The spiky-haired, finger-pointing lawyer that is Phoenix Wright may be the face of Capcom’s Ace Attorney series, but the significance of his sharp-witted, level-headed rival prosecutor Miles Edgeworth cannot be understated. Two halves of a truth-seeking duo, the legal aces have thrown countless ‘Objections!’ at each other in court, working together on opposing sides to find the truth. 

But as longtime fans would know, that hasn’t always been the case. Miles has mellowed out throughout the games, going from Demon Prosecutor and reluctant ally to a trusted confidante, earning him a permanent spot in the list of all-time favourites. After witnessing his growth from an external lens, Ace Attorney Investigations Collection presents the chance to step into the shoes of the titular character and dive into his inner psyche. 

Instead of courtroom drama, however, players will take to the streets and engage in battles of wit at crime scenes and relevant places of interest. It signifies a heavier lean into the mystery genre and point-and-click influence, but retains the spirit of its progenitor wholeheartedly, from the over-the-top flair and eclectic personalities to dramatic twists. 

Set between the third and fourth mainline entries – Trials & Tribulations and Apollo Justice respectively, to be exact – the duology marks the first official localisation of Ace Attorney Investigations 2: Prosecutor’s Gambit, following its Japan-only release in 2011 that subsequently received a wonderful fan translation. 

The sequel joins 2009’s Ace Attorney: Miles Edgeworth, released internationally in 2010, in fleshing out the gameplay loop of examining scenes, collecting evidence, making observations, and interrogating suspects to bring them to apollo justice. A refreshing and enjoyable change in pace, the compilation is a stark reminder of its underrated nature, reinforcing the collective enthusiasm for Miles as a major recurring figure – even if it doesn’t necessarily escape the shadow of the mainline titles. 

The most distinct tweak right off the bat is the enhanced HD visual presentation, bringing a charming glint to the character designs. In a neat pivot, Ace Attorney Investigations Collection features newly-drawn iterations of the original sprites, spawning fluid animation and polished portraits that fit nicely into the 16:9 aspect ratio. Fans looking to relive the Nintendo DS experience can opt for the original graphics, but they don’t look the best on bigger displays like TVs and monitors. On the console’s 6.2-inch screen, the less crisp visuals are easier to forgive.

Navigation marks another departure from tradition. Unlike its mainline counterparts, the duology offers direct control over Miles, who can move around in a space – as opposed to jumping between different menu screens – and interact with both objects and people of interest. It’s also more grounded, eschewing the series’ recurring supernatural and mystical elements for step-by-step deductions, so don’t expect to break Psyche-Locks, summon spirits, Perceive abnormal twitches, or analyse erratic emotions. There’s only one way to solve the case here, and it’s with good ol’ logic. 

In fact, Logic comes as a new addition to Ace Attorney Investigations Collection, where players have to manually make connections between two pieces of information and draw new conclusions. Piecing them together correctly often sparks a sense of satisfaction, joining the Little Thief mechanic in spicing up gameplay.

Owned by Miles’ energetic sidekick Kay Faraday, the simulation device allows her to re-create and investigate old crime scenes to progress, with the freedom to jump between the past and present versions of them proving handy in uncovering fresh clues. It gets an upgrade in the sequel, bringing the ability to map out a crime scene at multiple moments in time, bathed in a green glow. 

Rebuttals, meanwhile, tread on familiar territory. Building on the cross-examination face-offs in court, these brief debate sequences pit Edgeworth against various opponents as he dissects testimonies, presses for more information, and shouts out objections when a contradiction appears (sounds familiar?). The signature speech bubble always makes for a welcoming sight, but like all the other entries in the series, Ace Attorney Investigations Collection suffers from the same structured linearity. 

Essentially, the game follows a single thread of logic, where the correct piece of evidence or conversational topic needs to be presented at the right time. There’s a rigidity to the process that fans should already be used to, and the occasional frustration that follows this step-by-step flow still persists, especially where far-fetched reasoning leaps (even by Ace Attorney standards) are concerned. 

The reprieve is that Miles’ reactions to wrong responses or guesses brings an entertaining touch to the whole affair – more so than playing as the Phoenix Wright, whose behavior and humour align fairly closely with his personality. Here, some of the prosecutor’s inner monologue and statements are at odds with his level-headed, composed demeanour, humanising him in a way that adds to his growth from the original trilogy.

Part of the portrayal can also be attributed to his interactions with the supporting cast, which includes series regulars Dick Gumshoe, Franziska von Karma, and Larry Butz, as well as returning side characters like Wendy Oldbag (plus, a special cameo from Phoenix and Maya and Pearl Fey). It’s his dynamic with Kay that stands out, however, softening out his stern-faced, straight-laced edges – a development that carries over to Ace Attorney Investigations 2: Prosecutor’s Gambit.

While Ace Attorney: Miles Edgeworth makes for a good time, much of the heavy lifting is done in the subsequent outing. The first game takes a while to find its footing, so its execution is a little loose and flimsy, ending up more on the middling side of things with some less-than-memorable cases. But it walked so Ace Attorney Investigations 2: Prosecutor’s Gambit could run, and boy, does it sprint to a gratifying high. With improved storytelling and characterisation, the sequel alone is worth playing through the lows of the original title.

For starters, Mind Chess turns Rebuttals into a more engaging affair. A countdown timer now appears at the top of the screen, and players will have to poke holes at a testimony and use logic to overwhelm opponents before it runs out. Aggression won’t always work, though, as this virtual chess space also offers the option to stay silent, allowing Miles to bide his time and wait for the subject to walk into a trap. 

The mechanic works to greater effect past the first two cases, introducing a sense of urgency to the problem-solving process that never overstays its welcome. Despite the adrenaline boost, the stakes do still feel lower as compared to the courtroom battles, sharing the same issue as its predecessor, and can sometimes lead to a tonal mismatch between expectations – descriptors like “epic” or “cool” come to mind – and reality, such as the anti-climactic interrogation of Miles’ childhood friend and bumbling comedic figure Larry.

Some may find that the cases in the collection take longer to complete, especially for the finale, and it’s nothing new. Where Ace Attorney: Miles Edgeworth tends to drag developments out for too long, however, Prosecutor’s Gambit finds a sharper edge in its tighter pacing and more streamlined storytelling. The slow-burn opening paves the way for a gripping, mind-blowing conclusion to the saga, and the mysteries, each with their fair share of twists and red herrings, are intricately woven into a cohesive narrative. Not every case is perfect, of course, but there’s often the fun element to look forward to with hardly moments of boredom, alongside interesting locations. 

Characterisation, too, feels more fleshed out here. As Miles’ dynamics with his companions have already been established, there’s a stronger and easier connection to the main cast. There’s a layered veneer to new faces, both allies and foes alike, that takes time to unravel, revealing more to them than meets the eye (in classic Ace Attorney fashion). It’s common for players to change their impression of certain characters, where some will grow on them, and others, evoking strong emotional responses. In a welcome nod to Miles’ past, one of the cases turns back the clock to feature his father Gregory, which is a nice dose of fan service. 

