100%Nintendo DS

Incredible

90%Nintendo Switch

Finally played the official translation all the way through. Many claim this is the best AA game, though I do not agree. Regardless, it is still incredible. I just find the other games speaking to me more thematically/impact wise. I played this with the fastest text speed, so my time is a good bit under the average. I'd rank this 5th out of the 10 AA games, not counting PLvPW. God bless Dick Gumshoe.

95%PC

The most substancial Ace Attorney game so far imo (I haven't played TGAA).

90%Nintendo Switch

+All 5 cases build to a bigger picture
+Excellent new take on the “rival” prosecutor
+Mind chess is a new and excellent take on the Ace attorney gameplay
-Much more linear then previous Ace attorney games
-Has the issue where you have figured out the next step but it takes too long for you to play that evidence
-You can’t skip animations
Overview:
Ace Attorney Investigations 2: Prosecutor's Gambit is one of the strongest games in the ace attorney series. It has a great selection of cases which all flow into one another to build a bigger story which previous Ace attorney have been unable to do. It does so with a great selection of new characters as well as a new take on the rival prosecutor and it’s new feature of mind chess is a different take on the normal finding evidence (knowing when to wait or press). It does still have the main issue of the ace attorneys issue where it can waffle on a lot more then necessary when you already know the answer and animations can’t be skipped when you make a mistake. I also found it more linear then previous games however this is one of the best if not the best Ace attorney game out there.

85%Nintendo Switch

The writing in this game was much better than its predecessor and I really enjoyed the drama in this game's story. However, I do have to dock it points for the pacing being so slow at times. Despite, still one of my favorite Ace Attorney games so far.

80%Nintendo Switch

The final case was amazing, but it was harder compared to the first game where Miles gave less clues with testimonials being appended often unlike the first game

90%PC

One of the greatest logic puzzle game in the world. There is an huge overarching event in the background, and for each chapter, we push the boundaries a little further, the team use a more non-destruction way to create a interesting story.I can get where the story is going, but see the story unveil its mask is also a interesting thing. Some of the characters are a little bit rush or lack the charisma to let me love them, but everyone has its shining ways. A good game for miles edgeworth. Actually, we need more of him.

100%Nintendo DS

I greatly enjoy this game. This time the topics presented on the game deeply resonated with me, and they also give a more human shade to each of the characters. Choosing you own path in life or following someone else's footsteps is one fork on the road many people eventually run into, and the answer's is not always an easy one, since to go without guidance can be daunting, but following the same path as another may not always lead to one's happiness.
The Fan Translation was really well done, in fact there where times I completely forgot it wasn't an official localization.

85%Nintendo DS

It's still an Ace Attorney game through and through, but I feel like the cohesion in this particular game is the best in the series. The character development for Edgeworth and the new recurring characters in this game is also pretty solid, and the game hits it's themes with a laser focus that I find rare not just in Ace Attorney games, but video games in general. The 3rd, 4th, and 5th cases raise the stakes at a good pace, and in a way that doesn't feel as artificial as some of the other Ace Attorney games. I feel like compared to the official translations, the hints are a little too obvious at the end of testimonies. All of the characters (except maybe Kay) contribute pretty well, and don't necessarily feel like purely fanservice inclusions. It still has many of the ridiculous trappings of an Ace Attorney games but it's a huge improvement from Ace Attorney Investigations 1. Case 3 was my favorite as it includes lots of interesting lore regarding the earlier games.

80%Emulated

Despite never leaving Japan, Investigations 2 is playable in English thanks to a truly excellent fan translation. This game uses the same formula as Investigations 1, only further refined and with the inclusion of Logic Chess: timed sequences of questioning and interrogation with the intent to break through the opponents’ defenses and expose the truth. Generally speaking, the cases tend to be quite long and twisting, even for an Ace Attorney installment, and each is deftly interwoven with plot points that spill over into a complex and gripping final turnabout. I found the new characters to be welcome additions and the familiar faces, brief cameos, and subtle references to past events make for a treat for fans of the series. Without a doubt, one of the best installments in the franchise.

90%Nintendo DS

GK2, or AAI-2 is a game that never got translated to English, which is a shame. Easily one of the best games in the series, and you too, can play it if you know how to emulate. It's a game that focuses on Edgeworth getting his badge held hostage by the committee that regulates his rights to practice law as a prosecuting attorney, and really asks him the question of why he is pursuing law in the first place, as he suddenly gains the opportunity to become a defense attorney like his father...

