Phoenix Wright : Ace Attorney

Reviewed by Leland Bonaparte
January 2, 2006

Developer: Capcom Publisher: Capcom Website: www.capcom.com Consoles Available: Nintendo DS Numbers of Players: 1 ESRB Rating: Teen

If you have ever watched Matlock and said “Hey, I can be a lawyer too,” then here is your chance. Phoenix Wright is a rookie defense lawyer with the wildest cross-examination courtroom skills ever. Take on five intriguing cases to reveal crazy, dramatic, stunning and even comical court proceedings. In all cases you will defend clients accused of murder. By examining evidence, you will solve crimes and set your client free. Where's Perry Mason when you need him?

Okay, I know what you are thinking: “Here we go with another kid game…” Phoenix Wright requires a lot of thinking and paying close attention to detail. When witnesses are on the stand, it's your job to prove that the prosecutor's story is wrong. Picking apart testimonials sentence by sentence via contradicting evidence is very important. This game has a close resemblance to an old school adventure like cult-classic, Snatcher (Sega CD). Also, the game requires basic logic, memory due to the comprehension puzzles. Overall you will need a lot of patience to play this game. Wright's epic courtroom dramas take longer than you think but are much welcome.

The visuals for Phoenix Wright: AA have a manga-style to them, which is very impressive.

Evidence is obtained very easily and is used in court very often. One of the things I like is going over crime scenes to look for clues, and using the stylus makes collecting evidence very easy. Presenting clues in court is simple, but the judge will get very upset when you badger the witness. When reading testimony you can detect a lie and object by simply saying “objection”. This game is fun and very addictive. The only problem I have is that it's too short. There were only five cases to argue, and I wanted more game play.

Phoenix Wright will keep you on your toes and laughing. Some of his courtroom tactics are very unorthodox and trying these in real life will get you locked up. Capcom came up with a winner, but it just seems like something is missing. It has character, plot, intrigue and mystery. All ages should really enjoy Phoenix Wright. With nice graphics and courtroom humor, I was really surprised at how good it was. One of the biggest disappointments is the length of the game. Five cases are not going to make it in world today, where game play is what gamers are looking for. You can buy this on Monday, beat it on Tuesday, and trade it in on Wednesday. So if you think you are ready to challenge the law, here's your chance to prove it.

More Screenshots (click image to enlarge) :