The callbacks can also be a bit of a double-edged sword because while they are a given for spin-offs, the nostalgia occasionally comes across as overdone and deters Ace Attorney Investigations Collection from cementing an identity strong enough to stand on its own. At least its reputation for eccentric characters and punny names remains intact, spanning groan-worthy and puzzling to genuinely witty ones. 

To that end, there’s little to complain about the localisation of Ace Attorney Investigations 2: Prosecutor’s Gambit. Admittedly, there are moments where the fan translation seems to be a better fit – such as Sebastian Debeste, the unofficial name of Eustace Winner that sparked many “I’m the best” jokes with hilarious comebacks from Miles – but it reads naturally and smoothly enough. Be it legalese or regular jargon, the information is presented in a palatable, digestible manner, even if it gets a little verbose at times. 

Like all of its re-released counterparts, Ace Attorney Investigations Collection adds a Story Mode feature that acts as a helpline for players who are stuck at any point in the game and advances the story on their behalf, from automatically playing out dialogue to choosing the right piece of evidence. It does dilute the experience, however, and disables trophies and achievements when activated, so a hint system might be more ideal as an alternative. 

Other quality-of-life improvements include an episode and chapter selection, as well as the ability to review character dialogue through the History tab and switch between the original and new soundtrack arrangements from both titles. As expected, the duology promises quality music in spades, whether it’s the thrilling, pulsating beats of the Pursuit Theme, or the chirpy and distinctive character scores.

The arrival of Ace Attorney Investigations Collection marks another exciting landmark for series veterans, now that every game in the lineup (except the Professor Layton crossover title) is available to play in English on modern hardware. Despite stepping away from courtroom drama, the bundle still wears the charming, outlandish flair of its forebears proudly, doing a great job at combining new elements with what fans loved about the original trilogy – quirks and all. The wager doesn’t always pay off, particularly in the first game, but the delight of diving into some of the best storytelling in the series makes an iron-clad argument to embark on a new adventure. 

And one with a fan-favourite protagonist to boot? No objections there. 

Si Jia

Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.

The post Ace Attorney Investigations Collection – Review appeared first on Geek Culture.

Professor Layton is back! The new game, Professor Layton and the New World of Steam, takes place one year after the events of Professor Layton and the Unwound Future from way back in 2008 (on the Nintendo DS). The story now takes place in Steam Bison, America, where the power of highly advanced steam engines has ushered in a new world, greatly surpassing even London’s technological development. And now, due to the mysterious incident in Steam Bison, a new adventure for Professor Layton and Luke begins.

Check out the full 13-minute demo playthrough of Nintendo Switch gameplay captured from the showfloor at Tokyo Game Show 2024.

Professor Layton and the New World of Steam is coming to the Nintendo Switch in 2025.

Yonk

Yonk is a geek who is fortunate enough to have an equally geeky Star Wars fan for a wife, who owns a LEGO Millennium Falcon encased in a glass coffee table as their home’s centre-piece.

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Tech specialists at Digital Foundry (DF) have expressed confidence that the recently leaked images of the rumoured Nintendo Switch 2 are “almost certainly real.”

The photos reportedly originated from a Chinese site before appearing on Reddit, and display what seem to be prototype elements of the next-generation console. Digital Foundry discussed these images in a YouTube video and a Eurogamer post, describing them as “our first hard evidence of what form the machine may actually take.”

According to DF, past leaks related to shipping documents from Taiwan have provided strong support for the authenticity of last week’s leak, which date back to October 2023 and could represent an early prototype.

The leaked images include views of Computer-Aided Design (CAD) modeling and details such as an eight-inch LCD screen, a larger form factor, and redesigned Joy-Cons that connect using magnetic rails. Other features shown include dual USB-C ports at the top and bottom, speculated to support accessories like an external camera or enable charging during tabletop play. The photos also reveal a Micro-SD card slot and cartridge support, “with strong hints that original Switch media is also supported,” says DF.

Technical specs of the Switch 2 were also talked about by DF, which boasts 12GB of RAM and a maximum bandwidth of 102GB/s — significantly upgraded from the original Switch’s 4GB.

Faking the motherboard to this degree would demand an advanced level of technical expertise, far beyond what would be required for a simple 3D-printed case, according to DF’s chief Richard Leadbetter. “It’s right to have a degree of scepticism about this leak because there’s nothing to stop someone 3D printing up a fake casing,” he said. “However, faking a convincing motherboard would require a degree of technical knowledge that I’d put beyond even the most elaborate hoax. It would be easier simply not to fake a board at all and to make the printed components look a lot more genuine.”

“Then there’s the fact that everything shown on that board is a match for the latest and most accurate leaks based on Taiwan shipping manifests, accumulated by the ardent sleuths on the Famiboards forum,” he explained.

Though Nintendo has yet to officially verify these images, and they remain unconfirmed, sources have told Video Games Chronicle (VGC) that the images align with what the company has communicated to its partners regarding the console’s design.

The images are included in a thread by Andy Robinson from VGC on X, formerly known as Twitter. 

Nintendo has previously stated that it will reveal its next-generation console by March 2025, with a launch planned after the end of the current fiscal year. The buzz around the Switch 2 continues to build, with some developers already planning to release future titles on the upcoming platform. Nintendo also anticipates having ample stock available at launch, which could help prevent scalping issues.

Kaylyn Lim

Kaylyn is usually geeking out over gacha games or the latest updates in a manga, and can talk all day about them. She’s also an avid collector, and really needs more space to store her game merchandise, utaite CDs and manga books.

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It’s been a hectic period for Nintendo, even without a Switch successor reveal. Fresh off a showcase in June and the Nintendo Museum Direct just last week, the Japanese giant held another presentation on 27 August — this time, as a two-in-one event focusing on upcoming indie titles.

Spanning 40 minutes, it lifted the curtain on some surprising and fun announcements, including familiar retro classics with a shiny coat of paint (once again, Hollow Knight: Silksong fans will be disappointed). Some of these releases are also available for download now, so say goodbye to the waiting game.

Here’s everything that was revealed during the Nintendo Direct for August 2024, from Yakuza Kiwami and a Castlevania trilogy bundle to a slew of JPRGs.

Yakuza Kiwami

After years of waiting, the remake of the first Yakuza game is finally landing on Nintendo hybrid console. Both returning fans and newcomers will be able to (re)visit the streets of Kamurocho when 24 October rolls around, with Majima’s iconic ‘Kiryu-chaaaaaaan~’ cry keeping them on their toes. The port is particularly notable, as the series features mature (some may even say ‘violent’) and morally ambiguous content — which is off-brand for the company — but we’re certainly not complaining. Now, if only the rest of the titles could make their way over…

Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma

Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma is due out in Spring 2025 as a bold reimagination of the classic action RPG. In it, players will step into the shoes of an Earth Dancer for the very first time, and call upon “unique powers to battle blighted monsters and restore the land, people, villages, and even gods to their natural glory.”

