Courtroom Adventure? No Objections Here
On hearing the name Capcom, one immediately visualises a towering pile of Mega man sequels, or the out-stretched arms of rampant zombies- not an attorney at law with disturbingly spiky hair. However, on trying their hand at something new, they seem to have hit the jackpot. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney is, fundamentally, an adventure game with a few twists; and yet somehow, Capcom have created something revolutionary, and highly addictive.
The player takes on the role of Phoenix Wright, a defence attorney about to make his first court appearance. Luckily, in the heat of the moment, he manages to forget everything that his mentor has taught him, which allows for a neat little tutorial for first-timers. Despite his slightly flaky tendencies, as protagonists go, Phoenix is extremely likeable, which really sets the tone for the rest of the game.
A big strength of this game is its characters; often humorous and witty, or the type you love to hate, its the cast that makes Ace Attorney what it is. Main characters are particularly very well developed, and grow throughout the game- which has led to no shortage of fan-girls on forums squealing “I love Edgey XD”: a great testament to depth of personality. As for the story, there are more twists and turns than a good Agatha Christie, baddies are believable, and the plot line is sound, if a little hard to follow at times.
The gameplay is really quite simple, working with essentially two phases: collecting evidence and the courtroom. Both have their good and bad sides; there are undeniably reams of dialogue in the “evidence collecting phase” which can be a little overwhelming, however, these are made much more bearable, if not plain enjoyable, by the intelligent and funny script. At times, the game can feel much like a good book that you just don’t want to put down, which is great for the passive gamer, but if you’re looking for hair-raising action, you are looking in the wrong place.
For the majority of the game, the simple interface and the ability to examine whatever you so choose with a witty internal monologue from Phoenix, makes up for any mild button-bashing whilst talking. Of course with only a set number of places to visit and people to talk to, the game can appear linear at times, yet never feels too easy.
Sit in the comfort of your bedroom and shout “OBJECTION” yourself- or whatever it is that makes you feel good
In contrast, the “courtroom phase” is much more exciting, and usually manages to keep up a decent level of tension- I found that I actually cared whether or not my client was convicted guilty, and not just because its Game Over if they are. The idea is that, having listened to a testimony, it is up to the player to either put the pressure on certain statements by pressing press (ironic) or by presenting a piece of evidence which clearly contradicts what is said. This may sound easy enough, however, occasionally you are forced to present a piece of evidence that seems obscure, and this can lead to a frustrating twenty minutes spent presenting every piece of evidence you have to every statement of said testimony, getting your guilty verdict, reloading and trying again.
This leads me to the Save button, which can be seen as a vice or a virtue depending on how you like to play. The game can be saved at virtually any point, meaning that if you can’t use your noggin to work out that Mrs.I-actually-did-it is contradicting your autopsy, you can simply save during her testimony; which effectively negates any fear of the Game Over. On one hand, this comes in extremely handy when the game is just that bit too hard, but on the other, it makes what you’re doing feel like less of an achievement.
In any case, it is strangely satisfying to discover a lie and have Phoenix point his finger and yell “OBJECTION” at witnesses, then watch them squirm in discomfort. It is nice touch that you can use the microphone if you so desire, so that you can sit in the comfort of your bedroom and shout “OBJECTION” yourself- or whatever it is that makes you feel good – instead of just pressing the button. It is a shame that more isn’t made of the touch screen capabilities though; it is only during the last case that full-use is made of the DS, which is a bit of a let-down, but does make for a memorable finale.
Overall, the gameplay is well balanced and enjoyable- to the point that it will keep you up into the night for “just five more minutes”.
Sound is also very well done, there are a range of very catchy tunes- and it is a nice touch that characters have their own theme tune that suits them down to a T. You’ll find yourself humming along, and then feeling mildly ashamed, in no time. The graphics also suit the game well, backgrounds are simple and charming, with each different case taking you to different scenes, excepting the few recurrent places like Phoenix’s office and the detention centre. Characters are well drawn, with a few different stances and facial expressions that say all that is really needed to be said.
If you like adventure games or interactive novels, Phoenix Wright is a brilliant buy that will keep you entertained for a good 10-20 hours. The simple gameplay and involving storyline is more addictive than Haribo, and the use of the court is a refreshing change, the only let down being a lack of innovative touch-screen use.
The Bad: Too much dialogue for some. Lack of innovative DS use. Too short.
Gold Y Award