Ace Attorney Investigations Collection Review – (Edge)Worth Your Time

Capcom will eventually get around to releasing the seventh mainline Ace Attorney game, but for now they are focused on re-releasing past entries on modern platforms. Ace Attorney Investigations Collection closes out the remastered collections (unless you’re expecting Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney to reappear, too), following Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney Trilogy from earlier this year. Ace Attorney Investigations Collection offers up a renewed bundle comprised of former Nintendo DS spin-off titles Ace Attorney Investigations: Miles Edgeworth and Ace Attorney Investigations 2: Prosecutor’s Gambit, the latter of which never released outside of Japan when it dropped in 2017.

Whereas the series is commonly known for thrusting players into the well-tailored suits of defense attorneys like Phoenix Wright, Apollo Justice and Athena Cykes, the Investigations entries shift to the other side of legal proceedings: the prosecution. As the prosecutor Miles Edgeworth, players will forgo the familiar confines of the courtroom in favor of crime scenes. That doesn’t mean that there will be any shortage of objections flying about. Edgeworth uses his keen sense of perception and deductive reasoning to pick apart crime scenes and uncover flaws in provided testimonies.

The two “whodunnit” style installments see Miles Edgeworth investigate wild cases, including an assassination attempt on the president, alongside a colorful cast of characters. Glued to Edgeworth’s side is Detective Gumshoe, an excitable and energetic fellow. His emotional outbursts make him an effective contrast to Edgeworth’s reserved and refined demeanor. In fact, the chemistry between the two elevates the games, as their banter rarely fails to entertain. All characters, new and old, largely stick the landing and make for enjoyable company throughout both entries in this collection.

Connect the Dots

The diverse cast can be enjoyed in two different ways in the Investigations remasters. The original titles’ pixel-art sprites can be enabled for those looking for a truly nostalgic experience. But the updated HD models are a real treat, breathing new life into the vibrant characters thanks to the added detail. It’s certainly a personal preference thing, but you’d be hard-pressed to argue that the refreshed stylings aren’t so clean and sleek that they nearly pop off the screen.

When you’re not staring at the graphically-enhanced cast, the rest is business as usual for series fans. Despite not actually setting foot in the courtroom, Edgeworth employs the same tactics to get to the bottom of criminal matters. Clues are collected while investigating crime scenes and they can be linked together to open up new pieces of information. The earliest example of this comes from the initial investigation in Miles Edgeworth where it seems a single bullet was fired given the expense of a single round from a revolver near the shot-dead victim. However, a second bullet hole can be observed on the framed suit display. This leads to the reveal of a contradiction, as there must have been a second (now missing) gun involved.

Collecting these clues is crucial for when witnesses and suspects are engaged in conversation. Leveraging the collected information, Edgeworth can cross examine individuals using rebuttals (which are lovingly paired with the signature Objection! callout). If the player has smartly used the Logic mechanic to connect dots, the newfound info can be presented against the statements or claims made by other characters. However, there isn’t always a need to shove evidence in the face of every character, at least not immediately. Some characters may be less forthcoming and require the use of the Press option instead of Present. Correctly identifying when to press a character will break through their barriers and let loose the desired details.

How About a Game of Chess?

Admittedly, it’s all very standard when it comes to the flow and mechanics of Miles Edgeworth, but the same cannot be said for Prosecutor’s Gambit. The sequel is a notable step up from the first entry. This is largely due to the implementation of the new mechanic, Mind Chess. Gone is the health bar that depletes as incorrect connections are made. Instead, Edgeworth and the character engaged with him in conversation are transported to a mental plane, wherein a battle of wits takes place. A timer begins to expire, and the player must decide whether statements should be followed up with a direct response or if biding their time is the right play. Biding your time might see the person leak extra information, which is what makes the decision of how to proceed feel much more dynamic in the sequel. If you’ve played your pawns right, it’ll result in a checkmate.

If all of that sounds overwhelming or you simply want to experience the narrative without testing your mental acuity, there’s a Story Mode that will solve those pesky puzzles for you. Coupled with autoplay, you can sit back and enjoy the ride. Of course, should you decide to experience either game in this fashion, the added chapter select option makes it easy to go back and replay specific sections. That said, these types of games have limited replay value once you have already solved the crimes.

Ace Attorney Investigations Collection Review Verdict

Editor’s Note: Ace Attorney Investigations Collection was reviewed on PC, and a copy was provided to us for review purposes.