Last month I wrote a column for BSO talking about the first-ever American release for the sequel to Ace Attorney Investigations, Ace Attorney Investigations 2: Prosecutor’s Gambit, which had previously only existed as a fan translation. Though it was a really well-done fan translation, and generally considered one of the best Ace Attorney games ever, it was still unofficial. With the Ace Attorney Investigations Collection, fans can now enjoy the games in their old format or with stylized and updated graphics, trophies and achievements, a gallery of artwork and character workups, and a collection of tracks from both games.
So, how does the collection hold up? It’s absolutely outstanding. It now becomes the definitive way to enjoy both Miles Edgeworth Investigations titles, though there will always be a place for the fan translation in my DS XL case. Try as Capcom might, it will be a cold day in hell before I call him Eustace Winner over Sebastian DeBest. It is what it is ‘cause it can’t be what it ain’t, as my fraternity brother used to say. Silly jokes aside, both titles play just like you used to remember.
If you’ve never played an Edgeworth game before, they have a slightly different beat than his defense attorney counterpart’s games. In my opinion, the biggest boost these titles receive is the ability to move around and interact with your environment. This might seem like a small thing, but I’ve long held that it made a gigantic difference for me when I first played and as I peruse through the comments on Reddit, it made a huge difference for others. There’s something about having a more tactile presence that allows for deeper levels of interaction. When you’re just warping from location to location, it’s still fun but it’s not the same thing as when you become Horatio Cane from CSI in one part of the case and a mic-dropping machine for the other part.
These games also stay away from the supernatural and lean into logic-based interactions. While I love Phoenix and Maya, I also love using my brain rather than relying on trinkets and the family practice of magic. Logic chess takes a minute to find its footing but it becomes second nature before too long. Tactile investigations and prioritizing logic over the supernatural all combined to make this the best experience in the franchise, bar none. I have sung the praises of this game and its characters since I first played it and the refined experience only reinforces this experience.
Shu Takumi’s writing is at its peak with these two games. Not only does he craft a clever narrative for Miles Edgeworth, but he also finds a way to come full circle on the DL-6 incident, which should immediately be familiar to any longtime fan of the series. These two games are his magnum opus, taking anything left over from the Ace Attorney Trilogy and powerfully bringing it home while providing Edgeworth with a unique and wonderful exploration of his past and how he became an impassioned prosecutor. It’s a wild and crazy story that’s guaranteed to make anyone still on the fence about Edgeworth become the biggest of fanboys.
The music is second to none in this Collection. I routinely listen to this soundtrack as a means to relax, but it really is one of the best gaming soundtracks ever written and this is in a series loaded with great music. It’s almost like the Mega Man series in that regard; it feels like each new title puts out certified banger after certified banger. You will frequently find yourself nodding along or humming these songs on your own time. They’re charming, catchy, and all of them find a way to do something different and special.
I have been waiting for this collection for a good long time and it’s fantastic that Capcom finally took the time to provide a true translation of a fan-favorite. If you’re a fan of the Ace Attorney series, then you’ll be won over in a matter of minutes with either of these titles. This is the perfect title for a long flight a bus ride. You can easily get them completed within a weekend, but do not miss these titles whatever you do.
BSO Rating: 10-of-10
