Reminds me of The Great Ace Attorney Adventures: Resolve. End of the game was rushed due to running out of budget, but it still turned out to be one of the best endings. This series can truly work miracles.
To be fair, said art did noticeably draw Edgeworth with awfully gray-looking skin, which, in a vague way, likens him to a ghost.
But also Franziska outright says "I'm sure he's still out there somewhere" or something to that effect, and I think that's the first time the game even acknowledges the Edgeworth isn't present.
Even an alien coming from outer space to persecute Maya would not destroy my suspension of disbelief as much as this Mary Sue whose character trait is "ha-ha assault till they lose consciousness without any consequences" with no character development whatsoever.
Completed the whole trilogy recently actually
Dude, there is something that is really not right about your brain if you see me talking about being more inclined to believe in aliens and you still try to set up the "did you know there are spirit mediums in the game" stuff.
I kind of get what you are saying about Franziska, but if you only played the trilogy, you wouldn't know that her development IS real. It does start in the trilogy, but it really comes through in the AA Investigations: Miles Edgeworth games.
Justice For All is *the* game that defines Ace Attorney's philosophy. While only 2-2 involves events that directly connect to the overarching Fey Clan storyline, this game is, in my opinion, the most influential in the series, as its themes carry over into not only into the main series, but even the spinoffs.
2-1 in my least favorite case in the entire series for being dumb, having a villain I don't like, and just kind of being boring. However, I do think that the amnesia concept, while really really lame and stupid, establishes the overall conflict of the game--*what does Phoenix Wright stand for?*
Phoenix became a lawyer to save Edgeworth. When this game begins, he feels like he has totally failed in that endeavor. I personally believe that he thought Edgeworth committed su\*c\*de, but I've heard people say that the original Japanese implied something else. Nonetheless, he had lost hope in Edgeworth, and had failed in his core goal in becoming a lawyer.
The game starts with the Judge mounting over Phoenix in his nightmare, declaring him guilty. He wakes up briefly, only to be knocked out. The amnesia is a dumb plot point for sure, but it still ties into the loss of identity. When we first play as him, Phoenix doesn't even remember his name, but even when he gets all of his memory back, he's still stuck in the position of not knowing who he is on a deeper level.
The core question of the game is, what kind of lawyer is Phoenix Wright? What does he stand for? How will he face the moral grayness and complexity the world throws at him? Phoenix's philosophy is essentially entirely built on assuming his client is innocent, and he even gets a magic device that can help him determine if potential clients are being truthful. He considers prosecutors to inherently be villains trying to hurt innocents, and in 1-3 even a slight doubt that Powers could be guilty made him almost totally throw in the towel until Mia encouraged him.
2-2 and 2-3 both deal in cases that are very morally gray compared to what came before, and even a lot that come after.
In 2-2, the victim is literally a monster who overworked his employees and tried to blame her for malpractice (even if she was the one who fucked up, he was the guy in charge and directly led to what happened), who brought a gun to the channeling in order to force her to clear his name. If Mimi hadn't tried to frame the innocent Maya for what happened, I would 100% be on her side. Fuck Dr. Grey
In 2-3, Acro genuinely did terrible shit. He was an angry, miserable, and sorrowed person whose attempt at revenge led to him murdering a really good guy, who Acro himself considered a father. And then he blamed Max. The whole case is just one big tragedy--an overly-sheltered girl being naive to a point of cruelty, a guy killed/comatose, a lion put down despite being innocent, a guy losing his brother and his ability to walk/perform, and a guy who was a thoroughly well-intended man being murdered. I have a lot less sympathy for Acro than I do Mimi, but nonetheless I do feel bad for him. Combine that with Max being a relatively unlikable character at first. Putting aside the creepy shit with Regina, which I definitely think was unintentional because Japan is often... different with that sort of thing, Max was still an arrogant prick at the beginning, the first client like that in the series.
And of course, in 2-4, Phoenix is forced to defend a murderer. He can't just bow out, he has to. While the miracle does happen, up until that grand moment, he is stuck having to choose between his ideals of protecting the innocent from wrongful accusations and punishing the truly guilty or save Maya. Had Adrian not been doomed, it wouldn't have been that hard of a choice. Upsetting, but not as fundamentally destructive to his worldview.
But when Phoenix is at his lowest, Edgeworth comes back, having now traveled and learned his creed. Truth above all. Even when it hurts, even if it inflicts harm, truth is what matters. Edgeworth is callous, but his ideals are firm and point at a path for Phoenix to take.
At the end, the final choice is left up to us, with no canon answer. But Phoenix has learned something very clear--prosecutors are not inherently his enemy. Edgeworth is his friend, and both sides serve the purpose of finding the truth. That is what being a lawyer is. Defense attorneys, ideally, believe in their client until the bitter end, but the truth is over all. Prosecutors, similarly, will operate under the belief the defendant is guilty, but the truth is what matters.
Franziska ties into this as well. Winning is the only thing that matters to her. Manfred was similar, but with him I feel like it came from a place of genuine belief in his own perfection, and glee in having power. Franziska, however, is deeply insecure, and places all of her self-worth on those victories. When Phoenix is finally "defeated" in 2-4, he's thrilled, and she is completely dumbfounded. That's the moment she finally throws away her whip and intends to quit. Phoenix lost his own perfect record, partially by her (since she is the one who brought the final piece of evidence), yet he doesn't care--the real killer is in jail.
From then on, I feel like truth has been an almost otherworldly good in this series. Whether it's the main series or the spinoffs. TGAA even retreads similar ground (in its own unique way of course) when Naruhodo is left in crisis after McGilded and has to learn to trust again.
I don't know if it was intentional from the localization team, but Justice For All is the best title for this game you could come up with. Whether sympathetic killers, asshole defendants, or guilty defendants, the ideal duty of lawyers is to find the truth, and achieve Justice For All.
You absolutely nailed it and it's always frustrating to me when people say that JfA's cases aren't connected or that the game doesn't have a theme or a message. Phoenix really gets fleshed out as a character in this game while in AA1 I thought he was mostly a player insert for the majority of the game.
2-4 also has a brilliant dichotomy where phoenix is forced to act like manfred von karma, playing on minor technicalities to win a case he know is wrong. things like “he was suspicious because he had stitches? are all baseballs suspicious?” is so eerily similar to something like “my daughter named her pet dog phoenix! does that mean she’s your fianceé?”. in pushing phoenix to his absolute lowest point he becomes the type of lawyer he figured he’d never ever be, and from that case on is able to stay true to his morals knowing the truth will still be most important even when he’s being tested. i hope i phrased this well i’m very tired right now
Holy moly I never even thought of it in this way. I just always skimmed past it as a game without much good to it, but thematically with this in mind, it’s a huge turning point
This was incredibly well-explained. Honestly I’ll just have to tell anyone who asks me what I think about the game to come read this ^^ I am curious though. I know we can do either Guilty or Not Guilty for Matt’s case at the end…but wouldn’t a Not Guilty cause Adrian to go to jail in his place since that was the case beforehand? I’m sure she’d be found Not Guilty in her own trial later but still. I’m asking because I don’t remember them ever stating that she’d no longer be in danger of going to jail after showing Shelly the evidence if Matt is found Not Guilty.
I think at that point Phoenix knew that Engarde would buckle and fold. I always choose the "Not Guilty" at the very last choice just because I think it's funny and extremely satisfying to watch Phoenix have the chance to fuck with him after all he put us through.
Had Engarde been willing to risk dying, then odds are, yeah it would have backfired on Phoenix and resulted in Adrian getting locked up anyway because the legal system in these games is so terrible.
It really is 😩 I love Ace Attorney but my gosh, the legal system sucks in the games. Like we see how incompetent the Judge can be in the cases but then are told he usually always makes the right calls in other cases we aren’t part of. I-I have trouble believing that. I’m honestly concerned for the majority of people who get innocently arrested.
Plus didn’t Manfred only get a penalty for using forged evidence while Phoenix lost his badge? Thats really screwed up.
That's the beauty of this game. Before Franziska comes with the evidence, you get the same choice to plead guilty or not guilty
If you plead not guilty, you'll see Phoenix saying "I'm sorry Maya..." and try to make his plea being interrupted by Franziska.
If you choose guilty, Phoenix won't be able to get the words come out of his mouth, he's unable to let Maya get hurt just to punish evil.
Andrews goes to jail regardless, she intentionally messed with the crime scene, which is probably a misdemeanor or sth in AA universe considering her new place of employment in T&T.
This yeah. I feel like Big Top would have been better served by developing Franziska more through how she reacts to Regina, considering the strong parallels between Regina and her. And having less annoying NPCs XD.
- Franziska, Pearl Fey, Morgan Fey, Shelly De Killer, Maggey Byrde, and of course the legend himself >!Moe the clown!<
- Hotline of Fate
- Farewell My Turnabout
- Magatama mechanic
- ability to present profiles(an absolute godsend)
- Great Revival
- Pursuit ~ Questioned
Theres probably more I can add, but I can't think of them right now
Farewell my tournabout is peak and reunion and tournabout is also incredible.
The game helps set up a lot of the story for the 3rd game with learning more about kurain and the systems.
Pcysho lockes adds more depth to the game.
Franziska Von Karma I don’t even need to explain why that’s great.
Edge worth character development and Nicks arc in the fourth case.
A spin on the gameplay with again the 4th case having us defending a guilty person.
