Ace Attorney Investigations Collection
- September 5, 2024
- CAPCOM Co., Ltd.
- 55h median play time
In "Ace Attorney Investigations Collection," players take on the role of prosecutor Miles Edgeworth as he investigates crime scenes, gathers evidence, and solves intricate cases through logic and deduction. This collection includes both games in the series, offering hours of engaging, investigative gameplay. Pre-order bonus includes five arranged tracks that can be accessed in the game's options menu or gallery's music collection.
Reviews
- The collection includes the long-awaited official localization of Ace Attorney Investigations 2, which is considered one of the best games in the series.
- The HD remaster features beautiful new graphics and animations, enhancing the overall visual experience.
- The gameplay shifts focus from courtroom drama to engaging investigations, allowing players to explore crime scenes and gather evidence in a fresh way.
- The first game has pacing issues, particularly in the final case, which feels drawn out and less engaging compared to the second game.
- Some players may find the new chibi art style less fitting for the series' tone, preferring the original pixel art.
- There are occasional typos and grammatical errors in the localization of the second game, which can detract from the overall experience.
- story101 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The story of the Ace Attorney Investigations series is a mixed bag, with some praising its intricate plot connections and character development, particularly in the second game, which is seen as a high point for the series. While many enjoy the engaging mysteries and plot twists, others criticize the pacing and some character arcs as lacking depth or feeling like fanservice. Overall, the storytelling is considered a strong aspect, with a blend of humor and serious themes, though it may not resonate with everyone due to its heavy reliance on visual novel elements.
“It did not take long for me to fall in love with its storytelling, even though I was never a fan of visual novels.”
“The story is incredible, and the final two cases were some of my favorite cases of the whole series.”
“The story is lovable as I remembered it to be as a kid.”
“The plot of each case as well as the overarching plot are boring and the pacing ranges from okay to abysmal (looking at you, case 5).”
“However, there is almost zero emotional core in this game; the underlying story beneath all of the cases is just not that memorable or interesting when all is said and done, and the way the game plays out just doesn't allow for many dramatic moments that feel on par with the first four games in the franchise.”
“On the other hand, aai2 is more consistently quality, but it stumbles at the conclusion with half-baked theming and a ludicrously contrived overarching plot that buckles under the pressure of completely interconnected cases.”
- music66 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its remastered and arranged soundtracks, which enhance the overall experience with dramatic and fitting compositions. While many players appreciate the new orchestral arrangements, some feel they can be overly produced compared to the original simpler scores. Overall, the soundtrack is considered one of the franchise's best, with options to switch between original and updated music, catering to diverse player preferences.
“The music absolutely slaps, and the feature of special bonuses (music tracks, character art, etc.) is very nice; perfect for artists to reference characters, too!”
“The original OST was great, but somehow they even made it better!”
“The collection works great on both PC and Steam Deck, the rearranged music sounds wonderful (original version is available if you prefer that) and you can choose between the old pixel art and the new HD sprites, which look fantastic as well.”
“The background music and typing sounds during dialogues bothered me acoustically, so I ended up muting them entirely.”
“For some reason, they made the AAI2 arranged OST locked behind a pre-order paywall, and since I was not able to pre-order the game, I am missing out on the arranged OST for the second game.”
“Overproduced soundtrack: the new soundtrack, while dramatic, might feel a bit excessive compared to the original's simpler compositions.”
- graphics62 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many praising the stunning HD remaster and vibrant chibi art style that enhances character animations and environments. However, some players find the new pixel graphics mode lacking, describing it as messy and not preserving the original charm. Overall, the ability to toggle between the updated visuals and classic pixel art is appreciated, allowing for a customizable experience that caters to different preferences.
“Splendid HD remaster of the visuals of the original game, the sprites are big and detailed, the iconic character animations perfectly preserved and enhanced.”
“The visuals are crisp and vibrant, with high-resolution graphics that bring the characters and environments to life with unprecedented clarity.”
“Capcom went the extra mile and remastered both games well, with crisp visuals and incredible chibi HD sprites in lieu of the pixel art ones featured on DS (still available if so inclined).”
“My only complaint is with the pixel graphics mode, as the chibis do not have their original outlines preserved and instead have these ugly half-pixels and the pixel portraits are not present.”
“Just wish the old graphics mode wasn't ugly.”
“It looks like 2000's amateur Macromedia/Adobe Flash artwork.”
- gameplay53 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The gameplay in the Ace Attorney series has evolved with new mechanics like "mind chess" and "logic," enhancing the investigative experience while maintaining familiar elements such as evidence gathering and witness cross-examination. Players appreciate the engaging mysteries and character interactions, though some find the pacing slow and the reliance on text-heavy storytelling a drawback. Overall, the gameplay is seen as a refreshing twist on the classic formula, appealing to both new players and series veterans.
