80%PC

The one line review of this game for me is basically that I quite liked the plot, but not the gameplay that tied one main story segment to the next.

From the moment I played the prologue/first level, I had my doubts about the gameplay sections. They gave me the impression they were going to be quite shallow, or at worse, quite obvious and pointless. Fortunately and unfortunately that wasn't the case. On the one hand, at the very least the path forward wasn't obvious, avoiding making it feel like you were just on a long loading screen, but on the other hand, holy fuck is the guesswork you have to do quite punishing.

I'd say each level is split into two main phases on the process of clearing them. First, you have to somewhat goof around to understand what tools are at your disposal and how you reach them, in this step you also try to learn if there are any more complex interactions at play to understand the states the level can be left at. And then once you gather all that context, you start playing around with your hypothesis on how you're meant to solve the issue at hand. Problem is that there is really only one solution for everything, but more importantly, if you deviate from that single path to that solution you might reach an irreversible dead end. This will then force you to restart the full level or a sizable fraction of it.

And this is probably where I show my age, or at least that I've grown to be very impatient, because I actually kinda dreaded having to solve the puzzles because of the amount of time it'd take me to redo everything up until the point I fucked up. Though solutions being time sensitive (having to be somewhere in the map for a 2 second window on a 4 minute playback for example), or being punished with a dead end for trying to see what certains interactions did wasn't exactly a way to get me to love these segments.

Fortunately, although this gameplay was a huge chunk of the playtime, at the very least none of the level played for outrageously long, or if they did, the amount of moving parts were lowered. Which is great, because frankly, I was in it mainly for the story. I really like the Phoenix Wright aura it carries, with eccentric characters and intertwining plots and characters. It's just unfortunate it also had to carry the sometimes not so obvious way to move forward that plagues some trails in that series.

In terms of just the story, it was quite lean, all characters play their part, and all seemingly mundane stories tie in to the main narrative in some fashion. I especially enjoyed the way the writer ended up tying it all up and how breadcrumbs were thrown in from the start. Narratives involving time travel are always hard to do right, but this one really refrained from trying to do too much and sticked the landing with what it picked quite nicely.

Missile is best boy.

90%Nintendo Switch

What should I say about this MASTERPIECE? JUST GO PLAY IT. ITS AMAZING. The gameplay it's extremely original and the story it's SOOO WELL WRITTEN. The cast it's something you Will NEVER forger, so real, so iconic and so relatable. I love them all and I love the artstyle and the new remodels from the remake.

100%Nintendo DS

Great game. Awesome animations, good music, and an engaging story. Starts off a bit slow, but really picks up. Not a fan of the ending, but it’s a great experience.

95%Linux

Shu Takumi's magnum opus - Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective. In this contemporary era where quantity triumphs over quality, you are bound to cherish this defining piece of work for its uniqueness and creativity.

75%Nintendo 3DS

A game made by the creator of the ace attorney series and the similiarites between the two show. Essentially its a puzzle point and click game with whacky over the top characters, great music and the animation is incredible despite the limits of the handheld console. The story was actually engaging and whilst the puzzles did a get a bit tedious at times, there were lots of hints and pointers to guide the player. Had a few puzzles been cut short and a little trimmed interms of story this would have been a much better player experience.

70%Nintendo 3DS

Fun, just not for me. The story is good and they make a neat circle tied which ties the story together in a satisfying end.

60%PC

I can see the charm but not for me

100%Mobile

I played Ghost Trick back in the day and more than a decade later I have decided to relive the experience. Although I remembered the ending, I did not remember most of the details of the story and I can simply say that this is one of the greatest works of art in the world of video games. The gameplay is sensational and original, something I have not seen in any other video game. The characters have a brutal charisma (Missile, I adore you) and the music is perfect (especially the theme that sounds when trying to change the fate of the deceased). If you haven't played it, DO. You'll thank me.

50%Emulated

I can't push through the last two chapters of this game. While the sprites, music, and concept of Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective are lovingly designed, its plot is contrived and its narrative beats are redundant. Again and again we watch Sissel repeat himself about how his memory loss means he can't remember basic concepts (which is understandable when it's revealed he's actually a cat, but frustrating again when we realize Missile shares our human knowledge), watch Lynne's and the justice minister's incompetence with their jobs, or Jowd's infuriating insistence that being executed will provide some sort of justice for his wife. Yes, they are all wrong, and its through their ensemble interactions that they overcome the characteristics that hold them back, but it is just an endless barrage to highlight their flaws. There are perhaps too many characters and thus too many shallow, easily resolvable problems.

