Ace Attorney Investigations Collection Review

Developer: Capcom
Publisher: Five Star Games (AU)
Release: August 23, 2024

Dan Rizzo
Reviewed on: PlayStation 5
October 15, 2024

Private Prosecutor...

The Ace Attorney series has been a beloved franchise for those that adore the quirks of its main gameplay loop outside the courtroom. It’s not conventional for an attorney or prosecutor to be up-close and personal with their case-at-hand, but the franchise is by no means traditional in any aspect. The series see’s our primed attorney get his hands dirty for first-hand clues to conjure for the court, absolving his clients of framework and sending suspects behind bars. With any zany Japanese story, comes pique fiction with a touch of supernatural energy and Ace Attorney does this emphatically well, whether it be a psychic side-kick or a completely fictitious element, like a brass fangle that aids our protagonist to victory.

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In Ace Attorney Investigations, the shoe is on the other foot with our famed antagonist leading the pack on our conquest through a myriad of private investigations, entangling our prevalent prosecution team through numerous perils outside the courtroom, involving a cavalcade of familiar faces and foes. The Ace Attorney Investigations – oddly named due to its lead character – takes everything we know and love about our favourites from this franchise, and relegates them outside the confines of the Judge’s court. This time, the judge, jury and prosecutor is you, and you’re ready to take on the world. However, there’s fine line between fact and what’s perceived as proof of fact, and your actions may deal more dire consequences than desired.

Hold It!...

Keeping the lore tied within Ace Attorney’s established titles, both Ace Attorney Investigations titles set itself between the events of Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Trials & Tribulations and Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney. Much like past Ace Attorney titles, the game is split into five chapters but each case is chronologically mixed. Portraying Miles Edgeworth – quite possibly the series most popular antagonist due to his numerous appearances and stoic presence – is quite the enticing aspect of these titles, given the fact that his personality and traits aren’t necessarily that of one who believes in the frivolity of Wright’s unorthodox methods, but these titles open Edgeworth’s eyes to more than what he has believed in prior titles.

Unlike previous games, where the title is presented from the prosecutor’s purview, the first-person perspective is shifted into a third-person adventure with all characters interacting shown on screen. This enables you to control Edgeworth, albeit a slower pace, allowing a methodical approach to investigating each area with precision, rather than simply scoping and scanning. While it doesn’t really change many facets of familiarity, it does shift the dynamic of the title from a personal stance to viewing each episode like a drama. While a viewing angle can pose some differentiating investigation tactics, the main gameplay loop of confrontation, interrogation and rebuttal remain identical to how a courtroom proceeding is handled, minus a representative for the accused.

“Thoughts” are key moments that are journaled to tie any contradictions or loose ends, this can range from clues to dialogue much like a statement or a piece of evidence found in prior titles. “Logic” will deduce certain plot holes or any clue that poses a connection. The main deduction function is quite simple to utilise with its highlight system, having the player point out what’s missing or different from testimonies given, or events that may not match Edgeworth’s thoughts. This all can unlock new thoughts or information to progress your case, giving Edgeworth more ammunition to interrogate his suspects with. To make things easier, a re-enactment of a scene can be played out by holographic technology, known as the Little Thief, again helping deduce certain events that may have taken place at crime scenes or other known places.

The Ace Attorney Investigations Collection is the essential way to experience these absolute gems - even for the very first time.

Confrontations between Edgeworth and suspects are referred to as rebuttal-phases, working similarly to cross-examinations. You can present evidence, object to false statements and press for more information. It’s quite unusual to see this outside the courtroom, but the presentation is as exciting and imposing as it would be with a judge staring you down. If anything, the lack of a judge poses two sides of a coin, where the challenge of getting the truth from a suspect may be harder with no rhyme or reason for them to spill the beans, rather having to rely on Edgeworth himself in pressing for the truth from the suspect. Much like the courtroom, the penalty system here is dealt by a truth gauge that depletes with every wrong answer, and like the court, if it runs out, your case abruptly ends with the only way to restore it is to win.