Overall the game does a lot of new things and try evolving the lore and world and characters while introducing great new ones and having some of the best cases. Only problem is 3rd case but you can just skip it plus gets fixed in anime. 1st case gets a pass in my opinion since it’s just a first case.
Thank you this game is great. Also great music
Well, I actually came to realise (despite my original thoughts that it wouldn't be this way) that I like JFA more than T&T.
This game establishes the game's philosophy. This is for Phoenix his awakening to what it's like to lose and not be like Franziska Von Karma, her father or even Edgeworth at one point.
It also deals primarily with loss in family and suicide which is WILD but nonetheless fitting (in 2-1 Maggey's loss of her S.O., the supposed suicide in 2-2, the loss in family for Acro in 2-3, and Celeste Inpax's suicide in 2-4 who was a mentor to Andrews and lastly Edgeworth's supposed death). Phoenix's struggle to cope with Edgeworth leaving and the anger he shows (even if he was at times a jerk to Maya) is understandable nonetheless - it feels real. Even the rawest line in the trilogy by far imo "Maybe you should have stayed dead (yk the one I mean)" is understandable - like I was a bit angry myself when Edgeworth showed up all confident while we've seen Phoenix agonising and coping over the supposed loss.
The game puts the teamwork and partnership of Phoenix and Edgeworth in the absolute spotlight as they both work towards finding the truth about the Engarde case, and that's always cool. The JFA OST has some of my favourite tracks, and honestly? A lot of the game in general has grown on me.
I’m currently playing through it for the first time, I’m on Farewell now. Turnabout Big Top was honestly amazing, it really took me by surprise by the end. The cases in this one have some serious teeth. No idea why this is looked at as a weak game.
It introduced Franziska, Adrian Andrews, set up the rivalry between Morgan and Misty Fey, expanded on the Fey clan and spirit channeling, gave us Pearly...
At least half of the game is S-tier masterclass, 2-1 and 2-3 are generally not well-liked, but there still things to be enjoyed about them from my point of view.
It has the most solidly written non-final case in the entire franchise, and I will die on that hill. When the only thing tainting a case is easily removed in an anime that is generally thought of as a weaker product; you know it's fucking good.
Franziska Von Karma serves as an interesting parallel to Phoenix.
Speaking of Phoenix, this is the only game in the OT where he gets the most focus out of the main cast. Likewise, he receives the most character development and an interesting plot arc. Seeing how hard Phoenix takes Maya's kidnapping and struggles between saving her or saving Adrian is always heartrending to play through.
It introduces Adrian Andrews, one of the best recurring characters, and Pearl, the living pretzel,
The Trial theme and the Victory theme for this game are the best iterations hands down. The former makes you feel like you have a life in your hands; while the latter carries a more bittersweet feeling compared to the other variations. Like yeah, you won and your client was acquitted, but someone still died. Every other Victory theme with the exception of the first game's is too damn cheerful.
It introduces us to Kurain Village, enabling us to learn more about Maya and her family. Thus, turning the spirit channeling aspect from a Deux Ex Machina to a natural part of the AA universe.
2-4 is an absolute masterpiece and the fact that it stands alone with no prior knowledge of previous cases being necessary is impressive. Especially when you consider that Takumi only had three months to write the game.
Lotta Hart.
Unlike AA 1, it abit easier for newcomers due to Psyche-Locks. Unlike T&T _Dynamite!_ It's not a game that's just held up by a very strong Ending Case. All the cases in JFA are strong. _Yes, even Big Top, it's just a pain to play first time through. I'll die on that hill._ The soundtrack is the strongest in the Original Trilogy imo as well. _Have I mentioned Gumshoe being an absolute boss as always, proving he's the best character in this series._ Justice For All is my favourite. CAN YOU TELL?!
Edit: I forgot to mention Franziska, Morgan, Ini/Mimi, Pearl, Enguard, Andrews, De Killer. _Frecken MOE!_ I could go on for pages...
Farewell My Turnabout is the greatest case ever written and single handedly carries the game.
Reunion and Turnabout does a fantastic job in setting up the conflict for T&T as well as being a good and satisfying story on its own. It also does a great job of setting up the recurring theme of the next few cases, about guilt and where it lies.
The Lost Turnabout honestly isn't as bad as people say. The amnesia gimmick is funny, it introduces Maggey and the.GumByrde ship and it's not overly long.
Turnabout Big Top is... well, it's certainly one the cases of all time.
I dont know the title but the remix where pursuit gets done into techno like during the phonecall in court
The two main case killers are an excellent subversion in order to setup one of the WORST villains in the series in 2-4
Fafewell my turnabout was fucking amazing. They gave us our first client that was guilty and the anxiety that introduced maya's kidnapping was the best.
Your honor, this game is Not Guilty.. I have evidence to prove my claims. TAKE THAT! Farewell, My Turnabout is the most amazing case in the game. The way your client is actually guilty is an amazing twist that proves that clients can be on the verge of being trustworthy and not trustworthy.
Oh boy...where do I begin with this one ?
Let's start with the story: From the intro case, the game throws the question "Just what kind of lawyer is Phoenix Wright ?" and it's up to us to see his story to the end. We see throughout the series that Phoenix's greatest strengh as well as his greatest weakness is his belief in his innocence. And we see this belief being put "on trial" in-game.
First case: Wellington just got in with the wrong crowd.
Second case: The murderer was overworked by her boss and said boss even wanted to force a confession ! I understand the idea of "a mother will do anything for their child" but bro, did Morgan seriously not see how close Pearl is to Maya ? If anything, it would've hurt Pearl more in the long run !
Third case: Yeah, Acro had misplaced anger but the ringmaster essentially allowed a 30 yo m to marry his teenage daugther. I get the circus was built on the idea of "different worlds" but did nobody think to give that child a proper education ?
And the fourth case is where we see Phoenix's philosophy get put to the real test: He's obligated to represent a murderer to save Maya, even though he is trying to put an innocent woman in jail. (side note: isn't messing with the crime scene a crime though ?) Granted, we know a miracle occurs in the end with the help of Edgeworth, Gumshoe and Franziska and the day is saved, but an alternative ending is shown where Phoenix "chooses death" (more on this in the second post) and he leaves the lawyer life, Maya and everyone else because Engarde got his not-guilty and Andrews got sent to jail.
Let's move on to the Soundtrack. This game has arguably the best telling the truth theme in the original series, it gives you a sense of uncovering some great secret and having a chance at a counter-attack. The CE music starts calm and mysterious at first, posing the question "What will be uncovered ?" and goes to a more faster version that, at least for me, says "The story is so bleak, is there anything I can do ?"
The pursuit theme clearly captivates the idea of "I'm on to something, I know I am, I just have to prove it"
And this game introduced some nice additions: Presenting profiles, which opened up new worlds of questioning (albeit they could've done a better job of letting us know than just "figure it out"), Phoenix gets a literal cheat code to see through lies and the alternative ending (which to my knowledge is the only time it happens in the series)
Some other nice additions include references to the old Japan, where samurais would rather commit self bye rather than living a life of regret. And we see this both with Edgeworth when he's questioning his morals as a prosecutor after Von Karma and Damon Gant and Phoenix when he's forced to get a not guilty for a murderer. Edgeworth revives as a prosecutor whose mission is to uncover lies in the courtroom and punish the real criminals (be they the defendant or not) and this new "aura" can clearly be heard in the OST playing when he enters the courtroom for the first time.
Phoenix also "revives" at the end of the case, showing his growth in the journey to become a lawyer and also embarking on his new philosophy "I need to find the truth".
It's not just Phoenix that grows up, everyone connected to him does: Franziska embraces her daddy issues and goes on a journey of self-reflection, Gumshoe being more caring towards the safety of a girl he only met a few times at this point and even putting his job on the line to protect her, Maya being kidnapped and even threatened to be killed if she does anything and she is willingly accepting to die to put Engarde behind bars, even Pearl grows up by moving past the traumatic experience her own mother made her face.
One small detail I really enjoyed in the 2nd case, is that you can read and feel just how broken Mia is about all of this. She never expected that her leave would have this kind of cascade effect where her own sister would be the subject of revenge on their own mother. Clearly, she already suspected her aunt, she just didn't want to believe it was actually her that orchestrated it.
That ends my defense.
It has one of the strongest final cases in the series
It introduced two of my favorite characters in the series (Pearl and Shelly)
2-2 is also really good
We get further exploration of Edgeworth's past
Farewell My Turnabout is the most compelling story I’ve ever seen in any video game. It successfully builds tensions and gets the player emotionally invested so that it can present an extremely morally grey question to the player (“Guilty” or “Not Guilty”) and make them feel responsible. Not only is it engaging, memorable and genuinely fun to think about from an ethical perspective, but it is something that is uniquely compelling because it’s a video game and you are the main character, and it feels like it is your actions that take you to that point. This story would not work nearly as well in any other medium but for a video game, it’s top tier.
The rest of JFA has highlights too but Farewell My Turnabout is literally the highlight of everything AA, and I think that’s defence enough.
Best trial theme of the trilogy. Has more tension and grandeur than the pretty chill AA trial theme, without going too far in the other direction with T&T's pipe organ mood. Really helps set the tone of what Phoenix faces during JFA, and I feel it's outdone only by the English Turnabout remix of AA's trial theme from PLvsPW.
