NekoJonez: Review #013: Phoenix Wright – Ace Attorney (DS) review ~ Objection!

Wikipedia article

Oh no, on my own blog I got questioned about a mediocre game and now I find out that I’m sued. Can this day get any worse. I was just trying to publish content and enjoy my day. When I was working on new video’s and finishing games up for articles I got a letter saying that I have to go to court that I’m sued for a serious gaming offence. Well, now I’m standing here in court. About to defend a game that people should play. It’s attacked by the internet. I feel like the Completionist now, with his series “Defend it”. But this isn’t a bad game at all. So, why do I have to go to court to defend this? I feel something bad is going to happen. This isn’t just to sue me for defending this game, I’m sure of it! Wow, I’m not making much sense now am I? I better should get myself together. That interrogation earlier really messed me up. Come on, calm your nerves Jonez! You are a Neko and cats always land on their feet. You played this game, you know the ins and outs. Let’s defend this. Your honor! The defense is ready for defending this case. Waiting for at the end to receive comments of people what they think of my way to defend this and how they liked the game if they played this. 

Opening statement

So, I got no time to look into the case file for this one. So, they say this game isn’t one of the best entries on the Nintendo DS? HOW CAN THEY SAY— Calm Jonezy. It’s only the opening of this case. You can do this.

Well, they have a point. When you overlook one piece of evidence this game can be pretty frustrating. Also this game can be pretty linear. That are the two only negative points I can say about this game. If I’m allowed to nitpick even, the game is sometimes a tad bit too hard. You need to think outside of the box. Even when you are already thinking outside of the box. Some cases really demand your full attention and remembering everything of the case.

But it’s time to raise an objection! Time to prove that this game is actually not as bad as you first might think! So,

OBJECTION! This game is amazing. Mindblowing. And here are my evidences to prove it!

Evidence #1: Amazing gameplay.

As I explained in my CSI: Crime Scene Investigation – 3 Dimensions of Murder (PS2) I already explained why games like this are fun. Your honor, think about it. How fun is it to solve a crime? Isn’t that why we are all here? To solve something feels extremely rewarding.

Look at this first case actually. In this case you get easily introduced to the mechanics of the game. Without being a real pain and actually telling you how to play the game. It’s in the story as if it’s part of it. It’s a nicely hidden tutorial.

Also, the game is pretty easy in it’s controls. You don’t really need more then your touch screen actually. The controls are easy enough that you can finish this game without pressing any button. And it can’t get any simpler then just that.

Exploring the crime scenes, the interrogation of people, showing them evidence… There is a lot to do in this game. While it’s true that once in court you do the same thing over and over to win the case but hey, it’s fun. Since it makes you think and test if you payed attention during the story.

Evidence #2: Kick-ass story.

While it’s true that without a great story you can’t get into a game. This game has a story that will keep you in it’s grip for extremely long. It has been months since I played this game but till this day I know most of each case your honor. This game is extremely memorable.

Apart from the first case, all cases are extremely thrilling to play. It’s sometimes a real mystery who the killer is or how you are going to prove somebody is innocent. The only thing you’ll have to accept is how sometimes Phoenix has the suddenly solving answer up his sleeve. It’s a game, you have to forgive it that.

About the characters, many are so memorable that when I hear his or her theme song, I directly remember the character. Their personalities are extremely well made. Some people are created so you love to hate them, other you can relate. But they stay humans and they aren’t generic characters who stay stuck in their role all the time.

Evidence #3: DAT music. DAT music, man!

The music for this game is one of the best ever that I heard for a visual novel game period. It gets stuck inside your head for a long while. I admit that even when I’m writing or editing your honor, I play this music here and there. I prefer it above my usual music.

Each character has his or her own theme and really sets the mood correct. You will have a hard time to sometimes press the “A” button to continue to the next part since the music is THAT good.

When a game it’s music gets played in an orchestra, well then it’s amazing. And keep in mind, this started in Japan as a Gameboy Advance title. So, they actually had it’s amazing music there already.

Yet, I have to give the attackers of this game one thing. This game misses voice acting. You only hear “Objection” / ” Hold it” and the crowd in court whispering. The sound effects really set the mood for this game and the characters but voice acting would have made this game perfect.

Too much evidence.

Your honor, to save ourselves some time for the next cases, I’ll be short now. Apart from the bad replayability this gem has a lot more to offer. It’s a pretty long game. Which actually makes this game miss another element. A log for what happened.

But I haven’t talked about the amazing graphics. This game really does look pretty. Colorful and inviting. With high attention to detail.

The animation of the characters is also amazing. You really associate it with the characters and of some you hope to see what they would do in certain situations.

Thank you, your honor that there is a save feature done nearly perfect. You can save anywhere in the game. If only they said it to you that you have to press “START” anywhere in the game to save. But hey, that’s nitpicky and that breaking of the 4th wall would have been overboard too much.

For the DS remake they actually added an additional case. Which makes people who already played this game have something completely new.

The final point I have to say is that when you hold done the “next” button on your touch screen, it speeds up the text when you made a mistake. Which is extremely welcome.

But I think I’m going to leave it here your Honor. Time to wrap this up!

Conclusion

The bad:

– Can be repetitive.

– A log to check what happened or more detail would have been nice.

– No voice acting.

– The replay value is pretty low.

The good:

+ Amazing music.

+ Memorable story.

+ Memorable characters.

+ Pretty long game.

+ No annoying tutorial. It’s neatly integrated into the game.

+ It’s easy to get into, but hard to finish.

+ The ability to shout “HOLD IT” & “OBJECTION” yourself is so rewarding.

Final words:

Phew, I won the case. Man, that was lucky. Since I haven’t even studied to become a lawyer. It looked so boring to me. Having to do all that legal paperwork. But this game shows that it can be extremely interesting and rewarding.

It’s a game that once you give it a chance, it will be so hard to put down. Everything is so amazing is this game that the bar was set extremely high for new visual novels on the system.

This game is so perfect that reviewing it makes you look for things they can improve on, but without those items the game still stays amazing. I can’t stress this enough, this game is one of the best out there on the Nintendo DS. And if you are any kind of fan of a good story, Capcom, a great adventure, amazing music, great characters… You really owe it to yourself to play this game! No doubt about it!

Score: 85/100