To commend this game, GTPD takes the worst part about the Ace Attorney series, collecting evidence, and weaves a conspiratorial crime drama around its primary mechanics. There's mystery to both finding out Sissel's origins and puzzling through each stage, though it can be fun but too demanding. Very precise and sometimes unintuitive choices are required in some of these puzzles, which already have a time limit, and needing to restart can be discouraging. The game asks you to embrace its kookiness, but isn't charming enough to back this up. With repetitive dialog and animations, awkward translations, and poorly designed systems, this game desires your effort but doesn't put forward enough of its own.

90%Nintendo DS

Loved this game - The whole thing is really creative and has it's own unique style. The characters are well written and the story hooked me.

Game play was a refreshing change from my usual RPGs; It's a puzzle system where you jump around interacting with objects to change the fate of the characters. One of my favorite things was the animation style and character design. It's really unique and watching how everything plays out after manipulating events is really satisfying (especially a few key moments but won't spoil here). Another big plus for me is the runtime is really managable at about 12-15 hrs (the game doesn't track playtime).

The story was really good overall and once I became attached to the characters I became invested in changing their fates which was a lot of fun. The only thing that keeps this from being a 10/10 is there are a bit too many "now this" moments as the story got a bit over-complicated IMO. This is not a huge knock on the game though - I still really enjoyed it, even if it gets a bit crazy.

90%Nintendo Switch

Pros:
Ghost Trick's greatest strength is its story. It has a similar amount of plot twists as Ace Attorney, but it does them much better. For one, this game has no filler, everything ties back to the main plot and two the plot twists are much closer together due to the game's short playtime. Near the end of the game, you get an earth-shattering plot twist that gets your mind racing in almost every chapter. This keeps the game compelling the whole way through. Both these factors I mentioned originate from Ghost Trick's very unique storytelling structure, which is that the entire game takes place over one night. It immediately hooks the player from a storytelling perspective, because "How much can really happen in one night?".

Neutral:
Seeing the deaths play out and then trying to stop them is fun to have as the main gameplay loop. There's enough gameplay variety in between the main gameplay sequences that keep it fresh and exciting. There was one instance, however, where I missed one crucial object I could manipulate, costing me a lot of time. I eventually figured it out, but I got quite frustrated while doing so. The section where you help Jowd escape the prison was also quite tedious since most of it was waiting around for the guard patterns. Normally the waiting isn't an issue, but this one wasn't on the 4-minute timer that most of the gameplay sequences are, which made a significant difference.

I also enjoyed most of the bonus content in the game. It's always nice to have a built-in achievement system for Switch and I'll always appreciate an art viewer and music player in games. However the addition of Ghost Puzzles is just a way to pad out the playtime for 100% completionists, they are essentially a more bearable form of Professor Layton's slidey puzzles. Luckily that meant that I didn't have to look at a guide to complete them, but they were still quite tedious to complete. Nothing would've been lost if these had been omitted altogether.

100%Nintendo Switch

Incroyable jeu avec d'incroyable personnages et OST, un énorme coup de cœur !

100%Nintendo Switch

There is nothing that I could call bad about this game. Sometimes the controls can get a bit meh due to the game being designed for the Stylus Pen rather than with controllers. Also a Fast-Forward-Button might've been nice if you made a slight mistake and didn't solve the mystery. But these are minor complains.

I never played a game before where story and gameplay went so fluid together. The gameplay itself feels very unique, I have not played a game like that before and its just so creative. And not to mention that every single detail is fully thought through, even those things you weren't thinking about during the very end.

This is one of the games you must play.

85%Nintendo DS

Great OST, engaging, fun, daring. Ace Attorney vibes.

80%Nintendo DS

What a fun time. Did not expect the twists and pulls from such a little stylised gem.
What is most impressive is the atmosphere they managed to pack in here despite the limitations of the DS.