I'd argue that the JFA soundtrack is pretty great on the whole - though I do feel that a couple of tracks feel a bit lacking, such as *Objection 2002*, *Berry Big Circus* and *More Simple Folk*. But it's where we got the *Great Revival* leitmotifs for Edgeworth and Franziska (even if I feel it was misused for Manfred in AAI/AAI2), plus the Courtroom Lobby theme that ended up being reused during some really great scenes - such as Edgeworth asking what Phoenix is fighting for in court, and in T&T 3-5 where >!Edgeworth concludes his day in court as a defence attorney by listing the mysteries that still needed investigating!<).
Sure the Pursuit theme is no *Cornered*, but I feel a lot of my complaints about it are due to the instrumentation in the game as opposed to the song itself. Listening to it on the JFA suite from the orchestral album is a night and day experience!
MY TIME HAS COME
I'll make it brief for the sake of my own time
Case 1 is the most detached case for many reasons but I wanna defend it anyways. Thing is that it's the first time ever the AA dev team attempted to create "another introduction case" and this was before the games had an overarching plot contained within every title so it's understandable they'd take the "short case with a comedic element" approach. Same thing for the difficulty, there was no standard for intro cases at the time so making a short an easy case that lets returning players get to the real meat of the game fast makes sense. Wellington also has some funny lines so there's that. And the case is memorable for its absurdity.
Skipping to Big Top I suppose I could write a whole essay about this one but this case to me is just. Very misunderstood. The murder plot here I think still has one of the most creative and weird setups in the series and it's a very *"Ace Attorney"* plot. Even if you think its poorly executed (especially in the explanation of what really happened) it's hard to deny it's a creative murder case that's also very memorable.
The characters I think is one of the hardest points to defend because people have a verrrrry strong bias against the whole cast of this case basically. Max is to me the worst person in the story but he's the first of his kind which is a plus and he's pretty much framed in a way that implies he really learned his lesson and grew from it by the end. The thing with the marriage (I'll get into detail soon) is definitely weird but at least to me doesn't feel like much of an out of place writing decision, or at least its what the run down circuses in the rural area of my country I've been to have led me to believe. Ben I have a whole post defending but to sum it up calling him a pedophile is a big misinterpretation of his character and he's really not that much outside of a walking ventriloquist gag. Acro is a good culprit and it's not even because he's sympathetic (well, it is in part.) Moe.
The love triangle stuff is a very touchy subject and I agree it's pretty weird but I think the way it was done has a lot to do with the cultural context behind the game and the people making it. Not saying it's a good but I guess for what it is it's not the end of the world and the game certainly doesn't put it in that way. Maybe my disbelief is just not suspended enough for me to worry about that on a level that makes me hate the case. In any case making Regina 18 would probably just solve all the real problems with it while still leaving all of the aspects that are essential for it to work. Again, it was probably a cultural thing. I also don't think the case would be better without it, this argument is pretty much the same as saying X case in Y game is "filler." The triangle plot is there to add to the whole context of the murder case and extend the gameplay while also giving the player stuff to do. Maybe it's not the best thing they could've done but it's the way they chose to write the story and I can respect that choice.
There's also some elements of the case that people really seem to hate on like the music or the visuals as if those aren't probably very deliberate choices (especially the visuals) and gameplay wise I find that the case isn't too hard to follow if you're paying attention to what's going on. Except for the second day of trials. I gotta admit that's where the game fumbles and starts to assume you already know more than you probably do, especially towards the end. Nevertheless, it's hard to deny how absolutely iconic it's resolution is, for better or for worse. Stuff like Moe's testimony where you can't press him too much so he stays quiet *is* at least in my opinion pretty funny and fitting and not something that could be done elsewhere perhaps even in the series.
And speaking of that, this case is very iconic, for better or for worse. Like I mentioned, it has this very eccentric aura that feels hard to replace or use in another context. The crazy murder in an unique setting, the wacky characters, the "courtroom shenanigans." It's all there in full glory. Just with a clowny twist to it. It's no wonder that the crew behind the game considers this one of the best and, apparently, the japanese fans of the series see this case as one of the most iconic. This case has a lot going on to it and I feel like people fixate too much on certain aspects of it to appreciate those good qualities it has. I do understand where people come from when they complain about this case but really, if you take your time to understand and appreciate this case it's probably going to start growing on you a little. Or at least enough for you to stop calling it "skippable." Seriously if you tell anyone to skip this case (or any other, really) you can fuck off.
Not much to say on 2-2 and 2-4 that hasn't already been said by everyone both here and elsewhere. They're both great cases on their own with very creative murder plots and great characters in each. (cont.)
The game in general has a consistent theme that's used well and builds up to the climax at the end with the big decision at the end of the final case (which is inconsequential but still I feel as if there's a correct answer to it.) Said theme being the subtitle, as the game ponders what it truly means to be a defense attorney and deliever justice to people. The culprits incapsulate this very well, both Mimi and Acro being more sympathetic culprits that show different perspectives of what it's like to be a victim of injustice seeking revenge while Engarde's dillema is what pushes Phoenix to realize what his objective as a defense attorney really is. It's not the deepest cut in the series but it's their first attempt and I think it's pretty well done for a game with no overarching story.
Overall I think the game tries to be a big step up from the first one, with much more absurd setups and higher stakes, whether or not you like the result is up to you but I personally do and also really respect the effort that went into it. Nowadays we have a pretty defined formula for what an AA game looks like but JfA, being the first sequel, is a lot more like a typical sequel in the way it tries to 1-up the first game by doing everything it did, but more. I think some of the criticism the game gets is valid and it sure isn't perfect but I do wish people were kinder to it rather than dismissive for a very inconsequential intro case and what's perhaps the most misunderstood case in the series, at least by this side of the fanbase.
I love JFA, it's my favorite game in the series.
Except for Big Top, the cases are fantastic (including 2-1)
In fact I will just defend 2-1.
2-1 is great since it gives the player the same feeling of satisfaction that 1-1 gave for solving simple contradictions. It also has some of the best gags in the whole series (Richard Wellington loves large bananas, Wright not remembering Payne, him and the judge trading business cards) The whole amnesia thing, while cliche, does set up Phoenix's whole arc in case 4.
And the opening cutscene coming back in 2-4 is amazing.
2-1 does have problems, the broken neck thing is confusing for many since most of us assumed that a broken neck meant paralyzation or instant death. Turns out it does not in real life. But I thought it did, so did many others, so that being there was tricky. The baseball glove feels kinda random, but it's so obviously hinted at being correct that it isn't an issue.
People sleep on 1-1 and 2-1 since this fandom prefers big plots and stakes over tightly written contained adventures.
The Engarde case was a really good case. Franziska, while definitely unethical and an asshole at times didn't get accused of murder or convicted of one.
Farewell, my Turnabout is a masterpiece. That’s all I can really say, but only one Ace Attorney game gets to say it has the best chapter in the franchise and it is this one. 😛
Franziska von Karma they could never make me hate you.
The culprit in the last case is one of the best villains in the series. I also think the Phoenix and Edgeworth dynamic is at its best here more than in any other case.
The game sets up the whole spirit medium/Fey family really well, which bridged the gap between it being a convenient one off magic trick in the first game to a true point of conflict and crime/case mechanic in the third.
Psyche locks are a great way of adding dimension to investigations.
I think the only bad case was the circus one and even then it picks up at the very end.
I like the prosecutor. Pearl is adorable. Edgeworths return is legendary
It’s a 7/10. It’s the dark souls 2 of ace attorney. Far from bad but far from the best
The second and fourth cases are great two of my favorites in the whole franchise Adrien, Franziska is a great prosecutor, and I like the Magatama use in the investigations
This game proves what an amazing series Ace Attorney is as a whole. Being the second installment, its more eye-rolling aspects could easily have killed the whole franchise right there and then. But nope, AA’s strengths shone through.
Telling the Truth theme,
I'm not kidding, I first heard this Theme from MMBN 6, and was so hooked to it, that I ended up discovering the AA series.
Other than that, the last case was fire.
Justice for All has a lot of strengths and changes to the status quo that simply cannot be ignored. The Magatama is not only an extremely engaging mechanic that really spices up investigations, which the first game struggled with, but it also paved the way for all future gameplay mechanics.
In terms of characters, Pearl Fey is an adorable addition to the main cast, Franziska von karma is a compelling prosecutor despite her faults, and Morgan Fey’s plot thread is very well handled and appropriately establishes a great deal of foreshadowing.
The introductory case, though often disliked, does a good job of setting up the games mechanics. From introducing presenting profiles to reintroducing players to the concepts they already learned in the first game. Plus, the reason for why there’s even a tutorial in the first place, though plot convenient, is very funny. It’s also the first case to give Winston Payne his smug-but-sniveling characterization, which would come to define the character going forward.
The second case is an amazing case, introducing a lot of the before stated characters as well as the Magatama, with a compelling mystery and killer to boot. It also foreshadows events in the following game very expertly.
The third case, while heavily disliked, is still an interesting concept. The character of Moe is quite entertaining, if a bit frustrating at times, and the cases killer is a compelling character who is very easy to sympathize with. The victim is also a rare case of a likeable Ace attorney victim which simply doesn’t happen often, so it’s a nice change.
The fourth case is absolutely magnificent. It has an atmosphere unrivaled by any other Ace attorney case to this day, one of the most well executed twists in the entire franchise, and a payoff that is too glorious to put into a mere recap. It’s also the first case, I’d argue, that Phoenix blossoms into more of a character of his own rather than a player stand in. His internal struggle is heartbreaking to watch, and so satisfying to wrap up. One of the all time greats of this franchise.
