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-Not- an action platformer.

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: May 24, 2007
Author: Amazon User

I remember reading a review of this game when it was first released in Japan. The reviewer was quite certain that it wouldn't find a market over here. Glad to say he was wrong--they're porting the third this September.

This is a neat little adventure game with a twist. Think of it like Shadowgate with bouts of legal procedure. The humor's a little touch-and-go, and you'll frequently find yourself feeling for the protagonist. Most of its best moments are observational--as in, neither Phoenix nor the player can quite believe the stupidity of the person he's dealing with.

The interview/collect evidence bits of the game aren't terrifically difficult, and since you can't advance to the court scenes without having all the evidence you need to win, you can always save your game confident that you won't have to start the scenario over. The court cases are a slightly different matter. Evidence isn't always obviously helpful, which means occasionally you'll find yourself presenting everything in your inventory (and subsequently reloading when you've presented the wrong objects too often) trying to prove something you've already got figured out.

The save system is either maddening or very forgiving, depending on how often you use it. You can save at any time, but it takes about ten seconds and drops you out of the game itself. Getting back into the game takes about three seconds, and puts you at the exact place you saved at. Clearly, you don't want to save too often because it interrupts the flow of play. However, if you run into something that's unexpectedly difficult and you haven't saved recently, you may find yourself having to reread the same text several times as you reload from a save point quite a ways back.

All in all, it's a good little game, a nice diversion, and the characters are sympathetic, even when they're slime. You'll love to hate the ones you're supposed to hate. The cases work pretty well as long as you're willing to suspend your disbelief for a bit of entertainment, it's just the occasional snags where you as a player want to rewrite the script so you can just present your evidence and steamroller the prosecution rather than taking the long way through the trial.

Great

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 7
Date: October 26, 2005
Author: Amazon User

This is a great game, there is not a dull moment, it has a lot of fun. I looked and the box and thought only 5 cases, but after i started those cases were long, i am on my 3rd case so far. It is fun and you actually learn a little about courtrooms. It almost makes me want to be an attorney!

Phoenix Wright, A Critic's View

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 4
Date: June 13, 2007
Author: Amazon User

My first Amazon.com review. I'm not too big on a lot of things, but I've found the collecting of DS games to be an amusing hobby, one that I sincerely hope will pay off much later in life when I can unload everything on some poor chap that decides to relieve me of my collection ... at a nice price.

You'll find that (if you bother to read any of my reviews) I'm much more critical than the average person, because it's in my nature to be that way and because there's almost NEVER a perfect video game out there (I say video game because I think it's the only thing I'll be reviewing).

So here goes, my first review.

Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney was the first game I picked up after I bought my DS. True, I had heard from a friend of mine about this game of law and evidence and whatnot that was out for the DS. But at the time of my purchase, Phoenix Wright had stopped production and was actually quite and old game, one of the DS originals. I had relegated to buying it on Ebay for more than it retailed for. At least I have an original.

PWAA (I'll state it this way from now on) has received praise and excellent marks, both from the consumer side and the media side of reviews; and deservingly so. The availability of a touch screen platform allows for much more imagination on the side of the game production industry than on any other platform. PWAA is revolutionary in that sense, bringing a genre (law??? in a video game??) that appeals very much to the masses, even incurring a re-release of probably one of the most praised games available on the DS.

In my honest opinion, PWAA receives its praise from it's undeniable originality, the introduction of an almost alien genre into the gaming world, and not much else. In this sense, it's difficult to detract from the overall value of the game, simply because there's no precedence to base that upon.

I would have given it perfect marks if every other person that has come across it at some point in their lives didn't worship its existence. I'll admit, I was bananas over it too. But we'll take a look at the negatives, since you can read about the pros of the game in just about every other review available.

For one, the game is short. This is most likely in no way Capcom's fault, because you'll find this to be true with almost every other DS game that is addictively playable. I think the only way it can be solved is in data expansion in those tiny little cartridges. Then again, they did make two sequels, and there's a 4th in Japan, so that could explain it.

Two, innovation only goes so far. If you've never played the game and you've read the other reviews, you'll most likely know that you can adamantly declare "OBJECTION!" when you have an objection in court. But, come on. If you were in a Starbucks waiting to get coffee and some kid (or adult for that matter) is sitting somewhere playing PWAA and you all of a sudden hear him/her scream "OBJECTION!", wouldn't you wonder what was wrong with that poor person? Then again, it's a really small detraction from the game, because every person that has played the game has yelled "OBJECTION!" or "HOLD IT!" into the microphone .. in the solitude of their room when no one's around; even me.