60%Nintendo Switch

A quirky detective (kinda) game from the Ace Attorney team that is fun and charming. Unfortunately it felt like it went on for way to long and did not feel to me it needed to be that length

Art- 4/5 - let me start with one of the stronger points of this game. The visuals. the art style os in that unique style of bold cartoonish character design and bright and defined backgrounds. It was a game that was very pleaseing to look at and did well to fully show a wide range of character personalities and push the designs to the limit. the level designs were good as well though the distances between some parts were decieving and added a level of dificulty to puzzles. there is also a 'ghost' world section which is visually distinct as well and really helps seperate the views. what i also liked is you unlocked art as you played as well making it just a little more rewarding

Story - 2/5 - Now this is going to be harsh, mainly because I got so fed up at one point I almost didnt finish it. The story as a whole is quite Clever and has alot of mystery and intruge in it. by the Time I had got to the end however I had guessed it all and was just waiting for characters to explain it to eachother for the third time so we could move on. The story beats are always interupted by game play but there are so many points where something will be told to you multiple times and that really does annoy me. its one I do say is a good one to look into but as a whole I just was done with it and glad it was finished in the end. I went from really caring for the characters to not really minding whatever happened

Gameplay - 3/5 - again this is going to be harsh because the length of this game really was killer for me. the mechanics are very unique. you are a ghost that has to posses items and interact with them to move around and change the 'fate' of the individuals in a scene. pretty cool and quite fun. but it is pretty consistent throughout and you will have a large number of puzzles to solve this way. half the fight is figuring out what things actually do and the other is being against the clock. if you dont solve it when times up. back to the start. it became a lot of trial and error and trying to remember what worked before and the best way to get to a certain point at a certain time. I like my puzzles but there hit a point about halfway through where I had had enough of this and was just trying to sped through to be finished

Music - 4/5 - No before I do the overall lets go for another strong point. The musica and sound design. the music is so very funky. The kind ou cant help but bob your head to. despitre me getting fustrating at playing this game the music did help keep me going. if the music had been bad as well this would have been abandoned ages ago. the sound affects of suprise duing dialouge and doing your 'tricks' as a ghost are quite good as well, kinda helps set the atmosphere and give a inkling of whats happening without having to focus too much

Enjoyment - 3/5 - When i first started the game I will admit I did absolutely love it. it just kept going and going with the same things and I just couldn't keep enjoying it. I think this is really one of those games that I may have enjopyed more when i was younger and could just keep going no matter what and still love a game. but now it just really didnt hit that mark for me. its not a terrible game it is fun but I just wanted it to be shorter for me to have kept that love I had right at the start

80%Nintendo DS

this was as great as i expected it to be, not that i expected anything less from a Takumi game. wonderful sprite work, music, and dialogue/narratives but more than anything i was most impressed with the animations. every single character and each of their movements have so much charm. characters like Bailey have small presences in the grand scheme of the game at large but i'll remember them forever.

90%PC

Genuinely just had a good time, and boppin music

90%Nintendo DS

Punta e clicca: sei morto e non sai perché, né te lo ricordi.

90%PC

Very charming visual novel and from what my bf said, a very good port as well.

The music is very good, the gameplay is good although very frustrating lol and the story is of course the main thing you want out of a visual novel and it is very good as well.
good humor and characters that have a lot of charm.
not a 10/10 simply because the game did have some issues at least for me in gameplay. One time i was stuck in a zone where i was not supposed to be ? and just a minor plot gripe i have with the whole switching beanies in front of yomiel lol.

But other than that it's very good and i recommend it :3

95%Xbox Series X/S

After n64, I completely missed all things Nintendo until the Switch. Also, I enjoy the traditional gaming experience (sitting at home w/ a console hooked up to my tv) over any handheld or VR. This info should provide a hint at how far away I was from ever crossing paths w/ a 2010 DS game. I will say, that over the decade + I missed out on this gem, I came across it several times looking up the best games of all-time - in this game's instance it would pop up randomly in Top Detective games, Top puzzle games, top Mystery games, greatest hidden gems of all time and several others. As somebody who wants to experience every highly acclaimed (especially both critically and mainstream) game, this one was always on my radar in the hopes of a port. I happened to watch a trailer and I was intrigued, especially since it was made by Capcom. In the meantime, from 2010 until it finally coming to XB in '23, a little trilogy of games, also created by Capcom, were ported to PS and XB a few years back. These games shared not only the Capcom connection, but as I looked into the Ace Attorney games, I realized Ghost Trick was a creation from the same mind- Shu Takumi, which made my hype go through the roof.