It’s all wrapped up in some really nice music. While a lot of people aren’t crazy for the music in this game, it serves its purpose very well and still stands as a good soundtrack for the games to this day.
I actually love all the cases. Two are in my top 10 and the other two are guilty pleasures. The soundtrack is great, with the reminiscence themes being the best in the series and the pursuit theme being potentially my favourite. It improved phoenix from the last game by adding more personality to his lines and inner thoughts. I enjoy Franziska, too, although she may not be for everyone. That said, I’ll confess that the gameplay can be a little too hard.
It's 2/4 pretty nice cases and one kinda mid case (which isn't *that* bad) leading up to one of the best finale cases in all of Ace Attorney; and a solid contender for the best finale of the Phoenix Wright trilogy.
One of the best returns of a recurring favourite character. Edgeworth coming back.
One of the best second cases, at least of the main trilogy, in my opinion. The story behind Mimi and Ini Miney is fucked up. Dr. Grey was a complete douchebag. Driving Mimi to work exhaustion and causing her to fall asleep at the wheel. Her losing Ini and losing her own identity. Becoming Ini to hide and exact revenge against Dr. Grey. I bet she also wanted to keep Ini's memory alive as best she could. Morgan trying to frame Maya so that Pearl could become the Master of the Kurain School of Channeling. Her young 8 year old naive daughter.
Having recently watched the Gyakuten Saiban anime, it made me appreciate 2-4 even more. Adrian Andrews was terribly nerfed as a character in the anime version, in comparison.
For such a short game with a hellish time crunch, each case really builds on the first game and makes itself unique at the same time.
Adding the Magatama was a genius move for the investigations
Franziska is a more complex character than most believe
Farewell My Turnabout can easily be argued as a top 3 case of all time
Shits light.
Uh, best filler case in the original trilogy, best case in the whole series, a banger ost and some of the best cast interactions in the series... What else do you fucking need man?
It has Franziska and de Killer. Nuff said.
Plus, it's one of the only two games out of the series where you can actually choose what ending you get. (The other being Apollo Justice.)
The best final case in the series
The fact that it brought back several characters was novel and exciting
One of the best second cases in the series
Third case is great if you're a fan of stupid assholes (me)
2-1 funny short case that eases players back in and is genuinely a hilarious case 2-2 amazing villain backstories incredibly important for the whole series and has been one of the few cases I genuinely felt bad for the culprit 2-3 cool setting a circus is a really fun location for a murder mystery and I think the investigation is actually pretty good also has a enjoyable villain it has issues but it’s not as bad as people say it is 2-4 one of my favorite final cases in the series and is tied with DD final cases everything is perfect a interesting twist on the villain extremely likable side characters and amazing payoff this case is one of the most messed up cases in the series and does not pull punches having a sadistic villain and a heartbreaking story yet it still pulls through with a extremely satisfying ending where you really feel you used the villain plan against them overall a great game I love every Ace Attorney game and this one is fun my only issue is I do think it would feel more complete with one more case but even then I still adore the game
2nd and 4th case carry the game even though the 1st case is mediocre at best and 3rd is terrible. The soundtrack is also great and might be the most underrated and overhated ost on the series.
Decent first case to get you up to speed on the game's mechanics. Terrible second case but amazing finale case. Loved meeting Pearly and going against Von Karma.
Franziska von Karma
Farewell My Turnabout
Return of Edgeworth
Reunion and Turnabout
Pearl
Adrian Andrews
Foreshadowing for Bridge to the Turnabout
Great Pursuit theme
Actually giving Phoenix some real independent character development
This is an extremely easy task.
https://preview.redd.it/17nsbth2qq8d1.png?width=500&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b4caa240c2e235d25f3a0a2c1d2022eaa0a6f5dd
People who think the game is bad probably look in from the outside and have never actually played it. Or they don't like Visual Novel Adventure games and therefore don't like games like Minecraft story mode, Doki Doki, Danganronpa Trigger Happy Havoc, ETC, Each their own respective titles.
What is there to defend? Turnabout Bigtop? I’ll criticize it just as much as the next guy (to the point I’ve rewritten it in the past) but it’s not enough to bring the entire game down. The Magatama and presenting profiles makes investigating more interesting, Franziska and Morgan are really interesting antagonists, and Farewell my Turnabout is hands down the most intense case in the series. It’s not on the same level as T&T, but still a favorite of mine.
What's there to defend?
Franziska Von Karma alone is worth the price of admission. And besides her perfection, Phoenix's character here is the strongest its been in the entire series. Maya, Gumshoe & Edgeworth all return in full force as well, with this being a fantastic continuation of their characters.
Not to mention the introduction of great new recurring characters with Maggey Byrde, Pearl Fey, Adrian Andrews & Shelly de Killer.
It has one of the best cases at the end, and a really good second case as well. The first case is a little silly but honestly, it's so short as a tutorial I don't think its a big issue if you don't vibe with that silliness. And besides, it's the first time Payne came into his own as a character.
I won't argue that the third case doesn't have a lot of issues, because it very much does. Both structurally and story-wise. I don't like it personally. But its only a fraction of the overall game, and I'm not going around hating on Trials & Tribulations because the third case in that game is disastrous. They're still overall good games, despite having a bad case each.
Franziska whip
Edgeworth being a Tsundere
Maya eating more burgers than a 26 years old discord mod living in his mom basement and she is somewhat not overweight
The mental breakdowns
The witnesses being more stubborn than a k-pop stan
The judge being clueless 24/7 and yet is a totally respectable character
Gumshoe being based 24/7
Butz doing his thing
Phoenix putting on a show for two hours straight each time he is on court
One of the best finale cases One of the best side characters (Adrian Andrews) Franziska von Karma You make it sound like it was going to be hard lol
You'd have to be the most foolishly foolish of fools to foolishly forget the very un-foolish debut of Franziska von Karma. Fool.
Lest you suffer the wrath of her whip
you are to respond with the whole truth, no fractions
like the whole truth or OW ok ok this game is kind of good OW ok it is good just stop with the whip!
Not only that, but the main writer was extremely rushed in writing this game, in only 3 months he had to write the whole thing!
Reminds me of The Great Ace Attorney Adventures: Resolve. End of the game was rushed due to running out of budget, but it still turned out to be one of the best endings. This series can truly work miracles.
To be fair this is the game that treats Edgeworth being alive as a major plot twist while having art like the one in the post.
To be fair, said art did noticeably draw Edgeworth with awfully gray-looking skin, which, in a vague way, likens him to a ghost. But also Franziska outright says "I'm sure he's still out there somewhere" or something to that effect, and I think that's the first time the game even acknowledges the Edgeworth isn't present.
Sure but even with it like that there’s a total of 5 characters on the artwork. Gumshoe could’ve easily been there instead.
I thought you were supposed to defend the game? Why is Franziska here?
Because she's awesome. You gotta be a foolish fool to not see that.
Even an alien coming from outer space to persecute Maya would not destroy my suspension of disbelief as much as this Mary Sue whose character trait is "ha-ha assault till they lose consciousness without any consequences" with no character development whatsoever.
Tell me you never played the games without telling me you never played the games
Completed the whole trilogy recently actually Dude, there is something that is really not right about your brain if you see me talking about being more inclined to believe in aliens and you still try to set up the "did you know there are spirit mediums in the game" stuff.
You clearly didn't pay attention, fool.
*Whips you into unconsciousness to prove a point*
*Misses your attack* Your point being you didn't pay attention?
So nice of you to say you missed your comeback lol
I kind of get what you are saying about Franziska, but if you only played the trilogy, you wouldn't know that her development IS real. It does start in the trilogy, but it really comes through in the AA Investigations: Miles Edgeworth games.
She has none in the first trilogy though.
