Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney - Console Game

Pal Version (UK & Europe)
From Amazon.co.uk

Format: Nintendo DS
Advantages: Good story, strong characters, innovative gameplay, simple controls
Disadvantages: Basic graphics and sound. Text-based.

Phoenix "Nick" Wright is a trainee lawyer at the Fey law offices. Mentored by the stunning defense attorney Mia Fey, the game follows his first five cases, learning the ropes of being an attorney, investigating evidence, and defending his clients.

At the start of the game Pheonix is a trainee, so he learns as the player does, which allows the first case to function as a training session for the rest of the game. His job is to investigate the case, find evidence and then defend the client in court by pointing out logical inconsistancies in their testimony, or confronting them with contradictory evidence.

An update of the Gameboy Advance original (not available in Europe), this game is an updated port to the DS, and makes excellent use of the DS' range of controls. The shoulder buttons, stylus and touchscreen and of course the microphone, are all available to use, giving a player a range of options and a great deal of flexibility when playing the game. (This also means you don't have to shout "Objection!" when you are playing on a crowded bus...) The controls are very intuitive, and can be quickly grasped by most players.

Phonix Wright is an old-style text-based RPG, and in some ways the game's presentation is fairly basic. The sound is fairly simple and there are no voices - just some sample sound clips (the classic "Objection!" being one). The graphics are 2D and rather simple, and most of the game isn't animated except for short clips at the start of each case. However in some ways this works for the game, giving it the feel of an interative comic-book.

However, it has an excellent cast, and the five cases and over-arching storyline are intriguing enough to keep you gripped. The game is largely linear, but it creates a real feel of progress when you manage to resolve an issue or pick a hole in witness testimony. The fifth case (found after the credits) is apparently an extra that wasn't present in the original release, and is rather more complicated with a largely different cast. However it links on from the first four excellently, and has no real continuity issues.

The game itself lasts for 15-20 hours, depending on how much you retrace your steps and how long it takes you to find the evidence for the cases. The fifth case is significantly longer, with more areas, investigations to perform, and new ways to examine evidence, so takes up about half of the total time.

The only issue I have with the game is a slight lack of replay value - you need to wait until you've forgotten the resolution or details of a case to really replay it. As the game explains most of the facts as it progresses, it is very difficult to find aspects of it you haven't played - especially as you have to find all the data to win the case so there are no secrets or extra content.

Overall Phoenix Wright is an excellent game for mystery and RPG fans, which requires some thinking to resolve. It is extremely engrossing, with an excellent storyline and should provide entertainment to most gamers. Suitable for most ages, some younger players may have trouble with the logic puzzles, but it should provide a great deal of satisfaction from working them out.

In my opinion, any player with a DS, particularly mystery and RPG fans, should give this game a look. It can be difficult to get hold of, and unfortunately its preowned price is close to its new price, but it is definitely worth £25 or less if you can find it.

Pal Version (UK & Europe)
Amazon.co.uk

Phoenix Wright - Justice for all After his success in the first game, Phoenix is now an established attorney. However a new prosecutor is in town, Franzisca Von Karma, seeking revenge on the upstart defense attorney. The daughter of the famed Maximillian vo Karma, she even has the judges running scared.

Can Phoenix defeat this new prosecutor, even with the help of Maya's cousin Pearl, the returning Dick Gumshoe and a mysterious ally?

Reviews
GameFAQS

Pal Version (UK & Europe)
Amazon.co.uk

Phoenix Wright - Trials and Tribulations
Switching between past and present, the game's plot is slowly revealed as a case from Mia Fey's past comes back to haunt her pupil, Phoenix Wright.

In the present, a new prosecutor emerges. The coffee-obsessed Godot has a mysterious grudge against Phoenix Wright. Will he manage to defeat the Ace Attorney?

Note-worthy for the reappearance of a couple of other characters from the series, including a few you never thought you'd be pleased to see.

Reviews
GameFAQS

Pal Version (UK & Europe)
Amazon.co.uk

A sequel to the Phoenix Wright games, this covers a new rookie named Apollo Justice in his first cases, as he tries to unravel a series of events that occurred before he was born.

As in the Phoenix Wright series, Apollo, with the help of the lovely Trucy, has to investigate and resolve cases to free his client. However Apollo has his own unique method of detecting when a witness lies by means of a bracelet, and then has to dig out the truth.

Hold It! Phoenix Wright & Miles Edgeworth by AceAttorney
Browse Capcom T-Shirts

Phoenix Wright's antagonist and mysterious rival gets his own game, at last!

A definite turnabout in this game where instead of trying to defend the accused, Edgeworth is trying to make sure the guilty are put on trial. There is very limited exposure to his prosecutor's role, as the game focuses on investigation, resolving the mystery of an international crime ring.

The cases are well-written and the return of a few old friends is good to see. Gumshoe and Edgeworth work well together, and the dialogue is well-written. The new character Kay I found somewhat annoying, but that might just be personal taste.

In general the clues work well and the mystery keeps you guessing. Definitely one for AceAttorney fans!

More from Wikipedia