Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney Trilogy
- January 24, 2024
- CAPCOM Co., Ltd.
Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney Trilogy’s graphical upgrades and museum content is a delight for longtime fans looking to experience these well-written stories and memorable cast once more.
"Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney Trilogy" is a collection of three games featuring rookie attorney Apollo Justice and his mentor Phoenix Wright. It includes 16 episodes full of courtroom drama, as well as bonus content like music, art, and animation studios. The game supports multiple languages and is a must-play for Ace Attorney fans.
Reviews
- The trilogy offers a delightful continuation of the Ace Attorney series with engaging storylines and memorable characters.
- The remastered graphics and quality of life improvements enhance the overall experience, making it a must-play for fans.
- Each game features unique mechanics and a satisfying blend of humor and drama, keeping players invested throughout.
- The trilogy is often seen as weaker than the original series, with some cases feeling disjointed and lacking in depth.
- The transition to 3D models has received mixed reviews, with some characters appearing less appealing compared to their 2D counterparts.
- Certain gameplay mechanics can feel overly hand-holding, reducing the challenge and engagement for seasoned players.
- story83 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating the engaging characters and intriguing plotlines, particularly in the Apollo Justice trilogy. However, some critics feel that the narrative lacks the depth and interconnectedness of the original series, often presenting disjointed episodes and repetitive elements that detract from the overall experience. While the storytelling is generally enjoyable and features compelling twists, it sometimes suffers from inconsistencies and a reliance on familiar tropes, leading to a sense of frustration among players.
“I can only recommend this game as its controls are easy to understand and to use, the storyline and its characters are really interesting and fun to experience!”
“The cast of characters were memorable & the plot lines that played out had many of us on the edge of our seats.”
“The writing is top-notch and brilliantly witty, the pacing is excellent and playing as 3 different lawyers helps to make the story feel so fleshed out.”
“The music in Spirit of Justice is also good, but it doesn't make up for the weak story and characters.”
“It doesn't feel like the story is written by humans but by guidelines on how to create a 'good' trial, as a result there are almost no surprises and it feels like you already know exactly how to build the puzzle but have to wait for the game to ask you to place the puzzle piece it wants you to play.”
“But in Ace Attorney 5 and especially 6 there will be a lot of moments where you feel like the game doesn't respect you as a player, it doesn't trust you to make your own conclusions, it repeats information extremely often, gives you extremely guided information and often feels like it doesn't understand what it wants to do with its story anymore.”
- music39 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The music in the series continues to receive high praise, with many reviewers highlighting its ability to enhance the emotional depth of the narrative and create memorable moments. While some entries, like "Apollo Justice," are noted for having standout soundtracks, others, such as "Dual Destinies," are critiqued for lacking the same impact. Overall, the soundtracks are considered a significant strength of the games, with many players enjoying the ability to access and customize their listening experience.
“Then there's the dramatic buildup to each hard-earned victory, with perfect timing on each climax and the extremely memorable OST to underline it all.”
“The soundtrack deserves equal praise, with compositions that perfectly complement the highs and lows of the narrative, enhancing every moment of triumph, tension, and heartache.”
“Great stories, twists, and characters accompanied by a god-tier soundtrack.”
“Don't get me started on the music starting in Dual Destinies, it's so flat and lacks the oomph all the other games had.”
“While it was frozen, the music would continue normally while any animations were frozen, i.e., Apollo wouldn't blink, as well as any text that was in the process of typing itself out on the screen would stop dead in its tracks until it finished and continued.”
“Some of my time is spent just listening to the music.”
- gameplay29 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The gameplay in the Ace Attorney series is praised for its engaging mechanics and satisfying puzzle-solving elements, with new features enhancing the classic formula. While some players appreciate the introduction of fresh mechanics and character abilities, others criticize certain aspects for being overly simplified or frustratingly imprecise. Overall, the gameplay is seen as a blend of high-quality storytelling and innovative features that maintain the series' charm.
“The gameplay mechanics are a refined blend of the series' classic formula and innovative new features that elevate the experience.”
“New to the series or not, Ace Attorney is a breath of fresh air with its unique gameplay loop and satisfying conclusions.”
“Finally got to experience more Ace Attorney games (never had the opportunity), and I love everything about this trilogy - the graphics are clean, gameplay is fun, characters are lovable (and hateable in the best way), etc.”
“Unfortunately, the lack of difficulty and mechanics for these cases made them an unenjoyable experience.”
“My biggest issue with this game is the new mechanics they added that were along the lines of the psyche locks.”
“Wonky mechanics that had me guessing the right thing but getting a punishment because I didn't present something pixel perfect.”
- graphics21 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game collection have received mixed reviews, with many praising the vibrant character designs and beautifully rendered environments that enhance the storytelling experience. However, some players expressed disappointment over the transition to a 3D art style, feeling it detracted from the charm of the original 2D sprite work. Overall, while the updated visuals are generally well-received, there are concerns about accessibility and the quality of some dated sprites.
“Not to mention the little quality of life settings for each game, and the quality of the visuals, makes this another 10/10 collection without a doubt.”
“Graphically, the trilogy is a standout, with vibrant character designs and beautifully rendered environments that breathe life into the world of Apollo Justice.”