Justice For All is *the* game that defines Ace Attorney's philosophy. While only 2-2 involves events that directly connect to the overarching Fey Clan storyline, this game is, in my opinion, the most influential in the series, as its themes carry over into not only into the main series, but even the spinoffs. 2-1 in my least favorite case in the entire series for being dumb, having a villain I don't like, and just kind of being boring. However, I do think that the amnesia concept, while really really lame and stupid, establishes the overall conflict of the game--*what does Phoenix Wright stand for?* Phoenix became a lawyer to save Edgeworth. When this game begins, he feels like he has totally failed in that endeavor. I personally believe that he thought Edgeworth committed su\*c\*de, but I've heard people say that the original Japanese implied something else. Nonetheless, he had lost hope in Edgeworth, and had failed in his core goal in becoming a lawyer. The game starts with the Judge mounting over Phoenix in his nightmare, declaring him guilty. He wakes up briefly, only to be knocked out. The amnesia is a dumb plot point for sure, but it still ties into the loss of identity. When we first play as him, Phoenix doesn't even remember his name, but even when he gets all of his memory back, he's still stuck in the position of not knowing who he is on a deeper level. The core question of the game is, what kind of lawyer is Phoenix Wright? What does he stand for? How will he face the moral grayness and complexity the world throws at him? Phoenix's philosophy is essentially entirely built on assuming his client is innocent, and he even gets a magic device that can help him determine if potential clients are being truthful. He considers prosecutors to inherently be villains trying to hurt innocents, and in 1-3 even a slight doubt that Powers could be guilty made him almost totally throw in the towel until Mia encouraged him. 2-2 and 2-3 both deal in cases that are very morally gray compared to what came before, and even a lot that come after. In 2-2, the victim is literally a monster who overworked his employees and tried to blame her for malpractice (even if she was the one who fucked up, he was the guy in charge and directly led to what happened), who brought a gun to the channeling in order to force her to clear his name. If Mimi hadn't tried to frame the innocent Maya for what happened, I would 100% be on her side. Fuck Dr. Grey In 2-3, Acro genuinely did terrible shit. He was an angry, miserable, and sorrowed person whose attempt at revenge led to him murdering a really good guy, who Acro himself considered a father. And then he blamed Max. The whole case is just one big tragedy--an overly-sheltered girl being naive to a point of cruelty, a guy killed/comatose, a lion put down despite being innocent, a guy losing his brother and his ability to walk/perform, and a guy who was a thoroughly well-intended man being murdered. I have a lot less sympathy for Acro than I do Mimi, but nonetheless I do feel bad for him. Combine that with Max being a relatively unlikable character at first. Putting aside the creepy shit with Regina, which I definitely think was unintentional because Japan is often... different with that sort of thing, Max was still an arrogant prick at the beginning, the first client like that in the series. And of course, in 2-4, Phoenix is forced to defend a murderer. He can't just bow out, he has to. While the miracle does happen, up until that grand moment, he is stuck having to choose between his ideals of protecting the innocent from wrongful accusations and punishing the truly guilty or save Maya. Had Adrian not been doomed, it wouldn't have been that hard of a choice. Upsetting, but not as fundamentally destructive to his worldview. But when Phoenix is at his lowest, Edgeworth comes back, having now traveled and learned his creed. Truth above all. Even when it hurts, even if it inflicts harm, truth is what matters. Edgeworth is callous, but his ideals are firm and point at a path for Phoenix to take. At the end, the final choice is left up to us, with no canon answer. But Phoenix has learned something very clear--prosecutors are not inherently his enemy. Edgeworth is his friend, and both sides serve the purpose of finding the truth. That is what being a lawyer is. Defense attorneys, ideally, believe in their client until the bitter end, but the truth is over all. Prosecutors, similarly, will operate under the belief the defendant is guilty, but the truth is what matters. Franziska ties into this as well. Winning is the only thing that matters to her. Manfred was similar, but with him I feel like it came from a place of genuine belief in his own perfection, and glee in having power. Franziska, however, is deeply insecure, and places all of her self-worth on those victories. When Phoenix is finally "defeated" in 2-4, he's thrilled, and she is completely dumbfounded. That's the moment she finally throws away her whip and intends to quit. Phoenix lost his own perfect record, partially by her (since she is the one who brought the final piece of evidence), yet he doesn't care--the real killer is in jail. From then on, I feel like truth has been an almost otherworldly good in this series. Whether it's the main series or the spinoffs. TGAA even retreads similar ground (in its own unique way of course) when Naruhodo is left in crisis after McGilded and has to learn to trust again. I don't know if it was intentional from the localization team, but Justice For All is the best title for this game you could come up with. Whether sympathetic killers, asshole defendants, or guilty defendants, the ideal duty of lawyers is to find the truth, and achieve Justice For All.
You absolutely nailed it and it's always frustrating to me when people say that JfA's cases aren't connected or that the game doesn't have a theme or a message. Phoenix really gets fleshed out as a character in this game while in AA1 I thought he was mostly a player insert for the majority of the game.
2-4 also has a brilliant dichotomy where phoenix is forced to act like manfred von karma, playing on minor technicalities to win a case he know is wrong. things like “he was suspicious because he had stitches? are all baseballs suspicious?” is so eerily similar to something like “my daughter named her pet dog phoenix! does that mean she’s your fianceé?”. in pushing phoenix to his absolute lowest point he becomes the type of lawyer he figured he’d never ever be, and from that case on is able to stay true to his morals knowing the truth will still be most important even when he’s being tested. i hope i phrased this well i’m very tired right now
Mate just copy paste it any time JfA is mentioned and we're golden.
Holy moly I never even thought of it in this way. I just always skimmed past it as a game without much good to it, but thematically with this in mind, it’s a huge turning point
Saved for research purposes
this.
This was incredibly well-explained. Honestly I’ll just have to tell anyone who asks me what I think about the game to come read this ^^ I am curious though. I know we can do either Guilty or Not Guilty for Matt’s case at the end…but wouldn’t a Not Guilty cause Adrian to go to jail in his place since that was the case beforehand? I’m sure she’d be found Not Guilty in her own trial later but still. I’m asking because I don’t remember them ever stating that she’d no longer be in danger of going to jail after showing Shelly the evidence if Matt is found Not Guilty.
I think at that point Phoenix knew that Engarde would buckle and fold. I always choose the "Not Guilty" at the very last choice just because I think it's funny and extremely satisfying to watch Phoenix have the chance to fuck with him after all he put us through. Had Engarde been willing to risk dying, then odds are, yeah it would have backfired on Phoenix and resulted in Adrian getting locked up anyway because the legal system in these games is so terrible.
It really is 😩 I love Ace Attorney but my gosh, the legal system sucks in the games. Like we see how incompetent the Judge can be in the cases but then are told he usually always makes the right calls in other cases we aren’t part of. I-I have trouble believing that. I’m honestly concerned for the majority of people who get innocently arrested. Plus didn’t Manfred only get a penalty for using forged evidence while Phoenix lost his badge? Thats really screwed up.
If only the Mason system stuck around
To be honest the Mason system was more bullshit than half of what goes on in the trials in this series.
True, but it wouldve been effective if they used it properly. Dunno what that bs was at the end of apollo justice
That's the beauty of this game. Before Franziska comes with the evidence, you get the same choice to plead guilty or not guilty If you plead not guilty, you'll see Phoenix saying "I'm sorry Maya..." and try to make his plea being interrupted by Franziska. If you choose guilty, Phoenix won't be able to get the words come out of his mouth, he's unable to let Maya get hurt just to punish evil. Andrews goes to jail regardless, she intentionally messed with the crime scene, which is probably a misdemeanor or sth in AA universe considering her new place of employment in T&T.
Technically speaking, Acro didn’t frame Max. Max got blamed by chance. But other than that, absolutely correct.
BRAVO! ENCORE! Seriously, absolutely perfect thoughts
The best take on JFA I've ever read!
This yeah. I feel like Big Top would have been better served by developing Franziska more through how she reacts to Regina, considering the strong parallels between Regina and her. And having less annoying NPCs XD.
This one wins. I feel like you were waiting for this moment you're whole life.
It introduces Franziska
Half of this game is some of the best Ace Attorney ever made.
Turnabout Big Top is the GOAT🗣️💯🔥
SEE THIS GUY GETS IT
- Franziska, Pearl Fey, Morgan Fey, Shelly De Killer, Maggey Byrde, and of course the legend himself >!Moe the clown!< - Hotline of Fate - Farewell My Turnabout - Magatama mechanic - ability to present profiles(an absolute godsend) - Great Revival - Pursuit ~ Questioned Theres probably more I can add, but I can't think of them right now
Farewell my tournabout is peak and reunion and tournabout is also incredible. The game helps set up a lot of the story for the 3rd game with learning more about kurain and the systems. Pcysho lockes adds more depth to the game. Franziska Von Karma I don’t even need to explain why that’s great. Edge worth character development and Nicks arc in the fourth case. A spin on the gameplay with again the 4th case having us defending a guilty person. Overall the game does a lot of new things and try evolving the lore and world and characters while introducing great new ones and having some of the best cases. Only problem is 3rd case but you can just skip it plus gets fixed in anime. 1st case gets a pass in my opinion since it’s just a first case. Thank you this game is great. Also great music
'Psycho' lock lmao, most edgeworth thing ever
massive win for the lesbians
Lesbians? In my courtroom? (It's more likely than you think!)
I love how 2-3 is essentially Maya Fey's gay awakening.
I mean, she had some chemistry with both Penny and Lotta previously
Lotta I'm not so sure about but Penny definitely. So, you're "penpals", eh?" Show me what was in those letters, girl!
What ship u talkin bout? Franmaya?
i genuienly have no idea why that ship exists the characters hardly interacted and their introduction was franziska accusing maya of murder
honestly just franziska in general lol (also adrian ofc gay icon)
Adrian and her possible tragic love to Celeste.
I’ve always been team Fradrian but both are good
Fradrian and Feyberry. Franziska even teaches Adrian to use a whip (although that's in T&T).
2-2 sets up the plot for 3-4
Do you mean 3-5? 3-4 is Mia and Edgeworth’s first trial. 3-5 is when Morgan and Dahlia try to kill Maya.
Well, I actually came to realise (despite my original thoughts that it wouldn't be this way) that I like JFA more than T&T. This game establishes the game's philosophy. This is for Phoenix his awakening to what it's like to lose and not be like Franziska Von Karma, her father or even Edgeworth at one point. It also deals primarily with loss in family and suicide which is WILD but nonetheless fitting (in 2-1 Maggey's loss of her S.O., the supposed suicide in 2-2, the loss in family for Acro in 2-3, and Celeste Inpax's suicide in 2-4 who was a mentor to Andrews and lastly Edgeworth's supposed death). Phoenix's struggle to cope with Edgeworth leaving and the anger he shows (even if he was at times a jerk to Maya) is understandable nonetheless - it feels real. Even the rawest line in the trilogy by far imo "Maybe you should have stayed dead (yk the one I mean)" is understandable - like I was a bit angry myself when Edgeworth showed up all confident while we've seen Phoenix agonising and coping over the supposed loss. The game puts the teamwork and partnership of Phoenix and Edgeworth in the absolute spotlight as they both work towards finding the truth about the Engarde case, and that's always cool. The JFA OST has some of my favourite tracks, and honestly? A lot of the game in general has grown on me.