Between a rock and a sequel...

SOLID POINTS

✔️ Refines the Ace Attorney formula for outside the courtroom perfectly.

✔️ New sprite and environment art enhance the experience.

✔️ Soundtrack is as legendary as ever.

❌ Missed opportunity to introduce animated cutscenes for the remasters.

The Ace Attorney Investigations Collection also contains an exclusive for long time fans, with a first time localised release of Ace Attorney Investigations 2: Prosecutor’s Gambit. The long-awaited sequel gets an English translation, thirteen years after its initial release in Japan for the Nintendo DS. While the title retains all that’s learned in its prequel, a new feature is introduced called “Mind Chess”, which is reminiscent of Phoenix’s ability to see Psyche-Locks, but is only encountered when a suspect tries to play dumb or utterly refuses to answer the truth.

Much like the Psyche-Lock manifestation depicted with chains and padlocks, Mind Chess shows an imaginative game of chess, for which Edgeworth tries to overthrow the suspects pieces, albeit within a limited timeframe. You have to answer each question correctly or suffer a penalty if unanswered or given the wrong choice. This is the best insight and visual representation of Edgeworth’s mind-games that we’ve all become accustom to in the courtroom, but have never had shoe on the other foot to experience the prosecutor’s own formula for success.

The engrossing narrative delivers in both games without question, leading Edgeworth and his partners toward an exciting truth that wraps itself neatly in each game with an overarching lore. While its scatter-brain approach will unequivocally confuse many players, each episode piques with its own eureka moment, tying a piece of evidence or transpired event from the past or future. Favourites such as Franziska Von Karma, Dick Gumshoe, Winston Payne, Maggey Byrde, Emma Skye and the incomparable Phoenix Wright all surprise with appearances or slight cameos to pad or progress each chapter’s dialogue with unique quips or essential information pertaining to your current case.

Experiencing a port over a decade old from the handheld to the big screen can be quite the pessimistic task, but given the acclaim prior remasters of the franchise has had, this was no doubt a joy to experience first-hand. The newly animated sprites breathe new life into the title, while optionally retaining the Nintendo DS’ pixelated party for the purist that yearns for a traditional look to their revisit to these amazing puzzle-adventures. Prying personalities and characters most notable for their controversial and somewhat questionable traits to the everyday citizen is still quite the unorthodox approach when confronting people like a detective when your job is purely meant for the court, but Miles Edgeworth shows off his mental aptitude for deducing crimes outside his comfort zone.

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As it is a remaster, an omission of animated cutscenes is a missed opportunity to introduce a refreshed aspect to these older titles, much like the first Ace Attorney Trilogy. While it keeps things tight-nit and traditional on all fronts presentation, audibly, the both games have their official soundtrack enhanced, and sound as great as they did in 2011. The beats and bops of the Ace Attorney franchise have always been a massive highlight to its devout, with memorable tunes rocking the courtroom, characters and scenery. Signature sound-fonts and iconic sound effects are all here, with the original voice work – albeit sound bites – all present. Ace Attorney’s presentation has always been an unquestionable facet to its critical acclaim, and overall, the Ace Attorney Investigations Collection nails it, and then some.

With its second entry now accessible to western markets, this broadens the Ace Attorney experience with new knowledge never seen before, and quite possibly unexplained in future titles. Taking what is a recipe for success in quirky courtroom dramas, adding a layer of anime-like inspired personalities, settings and traits, while stripping it away from its conventional scenery, but nothing that’s unfamiliar to the fanatic is what makes both titles a desirable package to experience. The Miles Edgeworth titles aren’t to be passed up, as its writing, gameplay, and overall design are all a fantastic follow-up to the original trilogy and tie-ins to the Apollo Justice Collection. The Ace Attorney Investigations Collection is the essential way to experience these absolute gems – even for the very first time.