Alas, it was finally ported to consoles this previous year, and the game had me hooked right away. I didn't know what to expect going in, outside of it being a puzzle game, but I didn't know if it was similar in gameplay to Ace Attorney. It was not. & it was a breath of fresh air after playing 3 straight Ace games that were all pretty similar (albeit amazing in their own right). The entire game takes place in 1 night which I loved. The characters are just as memorable as Ace. The overall narrative is great w a variety of twists & turns and seemingly random threads that find a way to connecting with one another. I loved all the different locations used & the animations are amazing for a DS game from over a decade ago. A very memorable, unique puzzle game that I would def recommend.

90%PC

I really liked this game! It totally missed me when it came out on the DS, but I was riveted! A really surprisingly intricate story and cool puzzles it was great fun!

80%Nintendo DS

Hard to rate this one. It's good in small doses, which I find is true for me for most visual novel type games. I absolutely love Phoenix Wright but I can only play it a bit at a time. The mechanics are clever, there's a cute dog, and it turns out you were actually a cat the whole time. Now that's a twist I can get behind!

100%PC

Great in all regards. Captivating mystery.

100%Emulated

play on Drastic (Android)
great story and plot with fantasic cast

90%Nintendo DS

Excellent story, interesting gameplay mechanics, great animations. Characters also on top level, very good work developers!

70%PC

This game really nails everything it attempts to do and I think is about as good as it could possibly be. It would be a 10/10 if I was inclined to enjoy graphic novels type games with a puzzle-based gameplay. The genre here really isn't my cup of tea, but that's not the game's fault. The fact that I really enjoyed it speaks volumes for how incredible the game is imo.

Even if this type of game really isn't your thing, I think you'll likely still come away from the experience having really enjoyed it. It's very charming and pretty much all the concepts are executed at a high level of quality.

70%Nintendo Switch

More fun with a guide since the timed puzzles can be frustrating. Great music and clever and unique gameplay. I prefer the pixel graphics from DS. Still a great game. Can feel its kinship to Ace Attorney.

100%Nintendo Switch

I always forget how good Ghost Trick is. 🥰
(I don't normally give 100% ratings, except for games I've replayed so many times over the years that I've lost count.)

I've replayed this game, oh, between 5-10 times? The music is great, the art direction is truly something special, the plot is twisty-turny, the characters are quirky and loveable. Every chapter takes about 30 minutes (it was designed for the DS with its portability in mind) and I appreciate this a lot.
This remaster for Switch gives us some bonus slidey puzzles, which, okay thanks I guess; and it also gives us a bunch of bonus concept art, which, actual thanks. <3

I love all the characters a whole bunch but this time I fixated on Cabanela, he has the best animations. 💃

70%Nintendo DS

Played in 2023, DS version.

Very lovely game.
A mix between a puzzle and a narrative game.
Made by the creator of the Ace Attorney series, hence the similar "feel".

The puzzle side of things gets a bit samey after a while, until new mechanics get introduced during the second half.
What really got me going was the story. I warmed up to the characters and really wanted to know the ins and outs of the plot.
It felt a bit like a longer Ace Attorney case (albeit without the mind-blowing trials).
Another aspect worth praising is the characters animation. They move really well, adding so much personality.
The music is clearly below the one of Ace Attorney games, and the character design/portraits is not as refined as the Attorney series.
Definitely worth playing though.

95%Nintendo Switch

Nearly perfect game. Excellent writing, fun characters, catchy music and extremely engaging mystery. Gameplay is entertaining and unique.

The story has perfect pacing and is divided into short, bite-sized chapters that are perfect for a casual playstyle, keeping things interesting without ever feeling like it's dragging on for too long. My only issue is with a specific plot point that gets info-dumped at the very end of the game rather than developing and unveiling itself naturally. It feels like it was written as an afterthought to tie a loose end introduced early on.

The 2023 release looks a bit dated due to some design choices regarding text fonts and UI, but otherwise makes the game justice with it's re-arranged soundtrack, HD visuals and extra features.