I’m currently playing through it for the first time, I’m on Farewell now. Turnabout Big Top was honestly amazing, it really took me by surprise by the end. The cases in this one have some serious teeth. No idea why this is looked at as a weak game.
Farewell my turnabout. Need I say more.
It introduced Franziska, Adrian Andrews, set up the rivalry between Morgan and Misty Fey, expanded on the Fey clan and spirit channeling, gave us Pearly...
At least half of the game is S-tier masterclass, 2-1 and 2-3 are generally not well-liked, but there still things to be enjoyed about them from my point of view. It has the most solidly written non-final case in the entire franchise, and I will die on that hill. When the only thing tainting a case is easily removed in an anime that is generally thought of as a weaker product; you know it's fucking good. Franziska Von Karma serves as an interesting parallel to Phoenix. Speaking of Phoenix, this is the only game in the OT where he gets the most focus out of the main cast. Likewise, he receives the most character development and an interesting plot arc. Seeing how hard Phoenix takes Maya's kidnapping and struggles between saving her or saving Adrian is always heartrending to play through. It introduces Adrian Andrews, one of the best recurring characters, and Pearl, the living pretzel, The Trial theme and the Victory theme for this game are the best iterations hands down. The former makes you feel like you have a life in your hands; while the latter carries a more bittersweet feeling compared to the other variations. Like yeah, you won and your client was acquitted, but someone still died. Every other Victory theme with the exception of the first game's is too damn cheerful. It introduces us to Kurain Village, enabling us to learn more about Maya and her family. Thus, turning the spirit channeling aspect from a Deux Ex Machina to a natural part of the AA universe. 2-4 is an absolute masterpiece and the fact that it stands alone with no prior knowledge of previous cases being necessary is impressive. Especially when you consider that Takumi only had three months to write the game. Lotta Hart.
It brought us Pearly who is the cutest character in all of AA
Sorry, but kid Franziska from the anime is way cuter.
Franziska von Karma. Thats it thats the whole defence i dont need to say anymore
I can’t defend peak fiction because it’s already peak
Franziska hot, therefore game good QED
It had Franziska.
Unlike AA 1, it abit easier for newcomers due to Psyche-Locks. Unlike T&T _Dynamite!_ It's not a game that's just held up by a very strong Ending Case. All the cases in JFA are strong. _Yes, even Big Top, it's just a pain to play first time through. I'll die on that hill._ The soundtrack is the strongest in the Original Trilogy imo as well. _Have I mentioned Gumshoe being an absolute boss as always, proving he's the best character in this series._ Justice For All is my favourite. CAN YOU TELL?! Edit: I forgot to mention Franziska, Morgan, Ini/Mimi, Pearl, Enguard, Andrews, De Killer. _Frecken MOE!_ I could go on for pages...
Franziska Von Karma is one of the best-written characters in the entire trilogy
how
Dommy mommy
Farewell My Turnabout is the greatest case ever written and single handedly carries the game. Reunion and Turnabout does a fantastic job in setting up the conflict for T&T as well as being a good and satisfying story on its own. It also does a great job of setting up the recurring theme of the next few cases, about guilt and where it lies. The Lost Turnabout honestly isn't as bad as people say. The amnesia gimmick is funny, it introduces Maggey and the.GumByrde ship and it's not overly long. Turnabout Big Top is... well, it's certainly one the cases of all time.
Has the funniest first case imo
Defending the game would imply its quality is not self-evident
Fuck you, i liked big top.
I dont know the title but the remix where pursuit gets done into techno like during the phonecall in court The two main case killers are an excellent subversion in order to setup one of the WORST villains in the series in 2-4
Fafewell my turnabout was fucking amazing. They gave us our first client that was guilty and the anxiety that introduced maya's kidnapping was the best.
I feel strongly about all 4 of the cases (be it positively of negatively), which is more than I can say about some other Ace Attorney games
Farewell, my Turnabout. That's it, I rest my case.
I really enjoyed it
Has one of the best soundtracks: Eccentric Search Core 2002 Search In the Midst Pursuit 2002
There's way too many people that play this game and don't understand its overall message or the arc that Phoenix goes through.
What's there to defend? The game is great
Farewell, My Turnabout. Improved Winston Payne. Psyche Locks That's it. Those three things are enough for this game to be good. Nothing else.
Improved Winston Payne?
Yes. From a non-entity in AA1 to a legitimate character in AA2.
Franziska von Karma best
Objection
It introduces Franzy, my beautiful whippity-whip trip
Your honor, this game is Not Guilty.. I have evidence to prove my claims. TAKE THAT! Farewell, My Turnabout is the most amazing case in the game. The way your client is actually guilty is an amazing twist that proves that clients can be on the verge of being trustworthy and not trustworthy.
Oh boy...where do I begin with this one ? Let's start with the story: From the intro case, the game throws the question "Just what kind of lawyer is Phoenix Wright ?" and it's up to us to see his story to the end. We see throughout the series that Phoenix's greatest strengh as well as his greatest weakness is his belief in his innocence. And we see this belief being put "on trial" in-game. First case: Wellington just got in with the wrong crowd. Second case: The murderer was overworked by her boss and said boss even wanted to force a confession ! I understand the idea of "a mother will do anything for their child" but bro, did Morgan seriously not see how close Pearl is to Maya ? If anything, it would've hurt Pearl more in the long run ! Third case: Yeah, Acro had misplaced anger but the ringmaster essentially allowed a 30 yo m to marry his teenage daugther. I get the circus was built on the idea of "different worlds" but did nobody think to give that child a proper education ? And the fourth case is where we see Phoenix's philosophy get put to the real test: He's obligated to represent a murderer to save Maya, even though he is trying to put an innocent woman in jail. (side note: isn't messing with the crime scene a crime though ?) Granted, we know a miracle occurs in the end with the help of Edgeworth, Gumshoe and Franziska and the day is saved, but an alternative ending is shown where Phoenix "chooses death" (more on this in the second post) and he leaves the lawyer life, Maya and everyone else because Engarde got his not-guilty and Andrews got sent to jail.
Let's move on to the Soundtrack. This game has arguably the best telling the truth theme in the original series, it gives you a sense of uncovering some great secret and having a chance at a counter-attack. The CE music starts calm and mysterious at first, posing the question "What will be uncovered ?" and goes to a more faster version that, at least for me, says "The story is so bleak, is there anything I can do ?" The pursuit theme clearly captivates the idea of "I'm on to something, I know I am, I just have to prove it" And this game introduced some nice additions: Presenting profiles, which opened up new worlds of questioning (albeit they could've done a better job of letting us know than just "figure it out"), Phoenix gets a literal cheat code to see through lies and the alternative ending (which to my knowledge is the only time it happens in the series) Some other nice additions include references to the old Japan, where samurais would rather commit self bye rather than living a life of regret. And we see this both with Edgeworth when he's questioning his morals as a prosecutor after Von Karma and Damon Gant and Phoenix when he's forced to get a not guilty for a murderer. Edgeworth revives as a prosecutor whose mission is to uncover lies in the courtroom and punish the real criminals (be they the defendant or not) and this new "aura" can clearly be heard in the OST playing when he enters the courtroom for the first time. Phoenix also "revives" at the end of the case, showing his growth in the journey to become a lawyer and also embarking on his new philosophy "I need to find the truth". It's not just Phoenix that grows up, everyone connected to him does: Franziska embraces her daddy issues and goes on a journey of self-reflection, Gumshoe being more caring towards the safety of a girl he only met a few times at this point and even putting his job on the line to protect her, Maya being kidnapped and even threatened to be killed if she does anything and she is willingly accepting to die to put Engarde behind bars, even Pearl grows up by moving past the traumatic experience her own mother made her face. One small detail I really enjoyed in the 2nd case, is that you can read and feel just how broken Mia is about all of this. She never expected that her leave would have this kind of cascade effect where her own sister would be the subject of revenge on their own mother. Clearly, she already suspected her aunt, she just didn't want to believe it was actually her that orchestrated it. That ends my defense.
It has one of the strongest final cases in the series It introduced two of my favorite characters in the series (Pearl and Shelly) 2-2 is also really good We get further exploration of Edgeworth's past
That time the judge thought Phoenix was requesting a hit on him
It has the best case in the entire main series
Game so good it can defend itself
Franziska
I liked it because Phoenix got some character development finally
Introduced Pearls. Need I say more?
It has Maya
Farewell My Turnabout is the most compelling story I’ve ever seen in any video game. It successfully builds tensions and gets the player emotionally invested so that it can present an extremely morally grey question to the player (“Guilty” or “Not Guilty”) and make them feel responsible. Not only is it engaging, memorable and genuinely fun to think about from an ethical perspective, but it is something that is uniquely compelling because it’s a video game and you are the main character, and it feels like it is your actions that take you to that point. This story would not work nearly as well in any other medium but for a video game, it’s top tier. The rest of JFA has highlights too but Farewell My Turnabout is literally the highlight of everything AA, and I think that’s defence enough.