“Finally got to experience more Ace Attorney games (never had the opportunity), and I love everything about this trilogy - the graphics are clean, gameplay is fun, characters are lovable (and hateable in the best way), etc.”
“The graphics minimum is not readily available to view on the Steam page, and I had to email support just for them to tell me that my laptop doesn't meet their graphics minimum.”
“As for graphics, some of the sprites are obviously dated and pretty bad looking.”
“The game has a required graphics minimum that is not available for regular players to access.”
- humor16 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the Ace Attorney series is widely praised, with players enjoying the witty dialogue and comedic interactions among characters, particularly the standout snarky persona of Simon Blackquill. The games maintain a balance of fun and suspense, with a cast of eccentric personalities that enhance the overall experience. While the humor is a staple of the series, many reviewers note that it feels even more amplified in this trilogy, contributing to a fast-paced and entertaining visual novel experience.
“The real star of this game is Simon Blackquill, a snarky emo samurai who adds a ton of humor, especially when he banters with Athena and the judge and sics Taka on people.”
“The patented funny, witty but also suspenseful Ace Attorney writing is back in full force, and hey, that's what this is all about.”
“This kind of humor is a staple of the Ace Attorney series, but it seemed turned up two or three notches more in these games.”
- emotional6 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by the impactful stories of new characters, which are both heartbreaking and engaging. Players express a deep connection to the narrative, with moments that evoke strong feelings, enhanced by a moving soundtrack. Overall, the series successfully combines humor, fast-paced gameplay, and touching moments, showcasing the power of video games to convey complex emotions.
“The new characters were cool to see, and their stories were both heartbreaking and interesting.”
“The music made me cry (it was that good).”
“Many moments in these games made me quite emotional, and I didn't want the story to end at all.”
- character development5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 40 % negative mentions
Character development in this set of Ace Attorney games is noted as a mixed bag; while it introduces significant lore and growth for both new and returning characters, the reset of Phoenix's development is seen as a major drawback. New characters like prosecutor Klavier are appreciated for their design and charm, but his effectiveness as a character is questioned. Overall, the trilogy excels in visual presentation, enhancing the character experience.
“This is definitely the weakest set of Ace Attorney games; however, they do add a lot of important lore and character development for both old and new characters.”
“Graphically, the trilogy is a standout, with vibrant character designs and beautifully rendered environments that breathe life into the world of Apollo Justice.”
“The new prosecutor, Klavier Gavin, is fun and has a great character design, adding depth to the game's character development.”
“As stated earlier, this is definitely the weakest set of Ace Attorney games; however, they do add a lot of important lore and character development for both old and new characters.”
“The new prosecutor, Klavier Gavin, is fun, but kind of a pushover, though I love his character design.”
- stability3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is generally positive, with users reporting smooth performance on platforms like the Steam Deck and no significant bugs or glitches. However, some players have noted that skipping through dialogue can be buggy or awkward at times.
“Runs great on a Steam Deck.”
“Skipping through dialogue is a bit buggy and awkward.”
“I have encountered no bugs or glitches as of yet, so it seems Capcom took their time putting care into this product.”
- grinding3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that grinding in the game can be inconsistent; while some tasks are engaging, others can feel overly lengthy and tedious. Players suggest that certain elements, like Apollo's search for tells, may require excessive effort, whereas Athena's analysis offers a more enjoyable experience. Overall, the grinding aspect is seen as a mixed bag, with some players feeling it detracts from the overall enjoyment.
“I liked most of them, but some go on for too long and make the cases tedious.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“These are hit or miss: Apollo's search for tells can be sometimes grindy and tedious, while Athena's analysis is comparatively more complex and enjoyable.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
While players find that all three games are enjoyable enough to play through at least once, "Apollo Justice" stands out for its satisfying replay value. Overall, despite being linear visual novels, the games offer surprising replayability that keeps players engaged.
“It's worth playing through these games at least once, but of the three, Apollo Justice is the only one with satisfying replay value.”
“By the way, these games are surprisingly replayable, even if they are linear visual novels.”
“The game lacks meaningful choices, making replayability feel pointless.”
“Once you've experienced the story, there's little incentive to play again.”
“The linear nature of the game means that replaying it offers no new experiences.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Users express concerns that the presence of Denuvo and Enigma negatively affects game performance, particularly on Steam Decks, leading to calls for their removal to improve optimization and avoid potential legal issues.
“The game's optimization is severely lacking, leading to frequent frame drops and stuttering during gameplay.”
“I experienced significant performance issues, even on high-end hardware, which is unacceptable for a modern game.”
“The optimization feels rushed, resulting in long loading times and inconsistent performance across different systems.”
Critic Reviews
Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney Trilogy review
Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney Trilogy brings the last three mainline Ace Attorney games to modern consoles, and they're just as good as ever.
85%Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney Trilogy Review
No objections here! Apollo Justice Trilogy presents a tight case for replaying these superb courtroom adventures.
86%Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney Trilogy Review
We genuinely can't believe how lucky we are that these games exist, let alone that they've been lovingly polished up for the Switch. This is some of the best writing you'll find on the console, and it's a steal for all three games plus extras. A couple of bumps here and there are to be expected with such a wealth of content (three games, DLC, and extras), but they barely leave a dent on the brilliance of this well-written and beautifully illustrated trilogy.
90%