The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky the 1st

Talk about sneaky! A brand-new Legends of Heroes: Trails in the Sky remake got an extremely brief glimpse as part of a sizzle reel, and it’s got fans all excited — understandably so, because the original is buried in relative obscurity. The sprawling entry is slated for a 2025 release, with the Japanese trailer showcasing more of its highly lauded worldbuilding, memorable protagonists, and deep battle system:

Castlevania Dominus Collection

What’s better than a compilation of three Castlevania titles that originally debuted on the Nintendo DS? All of that, plus the 1987 arcade game Haunted Castle! Castlevania Dominus Collection brings together Dawn of Sorrow, Portrait of Ruin, and Order of Ecclesia, as well as the bonus addition, sprucing things up with “extra features such as save states or rewind”. The bundle is available now, and joins the existing family lineup that includes Castlevania Anniversary Collection and the Castlevania Advance Collection.

Suikoden 1 and 2 HD Remaster

Suikoden 1 and 2 HD Remaster has resurfaced after a period of radio silence, and it’s looking better than ever. Releasing on 6 March 2025, the collection sports enhanced visuals, the ability to speed up combat to 2x and 4x speeds, an auto-battle feature, and more.

Capcom Fighting Collection 2

Capcom certainly isn’t pulling any punches when it comes to nostalgia. Hot on the heels of Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection, the brawling spirit continues with Capcom Fighting Collection 2, packing eight retro fighting games that span Capcom vs. SNK, its sequel, both Power Stone titles, and more. There’s no word on a release window, but 2025 is a safe bet.

Five Nights at Freddy’s: Help Wanted 2 and Security Breach — Ruin

Gear up for another spooktacular ride with Freddy Fazbear and gang. After releasing on other platforms in 2023, Five Nights at Freddy’s: Help Wanted 2 is hitting the Nintendo Switch this holiday, with Five Nights at Freddy’s: Security Breach – Ruin also bringing more frights and thrills within the same window.

MySims Cozy Bundle

Best described as The Sims meets Animal Crossing, MySims Cozy Bundle will arrive 19 November and see players making “adorable friends and discover[ing] creative adventures across retro re-releases of two lovable games.” Each character has their own unique qualities, so expect to befriend many colourful personalities.

Tales of Graces f Remastered

No gameplay here, but fans of the former PlayStation 3-exclusive were treated to an extended look at Tales of Graces f Remastered. Launching on 17 January 2025, the game revisits the journey of Asbel and his friends, and will boast “visual improvements and downloadable content released in the original”.

Balatro: Friends of Jimbo

The more, the merrier. Beloved deck-building roguelite Balatro has announced upcoming decks themed after various titles, including The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Vampire Survivors, Among Us, and Dave the Diver. It’s unclear how new effects will differ for each collaboration, but as part of a free update coming in 2025, things are already looking exciting.

Neva

Hailing from the makers of Gris, Neva is a beautifully-styled adventure that follows a young woman and her wolf as the world slowly decays around them. The side-scrolling platformer debuts 15 October, promising what seems to be a tear-jerker in store.

PowerWash Simulator — Official Shrek Special Pack

Everyone can now be an all-star when it comes to cleaning Shrek’s swamp this fall. Described as a ‘fairy tale collaboration”, the new Shrek Special Pack for PowerWash Simulator covers five iconic maps from the ogre’s world, including Shrek’s Swamp, Dragon’s Lair, and three other unrevealed locations.

Sea of Stars: Throes of the Watchmaker DLC

The highly-anticipated expansion for indie darling Sea of Stars, Throes of the Watchmaker, takes players into Horloge, where a cursed carnival “threatens the innocent denizens, Valere and Zale will have play by foreign rules for their powers to manifest.” Expect to cross paths with a slate of oddities and wonders in this miniature clockwork world when the free DLC drops in spring 2025.

Atelier Yumia: The Alchemist of Memories and the Envisioned Land

An alchemy JRPG themed around memory, Atelier Yumia: The Alchemist of Memories and the Envisioned Land (yes, the title is a handful) is set to bow in early 2025, telling the story of Yumia as she confronts her past, memories, and the art of, well, alchemy.

Fitness Boxing 3: Your Personal Training

From a single Quick Workout to Mitt Drills, where players can practice combos with an instructor, Fitness Boxing 3: Your Personal Trainer presents various options to suit different lifestyles. The fitness title is set to punch its way to a 5 December launch, with 30 new instrumental songs in tow.

SpongeBob Squarepants: The Patrick Star Game

Come 4 October, Bikini Bottom will transform into a sandbox playground that invites some physics-defying fun. Apart from missions from beloved characters like  SpongeBob, Mr. Krabs, Sandy, and Plankton, SpongeBob Squarepants: The Patrick Star Game features activities that run the gamut from building Krabby Patties to causing chaos in Mrs. Puff’s rage room.

Star Overdrive

A timed Nintendo Switch exclusive, Star Overdrive centres around exploring a vast planet and defeat various beasts with a hover board, as well as solving puzzles. The bright, lively intergalactic romp is due out in 2025.

Tetris Forever

The spirit of Tetris never dies. Touting an “interactive museum” experience, Tetris Forever comprises several entries in the series, such as the 1988 Famicom version of Tetris, Super Bombliss, Super Tetris 2 + Bombliss, Tetris Battle Gaiden, and Super Tetris 3, alongside a new mode called Tetris Time Mode. An exact release date has yet to be determined, but it’s coming sometime before the end of 2024.

Pizza Tower

Pizza Tower, the fast-paced 2D platformer inspired by the Wario Land franchise, is set to bring more chaos to Nintendo’s hybrid console. Available now, it sees players taking on the role of Peppino Spaghetti, a manic pizza man with many abilities like charging, super jumping, and dashing.

On Your Tail

On Your Tail promises a perfect summer vacation in store — not for pure humans, but for animal people. Set in the charming seaside village of Borgo Marina, it features exploration, socialising, and puzzle-solving elements when 21 November arrives.

Cuisineer

The adorable food-focused dungeon crawler from Singapore-based Battlebrew Productions, Cuisineer, is cooking up a 28 January 2025 release on the Switch. Part roguelike and part restaurant simulator, it challenges players to earn their dinner the hard way: by fighting it in a dungeon, while keeping stomachs full.

Europa

Nature is the name of the game in Europa, due out on 11 October. In a world of lakes, meadows, and mountains littered within a fallen civilisation, a young boy will have to “run, glide, and fly across the landscape, solve mysteries in the ruins of a fallen utopia, and discover the story of the last human alive.”

