Kombo : : : PS3 | 360 | Wii | Cube | Xbox | PSP | DS | Forums | Podcasts

AROUND KOMBO:
BLOG
My Xbox is Sexy
Kill Screen #7
BLOG
The Moody Gamer
Do you have gaming ADD?
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney
Console
Nintendo DS
Publisher
Capcom Entertainment
Genre
Simulation
Developer
Capcom Entertainment
Release Date
10/11/05
ESRB Rating
Teen
StumbleUpon Toolbar  
Posted by:
Miguel Yanez
Senior DS Editor
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney
You are still not sold on this game? Objection!
October 26, 2005 | 8:55 PM PST

The resurgence of adventure video games and the easy-to-use touch screen interface of the Nintendo DS have created a match made in heaven, and Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney is one of the first titles born from this singular love nest. Japanese gamers have received a flood of similar games, but for the rest of us, the selection has been quite limited. Nonetheless, if you are still looking for innovative games on the Nintendo DS, and you still have not caught up with Trauma Center: Under the Knife or Lost in Blue, I recommend that you take a trip down legal lane, and experience how fun a court room can actually be.

Facts and Features:

  • Surprisingly addictive court-room drama!
  • Unique use of the Nintendo DS’s features.
  • Phoenix’s first US appearance!
  • Innovative gameplay.


All Rise!
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney is a sequel/remake hybrid of the Japan-only Gyakuten Saiban, and while this is only the first game of the series to reach the US market, this is actually the third installment in Japan. The first two games were released on the Game Boy Advance, but there is little – if any – chance of seeing these titles released in the US.

The game puts you in the shoes of rookie attorney – yeah, you guessed it – Phoenix Wright, as he prepares for his first real life case. No more books to read, no more “fake” trials as practice, just the real deal. This is actually a great way to start up the game, because unless you are an attorney yourself (no, we are not looking at you, Thompson), you are most likely a newbie when it comes to legal actions.

However, this is not a game about murder; this is a game where you have to help your client – whoever they may be – get a “Not Guilty” verdict, even if they are indeed guilty as charged. Each of the game’s cases is divided into two parts: the investigation sequence, where mysterious evidence hides behind every corner, and the other is the most fun part of the game: the Court Phase.

Phoenix’s first assignment is to defend his old friend Larry Butz from a murder accusation. The chapter serves as a tutorial of sorts, in which you start with a brief cut-scene where you can see some of the events that occurred, ultimately leading you into the trial at hand. Each level starts in a similar way, so you will never start a trial without knowing at least part of the story behind it. Coincidentally, most of these cases have some kind of connection to Phoenix himself.

Before each case, you will have to analyze every crime scene, search for clues that can help you in the outcome of your trial, and interview witnesses. The intuitive control – thanks to the touch-screen – fits like a glove, and you will have no problem highlighting anything in the game with the “examine” command. The game's cut-scenes are composed of still shots that are scarcely animated, and yet have such clever and humorous instances that it is hard not to pay attention to what goes on outside the courtroom. In these “investigation” cut-scenes, you also get a chance to visit and interview neighbors, and even police-officers, to gather more necessary information.


The characters are… colorful.

As the trial begins, you will have to listen to the witnesses’ statements, analyze each of the answers, and find mistakes in their testimonies. You do this by looking at many dialogue boxes that will give you “multiple choices” -- one of them being the correct answer. After listening to the witness, you will have the option to present evidence you have found in the investigation sequence (proving them wrong, if that is the case), cross-examine each statement (line-by-line examination), or simply proceed to the next step.

It is not as easy as it sounds, though. Sometimes the witness will throw something at you that is perceptibly not quite right, so what do you do? Why not shout a loud “Hold it!” to stop it? Just give a good old shout into the microphone. It is extremely satisfactory, and somewhat of a stress-reliever. After that, you can examine each of the witness’s lines to see if there are any discrepancies between the accusations, the evidence you have gathered, and even their own testimonies.

All evidence is very specific, so do not expect hard-to-crack mysteries when it comes to deciphering the importance of each piece of data. For instance, each item you acquire for investigation purposes will have a picture, and a brief, but to the point description that will always give you a little clue about the importance of said article, and how it relates to the overall case.
< previous | page 1 of 2 | next >
Screenshot Gallery

10/4/05

10/4/05

10/4/05

10/4/05

Got something that we should post on the site? Send it to us!
February 8, 2010
Twenty more winners to go for our Game a Day Giveaway! Don't hesitate... enter today! Also, make sure you become a fan of Kombo on Facebook!!!

-- Ken Cauley, Editor in Chief

Kombo Breaker
FTW
Kombo's Game a Day Giveaway!
We're giving away a new game EVERYDAY throughout all of February!

Official Contest Page!

WINNERS:

  • February 2: John Riemer, Virgina
  • February 3: Jonathan Dowell, Pennsylvania
  • February 4: Chris Ryan, Florida
  • February 5: Chris Foster, Michigan
  • February 6: Adam Cuevas, Florida
  • February 7: Josh Minar, Kentucky
  • February 8: Bradley Mosbacher, Missouri
  • If SEGA made Shenmue 3, would it SELL?
    Vote!
    (02/09/10 | 5:56 AM PST)
    HDTV vs. SNES
    (02/08/10 | 12:03 PM PST)
    Console Wars "A Bit Silly," Says 2K Marin
    DiRT 2!!!
  • DiRT 2 for Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3
    Enter to win!
    E-mail us and include your full name, age and mailing address to enter.

  • Software
    Hardware
    All Time
    Weekly
    9.89m Japan
    31.48m America
    25.90m Others
    67.28M 
    1.25m Japan
    21.76m America
    14.63m Others
    37.64M 
    4.74m Japan
    12.71m America
    14.31m Others
    31.76M 
    29.79m Japan
    44.83m America
    50.20m Others
    124.81M 
    14.02m Japan
    18.98m America
    20.85m Others
    53.85M