I don't usually write reviews, so bear with me here...

Nina Aquila: Legal Eagle (NALE) is an RPG Maker game that seems to draw heavy inspiration from Pheonix Wright. Things like the 3-day trial limit, the "mentor" figure "disappearing", and hiring an assistant you met on a case... A lot of similarities here.

However, one of my biggest pain points with the PW series was that the investigation segments seemed to drag on and on and on. NALE resolves that - the investigations are faster paced, keeping the story moving and limiting the tedium. Those investigation periods do have minigames (chapter 2 has a card game, chapter 3 has a racing game), but for those like me who are here for the story, the developer was kind enough to enable a "god mode" of sorts, where you cannot fail the minigames.

The story, speaking of, is absolutely fantastic and will keep you on the edge of your seat throughout the entire experience. The characters are well written, the plot is believable, and you'll end the game wanting more. Couple that with the great portrait art (NINA IS ADORABLE) and you've got a true gem here.


If you are a fan of the Pheonix Wright series, you'll absolutely love this. If you're not, I'd recommend this anyway - it solves a lot of the pain points.