100%Nintendo DS

Perfect story, perfect characters, perfect execution. This is Hall of Fame material.

80%Nintendo 3DS

Went in one go (BAD IDEA) and didn't really appreciate the story or the gameplay as much as I should have. Open to a replay, perhaps on Switch, or just watching gameplay on YT.

100%Emulated

Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective. Search this title online and you'll realise that somehow, no one has played it, but paradoxically, it's one of everyone's favourite games and you MUST play it. Capcom originally dropped a massive clanger marketing this game, so it attracted very few sales and wouldn't achieve its cult hit status for a good few years after release. I believe that the online clamour throwing this game in your face is really justified, and would recommend this to any gamer with the patience for visual-novel type games.

For one night only, Sissel is experiencing one of the most desirable power fantasies I've ever seen. His life has already ended, but he can still physically influence the world (press "Ghost" to warp between possessable objects within range, and "Trick" to make your object do something), and even commune with some of the living. On top of that, if he finds a dead body, he can head back to before the death and interact with the past world. With these powers, he merrily defies the fate of several characters, without fear of any consequences, and if things don't work out he shrugs it off and tries again. His ultimate goal, and the source of the game's tension, is to obtain full closure on the circumstances of his death, and truly rest in peace.

I thought the game encouraged patient, experiment-based gameplay but other reviews penalise a "trial-and-error" approach to puzzle solving. This description barely applies - in any situation, there are only a few Trick-able objects around, and object placement and optional character comments provide ample hints of what to do. Even if the solution isn't what you expected, you were still guided into making it happen. I got stuck and had to check a walkthrough twice - both times, I was already Tricking the right object; I just had to Trick it again. Enough room is given for your brain to do some work, while smoothly propelling the player forward so that even stupids like me can finish the game in about twelve hours. The exceptions are some rare occasions where you know the correct sequence of actions, but it's easy to flub the execution. These can prompt several restarts from a checkpoint, and cursing of the lack of a basic undo button.

Each level is a 2D side-view cutscene, the progression of which is influenced by your Tricks. You'll mostly find yourself in the kinds of mundane-made-kooky environments familiar to players of this game's Ace Attorney predecessors, starting in questionably-decorated apartments before graduating to luxury prisons, pollocentric restaurants, weirdo-attracting parks and so on. The opening levels might feel inconsequential but they all tie back into the story later. The nature of getting between levels causes Sissel to take on what feel like side missions, putting together the stories of apparent side characters, but the game's cast is so well interconnected that every level is a step forward and a new tidbit of information. The plot is almost more twists than straight parts, so the number of mysteries blossoms quickly and is almost too much, but for a useful summarising monologue at the start and end of each chapter. All your questions are resolved at the end, and I can't think of any loose ends or plot holes. The conclusion is jaw-dropping in a really life-affirming way; a long way from the dark, moody gut-punch twists which are so fashionable now. As with the best-written mysteries I was kicking myself for not getting it sooner. Almost everything was in plain sight, begging me to find it, but some blend of practised sleight-of-hand and my own incompetence kept me guessing the whole time. Even if I never forget this game's story, I'll look forward to playing it again and noticing every time the answers were staring me in the face.

I'll also look forward to revisiting the colourful pantomime of characters Ghost Trick treats you to, in which the Ace Attorney spirit is palpable. Most characters have a unique quirk to their writing, so given almost any text box, you can tell who said it. Just about everyone shares a friendly, optimistic nature, and whichever cast member reappears on screen, it's a little dopamine hit every time. Their distinctive designs are accompanied by charming, delightfully floppy CGI-rotoscoped animation. The background art is not so memorable but services the gameplay just fine. I would have preferred a clearer sense of depth, which would have helped me understand some puzzles more clearly. There's a cracking soundtrack with several very replayable pieces, though I thought it was a bit lightweight. There are ten minutes of sadly unused tracks in the game files, which are worth a listen online.

So yes, as the old saying goes, "Please play Ghost Trick". A consistent, exciting visual novel puzzler, working alongside original gameplay and beautiful characters, and one of the best narratives the DS era had to offer.

80%PC

Direction artistique cohérente et singulière avec ses chara designs et ses musiques, Ghost Trick prend direct aux tripes. Bon, la salle des machines était de trop, mais à part ça les énigmes sont marrantes et la durée de vie bien dosée. Si vous aimez les twists alors n'hésitez plus, parce que la fin tourne tellement vite que j'en ai mal à la tête.

