As a fan of the original Ace Attorney Trilogy, nothing could’ve piqued my interest more than the setting change to a Victorian era courtroom and all the miniscule setting changes that would entail such as the lack of better forensic technology. I see this as allowing them to have more freedom in the cases they can write as more simpler events can’t just be hand waived with just searching a single aspect like blood DNA or fingerprint.
Story-wise this entry is definitely a visible upgrade from the original trilogy, granted I can’t say much compared to the Apollo Justice games as I haven’t played those. Each case feels incredibly significant to not only the characters involved but also Naruhodo’s development as a lawyer in a foreign nation. With each chapter, there’s a sense of progress in the main character’s understanding but also how well realized the world is in which Naruhodo feels a stranger to yet acclimatize. This culminates with every courtroom battle feeling tense but also hype when he eventually gains his victory, with him being an underdog making it all the more rewarding when he does bring the truth to the court.
The gameplay remains largely the same with previous iterations in being mostly a visual novel with some interactivity when investigating and choosing options in the courtroom. There’s some added features to it which makes it more suitable for the era it's in but nothing substantial enough I would point out here. What’s worth noting though is the puzzle element in this game feels the most forgiving in previous games as although not obvious, they also never make it too apparent as to what is the key in solving a particular scenario which I appreciated a lot. This level of difficulty really lets me fully engage with the story while being challenged, yet never overwhelmed to the point of ruining my immersion which I feel these sorts of visual novel mysteries tend to struggle in balancing.
My biggest highlight for this game has to be its presentation. They just completely nail the 19th century London aesthetic creating this drab yet lived world where a couple of Nipponese ambassadors would feel unwelcome. The brownish color palette is just perfect in encapsulating the melancholic vibe of this fictional London’s unforgiving atmosphere perfect in the winter season this game is set in. Couple this with the elegant soundtrack which captures the British class culture, creating an enamoring experience where I’m just fully immersed in the setting of the world as Ryunosuke Naruhodo.
The Great Ace Attorney Adventures is an amazing entry to the classic Ace Attorney series, and works well even as an entry point as there really isn’t much background you need to know to get into this game. It takes its time in getting you invested with its world and characters while also providing a dramatic narrative with twists and turns as you navigate a mystery with its intuitive system in both investigating and the trial. There isn’t much negative to say about this game besides the fact if you’re not into this genre. 8.5/10, that cliffhanger ending makes me grateful the re-release comes with both games.
Story-wise this entry is definitely a visible upgrade from the original trilogy, granted I can’t say much compared to the Apollo Justice games as I haven’t played those. Each case feels incredibly significant to not only the characters involved but also Naruhodo’s development as a lawyer in a foreign nation. With each chapter, there’s a sense of progress in the main character’s understanding but also how well realized the world is in which Naruhodo feels a stranger to yet acclimatize. This culminates with every courtroom battle feeling tense but also hype when he eventually gains his victory, with him being an underdog making it all the more rewarding when he does bring the truth to the court.
The gameplay remains largely the same with previous iterations in being mostly a visual novel with some interactivity when investigating and choosing options in the courtroom. There’s some added features to it which makes it more suitable for the era it's in but nothing substantial enough I would point out here. What’s worth noting though is the puzzle element in this game feels the most forgiving in previous games as although not obvious, they also never make it too apparent as to what is the key in solving a particular scenario which I appreciated a lot. This level of difficulty really lets me fully engage with the story while being challenged, yet never overwhelmed to the point of ruining my immersion which I feel these sorts of visual novel mysteries tend to struggle in balancing.
My biggest highlight for this game has to be its presentation. They just completely nail the 19th century London aesthetic creating this drab yet lived world where a couple of Nipponese ambassadors would feel unwelcome. The brownish color palette is just perfect in encapsulating the melancholic vibe of this fictional London’s unforgiving atmosphere perfect in the winter season this game is set in. Couple this with the elegant soundtrack which captures the British class culture, creating an enamoring experience where I’m just fully immersed in the setting of the world as Ryunosuke Naruhodo.
The Great Ace Attorney Adventures is an amazing entry to the classic Ace Attorney series, and works well even as an entry point as there really isn’t much background you need to know to get into this game. It takes its time in getting you invested with its world and characters while also providing a dramatic narrative with twists and turns as you navigate a mystery with its intuitive system in both investigating and the trial. There isn’t much negative to say about this game besides the fact if you’re not into this genre. 8.5/10, that cliffhanger ending makes me grateful the re-release comes with both games.