Developer: CAPCOM Co. Ltd
Steam Deck Compatibility?: Playable
Rrp: £29.99 (Humble and Steam)
I’ve never played a Phoenix Wright game, so I’m coming at this as a total novice. That being said I have played a few visual novels so it’s not a total genre shift for me. This game is actually three games in one, specifically the first three Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney games.
You may be wondering why these three games aren’t receiving a combo review like the Shadowrun game series did. To put it simply it’s because not enough was changed between these games to warrant that, only a couple of very basic mechanics.
Before each case the player gets to witness a brief animation that’s related to the case you’ll be taking on. Once that’s over each case is separated into two parts, investigation and the trial itself. Unlike most lawyers Phoenix Wright has to investigate the crimes himself in order to gather clues for trial (as well as speak to witnesses). In this game, trials can only last a few days before they have to be given a verdict.
Now, from time to time I like to indulge myself in a good mystery. Sometimes it’s in the form of watching Hercule Poirot on TV, reading Sherlock Holmes or yes playing a mystery game. However, there are two things I really dislike when playing any game (especially ones where I’m required to really think) and sadly this game commits both crimes. Moonlogic and large amounts of backtracking. Somehow this game makes it all the worse by occasionally combining the two! Prime example is having to track a character through multiple locations only for them to appear in a location you have already searched through, only to have to give them an item (unprompted) so you can give a different character an item to get information… This made me want to give up on reviewing this compilation.
I played this game mostly on my Steam Deck as I also watched videos, I don’t think this is a game you can ‘binge’ but I did find it perfect as a side activity. In spite of what I said in the last paragraph I actually did enjoy my time with this series. It’s over the top facial animations and the light hearted mood kept making me come back to this game over and over until I found I had none left to complete.
