Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney

"OBJECTION! This is a great game… AND I CAN PROVE IT!"

Story: 10/10

Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney (or known as Gyakuten Saiban in Japan) has been a Gameboy Advanced series since 2001. In this particular game (since I have yet to play the others) you take on the role of Phoenix Wright, a new attorney fresh out of law school. Phoenix (or Nick as his friends call him) seems to have all the worst luck for cases, and maybe for all the real reasons. You see, every case Nick gets is already very grim for his clients, to the point where there are witnesses and evidence that can prove they had done the crime! But Phoenix has one thing that almost no one else has in the court- trust for his client's innocence. He doesn't think “How can I win” he thinks “How can I prove the truth” which is, indeed, always that his client is innocent. As I mentioned before, the game in Japan is called Gyakuten Saiban, which almost literally translates to Comeback Court, which is of course what you'll have to make in ever case- a major comeback! Can you save the five seemingly doomed cases? Can you solve mysteries fifteen years in the making? Only in Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney can you take on such an adventure!

Also I'd like to add, this DS game is actually a remake of the first GBA game. Originally, the GBA game had four cases, and of course this one has a fifth extra case. In the fifth case you do extra touch-screen specific things like open wallets and mess with 3D objects. This is only in the final case however, so I just wanted to mention it really quick.

Gameplay: 9/10

The gameplay in Phoenix Wright is a two sided coin of sorts. When you first play the game you'll be introduced to the court side of the game. In this part of the game you must cross examine witnesses to find the lies in their testimony. But, what if it isn't obvious? Well, you have two options as you cross examine. First you can press the witness for details on something they've said. This in turn can reveal more specific details to help nail them, or it can do nothing all (sometimes it'll end with something funny, always a bonus if you snoop in the wrong areas on purpose). And next is to object to the particular part of a testimony. You will have to go into your case summary (which contains all the evidence) and present evidence that will show the contradictions in the witness's testimony. After that they're on the spot. They're revise their testimony which will result in the same thing, pointing out the new lies they've created. This part of the game is extremely fun, because you have to use your head on where and what to present. If you show the wrong piece of evidence at a time that makes no sense, then you loose one “!”. If you run out of “!”s your client is declared guilty, and you lose the case.

The other half of the game lies in the investigation process. You must venture between places to find clues to help clear your client's name. Basically, you have four options in this mode. Examine, which will make the background come onto the touch screen, which then you can tap on objects and such to investigate them. Sometimes you might pick it up and use it later, or even in court. Move, which gets you from screen to the next, Talk in which you can talk to a person who might be on a screen, and Present, in which you can show that person something to hopefully trigger some meaningful conversation to dig up some information.

I'd like to stress you can never “miss” something in this game. You cannot miss a piece of evidence or run out of time. The game plays in a systematic way in which you always have to find something to get to the next step. You won't even notice it, but it's there. So you'll always have the evidence you need in court when you get there, you'll never say “DRAT I SHOULD'VE PICKED THAT UP!” That would honestly be completely annoying and stupid, so I wanted to clear that up.

Graphics: 9/10

Using anime style drawings and animations, this game will give you the feel of almost “watching” a manga/anime in action. The animations are very interesting, and all the characters are extremely drawn well. You can always tell the emotion of a character through how the move and express themselves, so to me at least I could almost connect with the characters this way a lot better. And I have to mention my favorite animation, the finger. Capcom, always giving it's loyal fans the finger some might say. When Nick points out his huge arm and finger, it's one of the best moments in the game if you ask me. And almost ever character gives "the finger” so it's always fun to see how new people make it. The only annoying in is after a while, you'll see the animations repeat. Though it's not too annoying, it's something you'll notice, they didn't pull out a billion animations to get this done, but enough to make the game fun to watch as well.

Sound: 10/10

The music and sound in this game are perfect. Every tune is played out almost flawlessly. Each time the witness gives a new testimony the music slowly becomes more tense with each testimony. And then the best part, which Nick gives an objection and a dead silence falls as the judge goes “Mr. Wright… Do you have evidence to support this claim?” “I not only have the evidence your honor… But I can prove… THAT HE IS THE ONE WHO MURDERED HER!” As the music picks up to an extremely fast paced tune and the witness lets out a “URK!” and a look of shock, the game presents itself in an extremely well played out fashion, as I had said before, it's almost like watching an anime that you must unfold. I'd also like to mention the voices in this game. OBJECTION! HOLD IT! TAKE THAT! Are the three bits of voices you'll get in this game for your enjoyment. When you press a witness Nick will yell “Hold it!” (or you can say it yourself using the mic!) and then you'll question the witness. When you yell “Objection!” (which again you can also say yourself!) you'll present the evidence to point out the lies in the testimony of the witness. And finally “Take that!” (say it yourself to rub it in hard) to prove your claims when the judge or prosecutor just think you're plain crazy. (One more note: Every character has their own voice. So it's not always the same "Objection" you'll be hearing, it makes it fun to listen to what the voices sound like.)

Overall: 9/10
This is one of the best games I've ever played. The story, music, and art style all come together to make a fantastic presentation to wow the player. If this game didn't play out so perfectly the way it did, it'd be total trash, but it's presented in such a way, the music plays at just the right time, the graphics zoom in on a face on just the right key, that it makes the game almost flawless. My only complain is you'll sometimes be going crazy to figure out what you're looking for as you investigate crime scenes, and the stress of choosing what to say in court. What you must always remember is, you always have the evidence to prove your client not guilty. It's your part to find out what you have to use and when to prove the truth!

Rent or Buy?

Buy, as soon as possible honestly. If this game sells well, maybe they'll remake two and three as well, and we can get more great quality games!

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 10/19/05