For fans of Capcom’s long-running Ace Attorney series, the last few years have been rather hit or miss. On the one hand, a collection of the first three games in the series was finally ported to modern platforms (freeing them from the shackles of mobile and handheld devices), and the two Great Ace Attorney games (which were previously Japan-exclusive) were localized and released for western audiences. On the other hand, it’s been close to a decade since we’ve seen a brand-new release in the mainline series, with Capcom going radio silent about the possibility of a seventh game.

In what we can only hope is a peace offering to tide us over, the fourth, fifth, and sixth entries have been given a fresh coat of paint and bundled together in the oddly-named Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney Trilogy (more on the weird choice of name in a minute). For anyone who played the first Ace Attorney Trilogy, you’ll more or less know what to expect here: higher-res graphics, modernized UI, and a slew of quality-of-life features.

Aside from being able to jump into any game, episode, or chapter (intended play order be damned), players who only want to experience the story can turn on Story Mode, which lets you take it easy while the game plays itself for you by solving puzzles, interrogating witnesses, and collecting evidence. For those who don’t have a penchant for jamming on the X button for hours on end, you can also choose to have the game advance the dialogue for you, with a conversation log available should you want to re-read lines that you glossed over initially. Granted, these inclusions are far from revolutionary, but they are certainly leaps and bounds ahead of what was available on the original DS and 3DS versions.

While Apollo Justice appears front and center on this trilogy’s box art and name, only one of the three included titles features him as the main protagonist. Having originally released back in 2008 for the Nintendo DS, Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney has more in common with the original trilogy compared to the two games that came after it. Granted, every mainline entry is split up between investigative phases and court trials, but Apollo Justice’s debut was, and still is, a 2D affair, save for a few sections where you examine evidence in 3D.

As you’d expect, the original artwork and sprites have been remastered for high-definition displays, and while I’ll always miss the pixelated look of the original, it’s hard to deny how slick this one looks when blown up on a big screen with proper support for 16:9 aspect ratios. It goes without saying; even fifteen years after its original debut, Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney still impresses. Unlike its predecessors, this one throws you right into the deep end with its tutorial case, weaving together several unanswered questions that are slowly unraveled throughout the subsequent three episodes. Apollo’s ability to “perceive” when witnesses are lying makes for interesting moments, with a suspect’s nervous twitch or tick often tying directly into their testimony. And of course, this game introduced us to the iconic Papa Phoenix. What’s not to love?

The other two games in this trilogy — Dual Destinies and Spirit of Justice — bring about some of the biggest changes the series has seen. For starters, the pair are the first games to feature fully-rendered 3D environments and characters, eschewing the tried-and-true sprites and fixed camera angles for a more dynamic, modern look. Having originally launched on the 3DS, this shift in visual style was met with mixed reception. The most diehard purists will likely not be swayed by these remasters, but the move to more powerful hardware lets Capcom’s artwork and animations truly shine. If you were ever put off by Dual Destinies and Spirit of Justice’s low-res presentation on the 3DS, the Apollo Justice trilogy might just sway your opinion with the bump in resolution.

Speaking of Apollo Justice, while he certainly plays a key role across all three of these games, he takes a bit more of a backseat in Dual Destinies and Spirit of Justice. Not only does Phoenix Wright return as a playable character, but newcomer Athena Cykes has joined the legal team. Where Phoenix and Apollo used their mystical magatama and bracelet to deduce when someone is being less than truthful, Athena makes use of an AI companion and a program dubbed the “Mood Matrix,” letting her pick up on subtle emotional cues and finding discrepancies between what a witness’ testimony and their emotional state. It’s a welcome addition (and thankfully, one that isn’t overused) that adds a new layer to the franchise’s tried-and-true trial and interrogation mechanics.

Spirit of Justice also makes use of each of the protagonist’s special abilities, while also throwing another wrinkle into the mix — Divination Séances. The original trio of Ace Attorney games had several plotlines centered around spirit mediums and communicating with the dead, but Spirit of Justice fully embraces this idea with Divination Séances, which lets you see the final moments through the eyes of the murder victim. If all of this sounds a bit off the wall, that’s because it is, though the devs do try to make it all sound plausible. While previous games in the franchise featured an interesting hodgepodge of Japanese culture thrown into an American setting, Spirit of Justice takes place abroad in the Kingdom of Khura’in, which itself is heavily inspired by the Eastern Himalayas. It took well over a decade, but Spirit of Justice does go out of its way to at least justify the series’ (sometimes) bizarre mix of criminal justice and spirit channeling.

Even though I’ve played every game in the Ace Attorney series (many of them more than once), it’s hard not to be enamored with what the Apollo Justice trilogy offers. Being able to relive the trials and tribulations (pun intended)of Phoenix and company without the friction of having to dig out aging handheld systems or emulate on PC is a godsend, and the numerous quality-of-life additions and bonus pack-ins are icing on top of the cake — along with a bevy of art assets and soundtracks to look over and listen too, all of the DLC costumes and episodes from the 3DS games are included, alongside an animation studio where you can throw together your own vignettes using character models, animations, in-game music, and voice lines.