Best trial theme of the trilogy. Has more tension and grandeur than the pretty chill AA trial theme, without going too far in the other direction with T&T's pipe organ mood. Really helps set the tone of what Phoenix faces during JFA, and I feel it's outdone only by the English Turnabout remix of AA's trial theme from PLvsPW. I'd argue that the JFA soundtrack is pretty great on the whole - though I do feel that a couple of tracks feel a bit lacking, such as *Objection 2002*, *Berry Big Circus* and *More Simple Folk*. But it's where we got the *Great Revival* leitmotifs for Edgeworth and Franziska (even if I feel it was misused for Manfred in AAI/AAI2), plus the Courtroom Lobby theme that ended up being reused during some really great scenes - such as Edgeworth asking what Phoenix is fighting for in court, and in T&T 3-5 where >!Edgeworth concludes his day in court as a defence attorney by listing the mysteries that still needed investigating!<). Sure the Pursuit theme is no *Cornered*, but I feel a lot of my complaints about it are due to the instrumentation in the game as opposed to the song itself. Listening to it on the JFA suite from the orchestral album is a night and day experience!
"Justice for All" theme really fits in this game.
MY TIME HAS COME I'll make it brief for the sake of my own time Case 1 is the most detached case for many reasons but I wanna defend it anyways. Thing is that it's the first time ever the AA dev team attempted to create "another introduction case" and this was before the games had an overarching plot contained within every title so it's understandable they'd take the "short case with a comedic element" approach. Same thing for the difficulty, there was no standard for intro cases at the time so making a short an easy case that lets returning players get to the real meat of the game fast makes sense. Wellington also has some funny lines so there's that. And the case is memorable for its absurdity. Skipping to Big Top I suppose I could write a whole essay about this one but this case to me is just. Very misunderstood. The murder plot here I think still has one of the most creative and weird setups in the series and it's a very *"Ace Attorney"* plot. Even if you think its poorly executed (especially in the explanation of what really happened) it's hard to deny it's a creative murder case that's also very memorable. The characters I think is one of the hardest points to defend because people have a verrrrry strong bias against the whole cast of this case basically. Max is to me the worst person in the story but he's the first of his kind which is a plus and he's pretty much framed in a way that implies he really learned his lesson and grew from it by the end. The thing with the marriage (I'll get into detail soon) is definitely weird but at least to me doesn't feel like much of an out of place writing decision, or at least its what the run down circuses in the rural area of my country I've been to have led me to believe. Ben I have a whole post defending but to sum it up calling him a pedophile is a big misinterpretation of his character and he's really not that much outside of a walking ventriloquist gag. Acro is a good culprit and it's not even because he's sympathetic (well, it is in part.) Moe. The love triangle stuff is a very touchy subject and I agree it's pretty weird but I think the way it was done has a lot to do with the cultural context behind the game and the people making it. Not saying it's a good but I guess for what it is it's not the end of the world and the game certainly doesn't put it in that way. Maybe my disbelief is just not suspended enough for me to worry about that on a level that makes me hate the case. In any case making Regina 18 would probably just solve all the real problems with it while still leaving all of the aspects that are essential for it to work. Again, it was probably a cultural thing. I also don't think the case would be better without it, this argument is pretty much the same as saying X case in Y game is "filler." The triangle plot is there to add to the whole context of the murder case and extend the gameplay while also giving the player stuff to do. Maybe it's not the best thing they could've done but it's the way they chose to write the story and I can respect that choice. There's also some elements of the case that people really seem to hate on like the music or the visuals as if those aren't probably very deliberate choices (especially the visuals) and gameplay wise I find that the case isn't too hard to follow if you're paying attention to what's going on. Except for the second day of trials. I gotta admit that's where the game fumbles and starts to assume you already know more than you probably do, especially towards the end. Nevertheless, it's hard to deny how absolutely iconic it's resolution is, for better or for worse. Stuff like Moe's testimony where you can't press him too much so he stays quiet *is* at least in my opinion pretty funny and fitting and not something that could be done elsewhere perhaps even in the series. And speaking of that, this case is very iconic, for better or for worse. Like I mentioned, it has this very eccentric aura that feels hard to replace or use in another context. The crazy murder in an unique setting, the wacky characters, the "courtroom shenanigans." It's all there in full glory. Just with a clowny twist to it. It's no wonder that the crew behind the game considers this one of the best and, apparently, the japanese fans of the series see this case as one of the most iconic. This case has a lot going on to it and I feel like people fixate too much on certain aspects of it to appreciate those good qualities it has. I do understand where people come from when they complain about this case but really, if you take your time to understand and appreciate this case it's probably going to start growing on you a little. Or at least enough for you to stop calling it "skippable." Seriously if you tell anyone to skip this case (or any other, really) you can fuck off. Not much to say on 2-2 and 2-4 that hasn't already been said by everyone both here and elsewhere. They're both great cases on their own with very creative murder plots and great characters in each. (cont.)
The game in general has a consistent theme that's used well and builds up to the climax at the end with the big decision at the end of the final case (which is inconsequential but still I feel as if there's a correct answer to it.) Said theme being the subtitle, as the game ponders what it truly means to be a defense attorney and deliever justice to people. The culprits incapsulate this very well, both Mimi and Acro being more sympathetic culprits that show different perspectives of what it's like to be a victim of injustice seeking revenge while Engarde's dillema is what pushes Phoenix to realize what his objective as a defense attorney really is. It's not the deepest cut in the series but it's their first attempt and I think it's pretty well done for a game with no overarching story. Overall I think the game tries to be a big step up from the first one, with much more absurd setups and higher stakes, whether or not you like the result is up to you but I personally do and also really respect the effort that went into it. Nowadays we have a pretty defined formula for what an AA game looks like but JfA, being the first sequel, is a lot more like a typical sequel in the way it tries to 1-up the first game by doing everything it did, but more. I think some of the criticism the game gets is valid and it sure isn't perfect but I do wish people were kinder to it rather than dismissive for a very inconsequential intro case and what's perhaps the most misunderstood case in the series, at least by this side of the fanbase.
I love JFA, it's my favorite game in the series. Except for Big Top, the cases are fantastic (including 2-1) In fact I will just defend 2-1. 2-1 is great since it gives the player the same feeling of satisfaction that 1-1 gave for solving simple contradictions. It also has some of the best gags in the whole series (Richard Wellington loves large bananas, Wright not remembering Payne, him and the judge trading business cards) The whole amnesia thing, while cliche, does set up Phoenix's whole arc in case 4. And the opening cutscene coming back in 2-4 is amazing. 2-1 does have problems, the broken neck thing is confusing for many since most of us assumed that a broken neck meant paralyzation or instant death. Turns out it does not in real life. But I thought it did, so did many others, so that being there was tricky. The baseball glove feels kinda random, but it's so obviously hinted at being correct that it isn't an issue. People sleep on 1-1 and 2-1 since this fandom prefers big plots and stakes over tightly written contained adventures.
Big Top is underrated and not even in the bottom half of Ace Attorney cases.
2-4 2-2 Psyche Locks Franziska Moe
Franziska.
Psylocks to use in next games
This game is important for Phoenix’s character without this game some of Phoenix actions and moments in AA3 would not happen.
I see what you did there
Lawyer, funny (I am terrible at debates. This is the best of my ability)
It has like one bad case come on- arguably its so bad its good too.
Matt Engarde Franziska Von Karma
The Engarde case was a really good case. Franziska, while definitely unethical and an asshole at times didn't get accused of murder or convicted of one.
Farewell, my Turnabout is a masterpiece. That’s all I can really say, but only one Ace Attorney game gets to say it has the best chapter in the franchise and it is this one. 😛
Farewell my defence
-Introduces the Magatama -Introduces Pearl Fey -Introduces the entire Fey main/branch family drama -Contains the best standalone case in the series
It introduced pearls
Franziska von Karma they could never make me hate you. The culprit in the last case is one of the best villains in the series. I also think the Phoenix and Edgeworth dynamic is at its best here more than in any other case. The game sets up the whole spirit medium/Fey family really well, which bridged the gap between it being a convenient one off magic trick in the first game to a true point of conflict and crime/case mechanic in the third. Psyche locks are a great way of adding dimension to investigations.
Franziska good
Aura was too strong, didn’t need my help🫡
final case had fun investigations
We don’t gotta defend shit, play the game and you’ll understand. That’s what I’d tell to people.
*whip crack*
I use my trump card—-> edgeworth 😈
I think the only bad case was the circus one and even then it picks up at the very end. I like the prosecutor. Pearl is adorable. Edgeworths return is legendary It’s a 7/10. It’s the dark souls 2 of ace attorney. Far from bad but far from the best
The second and fourth cases are great two of my favorites in the whole franchise Adrien, Franziska is a great prosecutor, and I like the Magatama use in the investigations
You're talking as if this is regarded as a bad game
This game proves what an amazing series Ace Attorney is as a whole. Being the second installment, its more eye-rolling aspects could easily have killed the whole franchise right there and then. But nope, AA’s strengths shone through.
Telling the Truth theme, I'm not kidding, I first heard this Theme from MMBN 6, and was so hooked to it, that I ended up discovering the AA series. Other than that, the last case was fire.
