Gamers who got into Capcom’s Ace Attorney series later in its life may soon have a new opportunity to see where it started out, at least in Japan. Reports are trickling out that the publisher is preparing a compilation for the 3DS of the first three games in the series (known in English-speaking countries as Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney, Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney: Justice for All, and Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney: Trials and Tribulations), is in the works, with a current release date planned for Japan on April 17.
The original trilogy made its Japanese debut on the Game Boy Advance, and was later ported to the original DS, which was the version first brought to the West. Subsequent ports have since been made available on iOS and WiiWare, while later entries, such as Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney, Ace Attorney Investigations, the recent Dual Destinies, and the soon-to-be-localized Professor Layton crossover, have been exclusive to the DS & 3DS.
The compilation, which will go by the name Ace Attorney 123: Wright Selection in Japan, will apparently support the handheld’s stereoscopic 3D feature, but at the moment, it’s unclear if there will be any other sort of graphical revamp or new gameplay additions or enhancements. Though it might seem like a no-brainer to think that this compilation will make its way over here, I’d say that it may be more up in the air than people would think. Despite the series having a fan following in the West, Capcom has stated that low sales were the main factor in both giving Dual Destinies a digital-only English release, and not bringing over the sequel to Ace Attorney Investigations at all. The fact that the original trilogy has already seen releases on three different platforms here (DS, WiiWare ,and iOS) also makes me think that we won’t be seeing this version, but only time will tell.
We will keep you updated on more news regarding the Ace Attorney series as it drops.
