Ghost Trick's beautifully crafted story, stunning graphics, and unique gameplay formulas make it Shu Takumi's best yet.
The story (as I said before) is about a man named Sissel who's just been killed (what a way to start). Not only was he killed, but he lost his entire memory. Worse still, he's in the middle of a situation in which a young female detective is being held at gunpoint by a near-sighted hitman who's never missed a target. When it seems things can't get any weirder (or tense), a possessed lamp comes alive and starts speaking to Sissel. The lamp tells him what he needs to do to save the girl. After a few paranormal tricks, it looks like he's getting somewhere. Suddenly, the hitman fires, and kills the poor woman. The lamp, however, says Sissel can still save her life. He returns to four minutes before the death of the detective. He then does more ghost tricks, and ultimately saves her life, crushing the hitman under the weight of a wrecking ball. The red-headed girl is saved, for now. This is only one part of the lengthy narrative, in which many secrets about Sissel's past are revealed, and how it affected the series of events that led up to the conclusion. The writing is extremely top-notch, all of the characters are entertaining in their own way (such as a chicken-singing chef, an enthusiastic, talking dog, and a disco-dancing, smooth-talking detective), and the story has plenty of twists and cliffhangers that result in a very satisfying conclusion. Shu Takumi's best, perhaps.
It doesn't stop there. The gameplay is totally unique and original, and a blast. Two modes are used in gameplay. In Ghost mode, time stops, and by using the stylus or control pad (which ever you prefer) to move Sissel's soul from one core of an inanimate object to another. His soul, however, can go only a certain distance, so some objects may not be reached at first. During Trick mode, time continues and the object Sissel is currently possessing can be manipulated into motion. Tricks can open cabinet doors, ring bells, push carts, flick switches, open umbrellas, and much more. Stringing these actions together into a Rube-Goldberg esque sequence is the fun part. These actions can do many tings, but it's what they do, the timing of it, and the influenced actions of the people in the sequence that matter. How to make the right ones take concentration, patience, bright eyes, and a lot of mental thought.
Just be careful, not all objects have tricks. You can also easily get stuck if you choose the wrong path. It wouldn't matter, though, since you can rewind time and start over from a current point in the scene. There are other methods of gameplay, such as a stealth segment and a few other parts that involve switching objects of the same shape to prevent certain deaths. However, these parts don't occur until late into the game, meaning the original forms of gameplay are played throughout most of the game. Does it get repetitive? A little. Does it matter? No. The situations are always fresh and trying to figure out how to string these actions together is just part of the fun. The puzzles are well-thought and it's extremely satisfying when the victim's lives are saved.
Not only is the gameplay and story spectacular, but the animation and visuals are absolutely incredible. The way the characters move is a treat for the eyes, and the artwork for each character looks great. The sound effects are also stunning, everything sounding best with headphones. The music is also another good feature, fitting the tone and mood just right. There's also a lot of replay value, too. You can replay any of the chapters you've gone through, and experience this masterpiece all over again.
That seems like the right word, "masterpiece." Why? Ghost Trick's beautifully crafted story, stunning graphics, and unique gameplay formulas make it Shu Takumi's best yet. It's everything you'd want in his games. 2011 is off to a gooooood start.
Gameplay: 9.5/10
Graphics: 10/10
Story: 10/10
Sound and Music: 9.5/10
Replay Value: 9/10
Fun: 9.5/10
Overall: 9.5/10
+ Gripping, yet lighthearted, story featuring a cast of memorable characters, great twists, and a beautifully satisfying conclusion.
+ Unique gameplay formulas work well and are absolute blasts.
+ Satisfying puzzles that get you thinking hard.
+ Has some of the best 2-D animation on the D.S., and possibly on any console.
+ Sounds incredible and has some nice tunes.
+ Duh, it's from the creator of Phoenix Wright?
- The gameplay doesn't change for a while, so it's a bit repetitive.
FINAL WORD: Read through the text carefully to understand the story best.