I've always heard of the Phoenix Wright games but never decided to pursue them due to their unorthodox format (I’ve also never really played a visual novel before). And I always thought the games were just really niche and just kind of obscure. But I'm so glad the 3DS eshop had this for $3!! I was introduced to one of the most charming story games I've ever played! This is based on the first four chapters but I'll play Rise from the Ashes soon. The trials themselves are an easy 5 out of 5! The pacing is incredible as you hear witness testimonies and cross-examine their stories. However, once you finish the trial and commence investigations around the town, it becomes a bit repetitive. Not all of it is bad though, specifically in Chapter 4 when a lot of the information you receive makes you want to keep searching and searching. But other moments throughout the game are just a fetch quest which becomes increasingly tedious. Still, I can't help but feel the positives nearly cancel out the negatives. The characters, specifically Maya and Edgeworth, are so memorable and endearing. And the ending is both insane and satisfying at the same time. I absolutely loved it! Can't wait for the rest of the trilogy. I might just buy it on PC so I can play it on my TV.

Edit: Just played Rise from the Ashes and I really liked it. I wish I knew how long it was gonna be though. Going into it not knowing made it feel ridiculously long. But the new methods of investigation (blowing the finger print dust, rebuilding the broken pot, writing names out in blood, etc.) really enhance the experience. I still really enjoyed Rise from the Ashes, but I’m not sure if I would play it again because of how long it ended up being. My feelings of the game as a whole are more in the 8 out of 10 range now, but I still absolutely loved getting to learn about this world and its characters. Can’t wait to continue playing the follow up games in the series.

Ended up getting this game more than a decade ago because I was such a big fan of the series. But this got extremely poor reviews when it came out which is why I didn't actually play it until now. It's a much shorter game, but this is packed with tons of references to the show and some delightful 8-bit-inspired gameplay. The boss fights in particular are super fun and had me grinning throughout. The gameplay is a bit minimal at times but it is still very consistent throughout. I really enjoyed this and don't get the hate at all. It's a fun platformer that Regular Show fans will love even more!

One of the best games to play with your significant other. There's a reason this is as acclaimed as it is! The levels are gorgeous and the story is a rare gem compared to the many simple video game plots. There’s so many fun movesets and abilities as you progress through the game, and each felt so fresh and exciting to try out. There were a few times in the middle where the gameplay got a little repetitive and some levels were a bit too long. But even with that said, the experience remained incredibly engaging throughout! It was so satisfying finishing the story and getting to the credits. I could definitely revisit this in the future.

The poor reviews for this are pretty harsh. I know many people's ratings are directed at the $50 to $60 price point, but I feel like that's clouding their judgment of the game. I understand if it's underwhelming after paying $50, but there's a lot of charm to 1-2-Switch that gets left unmentioned. I'll admit though that it's pretty dumb that Nintendo still has this priced at $45-$50. $20 or even $30 would be justifiable for this. I personally appreciated the approach of taking the gameplay away from the screen. It definitely made for a more connected experience. My brother and I had a lot of fun playing this during the starting years of the Switch so I will always enjoy this quirky party game.