It’s tough being a defense attorney sometimes, ya know? Especially when you have to contend with serial killers, literal animals on the witness stand, psychic spirit channeling, government coups, bomb threats, and consistently physical assault from whips and coffee mugs alike.
But, even in the face of all of that, Phoenix Wright and his lawyer friends still keep fighting the good fight, because that’s just what unsung heroes do! In this article, I’ll be talking a bit about my Top 10 Favorite Cases in the entire series. And hey, if I’m lucky, maybe the mere existence of this article will conjure a new mainline Ace Attorney game into existence! Please, it’s been seven years!
10) Turnabout Storyteller ~ Ace Attorney Spirit of Justice
If my love of Uendo (the lead witness in this case) from the article last week wasn’t evidence enough, I actually just really enjoy this entire case overall, and think it’s pretty underrated. Sure, it’s ‘filler’ in the sense that it doesn’t tie into the main plot, but it’s still got good character development for Athena and Simon. More than that, Uendo is just such an incredible witness, and there’s a lot of really unique logic gimmicks and twists in the case that are fun to follow. Geiru makes for a surprisingly sympathetic villain as well, and one that I’d love to talk about more in the future.
9) The Last Inquisitor ~ Professor Layton vs Phoenix Wright
Most Ace Attorney fans probably skipped over this spinoff, which is a shame, because it’s actually pretty fantastic. Aided by some magical craziness thanks to the influence of Professor Layton’s world, there’s some very engaging and dark storytelling all throughout this game, and it comes to a head in this grand finale. There are some earthshattering plot twists, a few final mindboggling puzzles to solve, and a dramatic trial revelation to seal the deal. This is all brought together through some excellent voice acting, a huge part of this game but a rarity in the Ace Attorney series overall.
8) Turnabout Reminiscence ~ Ace Attorney Investigations
Ace Attorney is no stranger to prolonged flashback sections, and my favorite of all of those might have to be this case, from the Miles Edgeworth-led spinoff series. Miles is still a fresh-faced prosecutor at this point, and a case he’s about to have lead over gets derailed when a lead player in the case is apparently assassinated right before the trial begins. It’s great to get a look into a young Miles (and an even younger Franziska, who’s an absolute treat), and it’s also this case where the game’s true main story takes shape, as we are finally introduced to the main villain, Calisto Yew (and if you remember from my earlier Ace Attorney article, I love Calisto a lot).
7) Reunion, and Turnabout ~ Ace Attorney Justice for All
The amount of character building and worldbuilding introductions that this case alone shoulders is pretty incredible, so it’s honestly surprising that it still manages to be so entertaining even on top of that. After a lackluster opening case, Justice for All really kicks into high gear by having Maya framed for murder, introducing her young cousin Pearl (who goes on to be a series mainstay), and sets up the antagonistic rivalry with opposing prosecutor Franziska (who also becomes a continual major player). There’s a lot of lore about Maya and her spirit-channeling family, and another standout villain in the form of Ini Miney, who is OH so much more interesting and disturbing than her silly pun name implies.
6) The Grand Turnabout ~ Ace Attorney Investigations 2
You’ll see a theme coming up in this article of the grand-finale cases of most Ace Attorney games being downright incredible, and this one is no exception. Drawing a close to every single lingering plot thread introduced over the course of this two-game spinoff series, ‘The Grand Turnabout’ really pushes its plot and characters to the absolute limit. Miles is at the top of his game here, his supporting cast have some great moments to shine, there’s a few crazy twists all along the way up to the big climax, and the central villain is a lot of fun to both verbally spar with, and to finally see taken down for good. Phoenix Wright may be a classic video game hero, but this case makes a compelling argument for Miles being the stronger character.
5) The Stolen Turnabout ~ Ace Attorney Trials and Tribulations
For some reasons I can explain, and others I truly can’t quite put my finger on, I’ve always loved this case more than most people do. I think it’s a combination of a lot of small pieces working together for a larger whole. There’s a whole slew of engaging characters present in this case, like new faces Ron and Desiree, and some old favorites like Adrian. We also get introduced to our new prosecutor rival Godot, who is, of course, eminently charismatic and intriguing. There’s some very catchy tunes in this case too. And, obviously, the biggest positive in this case’s favor is the central antagonist, Luke Atmey, who has what might be the second-most intelligent villainous plot in the entire series.
