You play a young defense lawyer named Phoenix Wright, who always works to prove his clients’ innocence by exposing the flaws in the witnesses’ testimony. Between court sessions, you play detective, surveying the crime scene and interrogating people for any clues or evidence you can use later.

Yes, that sounds very boring. But Ace Attorney surprisingly isn’t, thanks to a few unique gameplay elements that add spice to the drama. For one thing, the characters are very distinctive, even the villains. The dialogue is well-written, and everyone has their own personality. So unlike your typical game where you fight similar-looking hordes who’ve got no background story. This character depth means it quite satisfying to see the witnesses’ shock as you use the evidence to catch them lying, or your clients’ relief when you clear them.

It’s also a genuine challenge to sift through the pieces of evidence to find the flaw in the prosecution’s case (which is why I recommend not spoiling anything by referring to a walkthrough). Again, this adds to the satisfaction. Once it becomes clear how you can win the day, you’ll feel like patting yourself on the back. Learning the story behind the case through installments (whether as a detective or in the courtroom) is also another satisfying aspect of this title, opening you up to surprises, twists, and miraculous recoveries.

Unfortunately, as an adventure game, Ace Attorney is very linear. Which means replay value is limited. Once you finish the story there’s no point in doing everything again, unless you want to repeat the key plot points. And sometimes as the detective part can be so boring. It sometimes devolves into a pixel hunt for clues that aren’t obvious to plain sight. And lawyers will be left wondering about the inconsistencies of the legal system as presented in the game. It’s really weird seeing the judge accept new testimony from a witness who was already caught lying.

But, these drawbacks don’t totally destroy the enjoyment derived from the drama and tension built in the virtual courtroom. Here’s where Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney shines, in the way it makes the legal maneuverings and rhetoric an compelling experience to play through. You’ll just need to suspend a little more of your disbelief. I give it a 7 out of 10.