Thirdly, the details. Some things are just ridiculously subtle and piecing the puzzle together at times can lead you to feel a huge "What on earth..." after you've figured it out. You only get so many mess-ups before you fail a trial. But, again, another small detraction, since making it too obvious would make the game too easy, which would end the game even faster.

Fourthly, guide-gamers, this is not for you. Because of the way the game is played, it seems to me that it would be incredibly hard to make a spoiler free guide to this game, although it may be possible. Writing a spoiler free guide would take an extremely long time, and I honestly don't see a way around it. Sort of like Touch Detective ... you read the guide, then you feel like you've marred the game by moving past a stuck point by just getting the answer without figuring it out yourself.

Finally, I don't think you can clear the data on a pre-played Phoenix Wright. Maybe you can, I haven't been able to do so, and I don't see why they don't make that option clearly available, because you can jump ahead to any chapter you like without having played any of the previous chapters.

That's all, the cons to this game are very minor, and while I feel that PWAA is an overly hyped, extremely lauded game, it is in fact a very good solid game. And EB Games is clearing out the re-release at a very affordable, very modest price of $19.99, a 33% knockdown of the retail, brand-new. I wouldn't be surprised if it comes charging back into the stores as a Greatest Hits copy, as I think it'll have the same effect on the DS as Final Fantasy VII did on the Playstation. A collector's must, and a good buy for everyone else.

Phoenix Wright : Ace Attorney

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 5
Date: December 29, 2005
Author: Amazon User

It's the Best DS Game I Have. It puts you in the life of a lawyer and you can find evidence, use it in court, and hopefully win your case. Great for Wanna- be Attorneys and Kids whose mothers are forcing them to go to law school.

Nontraditional, but entertaining.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: January 08, 2007
Author: Amazon User

This is, simply put, not a game for everyone. This isn't a 'shoot em up', or action adventure. You play the role of, duh, Phoenix Wright, a young attorney just starting out. You gather evidence, follow the leads, and question witnesses on the stand, trapping them in their own lies.

If you're the type who loves looking for all the details, twisted wordplay, and loves a good puzzle, this is your game. If all you're looking for is mindless violence, feel free to pass.

Very deep

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: January 09, 2007
Author: Amazon User

You need to do lots of thinking in this game. It is very deep. This type of game is very popular in Japan, where shoot-em-ups are not so big. Lots of gameplay, but not for little kids or those who just want action. A great change from the tetris or space-invaders type of thing.

Fun Game

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: January 11, 2007
Author: Amazon User

I read a possitive review about this game in a magazine and ordered it for my 14 year old son for Christmas. I wasn't sure if it would hold his interest but he has really enjoyed the game and solving different cases. I like that it has the kids thinking and isn't violent.

A great take on the point and click adventure game

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: January 12, 2007
Author: Amazon User

I absolutely love this game. It's basically a point and click adventure game like Myst, The Longerst Journey or Syberia but with an odd Anime style Perry Mason premise. It may be too linear for some gamers but I had a great time playing it and can't wait for the sequal.

Another original and fun game for your DS

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: January 15, 2007
Author: Amazon User

Capcom is known for bringing many quirky and unique titles to American shores, and Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney is no exception. Taking advantage of the DS' touch screen capabilities and microphone, Phoenix Wright puts you in the role of the title character, who happens to be a fresh faced lawyer that gets much more than he bargained for as you play through the five cases presented throughout the game. Loaded with text and tutorials, Phoenix Wright ends up being a surprisingly good blast to play as you present and dissect testimony and information to learn the truth behind the cases, object, and figure out who's lying about what in the stories; which have their share of interesting twists that help keep your attention. As unique as DS games can be, Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney features wonderfully drawn characters (there really isn't that much animation in the graphics department) and superbly takes advantage of the unique features of the handheld, but even with five lengthy cases, the game still feels relatively short. Also, there are times when the game's all too linear feel to it rear their ugly head to boot. Despite all that, Phoenix Wright is still one of the best games you can get for your DS, and with the sequel prepared to hit soon, now has never been a better time to get to know Phoenix Wright.

Great Concept and Fresh Gameplay Experience

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: January 25, 2007
Author: Amazon User

Ace Attorney is a really fun game that requires a lot of reading. This I don't mind because the dialogue was very witty and fun and it doesn't get lost in translation. The controls are simple and the entire game can be played with just the stylus. The fifth level is way different from the first 4. It offers new methods of investigation such as spraying an illuminating chemical to find blood stains and dusting for finger prints, not to mention level 5 is much longer than all the other cases.

Not much replay value, but it was definitely fun and worth it while it lasted. I look forward to trying the sequel that just came out, Justice For All. Although, I've read it isn't as good as Ace Attorney.

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