Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective (Nintendo Switch) Review

The Nintendo DS was a handheld that was perfect for adventure games. The touch screen was versatile and could be used in endless ways for puzzle solving or pointing and clicking. Throughout its life, there were many quality adventure games, but Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective stood out from the rest.

The game revolves around the protagonist, Sissel, a recently deceased ghost who is one cool cat, looks good in red, and has lost his memories. Sissel discovers that he possesses the ability to manipulate objects and travel back in time to four minutes before a person's death. Using these supernatural powers, he sets out on a quest to unravel the mysteries surrounding his own demise and save other characters from similar fates.

One of the standout features of Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective is its innovative gameplay mechanics. As a ghost, Sissel can possess various inanimate objects and interact with the environment in unexpected ways. The goal is to manipulate objects strategically to trigger a series of events that alter the outcome of the present timeline. This "trick time" element adds a refreshing twist to the puzzle-solving genre and keeps players constantly thinking and experimenting with different approaches.

The storyline is enthralling and full of unexpected plot twists. The game introduces a diverse cast of characters, each with their own unique personalities and motivations. Unravelling the connections between these characters and understanding their roles in the overarching narrative is a satisfying and rewarding experience. The writing is top-notch, featuring a perfect balance of humour, suspense, and emotional moments that tug at the heartstrings.

There are a lot of quirky characters that get fleshed out and many diabolical plot twists are foreshadowed at the very start. The way the writing is wrought with twists and mind-blowing revelations can leave some players utterly bewildered, but always begging for more.

Visually, Ghost Trick's art style is vibrant and distinctive, showcasing beautifully animated characters and environments. The graphics are crisp and detailed, adding to the overall immersive experience. This new version of the game is incredibly fluid, even on the tired and withering Nintendo Switch hardware; it never stutters or drops a frame.

Ghost Trick has a large cast and not a single one suggests the developers got lazy. A standout is Inspector Cabanela, who has a penchant for slick dance moves that would impress the King of Pop. Small touches like the curious way Missile the loyal Pomeranian wags his tail makes every moment of Ghost Trick a tour de force.

The soundtrack is also noteworthy, with catchy tunes that complement the atmosphere and enhance the sense of mystery and intrigue. The music quality has also been drastically improved from the Nintendo DS version, which sounded crushed and had a low bitrate. This new iteration on RE Engine has been completely redone and sounds the way fans would remember it.

If there is one minor criticism to mention, it would be that the difficulty level might be a tad inconsistent. Some puzzles can be relatively straightforward, while others require a bit more trial and error or critical thinking. However, this variance does not detract significantly from the overall enjoyment.

That element of trial and error means some puzzles can trap players and the only way to prevent a terrible fate is to rewind to the last checkpoint. This isn't a kind of puzzle game where players will be able to brute force their way, since some puzzles and contraptions involve timing.

The new content included in this remaster of Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective is sliding puzzles; the kind a child might find in a dollar store goodie bag. These are tacked on and aren't congruent with the tone and theme of the main game. Remixed puzzles for familiar scenarios or a harder mode with more complex challenges would have been preferred.