Summary
Ace Attorney’s opening cases have a lot to do. They need to teach newcomers how to play, introduce new characters, settings, and game mechanics, often set up major plot lines and villains, and, to top it all off, tell an interesting mystery with engaging puzzles. That’s a lot to accomplish, especially in just one courtroom segment.
So, what makes a great first case? Simply put, one that makes you forget you’re playing a tutorial. A few clever puzzles, some quirky banter, one or two good twists, and a memorable villain are really all you need to set an excellent first impression. But which Ace Attorney game does it best?
Turnabout Visitor has a fascinating concept but a muddled execution. Edgeworth returns from overseas to find a corpse in his office. Immediately after, he’s held at gunpoint by a mysterious assassin. Unfortunately, things quickly go downhill from there.
The case relies heavily on dramatic irony, which only works when the suspense comes from seeing how the villain will get caught. Sadly, Jacques Portsman is a forgettable killer, a bad liar, andan unintimidating rival, leading to a tedious battle of wits. The result is a bland plot with zero twists, no suspense, and not enough memorable dialogue or puzzles to compensate.
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Spirit Of Justice
The Foreign Turnabout has the highest stakes of any tutorial episode by far. WhenPhoenix visits the Kingdom of Khura’in, his tour guide gets arrested on suspicion of murder. Wright rushes to the defense only to discover he will also be jailed and executed if his client is found guilty.
Despite the exciting premise, the mystery is mostly pushed aside in favor of overbearing tutorials and exposition. Because of this, Pees’lubn Andistan’dhin comes off as a two-dimensional villain, and the plot twists fall a bit short. The case has its moments, but the pacing and uninteresting mystery really bog it down.
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Justice For All
Get your jurisprudence jones on! Enter a courtroom like no other in the sequel to Capcom’s surprise hit Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney.As in the first Phoenix Wright game, each case involves two distinct storylines. In the investigation phase, you survey crime scenes, interview witnesses and gather evidence that will be used in court. Then it’s on to the court phase, where you pesent findings from the investigation to support your case, listen to testimonies, cross-examine witnesses, and tease out fact from fiction so you’re able to prove your client’s innocence.
The Lost Turnabout is a mixed bag. After getting conked on the head by the case’s murderer, Phoenix wakes up with amnesia and must defend police officer Maggey Byrde with no recollection of what the trial is about. Needless to say, the concept is a bit cliched and a rather awkward way of making Phoenix relearn the courtroom rules.
Other than that, the case has its ups and downs. The puzzles are decent despite requiring a basic knowledge of baseball that some people might not have. Richard Wellington feels like a mix of Redd White and Wendy Oldbag, making for a forgettable villain. Regardless, the dialogue is funny as always, and Maggey is an endearing defendant. It’s not the worst case, but it’s certainly not great.
Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney
The English Turnabout is by no means a bad case. It’s just kind of average. Phoenix and Maya travel to England, where they must defend a mysterious client named Espella Cantabella, who plans on pleading guilty to murder. The more Phoenix digs, the more he suspects that Espella’s confession might not be true.
While the trial isn’t the most memorable, enough happens to keep you invested. The witnesses, Johnny Smiles and Olivia Aldente, are quirky enough to entertain you. Prosecutor Flynch, on the other hand, feels like a copy of Winston Payne and is largely forgettable. The case is fine, albeit lacking substance and relevancy to the overarching narrative.
From The Great Ace Attorney 2: Resolve
The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles
Immerse yourself in a dramatic yet charming and witty world of evidence-gathering, deduction and courtroom battles with this double-pack of the adventures of rookie lawyer Ryunosuke.
The Adventure Of The Blossoming Attorney has a pretty interesting premise. In Meiji-era Japan, women are forbidden from the courtroom. To work around this, Susato Mikotoba must disguise herself to defend her best friend, who was arrested for murdering Jezaille Brett, a killer from the previous title.
