US, December 15, 2009 - Any Ace Attorney fan knows that Miles Edgeworth is the rival of the series' star, Phoenix Wright. Now it's Edgeworth's time to shine in what may be the best in the series to date. I've played through a good chunk of Ace Attorney Investigations: Miles Edgeworth and I am pretty certain fans of the series will love this one. Here are five reasons why.

Leave the Courtroom Behind
Though courtroom dramas are intense, the real action is at the crime scene itself. Miles Edgeworth let's you walk freely around the crime scenes, hunting for evidence, questioning witnesses and solving murders. You're not going to mistake yourself for Sherlock Holmes, but you'll definitely be tasked with using more of your brain to ferret out the guilty than in the previous versions of the series.

The first case takes place in Edgeworth's office, with a murder committed at his doorstep. But the other cases branch out. You even solve a crime in an international flight. I suppose that's the prosecutorial version of the Mile High Club.

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Logic is the Key
When I say you're going to use your brain, I mean it. In fact, you'll have to tap the Logic button at times and piece together evidence to find the contradiction in someone's argument. Miles Edgeworth always seems to be a suspect and every opponent is resistant to your logic. Examine the evidence, find the hole in someone's argument and take them down a notch.

Be Like Jack Bauer
Ok, so you never do get to torture anyone, but there's some fun to be had rebutting a witnesses testimony. Sometimes you're given dialogue choices that can alter the conversation, but most of the time it's a matter of choosing when to press a witness and which evidence to present. Though these verbal battles are similar to the past versions of Ace Attorney, there are more options this time around.

It's Just So Ridiculous
How could you not love a game with these classic lines like, "Everything began on that fateful day, two days ago." That's like saying, "I remember it like it was yesterday. It happened two days ago." And you must respect the earnestness of someone who can say, "I swear on my honor as a professional flight attendant." Ace Attorney has silly names, tongue-in-cheek lines and over-the-top reactions. It's pretty much the perfect legal drama.

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It's More Ace Attorney
This is the fifth game in the series and though some aspects have changed, it's pretty much the same game. That's not a complaint. If you've played four Ace Attorney games, then I'd say it's a safe bet that solving crimes and acquitting the innocent/condemning the guilty are right up your alley. Through the first two cases, Miles Edgeworth is showing itself to have just enough gameplay changes to keep this fresh. The real question is whether the cases can stand up to those from past titles. The first two cases are on par. Hopefully it gets even better.

Ace Attorney Investigations: Miles Edgeworth arrives in North America, the UK, and Australia in February