Ace Attorney Investigations: Miles Edgeworth, known in Japan as Gyakuten Kenji (逆転検事?, lit. "Turnabout Prosecutor") is an adventure video game to be released for the Nintendo DS handheld game console by Capcom. It is a spin-off of the Ace Attorney video game series. The game began development under the name "NEW Gyakuten NOT Saiban", reflecting that while it would involve similar characters, the gameplay would be different from the other games in the Ace Attorney series, or that the game's title would include "Gyakuten", but "Kenji" instead of "Saiban". On April 25, 2009, a leaked picture of the Captivate '09 event, held in Monte Carlo, shows a little projection of most part of what appears to be the logo for the game. On April 28, 2009, the embargo for Captivate '09 was lifted, confirming the title as well as a Winter release date for outside Japan.
Unlike the previous games in the series which are visual novels with adventure game elements, this game is closer to a standard "point and click" adventure, with the player controlling Edgeworth's movements and what he interacts with. For each case, the goal is to collect evidence to determine who the perpetrator is, how the crime was committed and their motive.
The game has two types of phases, which vary in gameplay.
Investigation
Investigation consists of collecting evidence from the crime scene and examining it, also examining the crime scene itself. Evidence and profiles are filed in the Organizer, and information on the crime scene is then examined in using "logic".
During the investigation, for movement, players can either touch a small image representing the place on the touch screen, or use the D-Pad. When the player collides with an examinable object or an NPC, they can either touch a "Talk"/"Check" button or press the "A" button. Touching the "Partner Button" or pressing the "Y" button will take to an interface similar to the "Talk" interface in the Ace Attorney series, where they can talk with Edgeworth's actual partner. Touching the "Logic" button or pressing the "L" button will lead the player to the "Logic Mode" interface. Touching the "Organizer" button or pressing the "R" button will lead to the "Organizer" tab, where evidence and profiles are filed, replacing the well-known "Court Record" from the Ace Attorney series.
An core investigation element is known as "Logic". This mode consists in examining and linking of the important or curious clues found in the crime scene in the form of a visual equation, in order to answer questions that appeared during investigations. For example, the player may be asked to determine why a crime was committed in a particular room, and will point to clues about the nature of the room and the crime scene to establish this fact. If players incorrectly link two unrelated factors, they takes damage from a life bar (similar to the one in the Ace Attorney series). If this bar reaches zero, it's game over. The information retrieved in this mode is then turned into evidence.
In investigations, players can use the "crime reproduction gadget", a handheld device in the possession of Kay's that allows players to create a reproduction of the crime using holograms. The reproductions are based on current information and evidence. The tool helps the characters to find contradictions in the events of the crime.
Confrontations
Confrontations are similar to the cross-examinations in the main-series games of the Ace Attorney series. This phase consists in discussing the results of an investigation with the key characters to the plot's development. These confrontations may lead to new information being revealed, or even a confession from the murderer.
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Jun 1st, 2009 08:18 PM