Shovel Knight: Shovel of Hope DX

The ultimate edition of the beloved title, Shovel Knight: Shovel of Hope DX promises 20 playable characters, seamless online multiplayer, and new features like rewind and save states sometime in 2025.

Pico Park 2

Chaos await in Pico Park 2, out now as the surprise follow-up to the 2D action puzzle game. Join forces with up to seven others in local or online co-op, and use teamwork to complete various level objectives. Only one Nintendo Switch unit is needed for play, with Dark Mode unlocking a new unfair and difficult version.

Wobbly Life

It’s all about physics in Wobbly Life. The open-world sandbox supports both online and local co-op, and will bow in this December with “exciting jobs, mini games, and wacky story missions”.

Peglin

Peglin is one to check out. Described as a “pachinko roguelike”, the game sports pixel-art graphics and a fresh spin on the turn-based RPG experience. It’s available now on the Nintendo platform, after releasing on PC and smartphone devices earlier.

Date Everything

As its title suggests, Date Everything looks to take the dating simulator genre to new heights by extending dating options to objects, lovers, friends, enemies, and, well, everything else. Love will be in the air come 24 October.

Morsels

In Morsels, cats are the bad guys. To overcome feline dominance, players will have to use magic cards to transform into little monsters and form their troop of monster friends. Prepare to live life as a mouse when February 2025 lands.

Moth Kubit

Nothing short of bizarre, Moth Kubit is a surreal and satirical RPG that investigates a mysterious insect mega-corp, with opportunities to “bee-friend co-workers, engage in some verbal showdowns, uncover secrets, and shape the story.” The top-down adventure is slated for release in spring 2025.

Coffee Talk Tokyo

Indonesian studio Toge Productions’ Coffee Talk is brewing some new conversations in Tokyo. Releasing sometime in 2025, this new visual novel installment continues to put players in the shoes of a barista in an all-night coffee shop and listen to “stories of love, loss, joy, and sadness” from both humans and fantastical creatures alike.

Si Jia

Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.

The post Nintendo Direct August 2024 Recap: ‘Yakuza Kiwami,’ ‘Castlevania Dominus Collection’ & More appeared first on Geek Culture.

The kingdom of Hyrule has taken many forms over the years, transforming from 8-bit pixels to the 3D creations of today’s landscape. With The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom nearing its 26 September release, Nintendo has dropped a first look at a familiar-yet-different world and its gameplay mechanics.

A five-minute trailer titled “Traversing Hyrule” highlights key locations that fans can expect, including Gerudo Desert, Eldin Volcano, and Faron Wetlands. The Zelda-led adventure will also introduce the new region of Jabul Waters, home to both the Sea Zora and River Zora.

Here’s the full description for each area, per the trailer:

• The Gerudo Desert consists of scorching dunes as far as the eye can see and is prone to frequent sandstorms that’s no problem for the women of the Gerudo Tribe, though. There are many ruins full of mysteries here, and an oasis—a great place to relax.
• Jabul Waters is home to some of Hyrule’s most scenic waterways. It’s also where you can find the Sea Zora and the River Zora, who each reside in their respective villages. Though they don’t always get along. What could they be fighting about?
• Daunting cliffs and lava flows dominate the Eldin Volcano region. Pacarico Village is nestled at the mountain’s base, but you’ll have to brave treacherous trails to reach the home of the Gorons. Those rocks may look delicious—alas, they are not for Hylians.
• The Faron Wetlands are a lush labyrinth of vegetation. As you wander the jungle you might come across a Deku Scrub. Rumor has it these peculiar creatures have a voracious sweet tooth.

To get around the map, players can either use fast travel points called Waypoints — unlocked naturally when they arrive in the region for the first time — or ride horses, available for summon at any time once the carrot echo is unlocked.

The mechanics from The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and sequel Tears of the Kingdom have been carried over as well, but with their own twist. Mixing and matching ingredients, for example, is required for creating smoothies instead of cooking, while dressing Zelda up in different outfits grants unique benefits.

Lastly, the trailer shows off Zelda’s skillset and the abilities of her ethereal companion Tri. Where Bind forces objects to follow the princess’ movements, Reverse Bond does the opposite (as its name would suggest). The mighty Tri Rod, described by Nintendo as a staff that can “make imitations (or “echoes”) of certain objects and enemies found in Hyrule”, is the source of this power, encouraging players to unleash their creativity in both combat and puzzle-solving situations.

The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom hits the Nintendo Switch on 26 September, and will be the first mainline game in the series to explicitly star Zelda as the main protagonist, finally beating the “why is it called Legend of Zelda when Link’s the main character?” allegations.

Si Jia

Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.

The post ‘The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom’ Trailer Takes Players On A Tour Through Hyrule appeared first on Geek Culture.

The Pokémon franchise has spawned countless critters over the years, with players stepping into the role of a trainer who aspires to be the very best that no one ever was. Then came Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team, which turned them into, well, Pokémon themselves, offering a difference experience altogether.

18 years later, fans will be able to revisit their grand adventure again on a new platform. The Game Boy Advance (GBA) classic is headed to Nintendo Switch Online subscription service on 9 August, joining other spin-off titles like the Pokémon Stadium duology, Pokémon Puzzle League, the Game Boy Pokémon TCG game, and Pokémon Snap on N64.

The re-release of this older entry is a surprise for many, as Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX, an enhanced remake of the game and its matching counterpart, Blue Rescue Team, is already available on the Switch.

While the news may disappoint longtime enthusiasts who continue to hope for mainline titles like Pokémon Red, Crystal, and Sapphire, Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team is still a well-regarded pick. Apart from being the first Pokémon-themed Mystery Dungeon game in franchise history, the 2006 spin-off was also the last game in the series to be released for the GBA.

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Blue Rescue Team was released for the Nintendo DS at the same time, with six exclusive Pokémon, improved power, and dual-screen capabilities in tow. The updated remake of these two entries debuted on the Nintendo Switch in 2020 and introduced a handful of new features, including a personality quiz at the start of the game, a visual overhaul, and more.

Si Jia

Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.

The post ‘Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team’ Available 9 Aug On Nintendo Switch Online appeared first on Geek Culture.

Nintendo has long been synonymous with 8-bit gaming nostalgia, thanks to iconic titles from the Famicom/NES era. Despite this, the company has maintained a complicated relationship with its classic games and emulation. One example is the updated 8-bit system controllers designed for use with the current Switch hardware. Until recently they were exclusively available only to Nintendo Switch Online members.

Previously, being a Nintendo Switch Online member did not entitle one to free or discounted controllers; it merely allowed the privilege of purchasing them. This exclusivity was intended to drive subscriptions but also alienated many potential customers. However, Nintendo Japan has now decided to make these controllers available to everyone.

This change coincides with the release of the new game, Nintendo World Championships: Famicom World Championship. The game is a collection of score/time-attack minigames from the Famicom/NES era.