If there’s one criticism I think will be levied against this new collection of games, it’s that, at the end of the day, it’s simply more of the same. Series diehards and more casual fans will undoubtedly find a lot to like here, and I certainly hope it’s a sign that we’ll be seeing much more of the Ace Attorney franchise in the coming years. For those who weren’t sold on the original trio of Phoenix Wright games, this second collection won’t do much to sway your opinion.

Disclosure: Review copy was provided by Capcom.

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The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles trophy list will include a total of 30 trophies, including 12 bronze trophies, 11 silver trophies, 6 gold trophies, and 1 platinum trophy. Some of the trophies reference recurring gags from past titles, including the infamous Ladder vs. Stepladder debate, as well as some that will require quick thinking and frequent observation of evidence in order to complete on the first run.

Others, such as the “Bespoke Tailor” and “The Herlockian” will require players to either wear all of the available outfits of the game, or read every idea on Iris’ blackboard, which may take some time to complete. It’s important to note that some of these trophies will be spoilers for the events of the game, so be warned. Below is The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles complete trophy list:

The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles Trophy List

Platinum Trophy:

• The Great Ace Attorney – For being awarded all other accolades

Gold Trophies:

• Ace of Spades – For having dug around to find every argument about shovels and spades
• Best Chips in Town – For talking with Gina after Ryunosuke regains consciousness following the incident with Toby in Episode 4 of The Great Ace Attorney 2: Resolve
• The Noodler – For erroneously answering Mr Sholmes’s question about who might have something that belonged to the convict in Episode 2 of The Great Ace Attorney 2: Resolve
• Sulky’s Story – For having pursued Nash and Ringo when no thought bubble was shown to hear their memories of Big Bruv Sulky in Episode 5 of The Great Ace Attorney: Adventures
• Hat Hunter – For having identified the milliner responsible for the victim’s hat in Episode 3 of The Great Ace Attorney: Adventures
• The Herlockian – For having read every new idea on Iris’s blackboard

Silver Trophies:

• Inspirational Roots – For presenting the armband to Lord van Zieks in Episode 3 of The Great Ace Attorney 2: Resolve
• Down In One – For having examined Miss Green’s bottle before it falls from the table in Episode 2 of The Great Ace Attorney 2: Resolve
• Father Frustrator – For having named Taketsuchi Auchi and Yujin Mikotoba as the victim in Episode 1 of The Great Ace Attorney 2: Resolve
• The Woman…? – For having examined the fireplace in Mr Sholmes’s suite whilst with Susato in Episode 5 of The Great Ace Attorney: Adventures
• Second-Rate Strings – For having examined the violin before talking with Iris about the ‘Wilson’ topic in Episode 4 of The Great Ace Attorney: Adventures
• Pillow Perfectionist– For having examined the bed in Episode 2 of The Great Ace Attorney: Adventures
• Asogi Clan Appreciator – For having examined the ‘head’ of Karuma again after finding the crucial evidence inside in the Final Chapter of The Great Ace Attorney 2: Resolve
• The Top Rung – For having wrung your hands through every debate about ladders and stepladders
• Ace Aficionado – For completion of all the extra Escapade adventures
• The Risen Resolve – For completion of the Final Chapter of The Great Ace Attorney 2: Resolve from its opening chapter
• Fleeting Farewell – For completion of Episode 5 of The Great Ace Attorney: Adventures from its opening chapter

Bronze Trophies:

• Defence Debut – For completion of Episode 1 of The Great Ace Attorney: Adventures from its opening chapter
• Prime Presser – For having successfully pressed a witness during the first cross-examination in both The Great Ace Attorney: Adventures and The Great Ace Attorney 2: Resolve
• Bespoke Tailor – For playing the game in all available outfits
• Healthy Curiosity – For having thoroughly examined the medical report card, inside and out, in Episode 1 of The Great Ace Attorney: Adventures
• The Legendary Pair – For completion of Episode 4 of The Great Ace Attorney 2: Resolve from its opening chapter
• The Demasking – For completion of Episode 3 of The Great Ace Attorney 2: Resolve from its opening chapter
• The Key of Knowledge – For completion of Episode 2 of The Great Ace Attorney 2: Resolve from its opening chapter
• Susato’s Success – For completion of Episode 1 of The Great Ace Attorney 2: Resolve from its opening chapter
• Landed in London – For completion of Episode 4 of The Great Ace Attorney: Adventures from its opening chapter
• The Realm of the Reaper – For completion of Episode 3 of The Great Ace Attorney: Adventures from its opening chapter
• Crash Course Candidate – For completion of Episode 2 of The Great Ace Attorney: Adventures from its opening chapter
• Inconsistency Seer – For having successfully presented evidence during the first cross-examination that occurs in both The Great Ace Attorney: Adventures and The Great Ace Attorney 2: Resolve

The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles releases for PS4 and Nintendo Switch on July 27, 2021.

