Apollo Justice review

I did this for a special project and didn't want it to go to waste. Enjoy!

The first noticeable thing about it is the visuals. The characters are stylized and vibrant, each being very memorable and distinct which draws the player in to the world of Apollo Justice. The backgrounds are also well drawn and very detailed but aren’t cluttered making the player to want to explore them for much needed clues. The animated cut scenes are a new addition to the series but lend themselves well to the experience and often add new ways to look at and solve the mysteries faced by the player.

The audio is very impressive, with an impressive and memorable soundtrack. Each piece of music complements the drama ranging from sombre songs for a tragedy or dramatic pieces for when you are unravelling a witness’s carefully constructed lie. The sound effects are crisp, clear and easily identifiable. The audio is good enough to be incorporated into puzzle solving via several mini games.

The game scores above average for ease of play, as the early levels ease you in to the game mechanics. The advice from the characters is subtle, welcome and never patronizing, so after the first couple of court cases the player is fully up to speed and confident on how to play the game. However there are the occasional unintuitive obstacles that impeded or halted progression, that could only be cleared up with and a guide. The option to save the game practically anywhere makes the game more accessible to players, and enables them to get a quick fix if they have ten minutes to spare.

The game design and content is this games strongest area, with a varied mix of game play between the main investigation and courtroom modes and an assortment of “mini games” too. The investigation part of the game is on par with other games in the point and click genre and is varied enough to retain the players interest but it’s the courtroom section that really shines. It’s unique but not alienating; challenging the player to find flaws in a witness’s statement and expose them with evidence. It manages to by simultaneously cerebral and fun. Being the first game in the series that wasn’t a Gameboy Advance port the game is designed to utilize the NDS's features. Whether it is blowing into the mic to remove fingerprint dust, rotating objects with the stylus to discover clues or the infamous shouting of “objection!” at the right time in court. Each feels natural and not shoehorned in, to enhance the already impressive gameplay.

The length of the game offers the player both quality and quantity. With four expansive chapters there is at least 20 hours worth of content to play through. The game scores well on satisfaction too. All of the aforementioned elements come together to create an experience for the player that both engages and motivates them right till the very end. The mysteries that surround each case are far from linear and a joy to eventually solve. Very few games can match the sense of accomplishment when you discover the truth and slowly build a case that leads to your victory.

It is for all these reasons that I award Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney 20.5 out of 25 (breakdown below):

Visuals 4.0

Audio 4.5

Ease of play 3.5

Game Design/Content 4.5

Satisfaction 4.0

Total 20.5 / 25.0