WHODUNNIT murder mysteries have been around since the mid-1800s. But how often do you see one presented from the perspective of a lawyer?

That's exactly what the Ace Attorney (AA) games do - they put you in the role of a defence attorney assigned to represent murder suspects in cases where the prosecution claims to have decisive evidence and airtight witness testimonies against your client.

Until you prove otherwise, that is.

Your job is to find gaps in the evidence and testimonies, and break the prosecution's case by offering a different interpretation of the facts.

As you do so, you figure out who the real murderer is. You then reference the existing evidence to explain how the guilty party could have done it, and if successful, you are rewarded with the "why" behind the crime.

It's a formula that has remained largely unchanged through the series - even in this fourth instalment, which boasts a series reboot swapping most of the previous cast of characters in favour of fresh faces.

Apollo Justice is the new defence attorney you get to play. And the only two things more ridiculous than his name are his legal aide (a talented 15-year-old female magician) and his adversary (Klavier Gavin, prosecutor by day, rock star by night).

Thankfully though, this game is as much about Apollo's rise from a rookie to an expert as it is about legendary attorney (and the titular star of all three preceding games) Phoenix Wright's fall from grace. New and returning players alike will be kept intrigued by the dual storylines that unfold through the game's four cases.

If only the gameplay were as forward- thinking. The one big problem that has plagued every series instalment remains unaddressed: If you get stuck in a puzzle, there is no way to proceed except by trial-and-error, or by referring to a game guide.

The developers need to take some serious cues from Professor Layton and implement an elaborate hint system soon. The day they pull that off is the day the AA finally becomes triple-A material.

By Sim Cheng Kai, a freelance writer who carries an Apollo Justice-emblazoned card case.