85%Nintendo Switch

17/20

80%Nintendo DS

It's made by the same people as Ace Attorney, so it was obviously really good.

80%Nintendo DS

Great and engaging game! I would say that some of the story elements are a bit out there and feel a bit anime-ish, but overall, it kept my attention and interest until the credits rolled. I also really liked the characters.

95%Nintendo Switch

A body has been discovered in a junkyard on the outskirts of town. It's yours. Now there is another crime in progress, a young woman is being held at gunpoint by a strange man in a suit. Suddenly, you gain the ability to possess inanimate objects. Your fate may just change.

Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective is a DS cult classic that Capcom has now brought back in HD. You play as Sissel, a very recent corpse who is trying to figure out who he was and stop future murders from happening, all while being a spirit that can flash from object to object. The game is made by much of the team from Phoenix Wright, which is very telling. From the wacky and diverse character designs to the flashy dialogue and twists, the general identity of Ghost Trick feels like the familiar courtroom hyperdrama. But Ghost Trick sets itself apart by being a more abstract puzzle game, where you set a variety of Rube Goldberg-like contraptions to save friends from terrible fates. You defuse bombs, serve chicken, stop car crashes, and even put families back together. It is always silly and over the top, but the clever writing always keeps the scenarios interesting and teases the player with the next piece of the puzzle. Many of the actual puzzles involve flipping between objects in the environment to interact with the world of the living. The game is entirely linear with one solution to every room. Some answers are forced and straightforward, while others are a little more obtuse and/or require precise timing and a good eye. If you know what to look for, Ghost Trick can be a massively rewarding dopamine rush that finds creative solutions to its setups, but some chapters can feel frustrating due to a trial and error nature or because the game just missed a small window of input and you wrote it off as the wrong solution. The game's hint system does well to remedy errors and steer you in the right direction, but unfortunately doesn't go far enough in some of the more elaborate or devious areas.

Ghost Trick runs beautifully on Switch and can be played with standard button controls or fully via the Touch Screen. It's an excellent substitute for the DS's two control schemes, and while I found playing on the TV was more engaging for me, the Touch Controls are great and I wouldn't mind playing the entire game like that. The audio and visuals are also stellar, with consistently goofy animations and a swanky soundtrack that matches the satirical noir story and backgrounds with the supernatural setting.

Ghost Trick is a game I had wanted to play for a long time. Its cult following and limited release made the original game skyrocket in price, and with no digital store, it very well could have been left on the DS. But thankfully Capcom went back four minutes and saved this lovely adventure from its fate, and now many more can play this forgotten classic.

100%PC

Truly, my only complaint is that I wish they added a fast forward. Otherwise, a masterpiece.

90%PC

I've been looking forward to playing this game for a long time. Thank you Capcom for releasing it to modern platforms!

What I liked:
* The mechanics of the puzzles are unlike any I've encountered. You have to move a soul around and you can interact with things to alter the outcome of unfortunate events.
* The vibe is very Ace Attorney with exubarant characters. Fun movements and great sound effects.
* The story is fantastic, you start with the death of the main character and it all spirals up and down from there. The final reveal is a bit much, but I like it. It will certainly stick with me.
* Missile. Best doggo.
* Gameplay is switched up towards the end game which brings fun new mechanics.
* The hints while solving puzzles never feel like handholding. They were very welcome and to the point, but still left the challenge to piece it all together.

What I didn't like:
* The music was a bit extreme especially during the puzzle segments. I had a hard time concentrating.
* The dialogue moves a bit slow. There are only a few dialogue boxes every time, but it still (even with FF button) feels tedious to go back in time. I wish there was an instant-rewind when you make a silly mistake rather than replaying a section (even if it's only two minutes of work).

Once again, happy I got to experience this game.

85%Nintendo DS

Unique game about a ghost trying to solve the mystery of his death in a single night and figure out who he was. I think I would classify this as a visual novel with a lot of puzzle gameplay. The dialogue and sprites are very charming and soundtrack is catchy. This game was made by the same team as Ace Attorney which you can tell immediately. There's not many characters, but all of them are memorable.

