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[FluxWaveZ]

And by that, I mean more games that follow this precise formula:

1. Murder/Crime occurs: initiating event for a chapter.
2. Investigation phase: Witness questioning and evidence gathering.
3. Courtroom/argument phase: Facing off against one or more people to solve the murder/crime using the information obtained from the investigation phase.

I think many games have 1, 2, or even all of these elements, but there's something special when they are all used and complement each other well, with the whole game structured around them.

There are really only three notable series/games that come to mind that do this:

1. Ace Attorney
2. Danganronpa
3. Aviary Attorney

And I've very much enjoyed each one. Despite the fact that all three share very similar elements, they each have fundamental differences that set them apart from one another, and they each have their own twists on the formula (both aesthetically and mechanically). I would love to see more games do the same; it seems like it's an excellent template for murder mysteries, but I feel like it's barely been explored.

[L.A. Noire, despite not being quite the same, is still an honorable mention for how it also shared very similar elements to what I'm talking about.]

 

[Spring-Loaded]

Detective stuff will have a good chance at being big when VR hits, so sure.

 

[t26]

Conan/Kindaichi DS game follows the same formula, but not as good as the three. It even got a fan translation

http://www.dctp.ws/conankindaichi/

 

[Corpekata]

I imagine the courtroom aspect is likely where most games would balk and I can be satisifed at "cross examining" in a different setting like Contradiction.

 

[Jawmuncher]

Wish Nintendo would give the series some support in the west like it does monster hunter since AA style games are few and far between. But I definitely would take some more easily to fill that void.

 

[entremet]

Would be nice if only Capcom localized all their Ace Attorney games.

 

[loganclaws]

Aviary Attorney

http://store.steampowered.com/app/384630/

 

[Xamtheking]

Aviary Attorney

http://store.steampowered.com/app/384630/

Did you read the OP?

 

[ZeroX03]

I disagree that we should double down on a precise formula so hard and experiment with it more.

L.A. Noire was an odd mix that I think made for a good game but a poor retro GTA title which people expected.

 

[FluxWaveZ]

I imagine the courtroom aspect is likely where most games would balk and I can be satisifed at "cross examining" in a different setting like Contradiction.

I would have agreed with this, but then we have the Ace Attorney Investigations series that follows the exact same formula, but where all of the courtroom/argument phases actually don't take place in courtrooms.

 

[ohlawd]

Aviary Attorney

http://store.steampowered.com/app/384630/

wow it's almost like OP didn't list Aviary Attorney

 

[Man God]

Wish Nintendo would give the series some support in the west like it does monster hunter since AA style games are few and far between. But I definitely would take some more easily to fill that void.

There's been nine of them in 14 years. That's pretty decent support.

 

[ponpo]

There are enough AA games.

We need more Kabu Trader Shun games.

 

[Reptars Revenge]

Aviary Attorney

http://store.steampowered.com/app/384630/

Thanks for linking it though. Had no idea what it was when the OP mentioned it. Saved me the Google.

 

[Bowlie]

I'm playing Murder in Hotel Lisbon right now and it has all these elements, too bad the game is average at best, and extremely immature (the main character ends sentences with "BAM!", tell blonde jokes and acts like a spoiled teenager).

Have you played Hotel Dusk or Layton Brothers: Mystery Room, Flux?

 

[entremet]

Did you read the OP?

wow it's almost like OP didn't list Aviary Attorney

Maybe he was linking to provide context.

Game could also be on sale too.

 

[Diggeh]

For shame, GAF!

 

[Codeblue]

Thanks for linking it though. Had no idea what it was when the OP mentioned it. Saved me the Google.

I almost bought it, but it's apparently not finished even though it's not early access.

 

[FluxWaveZ]

I disagree that we should double down on a precise formula so hard and experiment with it more.

L.A. Noire was an odd mix that I think made for a good game but a poor retro GTA title which people expected.

But that's the thing: I think there's a huge amount of room to experiment within that precise formula.