This game’s launch created a demand for retro controllers, especially among non-Nintendo Switch Online members. Now, anyone can purchase a set of Famicom controllers through the Japanese My Nintendo Store for 6,578 yen (S$55). They are also available at major electronics retailers in Japan.

This announcement was made via Nintendo Japan’s official Twitter account. The My Nintendo Store e-shop page for the Family Computer Controllers no longer mentions any requirement for a Nintendo Switch Online membership.

However, for those in the U.S., the Switch-compatible NES controllers remain exclusive to Nintendo Switch Online members.

Just like the original Famicom controllers, only the player one controller has a start and select buttons. Interested buyers can find them on Nintendo Japan’s online store.

In other Nintendo Switch news, there are still no updates on when the Nintendo Switch 2 will be available. New reports have pointed to a delayed 2025 release of the highly-anticipated console.

Marcus

When Marcus is not trying to full combo a song on his favourite rhythm games, he’s either reading or watching some obscure Japanese mystery show/novel. Don’t ask him how much his Arkham Horror collection costs either, it’s his most closely guarded secret.

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Well-played, Nintendo. In the wake of releasing an eerie and age-restricted teaser, the gaming giant has lifted the curtain on its mystery title: Emio – The Smiling Man. Not the new horror game that many were expecting, the latest Famicom Detective Club title will be a Switch exclusive when it bows in on 29 August.

It marks the first brand-new entry in the visual novel series in an astonishing 35 years, and sees Metroid producer Yoshio Sakamoto at the helm. “This is the first new Famicom Detective Club game in 30 years, and I was involved in everything,” he explained in a video . “[F]rom the foundations of the plot to small details of the script and cutscenes.”

In Emio – The Smiling Man, players step into the role of a detective tasked with solving a gruesome murder of a student, who was found with a paper bag with smiling face over his head. “This unsettling visage bears a striking resemblance to a recurring clue in a string of unsolved murders from 18 years ago, as well as Emio (the Smiling Man), a killer of urban legend who is said to grant his victims ‘a smile that will last forever'”, reads a snippet of the game’s synopsis.

“Has a serial killer returned, or is this the work of a copycat? Are these crimes inspired by the Smiling Man story, or the origin of it? These answers and more will be discovered as you investigate in Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club.”

The Cheshire grin motif was previously teased in 15 seconds of grainy footage starring a figure in a trench coat with a paper bag over their head, accompanied by camera cuts to disturbing images ranging from a Jack-o’-lantern cutout to a person’s hand that appears to be missing a finger.

The sleuthing adventure follows the Switch remakes of Famicom Detective: The Missing Heir and The Girl Who Stands Behind, both of which were announced and released in 2021. The games first debuted in 1988 and 1989, respectively, to positive response from critics, but were only available in Japan at launch. Ayumi Tachibana, the protagonist from The Missing Heir, will return as a playable character in certain sections of Emio – The Smiling Man, due out on 29 August.

Si Jia

Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.

The post Nintendo Brings ‘Famicom Detective Club’ Back After 35 Years With ‘Emio – The Smiling Man’ appeared first on Geek Culture.

If it feels like the Nintendo Switch has been around for quite some time, that’s because it has. The hybrid console now holds the honour of being the company’s longest-running console without a successor, breaking the previous record held by the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), otherwise known as Famicom in Japan.

At the time of writing, Switch’s lifecycle hit 2,691 days since its worldwide release on 3 March 2017, surpassing the 2,686-day streak held by its ancestor. The figure is expected to go beyond 2,920 days, as company president Shuntaro Furukawa wrote on X/Twitter that an announcement about its successor will take place “within this fiscal year”, which puts it before March 2025. The launch, therefore, is likely to take place after.

It’s interesting to note that the interval between each hardware launch after the NES got increasingly shorter, until the transitional period from the Wii to Wii U. The latter enjoyed the fewest days without being replaced, clocking 1,566 days in a rare Nintendo sales flop. Released in 1983, the NES was the predecessor of 1990’s Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES), first announced in 1988.

Here’s a side-by-comparison of the gap between each Nintendo home console launch over the years:

• Wii U (18 November 2012) – Nintendo Switch (3 March 2017): 1,566 days
• Nintendo GameCube (14 September 2001) – Wii (19 November 2006): 1,892 days
• Nintendo 64 (23 June 1996) – Nintendo GameCube (14 September, 2001): 1,909 days
• SNES (21 November 1990) – Nintendo 64 (23 June 1996): 2,041 days
• Wii (19 November 2006) – Wii U (18 November 2012): 2,191 days
• Color TV-Game (1 June 1977) – NES (15 July 1983): 2,235 days
• NES (15 July 1983) – SNES (21 November 1990): 2,686 days
• Nintendo Switch (3 March 2017) – Present day (15 July 2024): 2,691 days and counting

Pitting the Nintendo Switch’s record against the gaming giant’s longest-running handheld devices, it beats all-time company bestseller the Nintendo DS, which enjoyed 2,288 days until the debut of the Nintendo 3DS. The reigning champion, though, is the original Game Boy with a whopping 4,352-day streak before the arrival of the Game Boy Advance in 2001 — the Game Boy Colour, released in 1998, was not considered to be a proper standalone successor due to insufficient improvements.

As it stands, there are no official details on what the next-gen Nintendo Switch entails. The word on the grapevine is that it will feature OLED tech, a step-up from the current LCD screen, backward compatibility, and an improved processor, but we can only wait and see.

Si Jia

Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.

The post Nintendo Switch Dethrones NES As Company’s Longest-Running Console Without Successor appeared first on Geek Culture.

Riddle us this: who has turquoise hair, and can sing, dance, and box? It’s none other than Hatsune Miku, and she’s here to help Nintendo Switch users keep fit. Following its debut in Japan, Fitness Boxing feat. Hatsune Miku: Isshoni Exercise will punch its way to Hong Kong, Taiwan, Korea, and Southeast Asia on 12 July.

The upcoming title features the popular virtual superstar as a coach, with fellow Piapro characters Kagamine Rin, Kagamine Len, and Megurine Luka coming in as partner options. It serves as the successor to Fitness Boxing 2: Rhythm and Exercise and Fitness Boxing: Fist of the North Star, offering access to outfit customisation and 99 different routines with over 60 songs — the most in the series.

Meanwhile, the new Miku Exercise mode includes original hits performed by the Piapro members, like “Melt” and “God-ish”, alongside newly composed songs. Instructor voices will be available in Chinese Korean, and English, with language support for Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, Korean, English, French, Italian, German, and Spanish.

Released in 2018, Fitness Boxing sees players using the Joy-Con motion controllers to perform punches and dodge maneuvers. The score of each workout is determined by their precision in executing these actions, and the routine, length, and intensity can be adjusted at any time. The game also has charts that calculates estimated fitness age and calorie burn based on a player’s height and weight.

Fitness Boxing feat. Hatsune Miku: Isshoni Exercise releases 12 July for Asia.