Games made by Shu Takumi always somehow have me feeling heartache at the end of each of his games and this one is no different. There's not one game from him that I haven't enjoyed and I hope that doesn't change.

90%Nintendo Switch

Shu Takumi is a madman. How he and his team were able to write such a devilishly good narrative and cram it all into a beautifully animated 10 hour game is beyond me. It doesn't just stop there though. Ghost Trick is one of, if not THE most unique game I have ever had the pleasure of playing. Every screen is like a moving rube goldberg painting in which every object is begging for the player to interact with it. It can be somewhat frustrating at times with the limitations you have, but every puzzle was painstakingly handcrafted to fit these limitations and make it even more satisfying once the player is able to pull it off. A real standout feature that I was not expecting was just how hard the music would go off. Like seriously, big props to Yasumasa Kitagawa. I immediately recognized the soundtrack as her work once I reached a certain villain's lair, as it sent my memory straight back to my time I spent enjoying the Great Ace Attorney duology. Each character has their own unique theme, and I think the music does a great job highlighting some of the wackier characters. As far as presentation goes, I'd also be remised if I failed to mention the game's stellar animation. As I mentioned earlier, each screen is a hand drawn masterpiece, and some truly fantastic 3D models have simplistic yet overly exaggerated movements in their animations. It makes every character pop out on the screen, which makes me think how gorgeous this game might've looked if it originally released on the 3DS rather the og model. Now that I've thoroughly boosted this game's ego, let me talk about its' largest strength: the writing. As I said at the very beginning of this review, Shu Takumi is an actual madman. Within Ghost Trick, Takumi has created a artistic piece with some of the craziest storytelling I've ever seen. The story has blatant disregard for most things regarding logic, and there are so many times when a massive leap is expected of everyone involved; and yet despite my issues with logic fallacies and random happenstances, it just works for Ghost Trick. Everything is already so silly and all of the characters are just so fun to watch that you inevitably just give up on hoping it makes sense, because its just FUN. And when I say things don't make sense, I don't mean that the narrative has plot holes or anything, I mean just a bunch of nitpicky stuff like how *LITERALLY NO ONE* questions the fact that dogs and cats can speak to humans and have souls because of things that happen in the plot. A bunch of moments like that happen, usually this would bother me, especially in a detective type game where everything needs to fit in place, but in Ghost Trick, I couldn't be bothered. Like I said, this game is just so good and so fun that I don't even mind the silliness. And honestly, I think that's the true beauty of this title. I have played a lot of visual novels/detective-like games over the past year or so, and a lot of the times I'll end up walking away with maybe one or two points that I thought could've been improved with a bit more attention put into where all of the puzzle pieces of the narrative were dispersed. However, with Ghost Trick I haven't had a single thought like that. I am simply gratified with the fun, whimsical, and compelling narrative that Takumi and his amazing team were able to craft.

80%PC

Ghost Trick is a one-of-a-kind experience that also serves as a time-capsule of a type of game that we will simply never see again. As a remake of a DS game, it has a very simple and limited presentaion, but its by that same token that makes the game so memorable. With a straight-forward and easy-to-understand gameplay loop and excessively charming world, story, and characters, it makes for something truly unique and unforgettable.

+ Superbly unique presentation featuring a bold art style, charming world, and killer soundtrack\

- Easy to be locked out of Trances, prompting frequent restarts

90%Xbox One

I'm a sucker for visual novels, and even more for great ones. It controls great, characters are funny and music is fantastic. This might not be my favorite visual novel, story is kind of whack at the end but to experience this game for the first time was a treat. Any fan of Phoenix Wright will feel right at home with this game. Would recommend to anyone.

100%Emulated

Masterpiece detective game

80%Nintendo DS

One of the best games for the NDS with a great gameplay, a unique art style and a suspenseful story. The story's finale was ultimately not that great, but it was still overall a great experience.

95%Nintendo DS

A classic DS game.

95%Mobile

Ghost Trick takes its players on an unforgettable journey, with a wonderful narrative, instantly likable characters, a great soundtrack and stellar writing. A must play for fans of narrative driven games.

100%Nintendo DS

amazing soundtrack. exceptional writing with genius plot twists. very unique gameplay that works well and coincides with the story. 10/10.