Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney Trilogy Review
OUR RATING: 8.5/10
The Ace Attorney series quickly carved a niche for itself when it first released on the Nintendo DS, and thanks to its continued popularity, we’re now getting the franchise on modern consoles and PC. Hot on the heels of the Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy, we have the next set of the investigative courtroom thrillers on modern systems – Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney Trilogy. This collection features Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney, Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Dual Destinies, and Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Spirit of Justice. While the trilogy’s name may be a bit misleading, as Apollo Justice is only the main protagonist of the first game, it still delivers a gripping narrative that explores the flaws of the legal system and the pursuit of justice.
For many of us, it’s going to be our first introduction to Apollo Justice, a rookie defense attorney, who teams up with the legendary Phoenix Wright to uncover the truth behind Wright’s disbarment and the widespread corruption. As the story unfolds, we witness a world in desperate need of honesty and justice. The narrative seamlessly weaves the stories of Apollo, Phoenix, and the new rookie Athena Cykes, offering a captivating blend of courtroom drama, intrigue, and memorable characters.
The gameplay mechanics maintain the series’ distinctive blend of visual novel and adventure game elements. Players engage in investigations, exploring crime scenes, gathering evidence, and talking to witnesses. However, the true highlights are the courtroom battles. These intense sequences require sharp thinking, as players must question witnesses, identify contradictions, and present the right evidence to unveil the truth. Each game in the trilogy introduces unique gameplay mechanics, such as Apollo’s ability to perceive lies and Athena’s ability to read emotions, adding depth and variety to the gameplay experience.
This version of the Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney Trilogy offers enhanced visuals that bring the games to life on modern consoles. Character models are crisp, detailed, and wonderfully animated, showcasing the evolution of the series from its origins on the Nintendo DS. Additionally, the trilogy includes a wealth of bonus content that adds value to the package. The Museum section allows fans to explore concept art, listen to in-game music, and even create their own animated sequences using the Animation Studio feature. These additions enhance the overall experience and provide a deeper connection to the world of Ace Attorney.
The game also has a bunch of QoL improvements. For instance, for those who have problems with any of the specific puzzles, they can switch to the Reader mode, which we could consider as the easy mode of the title. It comes in handy if you’re having trouble keeping up with the clues and it reduces the amount of puzzle-solving required. As for the functions that replace the touch screen and microphone of the original versions, this was changed to a cursor that we can move on the track we want to investigate.
There are some more additions that are definitely worth noting. First, in the Orchestra Hall there are the soundtracks of all the games, tunes that will stay in your head for a long time, along with 14 selected pieces from the Ace Attorney 15th Anniversary Orchestra Concert and what Ace Attorney 2019 Orchestra Concert, a total of 175 musical compositions. In case you want to express your artistic concerns and show off your creativity, the Art Library serves you there. You choose a character, line and attitude and enjoy the results of your creative talent, putting down, why not, even inspiration that may come from artificial intelligence applications.
In conclusion, the Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney Trilogy successfully brings three more brilliant Ace Attorney games to modern consoles. With its intriguing narrative, engaging gameplay, and enhanced visuals, it is a must-have for fans of the series. Whether you are a seasoned Ace Attorney player or new to the courtroom drama genre, this collection offers hours of immersive gameplay and a deeper understanding of the flawed legal system. Especially since the closure of the Nintendo 3DS store, this is surely the definitive way to experience these titles.