Si Jia

Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.

The post Get Fit With Hatsune Miku In ‘Fitness Boxing’ For The Switch This July appeared first on Geek Culture.

Nintendo announced that The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom has surpassed 20 million copies sold, placing it among the top 10 best-selling Switch games since the console’s launch. Currently, it comes in as the ninth best-selling game on the platform, despite its recent release in May last year.

The announcement came during Nintendo’s recent financial report, where Tears of the Kingdom topped the list of first-party Nintendo games released in 2023, outpacing other major titles. 20 of Nintendo’s first-party titles surpassed one million sales during the last financial year, with other strong titles including Super Mario Bros Wonder and Pikmin 4, selling 13 million and three million copies respectively.

With the success of The Super Mario Bros. Movie, the Super Mario franchise saw a surge in popularity, as seen from the eight-million sales mark for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. This has further solidified its status as the best-selling Switch game, with cumulative sales reaching 61 million.

According to Nintendo’s list of its 10 best-selling Switch games to date, Animal Crossing: New Horizons comes in at second with 45.36 million copies sold, and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate at third, with 34.22 million sold. Alongside Tears of the Kingdom, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is also on the list at fourth, selling 31.85 million copies in total.

Nintendo’s net profit has seen a 13 percent increase over the previous year, reaching 490 billion yen in the most recent fiscal year. Despite this success, Switch console sales have seen a slight decline, dropping from 17 million units sold in between 2022 to 2023, to 15 million in the latest financial year. However, Nintendo has assured fans that a successor to the Switch is in development and will be announced within the current fiscal year.

Kaylyn Lim

Kaylyn is usually geeking out over gacha games or the latest updates in a manga, and can talk all day about them. She’s also an avid collector, and really needs more space to store her game merchandise, utaite CDs and manga books.

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Following in the footsteps of pastiche games like Mighty No. 9, Keiji Inafune’s spiritual successor to Mega Man, and Koji Igarashi’s Castlevania revival, Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night, Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is a valiant attempt to recapture the magic of classic games from a bygone era — in this case, Konami’s role-playing game (RPG) series, Suikoden.

What sets this game apart from games that pay homage to the original is that it’s designed by the late Yoshitaka Murayama, the creator of Suikoden himself, and supported by the team of industry veterans (with credits spanning games such as Time Hollow, Arca Last, and Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow) that make up Rabbit & Bear Studios, so it’s no surprise that this crowdfunded success understands the genre’s intricacies. A bite-sized prequel to Hundred Heroes, Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising, was released in 2022 to set the stage for this new franchise. For the uninitiated, Hundred Heroes boasts a massive world, an expansive narrative, and over 100 recruitable characters, which makes the game’s scope is undeniably impressive, capturing the essence of Suikoden while adding its own unique twists and turns.

One of Hundred Heroes‘s standout features is its vast roster of characters, each with distinct personalities and abilities. The thrill of recruiting new party members recalls the joys of a Pokémon-esque “Gotta catch ’em all!” collectathon, as players scour the world for unique characters to join their cause. However, the recruitment process often devolves into mundane activities, such as tedious fetch quests and repetitive tasks, detracting from the sense of excitement and discovery.

Battles in Hundred Heroes adhere to a pretty conventional JRPG format, tasking players with commanding a team of up to six characters in turn-based skirmishes. The combat initially feels straightforward and uninspired, lacking the strategic depth and challenge expected from a game of its calibre. The early hours of the game can be powered through with basic attacks, leaving much to be desired in terms of complexity.

That said, the combat becomes more engaging as players unlock new abilities and expand their party, paving the way for customisation and experimentation. Coupled with equippable magical items and team-up attacks between characters that share an affinity, there are numerous ways to build a team. However, with most regular enemy encounters remaining a dull grind rather than appealing challenges, there may not be much reason to fiddle with team composition. In contrast, boss battles offer unique obstacles and gimmicks, adding depth to the combat experience.

Even with a plot rife with clichés, Hundred Heroes offers moments of gripping storytelling and political intrigue. Yet, the narrative occasionally stumbles due to its trio of main protagonists and extensive supporting cast, resulting in a lack of balance between the overarching political drama and individual character development.

While not all of the titular hundred heroes can be brought into battle, they add a ton of personality and variety to the adventure. For example, certain recruited characters may pipe up during cutscenes with unique voice lines, adding dimension and character to the scene. In addition to the game’s diverse cast of characters and narrative twists, secret bosses and a range of mini-games spanning Beyblade-style duels to base-building challenges do a commendable job of keeping players engaged.

It’s also worth acknowledging the stellar soundtrack, helmed by acclaimed composers Michiko Naruke, famous for her work on the Wild Arms series, and Motoi Sakuraba, known for his contributions to games like Star Ocean, Golden Sun, and Dark Souls. The music in Hundred Heroes is not only pleasing but effectively captures the spirit of the adventure, offering a wide range of tunes that complement the game’s various moods and moments. From epic orchestrations to subtle melodies, the soundtrack adds an extra layer of immersion to the overall experience.

In terms of visuals, Hundred Heroes adopts the 2.5D (or ‘HD-2D’) style popularised by Octopath Traveler, blending pixelated characters and monsters against three-dimensional backgrounds, evoking a diorama-like quality enhanced by the strategic use of shallow depth-of-field. However, a strange design choice has some monsters appear more detailed than the main characters, almost as if they were pulled from a different game entirely, creating a visual discrepancy that feels jarring. Moreover, the overworld suffers from lacklustre textures, diminishing its visual impact.

Performance-wise, the frame rate frequently drops into choppy territory, especially in dungeons and the overworld. What’s more, lengthy load times plague the game, cropping up during random encounters and menu navigation. Loading screens sometimes last between four to nine seconds just to get in or out of random battle sequences. Meanwhile, each instance of opening the main menu triggers a noticeable load time for every tab, needlessly extending playtime. These technical issues suggest a distinct lack of optimisation for the Nintendo Switch or point towards the 7-year-old hardware’s struggle to keep up with games.

Ultimately, Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes falls short of delivering a truly memorable experience. Despite its sprawling world and vast cast of characters, the game’s tedious activities, disjointed narrative, and technical shortcomings detract from its overall appeal. While it may scratch a particular nostalgic itch for some players, others may find themselves longing for the emotional depth and polish of its spiritual predecessors.

Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is available on PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch.

Edwin Teo

Edwin has been writing about gaming and entertainment news for almost a decade, and has loved video games, comic books, and movies longer than that. He loves interesting stories, immersive world-building, and adorable monsters.

The post Geek Review – Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes appeared first on Geek Culture.

Amongst the deluge of successful Japanese role-playing games (RPGs) in the early months of 2024, Unicorn Overlord trots out a refreshing take on the genre with a tactical focus, blending familiar mechanics with innovative gameplay elements. Developed by Vanillaware, known for their graphically stunning creations, this game stands out not just for its deep systems and challenging battles, but for its ambitious fusion of real-time strategy and auto battler mechanics.