AAI2-1:
One of the better intro cases, and going right back towards extra territorial rights with the president of a foreign country visiting LA on his seaplane. It handles it much better though, and Knightley was a good villain, smart to try and pull a power play to become the head security guard, but not quite smart enough to escape the law. 8/10

AAI2-2:
Who would've thought the killer of the previous case would immediately be the victim of the next one? Not me. A murder at the detention center, we get to see inside of it, awesome. A character from Edgeworth's past pulls up too - Ray Shields, Edgeworth's father's old student. The main conflict of the game also arrives here too, with Edgeworth being on probation from his actions in AAI1-5 and nearly causing an international incident again. The heel turn of Edgeworth jumping to defend Knightley's best friend, Simon Keyes, and successfully getting him off the hook was fantastic. I will say, the case definitely drags on a bit, it is one of the longest cases in the series. Roland was a good villain, though there is more to her story than what meets the eye... 7.5/10

AAI2-3:
Another banger, this is a case that mixed both past and present as Ray tells Edgeworth the story of his father's final case against Von Karma and how it went unresolved at the mansion hosting the desert competition. The gang finding the missing body of the victim from nearly 20 years ago was fantastic, as Edgeworth finished the job his father started, with no regard for his badge as he chose to investigate anyways. Gustavia was a decent villain, if he did his math a little bit better with the Statute of Limitations, he would've gotten away with his crime from all those years ago, lol. And an important question is asked by Ray at the end of this case - will Edgeworth switch to defense? 9/10

AAI2-4:
A pretty personal case and the first half of the finale, Kay is amnesiac and accused of a murder from a black market auction where the committee's offices are! Oh dear. The villain, Blaise Debeste was fantastic. A master at using manipulation and psychological warfare, expect nothing less from the former Chief Prosecutor. A very iconic event in the series happens in this case, with Edgeworth dropping his prosecutor's badge as he feels its holding him back and quitting law for the time being to investigate privately. Although the trial resolves cleanly more or less thanks to this decision with a sweet reunion with Kay after she regains her memories, will he come to regret his actions...? 9/10

AAI2-5:
Arguably a top 5 case in the series, incredible how it brings these 4 cases back together. A mastermind has been pulling the strings behind all of these cases - and it's interesting. The man who instigated all of these crimes has a bone to pick with every single killer in the cases so far, since they all in some way or form, ruined his life. Who is it you ask? That's right! Simon Keyes! Knightley's best friend who nearly killed him when they were kids, Gustavia's long lost son who Gustavia abandoned, and Roland and Debeste were two of the trio who ruined his life at the orphanage. And it's interesting, technically, even though he instigated all of these murders, he technically didn't do anything wrong legally. Just knew exactly how to puppet people to get them to take out each other and used Edgeworth to mop up the mess. Yet there was one man he couldn't execute his revenge on perfectly, and that's what seals the deal. He killed the victim of this case, the Body Double/President and he couldn't clean it up in time. Incredible story telling, the pacing is a bit off but when it all clicks... man. Also I guess Edgey's just going back to being a prosecutor since Blaise isn't around anymore, boo. 9.5/10

95%Emulated

It's a joy to play all throughout, they REALLY stepped-up from the previous game! All dialogues are worth reading through, the animations are more lively and you don't see the twists coming! I will replay that game for sure in a few years.

70%Nintendo DS

May God bless the fan translators who allowed us to experience this game. They are true heroes of our time.

85%Nintendo DS

Much improved over the first Investigations game. Thematically, it's also much stronger.

I've only played the original trilogy and these two Edgeworth games, so my Ratings would be:

1. AA:T&T
2. This game
3. AA:JfA
4. The original Ace Attorney
5. The first Investigations game

Music is wonderful as always, cast of colorful and memorable characters, and the actual mysteries are great.

I won't spoil anything, but Trials and Tribulations as well as this game both share two characteristics that make them much more enjoyable.

One, all the cases are tied together in a meaningful way by the time the credits roll.
Two, you genuinely won't know who the culprit is until about near the end of each case.

A side note, but fantastic translation by the fans. It felt like a real publisher could've localized this. Great stuff, definitely one of the best Ace Attorney games. The game is also quite lengthy, so I would recommend for anyone playing to take some breaks in between parts of each case.

40%Emulated

Way too long. The dialogue is tedious. The investigations are tedious. The fucking chess minigame is tedious. That said, I think the interconnected storylines are genius. And when all the clues come together to reveal the truth behind the mystery, it's magic. But is it worth slogging through hours of monotonous gameplay? I don't think so.

20-01-2020

80%Nintendo 3DS

pretty epic game, consistently good pacing and one banger of a finale

80%Nintendo DS

After playing Investigations 1, I finally went on to play and complete the second game. The title is infamous for its excellent quality within the fandom and I was looking forward to playing this game. Sadly I've got myself spoiled as for who the big bad in the final case is, which took a little suspense out of the game. The strongest point of this game for me is that Case 2 and 3 are really interesting when compared to most other games in the franchise, where Case 2 and 3 are usually very weak. I also liked how they all tied together and there were some really cool characters and interactions in this game. All in all, this is probably my second favorite Ace Attorney game now, following closely behind Trials & Tribulations.

100%Nintendo DS

The threads of the first AAI are picked up and once again weaves into a truly masterful Ace Attorney tale with all the twists and turns we all have come to know and love.

This entry feels a bit grander in scope and has a more satisfying ending than the first game in my opinion, but probably because it builds off the first game.

Do what you need to do to play this entry if you’re a fan of the series, it’s reputation is well earned.

