Summary
DespiteAce Attorneyregularly dealing with stories of murder, the series doesn’t always take itself completely seriously. A good example of this is the pun names that many of its characters have, which the series has become known for. You’ll understand some of them right away, but the meaning of others isn’t revealed until later.
Some of the pun names are linked to the characters’ professions, while others foreshadow their fate. As the face of the series, Phoenix Wright sets a precedent for these pun names, rising from the ashes and always being ‘right’. Some are more effective than others, so here are the best from across the series.
Spoiler warning for various Ace Attorney games
10Shelly De Killer
Shelly De Assassin Was A Bit Too Long
There’s no better family name for a line of assassins than de Killer. Shelly de Killer debuts in the Farewell, My Turnabout case in Justice for All and returns in Ace Attorney Investigations 2: Prosecutor’s Gambit. As you’d expect,he’s accused of murder in both cases.
Whenever Shelly de Killer assassinates a victim, he leaves behind a calling card with a shell on it as a way to deter his clients from becoming suspects in the murder. With a name like de Killer, it’s never a question of whether he killed the victim or not, butwhopaid him to do so.
9Winston Payne
Ouch!
Winston Payne often appears asthe prosecutor in the tutorial case, attempting to live up to his title of Rookie Killer. His name sounds like ‘winced in pain’, which he probably ends up doing once you defeat him in the courtroom.
His voice even sounds as though he’s wincing in pain, as his ‘Objection!’ is more of a screech than a shout. His younger brother carries on the name tradition, being called Gaspen Payne. Someone had better get these guys some Payne killers.
8Frank Sahwit
And Did It
Frank Sahwit is the only witness to Cindy Stone’s murder and is taken to court to testify about what he saw, which is where his surname comes in - Frank ‘saw it’. However, as the trial progresses, you learn that Frank is more involved than just seeing the murder.
Phoenix even makes a joke of Sahwit’s name during the trial once he has shown evidence that Sahwit committed the murder, “Proof enough for you, Mr. Sahwit? Or should I say… Mr. Did It!”
Frank Sahwit also appears in Ace Attorney Investigations 2: Prosecutor’s Gambit, where he is once again a witness to murder.
7Will Powers
Powers Through Anything
The actor behind the Steel Samurai, Will Powers is a gentle soul despite his gruff appearance, which is why he believes he needs to wear a mask when starring in kids TV shows.
In Turnabout Samurai in the first game, Powers is wrongfully accused of the murder of Jack Hammer. The pun in his name is pretty straightforward, referring to having will power, but it’s somewhat ironic considering his meek personality. Still, he has a lot of will power to pursue his dreams of being an actor, despite what people might think of his appearance.
6Lotta Hart
Gets In A Lotta Trouble, Too
Lotta Hart is a series regular, with her photographs becoming key evidence in a variety of cases. She has a vibrant personality and isn’t afraid to speak her mind, which has helped her in her photography career.
Her name references having ‘a lot of heart’, which could be due to her passion for photography, as she’s been an investigative photographer, paranormal photographer, and tabloid photographer. She puts a lot of heart into her work and is generally a nice person.
5Dustin Prince
Lived And Died By His Profession
Dustin Prince is the victim of The Lost Turnabout in Justice For All. Tragically, he was murdered on his birthday while on a date with Maggey Byrde. Dustin Prince is a pun on ‘dusting prints’, which makes sense considering his role as a police officer.
You don’t learn much else about Dustin Prince during the case, considering he was the one who was murdered, but it’s a clever name for a police officer. It’s punny without being too in your face about it.
4Luke Atmey
The Biggest Ego Ever Seen
In the Trials and Tribulations case The Stolen Turnabout, Luke Atmey introduces himself as the ‘Ace Detective’, determined to unmask Mask DeMasque. Though he presents himself as an expert in his field, he is revealed to be a fraud, masquerading as a skilled detective purely for attention.
As such, his name sounds similar to ‘look at me’, referencing his desire to be the center of attention and a local celebrity. It fits his character well while still sounding like a regular name, so it’s a great example of a punny name.
3Ernest Amano
Or Is He?
In Ace Attorney Investigations: Miles Edgeworth, Ernest Amano calls upon Edgeworth’s expertise to find his kidnapped son Lance Amano. Throughout the case, Edgeworth unravels the truth behind the Amano Group and its connection to the kidnapping.
Ernest Amano sounds like ‘earnest man’, a name which is quite ironic considering the shady dealings Ernest Amano is wrapped up in, as he’s a member of an international smuggling ring. He portrays himself as an earnest man desperate to find his son, but the mask soon falls as Edgeworth discovers more about the situation.
2Deid Mann
Rest In Peace
We don’t need to explain this one… With a name like Deid Mann, you don’t have much of a chance in the Ace Attorney universe. Deid Mann features in the case Turnabout Reminiscene in Ace Attorney Investigations: Miles Edgeworth, and though he doesn’t have a huge role, it’s a name you’re unlikely to forget.
When Deid Mann learned the truth about the smuggling ring his employers’ were involved with, he planned to go to court to testify, but was assasinated before he could do so. He surelivedup to his name.
1Carmine Accidenti
How Cruel Could His Parents Be?
While Professor Layton Vs. Ace Attorney Phoenix Wright is more often classified as a Professor Layton game than an Ace Attorney one, this name is too egregious to leave out.
Professor Layton Vs. Ace Attorney: Phoenix Wright opens with a dramatic scene of a man and a woman crashing their car. A little while later, it’s revealed through a letter to Professor Layton that the driver’s name was… Carmine Accidenti.
This is one of the most on-the-nose names used across the games, to the point where it makes the entire situation humorous. In the first post-game episode, Carmine Accidenti was involved in another car accident, and Maya jokingly comments that he should just change his name, “Clearly it’s totally jinxed!”
