Developer: Capcom
Publisher: Capcom
Release Date:  January 11-14, 2011
Platforms: DS
Genre:  Point & Click, Adventure


Capcom like their case-solving adventure games. That’s why they announced Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective for DS, from the same creators as their successful Ace Attorney series.  This game revolves around a man named Sissel that finds himself dead and face down, with his rear sticking up; a position I’m sure little of us would like to be in.

The demo starts the awkwardly positioned protagonist in the midst of a scrapyard with a woman held at gunpoint around him. Since you’re dead, there isn’t a lot you’ll be able to do to rescue the fair maiden. But that’s before a strange voice tells you to rise up, metaphorically of course. It tells you of your ghost powers and that you can manipulate objects in the ghost world. As you see yourself as a blue flame, you can hop onto nearby bright object cores and possess them. Once done, you can go back into the real world and perform a trick with that objec,t to manipulate your environment and hopefully alter the fate of the maiden.
 

Various screens from Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective

As you do this, you manage to delay the demise of your lady in need. But ultimately you learn that not everything can go your way as a corpse and the woman soon suffers the same tragic end as you. It is only after the murderer has left that you discover you can have more than just the power to manipulate objects. You can access thought bubbles for information and enter corpses to create a dialogue for instance. So after entering the dearly departed damsel (in a non-necrophiliac manner; kids are watching) you have a small chat to uncover you can also travel through time. By using your powers, you can go 4 minutes before a person’s death and hope to avert their fate. After you did this for your companion Lynne and saved her from the killer, near-sighted Jeego, the demo is concluded.

Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective is presented in 2D cartoon fashion, with a film noir detective theme, much like the classic Spy Vs Spy style, also known from the PSP game Exit. Ironically, the film noir is actually depicted in a crisp and colorful manner, which gives you a clear and appealing overview of your surroundings. In addition, the animations are amazingly fluent, which gives the game that extra kick. Unfortunately, the sound doesn’t resonate in the same way, as some effects are rather sharp and the score doesn’t create the sleuthing ambience it should. It’s not bad particularly, but it doesn’t amplify the environment to draw you in and that’s a shame. Luckily, a game can work without it.
 

Some of the amazing scenery in Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective

There isn’t really an optimal use between the two screens, but you do always get the same clear overlook, with your game screen below and object screen above. There you can see what object you are possessing and what trick you’ll be able to perform with it. A clock also hints at the time on the right end of the top screen. This will undoubtedly be relevant to some timed events, like at the end of the demo. Since the story premise is that your soul will vanish at sunrise, this will probably be a key element to solve the all-round mystery in a timely fashion.

Manipulating objects isn’t always as linear as one would suspect and the puzzles presented can involve some serious thought. A nice twist is moving from core to core and anticipating how manipulating objects will alter the environment, so you can move around in it and access new cores within reach. Unfold a ladder and suddenly you’ll be several feet closer to a core you didn’t think was accessible before. This opens up an entire new world of possibility and keeps gameplay fresh and environments interactive.
 

More various Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective screenshots

Also notable is the fine line of humor surrounding all the death and tragedy to lighten the mood. The demo regularly breaks the fourth wall to reference to itself as a game and ensue hilarity. There’s also a large ‘Weekend At Bernies’ vibe, with your character fumbling into new decors and situations. This makes a thought heavy process, such as solving crime, lighter on the noggin. It’s also more fitting to the entire ambience of the game and makes it well suited for all ages.

Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective looks like it will continue the success of the Ace Attorney franchise with an exciting new twist on a well-known concept. It also feels a lot lighter and easier to process than the text heavy detective series and that will only work in its benefit. Fans of the point & click genre and detective novels will be sure to get a kick out of this dead game. Newcomers can use the humorous side and light vibe to jump into a new adventure more easily.
 

Click here to enjoy the Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective Flash Demo

With some minor tweaking here and there, Ghost Trick can become a new and powerful franchise that can set itself up there with Professor Layton and other powerhouses. The game is scheduled to come out on January 11, 2010. Also, for anyone out to enjoy the game for themselves, Nintendo has generously provided a flash demo on their website.

Daav Valentaten, NoobFeed.