Ace Attorney franchise is amongst the most popular visual novel videogames, so naturally, I often hear good things about it, be it from friends who like the genre or online discourse. I decided to give the first game a try to see what all the ruckus was about and well shit, it’s GOOD. Before I start talking more about it, there’s a tiny nitpick that I’d like to get off my chest.
About halfway through the game, I was reading some online trivia regarding the franchise and found out that the English localization changes A LOT when it comes to character names and where the story takes place (US in the localization and Japan in the original). I was negatively surprised to find out about this because even though Capcom is a Japanese game developer, it is not uncommon for them to make games that take place in the US with American characters as well, such as the Resident Evil franchise, for example. Why does this annoy me? Because it just feels unnecessary. Sure, it might be cool for Americans, but I’m not American, and not just me, but everyone playing a version that’s not the Japanese one has to play with the American names and all. Like I said, nitpicking, but I hate this feeling that I’m having a “fake experience.” Anyway, I don’t expect anyone else to give a shit about this, just felt like saying. With that out of the way, let me actually start writing about the game.
The story is centered around five cases, each of which could be an entire movie plot; they’re truly that interesting. Even though each case is centralized on itself, the characters and references to previous cases are still present, reminding you that this is all part of one journey – and what a journey it is. The cast is full of intriguing and unique characters, and the interactions are mostly enjoyable. The investigation aspect of the game is genuinely interesting, and I really enjoyed exploring every nook and cranny. However, the main charm of the game resides in the courthouse sections. Although I wasn’t sold on every resolution and plot twist, I was certainly interested in paying attention to the details the entire time. Those sections are definitely a ride of various emotions, and the soundtrack does a damn fine job in creating atmosphere, tension, and satisfaction. The gameplay is simple, and the puzzles are not hard to figure out. Even if you get them wrong at crucial points, the game is still very forgiving. But I say this in a positive light – it is very accessible to anyone who wishes to play while still managing to be intriguing most of the time. And of course, the humor may not be for everyone (not in my case, got me grinning a lot), but you can’t deny how full of charm this game is.
With that said, I would definitely recommend this game not only to those who have shown previous interest in it but also to those who have never played any VN. It is a good way to get into the genre. I can say without a doubt that the Ace Attorney/Gyakuten Saiban franchise has gained a new fan who cannot wait to play the rest of the series.
About halfway through the game, I was reading some online trivia regarding the franchise and found out that the English localization changes A LOT when it comes to character names and where the story takes place (US in the localization and Japan in the original). I was negatively surprised to find out about this because even though Capcom is a Japanese game developer, it is not uncommon for them to make games that take place in the US with American characters as well, such as the Resident Evil franchise, for example. Why does this annoy me? Because it just feels unnecessary. Sure, it might be cool for Americans, but I’m not American, and not just me, but everyone playing a version that’s not the Japanese one has to play with the American names and all. Like I said, nitpicking, but I hate this feeling that I’m having a “fake experience.” Anyway, I don’t expect anyone else to give a shit about this, just felt like saying. With that out of the way, let me actually start writing about the game.
The story is centered around five cases, each of which could be an entire movie plot; they’re truly that interesting. Even though each case is centralized on itself, the characters and references to previous cases are still present, reminding you that this is all part of one journey – and what a journey it is. The cast is full of intriguing and unique characters, and the interactions are mostly enjoyable. The investigation aspect of the game is genuinely interesting, and I really enjoyed exploring every nook and cranny. However, the main charm of the game resides in the courthouse sections. Although I wasn’t sold on every resolution and plot twist, I was certainly interested in paying attention to the details the entire time. Those sections are definitely a ride of various emotions, and the soundtrack does a damn fine job in creating atmosphere, tension, and satisfaction. The gameplay is simple, and the puzzles are not hard to figure out. Even if you get them wrong at crucial points, the game is still very forgiving. But I say this in a positive light – it is very accessible to anyone who wishes to play while still managing to be intriguing most of the time. And of course, the humor may not be for everyone (not in my case, got me grinning a lot), but you can’t deny how full of charm this game is.
With that said, I would definitely recommend this game not only to those who have shown previous interest in it but also to those who have never played any VN. It is a good way to get into the genre. I can say without a doubt that the Ace Attorney/Gyakuten Saiban franchise has gained a new fan who cannot wait to play the rest of the series.