If we consider Ace Attorney to be vanilla, we've then got the divergences that are the two other examples:

1. Aviary Attorney: An open-ended game with a time limit during investigation phases, where you can actually arrive at a "courtroom/argument phase" without all of the evidence that you could have potentially found. It has a jury system, based on influencing the jury and not on objectively proving someone's guilt or non-guilt. It has different paths, which complement this system.

2. Danganronpa. Its setting is nothing like Ace Attorney's, which allows it to have very differently styled "courtroom/argument phases" based around multiple people debating at once rather than necessarily 1v1 arguments. Having a specific number of characters and always have it be someone you've spent a lot of time with dying or killing is unique, too.

Have you played Hotel Dusk, Flux?

I have, yeah, and I love it. Played a bit of The Last Window, too.

Not the same structure at all, but it's still a mystery game with great atmosphere. More of that in general would be cool, too.

Edit: I haven't played Layton Brothers, though. I heard that's a lot closer; I need to get on that.

 

[FluxWaveZ]

dp

 

[injurai]

For shame, GAF!

omg... this is real...

 

[kurahador]

For shame, GAF!

Yup. Also on PSP.

 

[BronsonLee]

You're goddamn right we do.

Let's start with Great Ace Attor-
*Capcom bursts in*

Capcom: BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA

 

[Corpekata]

https://www.kickstarter.com/project...onest-corrupt-lawyer-visual-novel/description

Just remembered this kickstarter.

The first episode is free to play but I never got around to it. Looks like the KSed episode is coming out in June.

 

[Bowlie]

I have, yeah, and I love it. Played a bit of The Last Window, too.

Not the same structure at all, but it's still a mystery game with great atmosphere. More of that in general would be cool, too.

Yup, it's not the same but its interesting in its own way. I've never played a DS game like that.

I linked Mystery Room in my previous post; it's a free Android (maybe iOS too?) game (but you must buy the later cases if you wanna keep playing), you could check that out!

Maybe the Sherlock Holmes games fit your criteria but I haven't played them to say for sure.

 

[Man God]

You're goddamn right we do.

Let's start with Great Ace Attor-
*Capcom bursts in*

Capcom: BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA

No official AAI2 is the bigger sin. It's pretty much the best game in the series yet doesn't have an official release.

 

[FluxWaveZ]

https://www.kickstarter.com/project...onest-corrupt-lawyer-visual-novel/description

Just remembered this kickstarter.

The first episode is free to play but I never got around to it. Looks like the KSed episode is coming out in June.

Man... I did have Regeria Hope in mind when making this thread, but I'd also want the game to be good, and the writing/look/characters are a huge part of it for these kinds of games. Unfortunately can't say the same from what I've seen for that but, if the first episode's free, might as well try it sometime.

Maybe the Sherlock Holmes games fit your criteria but I haven't played them to say for sure.

I remember watching a Giant Bomb QL of one of the more recent games, and that did also reminded me of that structure quite a bit at the time. Thanks for reminding me; something else to check out.

 

[loganclaws]

Did you read the OP?

I clearly didn't! Sorry!

 

[PFD]

Aviary Attorney

http://store.steampowered.com/app/384630/

this looks amazing

 

[Filter]

I just finished Sherlock Holmes: crime and punishments, which was a PS+ game a few moths back.

It doesn't have courtroom scenes, but it has a system where you link evidence together to come to conclusions. You have to make your own decisions on some evidence pieces which creates branching paths and multiple conclusions you can come to on who the real murderer is.

 

[Primethius]

We need more Ace Attorney games first.

The wait between each is excruciating.

 

[pizzaparty]

Should be an entire section where the defense attorney has to plea bargain the least shitty deal because the defendant can't afford to go to trial.

 

[Dr. Kitty Muffins]

I figure a Loli Attorney game would sell to the anime crowd. The opportunity to use numerous cute facial expressions is big and plenty enough to sucker in that crowd.

