Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Review

Ah, yes…The Nintendo DS has once again delivered an unusual and innovative game; not a big surprise to those of us who’ve recently been praising Nintendo and their DS release schedule. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney (a.k.a. Gyakuten Saiban in Japan) has finally reached European shores after its previous releases in Japan and the US—and it’s definitely another DS game well worth checking out.

The premise of the story in Phoenix Wright is that you play a young up-and-coming defense attorney who’s assigned a variety of interesting cases. As the story develops, you become more personally involved with the cases and you’re given the opportunity to shine and show off your law skills. All told, there are 5 cases in the game, which all revolve around murder-mystery type stories, and anyone who enjoys legal shows on TV or a good crime/mystery novel is likely to welcome the chance to become more involved in the outcome of the story.

The in-game graphics are fairly basic and don’t exactly stretch the DS in terms of capability, however they’re not really the most important aspect of the game as a whole. Overall, the game is heavily text-based and therefore the majority of its graphics really only serve to be background elements for most of the time. Yet they are still done well enough that they add to the game, and there are a few fairly gruesome moments to accompany the murder narrative—even if it is cartoon-like. The visuals have a definite Manga quality, and even odd changes in character expressions at seemingly inappropriate times—it’s rather odd to speak with someone who’s smiling about the death of a family member—still manages to somehow add to the game overall.

Sound in Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney is adequate and, if you can overlook the irritating comic-like sounds that occur whenever something happens, you’ll be fairly satisfied with the game’s audio. Phoenix Wright is also a stable performer for gamers who are deaf or suffer with hearing impairments, as there’s very little actual spoken dialogue during the game, which means there’s no additional character depth to miss out on, and there’s also very few sound effects too. The musical accompaniment is quite striking and may appear somewhat reminiscent of the overly melodramatic music offered up in cheap US soap operas. One amusing aspect is how the word(s) “Objection!” or “Hold it!” occasionally appear onscreen during courtroom exchanges accompanied by a digital voiceover—extremely weird, but still enjoyable.

The control system in Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney is based entirely around the stylus; it’s certainly a game that appears to have been made with the stylus in mind and, if you enjoy that particular aspect of DS gameplay, you’ll be happy enough with Phoenix Wright. The stylus works pretty well and allows the player to move easily around the game’s various scenes, which are primarily split between the courthouse and the crime scene.

Sadly, Phoenix Wright only tables the option of playing as a male character, even though the character name could be considered genderless. There are a few female characters dotted throughout the game, but ultimately they are depicted as big-breasted and flirtatious—even the one who’s supposed to be Phoenix Wright’s boss. It’s certainly a nice touch to have a female in a position of authority, but unfortunately her cheap and flirty appearance sort of ruin that initial appeal. One good point is that Phoenix has a budding assistant named Maya, a 17-year-old girl who’s able to channel the spirit of her dead sister. No, that’s not a typo. Admittedly it is weird, but oddly still seems to work.

Every game has negative aspects, and Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney has a few notable instances to recount. When actually playing the game, the cases become very involving, but things can lean toward frustration during moments when it’s difficult to see what’s meant to be done next. Also, the game is fairly linear throughout and there’s really not much opportunity to stray too far from the pre-written script. The fun aspects are definitely cross-examining the witnesses—who are sometimes so transparent in character that any idiot could work out what was going on. Still, it’s a nice feeling to be part of the interactive judicial process, and Phoenix Wright certainly allows for that.

Overall, this is the kind of game that will appeal to those players who like something a little different from their DS and aren’t interested in merely another shoot ‘em up. It is fun to discover what’s going to happen next on a given case and it’s often hard to put the game aside once embroiled midway through a case. The gameplay lasts for around 10 hours and there’s also a huge bonus when the game is finished, which can actually extend the gameplay even further.

Ultimately, Phoenix Wright is a completely illogical game and there are a lot of quirky and unusual aspects within it. Don’t expect it to be an exact representation of a well-polished legal escapade, because it’s not. It’s basically a madcap adventure where all that’s required is a point and click approach with the stylus—yet this is what makes it so much fun. And, regardless of the simplicity, it’s a welcome addition to the growing DS catalog, and definitely offers an alternative style of gameplay. If you find yourself desperately trying to solve the cases on CSI or wishing you were secretly part of Boston Legal, then check out Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney and live out your desires in the privacy of your own home.

Review by Tracy