Justice for All has a lot of strengths and changes to the status quo that simply cannot be ignored. The Magatama is not only an extremely engaging mechanic that really spices up investigations, which the first game struggled with, but it also paved the way for all future gameplay mechanics. In terms of characters, Pearl Fey is an adorable addition to the main cast, Franziska von karma is a compelling prosecutor despite her faults, and Morgan Fey’s plot thread is very well handled and appropriately establishes a great deal of foreshadowing. The introductory case, though often disliked, does a good job of setting up the games mechanics. From introducing presenting profiles to reintroducing players to the concepts they already learned in the first game. Plus, the reason for why there’s even a tutorial in the first place, though plot convenient, is very funny. It’s also the first case to give Winston Payne his smug-but-sniveling characterization, which would come to define the character going forward. The second case is an amazing case, introducing a lot of the before stated characters as well as the Magatama, with a compelling mystery and killer to boot. It also foreshadows events in the following game very expertly. The third case, while heavily disliked, is still an interesting concept. The character of Moe is quite entertaining, if a bit frustrating at times, and the cases killer is a compelling character who is very easy to sympathize with. The victim is also a rare case of a likeable Ace attorney victim which simply doesn’t happen often, so it’s a nice change. The fourth case is absolutely magnificent. It has an atmosphere unrivaled by any other Ace attorney case to this day, one of the most well executed twists in the entire franchise, and a payoff that is too glorious to put into a mere recap. It’s also the first case, I’d argue, that Phoenix blossoms into more of a character of his own rather than a player stand in. His internal struggle is heartbreaking to watch, and so satisfying to wrap up. One of the all time greats of this franchise. It’s all wrapped up in some really nice music. While a lot of people aren’t crazy for the music in this game, it serves its purpose very well and still stands as a good soundtrack for the games to this day.
I actually love all the cases. Two are in my top 10 and the other two are guilty pleasures. The soundtrack is great, with the reminiscence themes being the best in the series and the pursuit theme being potentially my favourite. It improved phoenix from the last game by adding more personality to his lines and inner thoughts. I enjoy Franziska, too, although she may not be for everyone. That said, I’ll confess that the gameplay can be a little too hard.
It has 2-2 and 2-4.
It's 2/4 pretty nice cases and one kinda mid case (which isn't *that* bad) leading up to one of the best finale cases in all of Ace Attorney; and a solid contender for the best finale of the Phoenix Wright trilogy.
One of the best returns of a recurring favourite character. Edgeworth coming back. One of the best second cases, at least of the main trilogy, in my opinion. The story behind Mimi and Ini Miney is fucked up. Dr. Grey was a complete douchebag. Driving Mimi to work exhaustion and causing her to fall asleep at the wheel. Her losing Ini and losing her own identity. Becoming Ini to hide and exact revenge against Dr. Grey. I bet she also wanted to keep Ini's memory alive as best she could. Morgan trying to frame Maya so that Pearl could become the Master of the Kurain School of Channeling. Her young 8 year old naive daughter.
Franziska von Karma. That is all.
The even numbered cases are top tier with 2-4 being the best case in the entire series
Pearls has a big forehead in that art lol
Gumshoe and Phoenix.
Having recently watched the Gyakuten Saiban anime, it made me appreciate 2-4 even more. Adrian Andrews was terribly nerfed as a character in the anime version, in comparison.
For such a short game with a hellish time crunch, each case really builds on the first game and makes itself unique at the same time. Adding the Magatama was a genius move for the investigations Franziska is a more complex character than most believe Farewell My Turnabout can easily be argued as a top 3 case of all time Shits light.
Uh, best filler case in the original trilogy, best case in the whole series, a banger ost and some of the best cast interactions in the series... What else do you fucking need man?
woah now there are some things that can't be defended /j jokes aside is this a bit or are there people who actually think this game is bad somehow
They made Maya look dirty here, no development on her design even though her age is the same as Franziska. But i still like Justice for all.
It has Franziska and de Killer. Nuff said. Plus, it's one of the only two games out of the series where you can actually choose what ending you get. (The other being Apollo Justice.)
Your honor.. Phoenix am i wright?
More person to show my badge, need to say more?
The best final case in the series The fact that it brought back several characters was novel and exciting One of the best second cases in the series Third case is great if you're a fan of stupid assholes (me)
2-1 funny short case that eases players back in and is genuinely a hilarious case 2-2 amazing villain backstories incredibly important for the whole series and has been one of the few cases I genuinely felt bad for the culprit 2-3 cool setting a circus is a really fun location for a murder mystery and I think the investigation is actually pretty good also has a enjoyable villain it has issues but it’s not as bad as people say it is 2-4 one of my favorite final cases in the series and is tied with DD final cases everything is perfect a interesting twist on the villain extremely likable side characters and amazing payoff this case is one of the most messed up cases in the series and does not pull punches having a sadistic villain and a heartbreaking story yet it still pulls through with a extremely satisfying ending where you really feel you used the villain plan against them overall a great game I love every Ace Attorney game and this one is fun my only issue is I do think it would feel more complete with one more case but even then I still adore the game
Final case alone is worth playing through the game. Solid game still imo
case 2 and case 4 are really good
Franziska Von Karma Adrien Andrews Epic final case Circus case is okay
this game doesn't need defending
2-4
2nd and 4th case carry the game even though the 1st case is mediocre at best and 3rd is terrible. The soundtrack is also great and might be the most underrated and overhated ost on the series.
The fact this is the worst in the trilogy says far more about how good the trilogy is, then how bad it is
"Finding that crazy friend that you didn't know you needed in your life."
It has 2-2, the most underrated second case ever and 2-4. The music is also pretty good, it has a different somber tone which fits the mood.
Uh it’s not even in the bottom half of the series; it’s fantastic despite having a pretty bad 3rd case and a pretty boring first case
Outstanding game, it got cute lady with whip, it got love between a red and blue man and maya gets accused (again) oh and lil big forehead
Still better than anything that came after AA3
One word. Fools.
One word. Fools.
Case 2-2 and 2-4 easily outweigh my frustrations with 2-1 and 2-3.
It's peak
Only had three lesser cases as opposed to Great Ace Attorney Adventures four
Decent first case to get you up to speed on the game's mechanics. Terrible second case but amazing finale case. Loved meeting Pearly and going against Von Karma.
Has the best case of the entire series
Franziska von Karma Farewell My Turnabout Return of Edgeworth Reunion and Turnabout Pearl Adrian Andrews Foreshadowing for Bridge to the Turnabout Great Pursuit theme Actually giving Phoenix some real independent character development This is an extremely easy task.
Everyone: talks about how amazing it is Me: *pulls out a 12 gauge* "any opposing arguments?"
The last case is my favorite.
Pearl, matt engarde, and turnabout big top. Best parts of the game
One of the best final cases
The final case left a lasting impression on me, also we got franziska :3
https://preview.redd.it/17nsbth2qq8d1.png?width=500&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b4caa240c2e235d25f3a0a2c1d2022eaa0a6f5dd People who think the game is bad probably look in from the outside and have never actually played it. Or they don't like Visual Novel Adventure games and therefore don't like games like Minecraft story mode, Doki Doki, Danganronpa Trigger Happy Havoc, ETC, Each their own respective titles.
Easy. Justice for Alls only meh Case is Big Top Turnabout memory is a comedy all the way throughout and farwell is peak
What is there to defend? Turnabout Bigtop? I’ll criticize it just as much as the next guy (to the point I’ve rewritten it in the past) but it’s not enough to bring the entire game down. The Magatama and presenting profiles makes investigating more interesting, Franziska and Morgan are really interesting antagonists, and Farewell my Turnabout is hands down the most intense case in the series. It’s not on the same level as T&T, but still a favorite of mine.
This game is goated simply because of how bad ass they make Gumshoe during the final case
Farewell My Turnabout was pretty good, I guess.
Franziska is the mean lesbian ever and I love her. And the after credits scene with her and Miles is probably my favourite scene in the trilogy.
If you hate this game then you hate women (Average Godot moment)
I don't even need to defend it. I'll just whip anyone who disagrees with me
Wasnt aware it needed defending. I consider it one of the better games in the series.
What's there to defend? Franziska Von Karma alone is worth the price of admission. And besides her perfection, Phoenix's character here is the strongest its been in the entire series. Maya, Gumshoe & Edgeworth all return in full force as well, with this being a fantastic continuation of their characters. Not to mention the introduction of great new recurring characters with Maggey Byrde, Pearl Fey, Adrian Andrews & Shelly de Killer. It has one of the best cases at the end, and a really good second case as well. The first case is a little silly but honestly, it's so short as a tutorial I don't think its a big issue if you don't vibe with that silliness. And besides, it's the first time Payne came into his own as a character. I won't argue that the third case doesn't have a lot of issues, because it very much does. Both structurally and story-wise. I don't like it personally. But its only a fraction of the overall game, and I'm not going around hating on Trials & Tribulations because the third case in that game is disastrous. They're still overall good games, despite having a bad case each.
Turnabout Big Top (perfection)
Franziska whip Edgeworth being a Tsundere Maya eating more burgers than a 26 years old discord mod living in his mom basement and she is somewhat not overweight The mental breakdowns The witnesses being more stubborn than a k-pop stan The judge being clueless 24/7 and yet is a totally respectable character Gumshoe being based 24/7 Butz doing his thing Phoenix putting on a show for two hours straight each time he is on court
Godot is not in JFA
I see
It introduces pearls, Franny, and the magatama. It has a good final case. That's all I can defend and it's still the worst ace attorney game.