It’s hard to believe it’s been over a decade since 2011’s Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective hit the Nintendo DS. In a year dominated by massive sequels (Portal 2, Uncharted 3, and Skyrim, to name a few), Ghost Trick stood out as a clever little adventure title that fit the handheld like a glove. While it received an iOS port the following year, the Capcom-funded IP soon went dormant. Years passed without so much as a mention, let alone news of a sequel. And while the latter still eludes us, there’s reason for optimism.
On June 30, 2023, Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective is set to see new life. The classic game is getting redone for modern consoles (PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One, specifically). While the word “remaster” isn’t in the title, make no mistake: This is a proper refresh — one that should appease Ghost Trick fans and mystery lovers alike.
For newcomers, Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective stars Sissel, a recently deceased man who knows nothing of his death other than three facts: One, he was killed. Two, a mysterious woman named Lynne is involved but is in danger of being killed, too. Three, he has only until the morning to save her life and solve his own death. Making the task harder, he has amnesia.
As the game’s title suggests, Sissel operates in the ghost world. As such, he has access to some newfound powers known as “ghost tricks.” By possessing objects in the living world, Sissel can subtly alter the world — like extending a ladder or pedaling a bicycle. In isolation, these actions do relatively little, but in totality, they create a “butterfly effect” that can alter the fabric of time and protect Lynne and her loved ones.
Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective exists in bite-sized chapters, each with its own distinct objective. I went hands-on with the opening two levels (roughly 90 minutes) of the remaster. In that time, I prevented Lynne’s death at the hands of a hitman, infiltrated an evil hideout, and thwarted a second attempt on her life. My playtime was peppered with quirky characters, hilarious writing, and a central mystery that left me wanting more. As someone who never finished the original game, I’m excited to see how Sissel’s story unfolds.
At its heart a puzzle game, Ghost Trick lives and dies by the strength of its scenarios. Each level is a meticulously designed sandbox of everyday objects (a projector, a crane, a Christmas tree) that coalesce into increasingly complex Rube Goldberg machines. As with any great puzzle, there’s a healthy bit of trial and error before you reach a solution. But once the pieces click, the payoff is immense.
Take the game’s opening level. After a rather lengthy tutorial explaining how to harness Sissel’s powers, I was tasked with rewinding time, navigating a junkyard, and using everything from a fridge to a blender to prevent Lynne’s assailant from shooting her with a shotgun. While I won’t spoil specifics, the final solution required just the right mix of timing, intuition, and foresight. The game’s second scenario was even stronger, forcing me to figure out how to hide a young girl from an incoming attacker (a la Twelve Minutes). Those who’ve played Ghost Trick on DS or iOS know the quality of the game’s design — and those unfamiliar are in for a treat.
But how does Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective look and feel on modern platforms? The short answer is: incredible. When I booted up the demo on PlayStation 4, I wondered how the game’s touch controls would translate to a traditional controller. Any concerns I had quickly faded away; navigating levels is a breeze and I quickly found my rhythm hopping between objects and wreaking havoc.
Likewise, the game’s visuals are a noticeable step up over both the DS and iOS versions. The team upscaled character models and environments, and it’s difficult to find a single jagged texture. Although the remaster sticks with the original’s 4:3 aspect ratio, Capcom has added some gorgeous 16:9 selection screens, giving the game a fresh feel. Phantom Detective was no slouch when it came out in 2011, yet the game somehow looks even better 12 years later.
If I were to levy one complaint during my preview time, it’d be that Ghost Trick gets off to a sluggish start. The game’s opening level serves as its tutorial, and while the level itself was entertaining, I couldn’t help but feel like the developers were holding my hand. It’s hard to fault Capcom for this, given it’s identical to the original game, but an option to skip ahead would have been a welcome addition. Thankfully, the game allows players to fast-forward through any dialogue they’ve previously read, which is a handy mechanic.
The Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective remaster is also admittedly light on “new” features. Capcom has added some nice supplemental bells and whistles — notably the option to view concept art and listen to the game’s music — but that’s about it. If you didn’t love the original Ghost Trick or you were hoping for new content, you might be disappointed here.
Speaking of music, fans will be pleased to learn that the full Ghost Trick soundtrack, composed by Masakazu Sugimori (Phoenix Wright), has also received a touch-up. An effortless blend of strings, bass, and synth, Sugimori’s soundtrack paints a loving picture of pulp noir. An updated version for this re-release is a gift to us all.
My time with the Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective remaster was brief, but I’m already itching for more. By all indications, the game is as good as it has ever been: The visuals are crisp, the music is catchy, and the writing is clever. Add in the game’s impressive puzzles and compelling mystery, and Ghost Trick is shaping up to be a remaster that few should miss.