4) The Magical Turnabout ~ Ace Attorney Spirit of Justice
This is the absolute best non-plot-relevant case in the entire series, and there’s not much else that could even come close. There’s some utterly impeccable character development from both Apollo and Trucy, some extremely unique mechanics involved with solving a murder so heavily reliant on understanding magic, and well-animated cutscenes in both 2D animation style and motion-captured 3D rendering. We also face off against rival prosecutor Nahyuta for the first time, and he’s so entertainingly smarmy and aggravating. Speaking of aggravating, we also face off against the vile sleazeball Roger Retinz, who easily has the most clever and nearly-successful evil plot in the entire franchise.
Man, this case is awesome! There’s just so much packed into a surprisingly tight runtime.
3) Rise from the Ashes ~ Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney
This case was a bonus added onto the DS remake of the original Ace Attorney game (which, if you didn’t know, was a GBA game first), and it’s actually the length of an entire game on its own. Like, this case can take well over 10-15 hours to complete, which can be exhausting if you view it as a single case, but becomes so much more engrossing if you truly think of it as its own self-contained game, which it effectively is. No other case has introduced so many new characters and concepts at once, and there’s so much to digest about this case that it can be hard to wrap your head around it all.
Truly, this case has got everything working in its favor. The side characters (with, admittedly, one exception) are multi-layered and complex components in this increasingly complicated case. The gimmicks needing to solve the puzzles of the trials (including exploring a full-motion security camera feed to find inaccuracies, and more fingerprint testing than you can shake a DS stylus at) are a lot of fun. The development of our established characters (especially Miles) is a highlight, and the core story of two estranged sisters reckoning with their past traumas is as amazing as it is heartbreaking. One of the sisters, Ema, has gone on to be a series mainstay, though Lana has yet to appear again.
And, of course, I’d be doing this case a disservice to not mention the villain, Damon Gant. His mere presence elevates this case to stardom!
2) Turnabout Revolution ~ Ace Attorney Spirit of Justice
One of the most high-stakes cases in the series, this masterpiece of storytelling caps off my favorite game in the entire franchise, and in bombastic, tear-jerking style. It’s almost breathtaking how high the stakes are in this case from start-to-finish, as we go from the murder of an archeologist who uncovered a startling secret, all the way up to an armed rebellion fighting back against a fascist government, with the fate of a whole country hanging in the balance.
Admittedly, it’s a little odd how this case sort of feels like two separate cases taped together, but it still makes for a compelling and addictive finale that you want to just keep rushing through. There’s so many beautiful, funny, and cathartic moments throughout this case that it’s impossible to list them all. Helping a traumatized little girl to walk again after recovering from an old injury, breaking apart the entire fake history of a corrupt government for all the people to see, and finally reconnecting with your long-lost brother. There’s no other case in the series that goes this ‘anime’, and I love it!
Also, this case drops on you near the end a truly sob-worthy reveal that hit me like a train on my first playthrough, almost making me too sad to continue…but also motivating me even more to win for the sake of justice!
1) Bridge to the Turnabout ~ Ace Attorney Trials and Tribulations
It might’ve come out in 2004, but miraculously, “Bridge to the Turnabout” still stands the test of time as the magnum opus of the Ace Attorney franchise. Perhaps it’s a little unfair to weigh this case against the others, considering this masterpiece is the grand finale of not just the third game in the original trilogy, but also the conclusion of the entire trilogy itself. Thus, three game’s worth of characterization and build-up has led to this moment, and it really shows. This case manages to play as both a greatest-hits, and also setup its own original and exciting ending that doesn’t just feel like flimsy fanservice.
All of our major players make a grand return, but with reasonable motivations for wanting to/needing to take part in this lawyerly showdown. Phoenix takes a nasty tumble at one point, so you play as Miles pretending to be a defense attorney, facing off against none-other-than Franziska. Then, once Phoenix recovers, you explore for evidence alongside Franziska, and their passive-aggressive dynamic is to die for. Maya and Pearl are in top-form here, and all the lingering details of their family backstory come to light. There’s some truly staggering twists here, with the path to solve the final puzzle being far from straightforward.
And, of course, the entire case caps off with a showdown against the vengeful spirit of Dahlia Hawthorne, and the spirit of Mia coming to your aid as the OG Pursuit theme blasts through your DS’ speakers! It’s an unforgettable moment to close out an unforgettable and somewhat underrated series of true videogame gems!
But hey, that’s just my opinion!
The Contrarian Corner 