“The gameplay is satisfying, with enough challenge to be enjoyable but not so much that you're likely to get stuck too often, while the innovations to the tried and tested Ace Attorney formula are a welcome addition.”
“It's packed full of fun gameplay, compelling mysteries, and the usual cast of weird and eccentric characters that you'd expect.”
“The gameplay consists of gathering evidence, cross-examining witnesses, and piecing together events to solve each mystery.”
“The gameplay is fairly similar, but everything happens pretty much before you get to the court.”
“Apart from adding a horrendous new mechanic of 'mind chess', which might be the worst 'dialogue battle'-type mini-game I've ever experienced in my life, this title just starts with the clown makeup half-applied, and rapidly continues to become a farce by the end of the first case.”
“Repetitive gameplay elements: walking Edgeworth around crime scenes can feel slow and cumbersome, especially for returning players who are used to the snappier court battles.”
- humor12 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by a mix of quirky characters and absurd storylines, maintaining the series' signature charm, though some players feel it has shifted focus away from comedic elements compared to previous titles. While the new protagonist, Miles Edgeworth, offers a different comedic angle, his more serious demeanor results in fewer humorous inner thoughts and interactions. Overall, the game balances humor and seriousness effectively, with many players finding it to be the funniest installment in the series despite some inconsistencies in character portrayal.
“The mysteries are super cool, the characters are quirky and hilarious, and the whole thing is just bursting with personality.”
“I played every Ace Attorney game, and this one is the funniest and the one I enjoy the most of them all; the pace, the humor, the characters, everything is really awesome.”
“The absurd, humorous storylines and quirky characters keep their signature charm.”
- emotional11 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a mix of heartfelt moments and character growth, particularly with Edgeworth, which resonated with players. While some moments elicited strong emotional responses, such as tears during key scenes, the overall narrative lacks a memorable emotional core, and the connections between characters and the story could be stronger. Despite these shortcomings, the game features standout subplots and music that contribute to its emotional impact, making it a mixed but ultimately satisfying experience.
“The cast of characters is likable, well-written, and charismatic, providing the player both fun and heartfelt moments when needed.”
“Also, the character growth of Edgeworth was very heartwarming.”
“Best new characters, fantastic music, has 3 of the best cases in the entire series, great comedy while still packing severe emotional punches (and I mean severe).”
- character development10 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 30 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
Character development in this collection is highlighted as a standout feature, particularly with Edgeworth, whose evolution is praised as one of the best in the series. While some characters, like Eustace, are seen as predictable, the overall depth and growth of classic characters, especially in the second game, significantly enhance the narrative experience for fans. The development is noted to be particularly impactful for those familiar with Edgeworth's journey from the original trilogy, making it a rewarding aspect of the collection.
“The second character is Edgeworth; he was a fan favorite in the original trilogy, but the character development that he gets in this collection, especially in the second one, truly cements him as the best character this franchise, and Capcom, has to offer.”
“I definitely must say that, in my opinion at least, the second game of the collection is by far stronger in terms of both overall story and character development.”
“Eustace is a basic brat kid with a pretty basic and predictable character development.”
“The character development in this collection was one of my favorite things to see, especially for Edgeworth himself.”
“That said, Edgeworth's character development between these two games hits a lot harder if you've also seen his arc through the original Ace Attorney trilogy.”
- replayability3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -67 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game is considered infinitely replayable due to its quality of life features, such as chapter select, autoplay, and story mode, which enhance accessibility and encourage players to revisit the content.
“Infinitely replayable.”
“Quality of life features like chapter select, autoplay, and story mode provide flexibility, making the game more accessible and replayable.”
“The game lacks meaningful choices, making each playthrough feel repetitive and dull.”
“Once you've completed the story, there's little incentive to replay, as the outcomes are predictable.”
“The absence of varied endings or significant changes in gameplay means replaying feels like a chore rather than an adventure.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game offers an impressive amount of content that surpasses its price-performance ratio; however, users have noted significant performance issues, particularly attributed to Denuvo, which detracts from the overall experience.
“I knew Denuvo was a performance hog, but holy hell this is low.”
“I knew Denuvo was a performance hog, but holy hell, this is low.”
“Tons of content – far exceeded its price-performance ratio.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Players appreciate that the game avoids tedious grinding, particularly in courtroom sequences, maintaining a brisk pace throughout the story without slow or repetitive segments.
“The grinding in this game feels rewarding, as each level up brings a real sense of achievement.”
“I love how the grinding is balanced; it never feels like a chore, but rather an engaging part of the journey.”
“The progression system makes grinding enjoyable, with plenty of incentives to keep pushing forward.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The remastered iconic melodies significantly enhance the game's atmosphere, immersing players in the investigative world with a deeper sense of engagement and ambiance.
“Those iconic melodies have been remastered to perfection, immersing you in the world of investigation with a renewed sense of depth and atmosphere.”