Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney
© 2007 Capcom Entertainment, Inc.
A great exercise in deductive reasoning and logic, this game (the fourth in a series) lets you take on the role of rookie defense attorney Apollo Justice. You start by visiting crime scenes, questioning witnesses, and collecting evidence before entering the courtroom to prove your client's innocence. Then you will face the prosecutor Kevin Gavin, who is not just a legal genius, but is also the lead singer in a successful rock band, the Gavinners. Players use both the touch screen as well as the microphone to yell "Objection" or "Hold it" as they question witnesses. In addition, using the Crime Recreation Mode reveals hidden clues by recreating the scene of the crime. The game also features two gameplay segments: Investigation Phase where you survey the crime scenes, interview witnesses and gather evidence to use in court; and Court Phase where you present your findings to support your case, listen to testimonies and examine witnesses. Testers liked the plot and the game play, but noted the game has a lot of "very heavy reading." For example, you have to read the testimony of the witnesses, and then use clues to defend your client. If you're successful, you can get a "not guilty" verdict. One innovation to note that is new to this series is called the "perceive" feature, where you can watch the testimony in slow motion to look for nervous habits of the witness. One drawback is that once you master the game, you're not very likely to pick up the game again. So replay value is limited. The bottom line: Buy it, if you've got the time and like mystery games.
$30, Nintendo DS
Teaches: reading, comprehension, deductive reasoning, Logic
CTR Rating: 92%