Ace Attorney Investigations Collection Review

Even as the series transitions to Apollo Justice in recent installments, Phoenix Wright remains the iconic face of Capcom’s Ace Attorney series. However, it is important to acknowledge that Mr. Wright shares the spotlight with another pivotal character: his longtime rival and occasional ally, Prosecutor Miles Edgeworth.

Introduced in the very first Ace Attorney game, Edgeworth has evolved from a relentless prosecutor determined to secure guilty verdicts at any cost, to a reformed legal ally committed to uncovering the truth through his own brand of logic and reasoning, particularly to aid the wrongfully accused.

This character development has endeared Miles Edgeworth to fans, leading to his starring role in several spin-off games. The Ace Attorney Investigations series, featuring Edgeworth as the protagonist, is now available in a comprehensive collection. This package is essential for both long-time fans and newcomers to the Ace Attorney series, especially since it contains a title that was never released outside of Japan until now!

Dispensing Justice Outside the Courtroom

As spin-off titles in the Ace Attorney series, Edgeworth’s games incorporate many familiar gameplay elements that fans will recognize and appreciate. These games primarily feature text-based narratives where players must investigate crimes, uncover clues, confront suspects, and expose contradictions in testimonies to reveal the hidden truth.

However, unlike the main series, the action in Edgeworth’s games often takes place outside the courtroom. Players will follow Edgeworth as he investigates crime scenes, engaging with and confronting suspects in a manner reminiscent of courtroom cross-examinations, complete with the iconic “Objection” and “Take That” moments.

A notable new feature is the third-person perspective, allowing players to control Edgeworth directly as he navigates crime scenes, searches for clues, and interacts with characters. Familiar faces like Detective Gumshoe are also present to provide insights on cases. Additionally, Edgeworth brings his own unique investigative tools to the table, giving a more unique identity to the game.

Reach the Truth!

As a methodical and analytical character, Edgeworth gathers both physical evidence and information, using his logical reasoning to piece together facts and uncover the truth. Players must connect these pieces of information accurately, as incorrect logic can result in penalties, similar to previous games.

Adding to the challenge, the sequel, Prosecutor’s Gambit, introduces the Mind Chess gameplay mechanic, which adds a time pressure element. During investigations, some characters may be reluctant to share information, requiring Edgeworth to “talk” them into revealing what they know.

In these mental chess battles, players must carefully choose their responses to break down defenses and extract information, balancing between aggressive questioning and strategic silence.

Mind Chess is an intriguing new mechanic that challenges players to read their opponents psychologically, deciding when to be assertive or when to hold back, much like a real cross-examination. And similar to previous games, a big time limit penalty with be awarded for slip-ups, emphasizing Edgeworth’s critical thinking more.

Definitively no Objections!

Although this collection includes only a couple of games, it is a valuable addition primarily because it features the sequel, Ace Attorney Investigations 2: Prosecutor’s Gambit. Until now, this title has never been released outside Japan. While the first game was available in the West, non-Japanese speakers were unable to experience the sequel.

This means that long-time fans in the West can finally play this sequel in English and enjoy the additional content included in the Ace Attorney Investigations Collection. Similar to previous Ace Attorney re-releases, this package offers a museum filled with audiovisual delights.

The museum features a gallery with a plethora of artwork and sketches, which you may want to view later to avoid spoilers, as well as a music collection with notable tunes from the series. As you progress through both games, new content is unlocked in the museum, encouraging you to play to the end.

This is already a treat for long-time fans, but there is another remarkable feature in this collection that enhances the experience. While many will appreciate the nostalgic pixel art of the original games, this collection also offers HD third-person moments, giving the characters a crisp, bright look. This enhancement makes the games feel more than just re-releases.

Additionally, the quality of life improvements from previous collections are included. For those who prefer to enjoy the story without the challenge, Story Mode allows the game to handle the analysis and contradiction finding. You can also jump into any chapter with the History option if you missed any dialogue. These features make this collection truly definitive.

Verdict: Buy it!

At first glance, the Ace Attorney Investigations Collection might seem underwhelming compared to previous collections, as it includes only two titles. However, this is a minor drawback considering that one of these games is being released outside its native country and is playable in English for the first time, making the limited number of titles easily forgivable.

In addition to the usual unlockable Museum contents and quality-of-life improvements, the collection offers the option to play with either HD graphics or the classic pixel look. This caters to both newcomers who prefer visually appealing graphics and long-time fans who appreciate the nostalgic pixel art.

Moreover, both games feature compelling crime stories that focus on bringing the guilty to justice, with fan-favorite Miles Edgeworth in the leading role. His popularity justifies his own spin-off games, and this new collection certainly does him justice.

*Ace Attorney Investigations Collection was reviewed on a PS4/PS5 with a review code provided by the publisher.