can expect from Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney.

Story: 9/10

You'll take on the role of Apollo Justice, a brand new defense attorney working his first case, defending none other than Phoenix Wright himself, who has apparently been disbarred from practicing law. From here you'll jump right into the action of your first case.

The entire game is essentially split up into four cases, each one being longer and more complex than the last. The stories for these cases are all top-notch and very entertaining. Most of the characters in Apollo Justice are new as well, so if you've played the prior games in the series you'll find these characters a nice change of pace. I can't say too much about the stories in the game, but I will say that they are well though out. Every single detail fits in somewhere, and each story will push you into playing more and more as you'll be instantly drawn in. I, for one, loved how each story had it's own place in a bigger picture. The bottom line is that the series has always had outstanding stories, and Apollo Justice is no exception.

Game play: 8/10

While the series hasn't strayed too far from its roots, there are a few notable game play differences. As you play through the game, you'll essentially play two different modes: in the courtroom during a trial and out of the courtroom playing detective. In the courtroom, you'll hear various characters present testimony as to what they have seen or done and than you'll have to find contradictions in their testimony using evidence. Some of the evidence will automatically be given to you, as it was recovered at the crime scene or presented by medical professionals, but you will also have evidence that you've found yourself outside of the courtroom.

That's where the second mode of play comes in, the detective work. Here, you'll have to travel from location to location, essentially trying to learn what happened and searching for clues that will help your case the following day. You'll also need to talk to certain people and get them to talk about certain things by showing them evidence in order to proceed.

The only new feature in Apollo Justice is the use perception. This skill can be used only in a courtroom situation and is activated by touching Apollo's bracelet. With it, you can focus in on a witness, trying to spot their nervous twitches, similar to spotting a poker player's tell. Once you spot if you can unnerve your opponent, getting them to tell you the truth.

Overall, Apollo merely offers more of what fans of the series fell in love with. The perception aspect is ok, but personally I preferred Phoenix's Magatama game play aspect much better. Either way, though, the game play is still solid and helps advance the stories along.

Graphics: 8/10

The graphics are fairly standard throughout the game, nothing to brag about really, as they are merely a continuation of what the series is known for: Anime characters interacting in crisp and bright environments. Of course, all of the backgrounds are virtually 2D scenes, and the only way you interact with them is through a point and click interface. Detail is still as important as ever, and you'll be glad everything is so crisp and clear. Each character also has their own animations that accompany their personality, all of which are pretty cool to watch. Overall, the graphics in the game hold par for the series, which is by no means a bad thing.

Music: 7/10

The music throughout the game is pretty good. The game is mostly comprised of short little sound clips that accompany the situation your in (dramatic clips for startling discoveries, etc..). Each character also seems to have a theme. As a twist, your rival lawyer, the prosecuting attorney, also happens to be the lead member of a popular rock band, so you'll hear quite a few rock riffs throughout the game and even an entire song at a concert (fun!). However, despite the rocker, I still liked the music of "Phoenix games" as I felt that they were much more memorable and moving.

Sound effects are just as you would expect. If you've never played the series before, you're in for a treat, as each major character has quite a few sound bits. You can also press "Y" to turn your DS microphone on and than you'll be able to say (shout!) phrases at the game to carry on with the story. Nothing gets the blood flowing like a good "OBJECTION!".

Re-playability: 6/10

Apollo Justice, like it's three predecessor's, just doesn't have any re-playability. It does feature two different endings, but it takes no re-playing to see both at all. To be fair, these cases aren't for the extremely casual gamer: you'll have to spend some time with Apollo to finish them. Reading through everything, I spent about three good afternoons with Apollo.

Overall: 8/10

Overall, I'm thrilled to get another attorney game from Capcom, and the change of pace away from Phoenix Wright wasn't bad, but I still think Apollo is a step down from Phoenix. The game is still a must buy for any fan, and if you haven't stepped into the courtroom yet, please give it a try. Have fun and keep playing.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 09/28/09

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