Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy

Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy packages together three excellent visual novel puzzle games, where you get to play as the world's most energetic defense attorneys. Spread across three long and entertaining titles, you'll investigate some perplexing crimes as you work to clear your client of any criminal charges. With its bright colors, manga-inspired characters, and interesting puzzles, Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy combines three of the best handheld games of its kind. While the text-heavy experience might not be the right fit for every gamer, those who enjoy a good story and flexing their brains will certainly enjoy Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy!

Main Game Features

• 3 full-length adventures to enjoy
• Discover clues and interrogate witnesses
• Present your case in court sequences

Story

Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy includes the first three games in the series, including the first game, Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney, as well as Justice for All, and Trials and Tribulations. Each game has an overarching story that plays out over multiple criminal cases, where you control Phoenix Wright, a rookie attorney with lots of motivation. In the first game, you'll establish Phoenix's career as he works with his assistant Maya on a variety of cases. Most of the cases in the first game involve murder, with Phoenix working to defend his clients. While similar in nature to the first game, the sequels amp up the levels of silliness, with tons of quirky characters to meet. In Justice for All, you'll defend a circus magician, a secretive surgeon, and more. Trials and Tribulations uncovers a bit about Phoenix's past, ending with a sprawling case set in a beautiful mountain retreat. If there's one thing the franchise is good for, it's compelling characters and intriguing mysteries, with plenty of twists you'll never see coming.

Gameplay

The gameplay in Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy plays much like other visual novel games, with an emphasis on story over gameplay. Similar in style to the Professor Layton and the Miracle Mask, you'll start each case with a short cutscene, explaining the crime at hand and information on the unfolding situation. Apart from talking with characters and learning more about the case, there are two major avenues of gameplay: investigation and trials. During the first portion of a case, you'll explore locations of interest, looking for clues or tips that might give you an edge later on. Luckily, you have more than just your sharp eyesight to help look for clues, with an array of crime-scene tools to utilize. Once you've gathered all the appropriate information, it's time to head to court.

The courtroom sequences are where Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy really stands out, with unique gameplay that forces you to consider the evidence and witness testimonies. During the trial, you'll have to listen to various people give their accounts of events, looking for holes in their logic. If you have evidence that directly contradicts their statement, you can throw out an objection, raising the stakes and applying pressure to the prosecution. It's tons of fun to carefully examine each witness statement line by line, thinking about all possibilities and motivations they might have to lie. Unfortunately, it can sometimes be tough to figure out what specific clue or piece of evidence you need to prove your point, and with limited attempts before you fail the case, things can get frustrating.

Conclusion

All things considered, Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy is a fun, unexpectedly addictive visual novel that puts your critical thinking to the test. While some of the dialogue sections can run long, the rewarding feeling of winning a case and the court proceedings leading up to it make the entire experience worthwhile.

Pros

• Intriguing mysteries
• Hilarious characters
• Puzzles are perfectly challenging

Cons

• Lots of text to read
• Some clues are hard to find
• Not a lot of replayability