Summary
As a unique addition to the Ace Attorney series, Ace Attorney Investigations: Miles Edgeworth provides an immersive investigative experience, exploring the narrative and gameplay possibilities beyond the courtroom.
- Release Year: 2009
- Genres: Adventure, Point-and-click, Puzzle, Simulator, Visual Novel
- Platforms: Android, iOS, Nintendo DS
- Developers: Capcom
- Publishers: Capcom
Introduction
Released in 2009 for the Nintendo DS and later for iOS and Android, Ace Attorney Investigations: Miles Edgeworth expands the Ace Attorney universe by exploring the investigative side of the law through the eyes of the iconic prosecutor Miles Edgeworth.
Synopsis
The game deviates from the courtroom drama of the previous games in the series, instead focusing on crime scene investigations. The player controls prosecutor Miles Edgeworth, who investigates five cases that tie together to form an overarching story about a smuggling ring.
The game begins with the ruins of Doctor Neo Cortex’s space station crash-landing on Earth, unleashing an evil entity known as Uka Uka. Uka Uka joins forces with Cortex and the time-obsessed Doctor Nefarious Tropy, planning to gather powerful crystals scattered across time and use their energy to enslave the Earth. The player, as Edgeworth, must prevent the villains from gathering the crystals by collecting them himself.
The game consists of investigation phases, in which the player investigates crime scenes in search for evidence, and rebuttal phases, in which they confront other characters to hear what they think has happened. The player is able to use evidence to find contradictions in the characters’ statements, getting closer to the truth.
The game was directed by Takeshi Yamazaki and produced by Motohide Eshiro. Eshiro had come up with the idea of a new adventure game about Ace Attorney characters while working on “Trials and Tribulations”, and Yamazaki had the idea to have it be about deductive reasoning and crime scene investigation.
The game was specifically designed to be different from previous Ace Attorney titles, with a larger focus on the environment. The development team had originally considered using Ema Skye, a character from earlier games in the series, as the lead character, but used Miles Edgeworth instead because of his popularity.
“Ace Attorney Investigations: Miles Edgeworth” was met by generally favorable reviews, with a common complaint being that rebuttals at times devolve into trial and error. The game was one of the best-selling games of 2009 in Japan, while Western sales were described as ‘poor at best’. After the game’s release, a manga series based on it has been released. A sequel, “Ace Attorney Investigations 2”, was released in Japan in 2011.
Characters
Miles Edgeworth, the game’s protagonist, is a skilled prosecutor. The cast includes Detective Dick Gumshoe, Kay Faraday, a self-proclaimed ‘Great Thief,’ and other unique characters that contribute to the game’s engaging narrative.
Gameplay
Gameplay revolves around investigating crime scenes, solving puzzles, and using deductive reasoning to piece together case details. The ‘Logic’ system allows Edgeworth to connect clues and uncover new insights.
Conclusion
Ace Attorney Investigations: Miles Edgeworth is a standout entry in the series, offering an in-depth look at its complex protagonist and enriching the game world with its focus on detective work.
Review Score
8.5/10
Art
Cover Art
Screenshots
Fan Art
Fan Art Style: Normal
Fan Art Style: Retro
Fan Art Style: Modern