At the core of Unicorn Overlord lies its unique approach to combat, which emerges as a melting pot of gaming influences that blends elements from beloved titles. Similar to 2022’s Tactics Ogre: Reborn, the real-time squad system, reminiscent of Ogre Battle, and the Gambit AI system from Final Fantasy XII are seamlessly integrated, offering players a strategic playground where tactical prowess reigns supreme. The rapport conversation system from modern Fire Emblem games adds another layer of depth, fostering relationships between characters as they fight side by side.

Gameplay comprises controlling singular units composed of up to six party members, and multiple units can be directed in real-time sequences across maps. With a diverse array of classes — such as knights, mages, thieves, and a plethora of fantasy-based combatants — Unicorn Overlord transcends the simplistic rock-paper-scissors dynamic, demanding players to consider factors like positioning and individual abilities.

Like Fire Emblem, players are presented with a preview before battle of the anticipated damage each side will endure. However, the specific characters slated to absorb this damage remain undisclosed, affording a final opportunity to scheme and tilt the odds in your favour before engaging in combat.

The game encourages experimentation and rewards players who delve into the intricacies of its strategic mechanics. That said, most of the satisfaction lies in setting up figurative dominoes and watching them fall precisely as intended. The emphasis on battles playing out autonomously may disappoint players seeking more hands-on engagement. Yet, for those who enjoy careful preparation and strategic foresight, there are ample opportunities to fine-tune load-outs and formations before each skirmish.

If it sounds overwhelming, fret not. Unicorn Overlord eases players into its complex systems and tactics by gradually introducing its mechanics in manageable doses. Moreover, it furnishes players with an initially overpowered character — Josef, who serves as a retainer to the protagonist, Alain — to alleviate the early challenges posed by the gameplay before the difficulty ramps up. The game also incorporates numerous quality-of-life improvements, such as battle skipping and fast-forwarding, to streamline the experience for modern audiences.

In terms of visuals, Unicorn Overlord remains faithful to Vanillaware’s distinctive painterly aesthetic, featuring lush environments and beautifully crafted character designs. Notably, the game showcases impressive lighting and blur effects that skillfully guide the player’s attention, enhancing the overall immersion. Amidst the captivating artwork, it’s clear that the developer’s inclination towards fan service and classic JRPG-styled artwork persists, evident in certain characters’ heaving bosoms and gyrating hips, as well as rippling muscles.

While the game’s characters and story offer a serviceable backdrop for the gameplay, they fall short of delivering a truly captivating narrative experience. Alain himself makes for a dull protagonist saddled with a one-dimensional personality. In addition, the shounen anime-style story — complete with plot points involving mind control and possession — feels derivative and fails to leave a lasting impression, overshadowed by the game’s focus on tactical combat. As Vanillaware’s follow-up to 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim, the lack of depth and emotional resonance in the storytelling is particularly disappointing.

Unicorn Overlord is a commendable attempt at revitalising the tactical RPG genre with a mix of innovative mechanics. Its deep, interconnected systems and challenging battles offer a rewarding experience for strategy fans. However, the narrative shortcomings may disappoint players seeking a more immersive storytelling experience. Despite this, Unicorn Overlord stands as a testament to Vanillaware’s creativity and ingenuity, showcasing their ability to push the boundaries of the genre while delivering engaging gameplay.

Unicorn Overlord is available now on PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch.

Edwin Teo

Edwin has been writing about gaming and entertainment news for almost a decade, and has loved video games, comic books, and movies longer than that. He loves interesting stories, immersive world-building, and adorable monsters.

The post Unicorn Overlord – Review appeared first on Geek Culture.

It’s been nine years since Pokémon Day was first celebrated in 2016, and each year’s unfolding announcements have excited fans worldwide. Marking the release of the Generation 1 games Pokémon Red and Green in 1996, it serves as a celebration of all things Pokémon, and 2024 is no different.

This year’s iteration ran shorter than expected, giving updates for existing titles like Pokémon Go, Pokémon Cafe ReMix, Pokémon Sleep, and more. However, it certainly stirred up hype with a quick look at a Pokémon Legends sequel, which appears to be set in Lumiose City of Generation 5 fame.

Here’s what went down during the Pokémon Presents showcase on Pokémon Day 2024.

Pokémon Go X Pokémon Horizons

Liko and Roy are setting out for a new adventure, this time on your mobile phone. Pokémon Go has a collaboration event from 5 to 11 March 2024 featuring the newest Poké-anime, Pokémon Horizons, with Fuecoco, Sprigatito, and Cap joining in the fun.

The adorable cap-wearing Pikachu will bring a move new to Pokémon Go – Volt Tackle, which the Horizons’ crew, the Rising Volt Tacklers, are named after. Amethio’s Ceruledge is also set to appear in the game, making its debut along with Charcadet and Armarouge. You can even take a selfie with Liko and Roy with the game’s snapshot function!

Pokémon Sleep

Pokémon Sleep will also add an adorable new Pokémon to its roster, and it’s none other than Raikou! The Thunder Pokémon is surprisingly, a great snuggle buddy – despite its electrifying nature – and roars its way to the game this March. Suicune and Entei will follow after, rounding out the Generation 2 legendary Pokémon lineup.

Pokémon Masters EX

Pokémon Masters EX is also celebrating its four-and-a-half-year anniversary with an epic showdown between Silver and Geeta taking centre stage starting from 1 March. The long-awaited photo creator feature will also come to the game, with Riley and Lucario joining anyone’s team. It’s certainly shaping up to be an eventful anniversary for the game, and logging in will get you 3000 gems as a gift.

Pokémon Café ReMix

Eevee and Pikachu are cooking up a storm in Pokémon Café ReMix, but who’s that Pokémon lurking in the background? It’s Gimmighoul! Collect Gimmighoul coins after completing puzzles, and even have Koraidon and Miraidon join your staff. Who doesn’t want to see Koraidon and Miraidon serve up cute desserts?

 Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket

If you’ve always wanted to get into Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG), there’s no better time than now, as Pokémon TCG comes to mobile. Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket is a newly-announced mobile game where you can open packs online, trade with friends, and battle. The game is set to release in 2024, so look out for more details!

Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Fans have made their predictions for a Generation 1 (Red & Green), or a Generation 5 (Black & White) remake, but as it turns out, they were just one generation off. Ending the broadcast with a surprise trailer, the Pokémon Company revealed a second Legends game in the making, titled Pokémon Legends: Z-A.

Pokémon Z would have joined X and Y as the third game in the sixth generation, but sadly, the game was never made. Now, fans have the chance to step back into Kalos’ Lumiose City as it embarks on a grand urban redevelopment plan with “a vision of beautiful coexistence between people and Pokémon,” or so a trailer hints with futuristic Tron-esque visuals. No gameplay was revealed, but fans can expect more news soon as the game will release in 2025.