 

[Draxal]

Jake Hunter Detective Story: Memories of the Past for the DS , satisfies the first two (doesn't really fit the third requirement in court sorta like AAI ... but at the same time it's not as involving as AAI's out of court battling part). It's a long running series in Japan that got the original game remade for the DS and that was the only copy released in the states.

I played the first translation of that game; Jake Hunter Detective Chronicles but the second translation has three more cases as a lot of stuff was cut from the first release so it's not recommended.

 

[Pyros_Eien]

I figure a Loli Attorney game would sell to the anime crowd. The opportunity to use numerous cute facial expressions is big and plenty enough to sucker in that crowd.

So Danganronpa? Even has actual animes.

 

[GekigangerV]

I would love to see a Daredevil game where you get to do the court room stuff as Matt Murdock in an Ace Attorney like fashion. I think his super senses would make a great gimmick mechanic to detect lies and what-not like the stuff done in the Ace Attorney games.

 

[Fat4all]

A She-Hulk game would be perfect for this formula.

 

[TriAceJP]

Chiming in to at Avian Attorney is great. It's a lot simpler and the humour is up my alley.

 

[daydream]

Conan/Kindaichi DS game follows the same formula, but not as good as the three. It even got a fan translation

http://www.dctp.ws/conankindaichi/

as a fan of detective games and detective conan (and kindaichi) in particular, it's a travesty we've only gotten one (1) game localised and they've made a fucking lot of them

 

[SalvaPot]

omg... this is real...

Not only is real, ITS SO FUCKING GOOD. Its pretty much 4 30-Minute episodes, with multiple jokes and Street Fighter references. GET IT.

 

[mrmickfran]

Yes, I agree.

We don't get enough Danganronpa/AA in life. It's amazing that we're getting both this year.

 

[Crash Station]

I disagree that we should double down on a precise formula so hard and experiment with it more.

L.A. Noire was an odd mix that I think made for a good game but a poor retro GTA title which people expected.

L.A. Noire had some decent ideas, but it lacked variety, had terrible execution, and was by far the most boring game I have ever beaten. Playing around with the formula might be cool if they made it work, but goddamn does everything else about it need to change.

I also think experimenting with the formula doesn't imply things are identical or even that similar.

Danganronpa is a COMPLETELY different beast than AA. The mechanics in court, the setting, the presentation, everything.

 

[GuardianE]

I adore mystery/detective visual novels. There's something so compelling about them. Naturally, I agree.

I would have agreed with this, but then we have the Ace Attorney Investigations series that follows the exact same formula, but where all of the courtroom/argument phases actually don't take place in courtrooms.

I feel like this is the greatest weaknesses of AAI - the lack of tension if you fail. Someone's life is actually on the line in the courtroom setting, but in AAI, they'd just get arrested and further investigated in most cases.

 

[epmode]

No official AAI2 is the bigger sin. It's pretty much the best game in the series

I liked it a bunch but let's not get crazy.

 

[Lusankya]

Law and Order follows basically this procedure. It's not a bad game, although the single cases aren't as memorable as e.g. the Ace Attorney cases.

 

[RedShift]

Sadly it could never happen now but Lionel Hutz: Ace Attorney would be the best game ever.

Just have the gameplay exactly the same but with Simpsons characters.

 

[Atolm]

Try the Sherlock Holmes games for PS and PC. Crimes and Punishments is really great.

 

[Funyarinpa]

I prefer Danganronpa's minigame-y approach but AA is still great.

 

[idalarian]

I liked it a bunch but let's not get crazy.

Well it's definitely one of the best for me too. It's a complete return to form and as much memorable as any of three games in the trilogy. The new characters are fantastic and well-developed. The references to the first game are very well used and add a lot of depth to certain characters and also to the law lore of the game. Episode 3 and 5 rank pretty high on my list on favourites. And the villain... masterfully well-done. 'nough said.

You just can't go wrong with it.

 

[Jawmuncher]

There's been nine of them in 14 years. That's pretty decent support.

We have missed two so far for localization. Plus we have to live off digital only releases now in the west.

I was saying since that is the current case now, I would like to see more titles with the formula pop up more like Aviary Attorney.