If you were a kid in North America during the 2000s and early 2010s, there’s a very strong chance that you happened upon at least some form of digital media involving solving cases. Whether that’s Law and Order, Hawaii Five-O, or even Disney’s Philmore – every demographic was given a taste for justice. There’s something that’s just so enticing about how stories can interweave and affect each other. Consequences rising, relationships put to the test, lies and truths being shuffled around – all in the pursuit of proving innocence.
Now let’s bring it to a more interactive scale, where you’re the one making the cases. This is what the Ace Attorney series has aimed to do over the course of multiple games and a long spanning story. While they’re not completely accurate depictions of the Japanese justice system (as that’s where the games take place), they still do a fantastic job of giving the players an idea of what happens in the court of law along with all the personal storylines woven within each case. In the original series run, you play the role of Phoenix Wright; a defense lawyer of Wright and Co. Law Offices who continuously has to battle the odds. Each case takes the form of something whimsical, so it’s up to you to find the truth and set the record straight for your clients. That’s the general formula for how the series goes, and it’s worked across multiple iterations.
Now if Phoenix is the original titular lawyer, then why is he dressed so casually in the picture above this sentence? Well, this game takes place some time in the future after the events of an unfortunate false evidence claim, costing Phoenix’ license. Thus, taking over the mantle is a new plucky squire – Apollo Justice. He’s nervous, but he gets the job done, and he holds a secret ability that grants him advantage in the courtroom. If you can figure how to use the ability correctly, then you’ve got to stake your claim.
Released in January of 2024, this trilogy features three games of the series, including the eponymous Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney. This was another pickup from my local library that I happened upon and got sucked into on a whim. At the time of writing, I’ve only managed to play through the first three case episodes in Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney, but I’ve already been amazed. I’ve only been on the outskirts of the series until recently via watching others play the games, so this was a must-get for me.
Capcom really delivered on their mission with this game. The writing is absolutely amazing with the right amount of seriousness and comedy working together, with story structure that’s both easy to comprehend and complex enough to really pick apart. Character design is done quite well so that each person is just as memorable as the last. The gameplay in and out of the courtroom lends well to keep the player engaged without friction and makes them think about each action they take.
For those whom prefer a comical, high stakes courtroom drama, this game is a hard recommendation. As Nintendo Life writer Kate Grey put it, “they barely leave a dent on the brilliance of this well-written and beautifully illustrated trilogy”.
