My appreciation for the Ace Attorney series runs deep. I stumbled upon Phoenix’s adventures back on the Nintendo DS when I was just a kid and have been enamoured with it ever since. In fact, the first Investigations game was one of the first games we wrote about on this blog. With the release of its sequel Ace Attorney Investigations 2 – Prosecutor’s Gambit, Capcom is finally bringing the long-awaited sequel to the west – as it was originally released exclusively in Japan. The good news: Capcom released both games in a single package with the Investigations Collection. So, with this game being a direct sequel to a niche game in a niche series, it will not surprise you that by and large, this game is quite similar – hence why we decided to opt for a mini review that focuses on the changes. I highly recommend you read our first review to get a better impression of some of the game’s core mechanics.
Don’t fix what ain’t broken
The main way the Ace Attorney games differentiate from one another is by the game-specific gimmick and their respective stories. Take a look at the visuals of the Phoenix Wright Trilogy, the Apollo Justice Trilogy, and this wonderful little collection:
Unless you are well-versed in Ace Attorney lore, I honestly doubt you would be able to tell the difference. And that is fine by me! The series employs a type of art style that is kind of evergreen. Investigations 2 continues this tradition in the same way that the first Investigations did. That said, the whole technical performance and visual flair of the second game is nothing all too exciting. It is more of the same – and I mean that in the best way possible.
And for our next trick…
Every Ace Attorney tries to do something with its gameplay. To add some extra flavor besides the new storyline. Rarely has any Ace Attorney game departed so much from the previous iterations as Investigations 1. It brought the characters to life as moveable sprites, switching out the courtrooms for on-the-scene witness accounts and rebuttals. I do still think that on a functional level, these changes aren’t anything too unique, but it does serve to make the game feel different. The second Investigations game continues the style of its predecessor. So, in true Ace Attorney fashion, this game needs a new gimmick! In this case, it’s the “Mind Chess” sequences.
These sequences usually start when Miles needs to push the person he is talking to say things they would rather not say. It’s an attempt at persuasion. To be honest, it’s a pretty neat idea, but the execution is kinda iffy. Basically, the way it works is that when a “Mind Chess sequence” starts, you are given a timer to reach the desired result. You and your opponent begin a conversation, then, at certain points, Miles can perform some actions to push his opponent from different angles. These actions involve accusing your opponent, pointing out a contradiction, or simply waiting for your opponent to react. Now, to understand which path to take, it’s important to pay attention to your opponent’s reactions. In some cases, when an opponent gets agitated, it’s best to just hang back and let them talk themselves into a corner. Other times, you need to go on the offensive.
In principle, this is an awesome addition to add a new layer of complexity to how we interact with this wonderfully colorful cast. In practice, I found it a bit clumsy. Sometimes, it was very clear to me when to push and when to pull back. Other times, characters’ reactions were simply too hard for me to read properly. Also, I am not a fan of having this mode run on a timer that puts pressure on the player. That’s something very un-Ace-Attorney-like. However, I can respect it for what it is, an imaginative albeit flawed new gameplay gimmick which makes Investigations 2 unique.
It’s the story…stupid!
Investigations 2 is a visual novel at its core. The one thing that a visual novel has to nail is its story. And thankfully, this game delivers in a big way! It’s a direct continuation of the previous Investigations. We have several returning characters and references to the previous game. Furthermore, this game dives a lot deeper into Miles Edgeworth as a character, and especially his past and family. Fans of the series know that this implies, and in the interest of not spoiling anything, I will keep it at that. Just know, this game pays off in a major way.
Aside from its implications for the rest of the series and character development, the actual cases are wildly imaginative! The game starts out with an assassination attempt on a world leader, followed by a hit job in a prison that’s also a zoo? I won’t go further into the wacky premises these cases set up, but in my opinion, these are some of the most imaginative best cases the developers have ever produced. There is a reason the community regularly sees this game as an overall top 3 contender.
It was worth the wait
We had to wait over a decade for Investigations 2: Prosecutor’s Gambit to have a western release. And it being bundled together with the first game ultimately makes this an incredible collection to own. Do not misunderstand me, if you are looking for your first Ace Attorney game to sink your teeth into, do not buy this game. Just get the Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney Trilogy. These games thrive on their story, and long-term players are rewarded with a lot of easter eggs and references to stumble over. Consider yourself warned.
For those who have played the other games and just are not quite sure whether this series is worth the time, I would ask the following. Did you enjoy the previous games? Do you like continuous character development? If you answered those questions with yes, then I do not know what to tell you. Go out and get this collection. Yes, it is more of the same. And if this were not a visual novel type of game, the minimal changes from Investigations 1 to Investigations 2 are barely worth mentioning, and would not get a glowing recommendation from me. But visual novels simply have different rules. Rest assured, you won’t be upset with your choice. If you are still unsure, check out the demo!
