Capcom’s remastered Ace Attorney Investigations Collection brings substantial improvements to the series’ weaknesses while focusing on the character of Miles Edgeworth. However, the diversion from traditional courtroom settings and structures reveals significant flaws that may impact the overall experience.
The Investigations spin-offs deviate from the typical courtroom trials by emphasizing the prosecution’s evidence-gathering phase. Despite the absence of formal trials, the essence of courtroom debates remains evident through intense verbal confrontations and Sherlockian mind chess sessions. While these elements add depth to the gameplay, they also expose the collection to certain shortcomings.
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The games feature some of the series’ weakest cases, focusing on smuggling and corruption plots that lack depth and credibility. The absence of a presiding judge impacts the legitimacy of the arguments and deductions, leading to questionable gameplay mechanics and frustrating scenarios.
While some cases offer engaging experiences, such as an airline murder mystery and a theme park investigation, the overall narrative fails to deliver the dramatic climaxes seen in the mainline Ace Attorney games. The continuous cycle of investigation and argumentation lacks the impactful conclusions that define the series.
Despite these shortcomings, the game offers detailed crime scene investigations and innovative deduction mechanics that enhance the player’s engagement. The ability to explore environments in a top-down perspective and make observations adds a new dimension to the gameplay, encouraging strategic thinking and logical reasoning.
While the deductions in the game excel in building a coherent narrative, the introduction of ‘mind chess’ games in Investigations 2 disrupts the core principles of the Ace Attorney franchise. The vague gameplay mechanics and punitive consequences of incorrect choices detract from the overall experience, leaving players frustrated and detached from the narrative.
Despite these challenges, the Ace Attorney Investigations Collection offers a unique perspective on the series and introduces innovative gameplay mechanics. While not without its flaws, the collection provides a fresh take on the Ace Attorney universe and showcases the potential for future installments to build upon these new ideas.
A copy of Ace Attorney Investigations Collection was provided for review by Capcom.