Overall, it’s a decent start to the game. Susato’s journey of conquering her nerves to the point where she’s confident enough to physically attack the killer is both powerful and hilarious. Plus, there’s enough banter with Prosecutor Auchi to keep you smiling throughout.
6The Adventure Of The Great Departure
From The Great Ace Attorney: Adventures
Ryunosuke Naruhodo has one heck of a debut trial, seeing that he’s the defendant. Professor John Wilson was shot in an upscale restaurant, and Ryunosuke was found beside him holding a smoking gun. Now, Naruhodo must defend himself in court. The catch? He’s not even a lawyer.
While the episode is definitely too long, it’s ultimately worth it for Ryunosuke’s excellent character arc. Watching him go from being scared speechless to passionately shouting, “Objection!” never stops being satisfying. The mystery is decent, but the phenomenal characters really sell it.
Phoenix Wright’s debut title delivers a strong first impression. The First Turnabout sees Phoenix defending his childhood friend Larry Butz from the charge of killing his ex-girlfriend. It’s a simple plot that expertly combines suspense with humor while setting up the game’s tone.
Watching Phoenix stumble through the trial and get bailed out by Mia perfectly sets up his character arc and makes it even more devastating when Mia dies in the next episode. This case is also the first instance of the series' Columbo-esque dramatic irony of knowing the killer from the start. While this trope would get overused in later titles, it made for great suspense the first time.
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Dual Destinies
Turnabout Countdown is among the most suspenseful and twist-heavy opening cases. The courtroom has been blown up, and it’s up to Phoenix and Athena to catch the bomber. Things get even more heated when Apollo is attacked halfway through the trial and leaves behind a cryptic bloody message before losing consciousness.
It all culminates in a thrilling climax where another bomb threat is called in, and Wright must prove the killer’s guilt before the courtroom is evacuated. As for the characters, Juniper Woods is a very likable defendant, and Ted Tonate is quirky enough to compensate for his lack of depth. Overall, it’s a solid opening for Dual Destinies.
Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney
Phoenix Wright has been disbarred, and it’s up to Apollo Justice to defend him in court. Welcome to Turnabout Trump, a thrilling mystery about an underground poker game, an unidentifiable victim, and a piece of forged evidence. As far as first cases go, it’s one of the most mysterious and enthralling.
On top of a twist-heavy plot and some clever puzzles, Turnabout Trump is famous for its shocking revelation that Apollo’s mentor is the killer. It’s a phenomenal start to the game that wonderfully sets up Justice’s character arc, provides a ton of foreshadowing, and progresses the overarching story.
From Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Trials And Tribulations
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Trials and Tribulations
In Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trials and Tribulations, players star as a defense attorney who must prove a seemingly guilty client’s innocence no matter how dire the circumstances may seem. Phoenix will face the toughest prosecutor yet as the mysterious hard-boiled “Godot” will try to take him down at any cost.The complete story of Phoenix Wright comes together as truths are revealed in twisting storylines and intriguing gameplay. Players must collect evidence, survey crime scenes, weed through inconsistent testimonies, and overcome corrupt agendas to ensure that justice prevails.With the return of the popular “pysche-lock” interrogation tool from the Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Justice For All, players will have to overcome even more intense courtroom standoffs to close the case. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney and its sequel were clever and suspenseful, with plenty more twists and turns than a dirt road across the Himalayas. Expect more of the same high drama in Trials and Tribulations!
Turnabout Memories takes you back to Mia’s second murder trial. Phoenix is the defendant, Payne is actually competent, and the ruthless serial killer Dahlia Hawthorne is on the stand. The stage is set for the most suspenseful opening case in the original trilogy, and it’s a doozy.
Not only does this case offer some shocking twists and exceptional foreshadowing, but it also features some of the series' best humor. Payne’s hair flying off his head and Grossberg constantly mentioning his hemorrhoids are just a few examples. Featuring excellent world-building and a gripping mystery, Turnabout Memories is the perfect start toa fantastic game.