70%Nintendo DS

Really happy that I finally got to play this game! Thanks so much to the fan translators for their time and effort. <3

I really enjoyed seeing a bunch of minor characters from the original Ace Attorney trilogy, a lot of them I didn't expect to ever see again. And I also liked many of the new characters, like Kate and John and Raymond Shields. The fourth case was a drag (I despise memory loss nonsense), but I regained my enthusiasm during the fifth case. The second case is probably my favourite due to the setting. All in all, very happy with this game and I can't wait to replay it.

70%Nintendo DS

The game started off rather weak. There were a lot of easy to hate characters and it all just felt so fake. Like the original Phoenix Wright felt like a very plausible story which is what made it so interesting but now a days the cases are pretty out there. Each chapter also seemed rather random and meaningless which made them uninteresting until the final chapter where everything gets tied together. It was probably the first time in the whole game where I really wanted to know what happened next and actually made me say “WHAT!?” But despite that great accomplishment, the last chapter wasn’t perfect either but I do feel it wrapped the game up nicely

90%Nintendo DS

Story 9/10
Characters 10/10
Gameplay 8/10
Graphics 8/10
Music 7/10

Difficulty MEDIUM

Overall 89%

90%Emulated

Last I checked this had the highest Metacritic score in the franchise and it's not too hard to see why. It's pretty much the end of Edgeworth's character arc, giving him closure on everything he went through when he was young, through five cases which tie into each other expertly. As if that wasn't enough half the main cast is also going through their own character development, which can get a little bit corny but it's harmless really. The early cases are a bit uninteresting at first but by the end they can be appreciated for how well they link together.

I played the fan translation and was really impressed. I found it funny that there were as many translators as people who made the game, but nevertheless the dialogue is always consistent, and it was pleasing to see how few typos there were compared to the official translations! The names weren't as punny as I expected but apart from that it felt exactly like an official translation. The translation does an excellent job conveying the personality of each character; Ray Shields in particular was a hysterical highlight (someone give that man a decent hug already). This game got a bit of flak for how often Miles likes to go off on one about the path of a prosecutor, but I didn't find that as annoying as the "Goddess of Law" talk; if that was meant to be a joke it far outstayed its welcome. Both of those are of course totally outweighed by the usual excellent characterisation, immersive dialogue and deftly-woven plot.

I don't know if I'm just older and wiser than about 5 years ago when I last played an Ace Attorney game, but I think the difficulty was pitched perfectly. I still had to think carefully but rarely had to start throwing out random evidence and hoping for the best. The dialogue gives you just enough of a hint, and any "turnabout" deductions you have to make don't come completely out of nowhere, which is a feeling I've often had before. I only checked a walkthrough once or twice, which is a major record for me.

This might just be a side-effect of getting older but I feel like the plot of these Investigations games is less hard-hitting; the villains seem less sinister than von Karma or Gavin, whom I remember finding really chilling. It may be how quickly they get defeated after being introduced, building less suspense. However, just because the villains are less scary doesn't mean they're not as well written; the writing behind them makes them all full, engaging characters.

Barring a surprise AAI3, next up for me is Dual Destinies; it'll be a bit disappointing to leave behind these revolutionary mechanics of Logic, Logic Chess and Actually Walking Around. Hopefully that game will be able to surprise me just as well as the Investigations games have done. Be sure to play this one; it's an ingeniously-constructed story that rounds out Edgeworth's story in the best way possible.

100%Nintendo DS

It's unfortunate this never got an official localization to the West, but the fan translation is very professionally done! Overall, a game that definitely lives up to its hype and presents a set of characters that I'll definitely miss as the series goes back to the main Phoenix Wright storyline.

70%Emulated

Overlong and with too much fan service to be a great standalone game, but the ending (if you can struggle to it) is a brilliant, subversive delight. Recommended mostly for Phoenix Wright completionists and mystery game lovers.

100%Nintendo DS

The mastermind was someone Edgeworth could have become if he didn't have Phoenix.

90%Nintendo DS

Another excellent Ace Attorney game, Gyakuten Kenji 2 is the second Miles Edgeworth game. Unfortunately it was never officially localized, but an excellent team of people worked hard to do an unofficial fan translation, and it's impeccable. It really feels like an official translation. So it's nice to be able to play that, even if it has to be on an emulator.

As for the game itself, I think it's one of the better Ace Attorney games. The story and characters are overall more interesting than the first Miles Edgeworth game, and it's overall a more personal story for Miles, with more character development all around. Its cases are also quite lengthy, with some very interesting moments and revelations. It really is a shame this wasn't officially localized, because the stories/topics that it covers feel extremely important to Miles Edgeworth as a character. I highly recommend this game on those grounds, and also the grounds that it's just a great Ace Attorney game. Well worth playing.

90%Nintendo DS

Fantastic improvement over the original Ace Attorney Investigations game, the cases in this game tie together lots of interesting stories from each main character's past and as a result, each case is rather engaging. Some of the cases can drag a little past their welcome, but overall incredibly solid game.