[Source: PSNProfiles]

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With most of the E3 2021 shows out of the way, Capcom put aside 30 minutes of their time for an E3 2021 presentation. While there was a fair amount of time spent on Monster Hunter Rise and Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin, we did great a brief tease of things to come with Resident Evil Village and a glimpse at gameplay from the upcoming The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles.

Resident Evil Village

Producer Tsuyoshi Kanda confirmed the team had recently begun work on post-launch DLC for the title. No details were given on this upcoming DLC but more information was promised “later”. He also confirmed Resident Evil RE:Verse will go live next month on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5.

The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles

The gameplay for The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles focused on two new features coming in this collection. The first was Dance of Deduction. Players will encounter suspicious events that will need to be examined in further detail with detective Herlock Sholmes leading the deductions. The problem is Sholmes’ reasoning is usually flawed. After a discussion between defense attorney Ryunosuke Naruhodo and his assistant Susato Mikatoba, they look for clues to unravel the inconsistencies in his reasoning.

The second new feature is Summation Examination that takes place during courtroom battles. Naruhodo and Mikatoba will have to convince six jurors that their client is innocent. The potential outcome of the case is represented by a giant set of scales above the judge’s head, with the black pan representing a guilty verdict and the white pan representing a not guilty verdict. Summation Examinations see the duo take on the jurors who each provide explanations for their guilty verdicts. Conflicting statements must be identified if the jury is to be swayed into a not guilty verdict.

Players can try out both new features when the game is released on July 27 on PlayStation 4.

What was your favorite Capcom E3 2021 showcase announcement?

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Following the success of Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy, Capcom has revealed they’ll be bringing The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles to the PlayStation 4 in July. The collection will include The Great Ace Attorney: Adventures and The Great Ace Attorney 2: Resolve, which will be released in the west for the first time.

The Great Ace Attorney games head back in time to the late 19th century. Players assume the role of one of Phoenix Wright’s ancestors, Ryunosuke Naruhodo. While living in Japan during the Meiji Period, he is also accused of murder but manages to successfully represent and acquit himself during the trial. After this, he travels to Victorian era London to study at a legal academy and become a defense attorney in England. Here he meets the detective Herlock Sholmes and his legal assistant Susato Mikotoba. Between them they need to find evidence and argue their case in court to achieve that fabled Not Guilty verdict for their clients.

The two games feature ten cases between them and two new gameplay mechanics. The first is the Dance of Deduction. Here Sholmes usually jumps to an incorrect deduction and it’s up to players to identify the mistakes in his logic and uncover new facts in the process. The second takes place in the courtroom. Summation Examinations mean pointing out the discrepancies in the arguments of the jurors to achieve their desired verdict. Completely new to the collection is the Story Mode feature that lets players enjoy the story while the game advances automatically through the investigation and courtroom sequences—this can be toggled on and off as players please.

The collection also includes eight extra Escapade mini-episodes and three bonus costumes that were previously released as DLC in Japan. A new Art Gallery and Auditorium gives a closer look at the games’ artwork, music, and voice recordings too. The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles will be released on PS4 on July 27. On the same day, players can also get a digital bundle featuring both The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles and Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy.

[Source: Capcom]

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Order! Capcom has announced a release date for the remastered Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy on PS4. The publisher brought new evidence to the Capcom-Unity blog, which revealed the game will be releasing on April 9, 2019. The compilation will include Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney, Phoenix Wright: Justice for All, and Phoenix Wright: Trials and Tribulations.

You play the role of a budding lawyer trying to make a name for himself and protecting those who are falsely accused. However, you are not alone. As Phoenix is on the ropes quite a lot during these intense court battles, his assistant Maya, who’s training to become a spirit medium, gives him tips to keep the proceedings on their side.

Phoenix, before and between proceedings, is tasked with looking for evidence to counter the plaintiff’s claims. In point-and-click adventure style, you go through areas related with the crime and find clues to help with the case. Unlike a real world proceeding, you hold evidence to your chest until the opportune moment, and the plaintiff can do the same to you.

Capcom, for this HD release, has updated the UI and the art for current consoles. It will also come with both English and Japanese versions for those who are multi-lingual. The compilation is also releasing on Xbox One, PC, and Switch. It will be digital-only outside Japan on each one.

Ace Attorney, since it’s first release on the Gameboy Advance in 2001, has sold more than 6.7 million copies worldwide with 11 games in the series. This is the first time the franchise will be on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC platforms.

Another Capcom title from 2019, Resident Evil 2 Remake, has recently shipped more than 4 million copies worldwide and is likely to sell more than its original counterpart at 4.96 million.

[Source: Capcom-Unity]]

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