Normally, when you think of courtrooms and law, you might do everything in your power to stifle that huge yawn forcing its way out of your mouth. Unless you’re in court because you did something wrong, the courtrooms and law seem like big, scary monsters. But now things are going to change, thanks to Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney, available now for the Nintendo DS.
In Phoenix Wright, you play as the defense attorney with the same name through 5 levels, or “cases” as they are called in the game. Although 5 cases might make the game seem incredibly short, the game is actually is far from it. Each case is longer and more difficult than the last, making the game very time-consuming. It might take you a day just to finish a case because of their length.
Right now, you may be asking, “so what do I have to do in the game?” Well, in each case your job is to basically do what the real attorneys do; stick it to the witnesses, defend your client, and make sure you win your case using your skills at pressing the witnesses, and delivering evidence to weaken the prosecution’s case. Make sure you pay attention to details, however; if you miss something that was said in court, it may end up costing you your case. Also, you have to deal with Phoenix’s rival, Miles Edgeworth, a prosecutor who has never lost a case, and will do anything to ensure a guilty verdict. You have to take this game seriously as you play it, just like one would do in an actual court of law.
Of course, the game isn’t completely without heart. Although the cases are very long, an auto-save feature is included so that you won’t have to go through each case from the start when you lose. This is very handy, since some of these cases are incredibly long, and the auto-save kicks in whenever you pass a certain point in the case. You can also save your game from the pause menu.
The courtroom parts of the game are easily the most fun, as it takes all your brainpower to figure out where the cracks in the testimonies are. While listening to someone’s testimony, you can check your evidence to find any contradictions. Phoenix’s boss, Mia Fey, is also there by his side to give you advice. Once you start showing your evidence and showing that the testimonies are false, your heart starts racing. Not in-game, but in real life. It feels satisfying that someone is getting caught for their deeds, even if the person isn’t real. Make sure to present your evidence at the right time, or else your credibility will go down, and you might end up losing your case.
All in all, Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney is definitely a game you should pick up if you like games that rely on smarts and logic instead of brute force in order to win. It makes for a nice change of pace, and it is great fun, even if you’re not a law major.
