Preview: Evidence Suggests Ace Attorney Investigations Collection Will Be a Good Time on PS4

We've played the first couple of cases in the Ace Attorney Investigations Collection on PS4 and we've walked away pretty impressed. The collection comprises two games originally released on Nintendo DS — Ace Attorney Investigations: Miles Edgeworth and Ace Attorney Investigations 2: Prosecutor's Gambit — now playable on PlayStation for the first time. In the latter's case, playable in the west for the first time, too.

Both Investigations games have been given an overhaul visually, but there's an option to play using the original DS sprites if you'd prefer to keep it old school. Similarly, there are arranged versions of some music in the games but you can also play using only the original versions. There's quality-of-life improvements, too, including an option to set the games to story mode so you can watch the narrative unfold without having to solve any cases yourself.

While other Ace Attorney titles usually involve playing as a defence lawyer trying to prove that a client is innocent of the murder they've been accused of, the Investigations games flip that on its head and see us playing the role of prosecutor. We play as fan favourite returning character Miles Edgeworth, an impeccably dressed, slightly stuffy prosecutor who's a rival to Phoenix Wright in the original Ace Attorney games.

Rather than courtroom drama, Investigations sees Miles Edgeworth investigating murders in the field and trying to pin the killings on the person responsible. This involves hunting for evidence, forming hypotheses by fusing different clues together using Logic Mode, and then entering cross examinations out on the street with ne'er-do-wells trying to talk their way out of prison.

Considering the highlight of previous Ace Attorney games was always arguing your case in court while the investigation sections could often feel a little doughy, it's surprising how urgent the first couple of cases in Investigations feel. The cross examination sections are a good analogue for the back and forth you'd see during the court cases of previous titles, and you even get to shout "Objection!" a lot when it's obvious that someone is telling porkies.

The brisk pace of the game so far definitely helps. Some of the Ace Attorney games — particularly Chronicles — can get a little too loquacious for their own good, but so far we haven't had that problem. The script is amusing, the characters charming, and the cases are resolved quickly enough that they remain engaging throughout. Whether that holds out for the rest of the game(s) remains to be seen, but so far we're into it.

The Ace Attorney Investigations Collection is shaping up to be another delightful look back at Capcom's history, and another chance for PlayStation gamers to experience titles previously tied to Nintendo's legendary DS. We'll have a full review in the coming weeks, so there's plenty of time to polish your prosecutor's badge, get your suit dry cleaned, and shout "Objection!" while pointing at passers by in the street.

Ace Attorney Investigations Collection is coming to PS4 on 6th September, 2024. Are you looking forward to this latest compilation from the franchise? Present your testimony in the comments section below.