Kombo's Review Policy: Our reviews are written for you. Our goal is to write honest, to-the-point reviews that don't waste your time. This is why we've split our reviews into four sections: What the Game's About, What's Hot, What's Not and Final Word, so that you can easily find the information you want from our reviews.

What the Game's About
This fourth game in the Ace Attorney series builds from the previous games in the series, but introduces a new protagonist and seeks to pass the torch from one hero to the other, almost as if Capcom hopes newcomers may decide to join the fun without carrying all of the baggage from the previous titles. Players are cast as greenhorn defense attorney Apollo Justice as he begins his first court case. There's been a murder at a local bar: two men were playing poker when one smashed the other over the head with a bottle of grape juice. The accused is brought in to stand trial, revealing that the defendant is actually Phoenix Wright, hero and central character of the previous Ace Attorney games. Apollo must listen to testimony, cross-examine witnesses, and argue his case effectively lest Wright be sent upriver for a crime he may not have actually committed.

Apollo Justice is not a typical video game. There is no running, no jumping, and no shooting. Forget about tracking aliens or Koopas. The story plays out through extensive text boxes as characters talk and talk and talk. Players must read the testimony and press for more information when necessary. Sometimes presenting a piece of evidence from the court record is required to squeeze a little more information out of a witness. A new addition to the series is Justice's ability to watch for signs of nervousness while in court. If a witness twiddles his fingers, for instance, Justice can use that against him. Sometimes the story will call for a recreation of the crime scene which helps to balance the occasional tedium of the courtroom scenes. The game is divided up into four episodes, each of which advances the entire overall story arc.

What's Hot
The best thing about Apollo Justice is its intriguing storyline. Set seven years after the previous game in the series, the story begins with Apollo's first day in court and the charges against Phoenix Wright. As the game unfolds players will learn about the new Justice character and figure out what happened to Wright between games that led him to fall from talented attorney to bar pianist. Other supporting characters come in and out of the plot to provide new clues or just general exposition.

Even though the story is a courtroom-based mystery, one should not expect the tone to read like a bleak Russian novel. Lots of humor (and attempted humor) break up the tension as characters snark and playfully insult one another. Justice's own internal monologues are also included in the text in which he attempts to psych himself up and inspire him to act. For instance, prior to going into the courtroom for the first time Justice silently remarks that it's a good thing he worked out his voice with a "Chords of Steel" tape. Later in the episode, a character tells him to stop talking, leading Justice to quietly fume that his [vocal] chords of steel have been silenced.

What's Not
If there's any major fault with Apollo Justice, it's that it isn't a traditional video game that most players might expect to find on the sales shelf next to the platformers and shooters. There's lots of reading required and one needs to make a semi-serious commitment in order to finish it. It requires strong comprehension skills and plenty of patience. These are not bad traits by any means, but gamers unfamiliar with the Ace Attorney series and its particular style may walk away frustrated and disappointed. (Editor's Note: This paragraph was revised upon notification that we made a factual error in one of our criticisms of Apollo Justice. We apologize for any confusion.)

Final Word
Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney is not a typical DS game. Anyone hoping to collect Chaos Emeralds or defeat Dr. Wily will be disappointed. However, those gamers who also enjoying burning away the hours with a good book will find plenty to like in this courtroom drama. Expect plenty of reading, a relaxed pace, and lots of shouting "Hold it!" while those around you look on in confusion.