Ace Attorney Investigations Collection Review

In all its operatic flair, justice returns with Ace Attorney Investigations Collection. A compilation of Ace Attorney Investigations: Miles Edgeworth and Prosecutor’s Gambit, its Japan-only sequel, this collection is a late but welcome translation of a long-denied gem. Once restrained by regional barriers and hardware limitations, the games arrive revitalised with remastered visuals, quality-of-life enhancements, and a full English localisation of the second entry. How do these two beleaguered DS classics hold up? Cubed3 is summoned to the stand!

The heart of the package lies in its star prosecutor, Miles Edgeworth, whose icy demeanor and razor intellect once stood opposite Phoenix Wright’s fiery objections. In this compilation, Edgeworth steps out from behind the bench and into the mire of real-time crime solving. Unlike Phoenix, who is a defense attorney, Miles Edgeworth is a prosecutor. The shift from trial proceedings to direct investigations breathes a different life into the series. Logic, rather than bluster, takes centre stage. The “Logic” system works like connecting thoughts, much like puzzle pieces, and remains a clever innovation. At the same time, “Argument” sections allow for verbal duels outside the courtroom, trading spotlights and contradictions in equal measure.

Visually, the remaster preserves the expressive sprite work of the DS originals while sharpening backgrounds and portraits. Character animations retain their theatrical charm, from Edgeworth’s dramatic cravat-flicks to the over-the-top villainy of suspects. While it is appreciated that the original sprites are maintained, they clash with the razor-sharp HD background art. Thankfully, the new optional HD sprites are cohesive with the new art, making them feel grounded. The soundtrack is suitably operatic, balancing tense cross examinations with moments of introspective melancholy, underscoring the moral greys explored more deeply than usual.

Narratively, both titles embrace pulp with panache. Murder at a theatre, diplomatic immunity shielding an assassin, and hidden international conspiracies, with each case folding into the next with satisfying momentum and gravitas. The first game’s final chapter, “Turnabout Ablaze,” remains a franchise high point, but the sequel’s episodic consistency surpasses its predecessor. Edgeworth’s development, aided by a memorable supporting cast like the oafish Detective Gumshoe or the rambunctious Kay Faraday, offers a more emotionally resonant arc than some mainline entries.

The collection is not without its flaws. Pacing stumbles at times, with investigative segments occasionally devolving into pixel-hunting drudgery. Some logic leaps stretch credulity, even by the franchise’s high-wire standards. There is a case that could have been solved faster if only players were allowed to probe their assumptions. The remaster smooths many rough edges, and the core gameplay loop remains rooted in its origins from the DS era. These shortcomings are minor bumps on an otherwise riveting ride.

When not arguing in the courtroom, players alternate control over Miles, Kay, or Detective Gumshoe in Lucas Arts-style point-and-click adventuring to conduct investigations. Sometimes these come with amusing mini-games or interrogating persons of interest, probing for any info that may be relevant. These were a welcome change of pace that dials back on the pressure and fosters immersion in the Ace Attorney setting.

The formerly Japan-exclusive Prosecutor’s Gambit is easily the highlight of the package. The pacing is unbearably tense, and leaning in on Miles’ inner conflict of living up to his father’s legacy shows the character in a new light. Returning characters from past Ace Attorney titles have greater relevance and don’t feel like cheap cameos. The final case is a master stroke in multiple and layered plot twists that leave players utterly stupefied. It’s a whirlwind that piles on the surprises and shocks over and over.