Trinity Sun

Trinity is a geek who enjoys watching anime, superhero and Sci-Fi movies and TV shows. She enjoys gaming (however has terrible gacha luck) and creates cool homebrew campaigns in her free time. She’s always up for a new adventure — with a cosy jacket and a good book in hand.

The post Pokémon Day 2024 Roundup – Pokémon Legends: Z-A Sequel, TCG Mobile Game & More appeared first on Geek Culture.

The visual novel genre has always lingered on a niche space in video games, with its point-and-click, text-based approach and generally minimal gameplay evoking a very characteristic brand of charm. In lieu of tense action, cinematic visuals, and rich voice acting, it breathes life into the written word by blending prose with both static and animated illustrations.

With the Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney series of games, Capcom showed that it’s possible to break into the mainstream market. The beloved series, entrenched in goofy humour, courtroom drama, quirky characters, and inconceivable-yet-oddly-brilliant story twists, furnished the mould with fresh elements – presented in the form of various investigation tools and cross-examination mechanics, some of which even border on magical abilities. 

Now that blue-suited lawyer has left his mark on the genre, his protégé Apollo Justice is set to follow in his legacy. Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney Trilogy shines the spotlight on the young aspiring attorney, whose name is only included in one of the titles, but remains a crucial presence because of how his story plays out. Uniting the last three mainline games all into one place, this rehashed collection is a welcome homecoming for longtime fans, serving as a reminder of its endearing allure that continues to withstand the passage of time. 

For first-timers, it proves to be a worthwhile adventure, with the visual polish and new content bringing a modern touch to its Nintendo DS and 3DS roots. More importantly, most of these entries work just fine by themselves, requiring little to no knowledge of past events in the franchise. Turning to Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney Trilogy as a starting point comes highly recommended, and it does a good job at easing newcomers into the sleuthing, objection-shouting adventures to come. 

The bundle includes Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney, Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Dual Destinies, and Phoenix Wright – Spirit of Justice, with no changes to the original narratives and DLC content. The series of events in each game, from investigating crime scenes to interrogating suspects and cross-examining witnesses, unravels in the same way that veterans would remember. Likewise, familiar elements make a return here, allowing them to revisit ladder-versus-stepladder arguments, glorious, groan-worthy puns (Ted Donate and Ahlbi Ur’gaid, anyone?), and over-the-top witness breakdowns. 

To that end, Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney Trilogy inherits identical mechanics for the main trio’s respective lie-detecting abilities. Phoenix’s trusty magatama bead, for instance, still sees players forcing guarded secrets out of their suspects by presenting the right piece of evidence, while the Apollo’s special bracelet singles out  nervous tics or unusual behavioural cues through the ‘perceive’ system. 

Athena Cykes, completing the Wright Talent Agency roster, uses her excellent hearing and Mood Matrix software to pick up speaking tones that don’t match an individual’s facial expression. Spirit of Justice takes things up a notch by introducing divination seances, as it veers more into the areas of mysticism and supernatural magic. 

For the most part, this nostalgic sheen is comparable to an old friend’s embrace: warm and welcome. However, it can also be a double-edged sword, highlighting the flaws in the original games. The new coat of paint doesn’t change how Dual Destinies is the weakest of the trilogy, the occasional repetitive and weary loop for some cases, or the dated nature of a small crop of jokes. 

In particular, the interactive bits during investigation, such as fingerprint dusting, no longer share the unique flavour that the original afforded with specific microphone and touchscreen capabilities built for DS devices. Case in point – where the feature would previously require players to blow into the microphone, it’s now reduced to a mere press of a button. The excitement, by comparison, just doesn’t feel quite the same, even if these parts still maintain a certain degree of freshness.  

Fortunately, there’s plenty of delight and enjoyment to be found elsewhere. Apollo’s evolution from a shaky, greenhorn apprentice to a confident, full-fledged attorney continues to be a high point, and the bread-and-butter process of shouting ‘Objection!’, pointing out contradictions, and presenting evidence remains an enthralling affair. When the truth gets pieced together, especially in a way that ties everything in spectacularly, the aftermath’s unfolding always brings about satisfied closure and at times, enlightening awe. 

As a longtime fan, it’s also nice to see the examination of real-world issues play out again in the collection. The series may be known for its wacky humour and lighthearted cheer, but it doesn’t shy away from portraying and addressing the issues of the legal system, as well as the darker undertones that stem from these multifaceted experiences. It’s symbolic, too, in a way, with the handing of reins over to Apollo reflecting the franchise’s leap to modern consoles, as it passes down a well-lived legacy to a new audience. 

Between a fixed navigation flow outside of the courtroom and the need for wildly unconventional thinking, the truth-seeking process can get a little convoluted. The new Auto Advance tool presents the perfect workaround, acting as a helpline for players when they are stuck at any point of gameplay. Dialogues automatically move forward, with the History button allowing them to look back at any missed bits. It also prods statements and presents evidence on their accord, and progresses all investigative and story elements without having to put in the brainwork. 

Some may argue that diminishes the very point of playing the game, but here’s the best part – it’s an optional feature, so feel free to toggle it on or off anytime. Those who have played the other modern Ace Attorney collections will know it’s not exclusive to this trilogy, and its return certainly scores some brownie points. For returning players, it’s worth noting Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney Trilogy has the option to pick and skip court trials as well. 

The suite of quality-of-life improvements makes gameplay feel smoother than ever before, and with an added shine to boot. The user interface design for the selection screen is clean and sleek, sweeping seamlessly from one game menu to the next. In Apollo Justice, the updated graphics are a decent improvement over its old art style, bringing livelier and more detailed touches to animated sequences. 

These would later take the form of anime-style cutscenes in the original Dual Destinies and Spirit of Justice titles, which look even better here. The visual upgrade doesn’t translate as flawlessly into actual gameplay, with elements in the background appearing blurry at times, but it bears more than enough charm across the board. 

For the more dedicated enthusiasts, Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney Trilogy includes a bonus treat. The Museum section grants access to concept art, music tracks (which, by the way, are certified head-boppers), cutscenes, and character animations from each game in the collection that players can cross-match or play around with.

In bundling the trio of games, Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney Trilogy proves that it’s as enjoyable and engrossing as before. While there are trials that, like in the original, stumble in their execution, the overall experience succeeds in delighting and charming fans old and new. It serves as a reminder of why the series is so beloved in the first place, but more than that, offers Apollo Justice the chance to step out of its shadow as a long-regarded black sheep of the family. 

Armed with visual enhancements and quality-of-life improvements, there’s no easier time to enter the courtroom, embrace the finger-pointing fun, and get started on – or revisit – Apollo’s journey. 

Si Jia

Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.

The post Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney Trilogy – Review appeared first on Geek Culture.