Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective was hailed by critics as a potential game of the year back in 2011/2012 yet not many users ended up playing the game. The game was only available on Nintendo DS and on mobile devices. Luckily, 11/12 years later, it gets rereleased on a wide array of platforms for everyone to enjoy this unique puzzle adventure.
Thrift shop find
I remember seeing Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective in the game shops in 2011. The Capcom logo made me doubt getting it, but I eventually decided to spend my money on other games instead. Later when I started collecting games I found out this was a somewhat harder-to-find game. When I looked into the reason why this was “hard to find” I found out this game was a sort of hidden gem. Back in the day, the game wasn’t a big seller, a fact that also contributed to the scarcity. Luckily I got it cheap at a local thrift shop where they priced every Nintendo DS game at the same price. A bit late to the party I started playing Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective and found out immediately that I was wrong that day I doubted getting it. This is one of the most unique games out there and… it still is.
Find a way back
In Ghost Trick, you start out being dead. Your body lays on the floor of a junkyard and you appear to be a confused ghost at this point. As it turns out, you are a special kind of ghost, the sort who has strange powers. You are able to possess inanimate objects and tinker with them. What is more mind-boggling is your newly acquired ability to go 4 minutes back in time from the moment somebody died. Combining these 2 powers has the potential to alter fate and have a different outcome. You’ll start the game preventing your biggest ally Lynne from getting murdered by presumably the same hitman who caused your own demise. From there you’ll start the “investigation” into your own murder through the use of your ghost tricks.
Puzzle adventure
Ghost Trick has the most unique mechanics of any game I played. Your inanimate object hopping skills are quite limited in distance. Getting around the levels will require some puzzle skills. Figuring out a path to get further into your investigation will require some head-scratching and leave you with a sense of pride once figured out. Some levels require some timing but nothing too fidgety. The 4-minute timer every time you go back to prevent somebody’s death adds some tension to the gameplay. Luckily you can always return to the beginning of those 4 minutes or restart from a time you already partially altered the outcome. Sometimes you’ll even have to watch the 4 minutes unfold to see what possibilities you have to alter it the next time around. I’m trying to do it justice with my explanation but I highly recommend you try it out for yourself to get the full experience.
Great crime fiction
The unique mechanics in Ghost Trick aren’t even the biggest selling point. The story is. Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective is designed and directed by Shu Takumi. Shu Takumi is best known as a recurring director and scenario writer for the Ace Attorney series. He even was the Japanese voice of Pheonix Wright in the first four games. The style of storytelling in Ghost Trick is much like it was in the Ace Attorney games. Expect a lot of twists and turns, a dash of humor and a lot of quirky characters. Not your typical whodunnit but a great original story fitting with the uniqueness of the gameplay.
Conclusion
Those who missed Ghost Trick on Nintendo DS back in the day, have another chance to pick this one up (at a discounted price). The visuals might look a bit outdated but remember this game is about the story, the unique mechanics, and the overall experience. I’m positive you’ll have a great time even if this still looks like a Nintendo DS/mobile game from 10+ years back. Trust me and just play Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective and thank me later.
