The announcement that Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney fans have been waiting for since 2015 has finally been delivered. Wednesday morning Capcom officially confirmed that The Great Ace Attorney: Adventures and The Great Ace Attorney 2: Resolve are going to be released outside of Japan. Fans will be able to purchase them together in The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles, which will be released on PC, PlayStation 4, and Nintendo Switch on July 27.
The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles' two games are both a continuation of the ideas found in the Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney games and unique to their own. The biggest change, and one of the reasons they weren't localized when they were originally released, is that they're set decades in the past. It's the age of Herlock Sholmes, Ace Attorney's take on the legendary detective. And both titles in the bundle are much more heavily steeped in Japanese history and puns even than games prior. Localization couldn't have been easy.
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Yet for those familiar with Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney, The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles will feel like comfort food. The protagonist of the two titles is Ryunosuke Naruhodo, Phoenix Wright's ancestor, so players will be at home from the beginning of the game. Ryunosuke will have a rival and mentor with Kazuma Asogi, an assistant in Susato Mikotoba, a near-villainous opposing prosecutor in van Zieks, and many other surprisingly familiar faces and characters that run parallel to those in the original Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney trilogy.
Much as Ryunosuke and the cast around them will be familiar, so will The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles' gameplay. Players will spend their time investigating crime scenes for evidence, gathering witness testimony, and ultimately defending their clients in court. Being newer than most of the Phoenix Wright games, however, players should expect some new and fun gameplay elements that mix things up a bit, as well. For example, the introduction of juries to courtrooms.
Other new features added for The Great Ace Attorney mode include the optional Story Mode, which automates gameplay elements and turns the games into visual novels. There's also unlockable art and illustrations with commentary from the art director, DLC content, extra video clips, and even alternate costumes for The Great Ace Attorney 2.
Those interested in picking up The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles will have several options at hand. The standalone version of the bundle will be available digitally, with a physical copy available on Switch. A PS4 physical edition can be imported from Japan. Alternatively, there will be a special Ace Attorney Turnabout Collection that bundles both The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles and Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy in one digital package. It's a great option for new players just starting with Phoenix Wright. Expect more information in the months ahead.
The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles releases July 27 on PC, PS4, and Switch.