#also it has better writing than dual destinies

[dreamsy990]

i think its so fucked up that theres no fandom for plvspw. like its this beautifully written story about grief and how we cope with loss and try to move on despite how hopeless it may seem. it's about love and how much you would do to help the people you love. it's a story where it feels like it's leading up to a sad ending, because there is no way for this to end happily, but in the end it's okay, because as long as you keep moving forward things will be okay. its this beautiful story and theres no fanbase for it and that is so fucked up

[mostlyihyperfixate]

As per usual, """"quick"""" discussion of Spirit of Justice as I head into (??? I think ???) the final case.

There must be a bonus case, too, because I know there's one about time traveling and weddings and stuff?

Anyway, I really will try to be quick this time.

I love this game.

I'm really surprised, because going into it, I was really "meh" about the concept of Phoenix going to a fantasy country and aiding the legal system there. And I still am to an extent--the worldbuilding and the extremely literal pun names (which I realize were also there in the Japanese version) really do nothing for me as a whole.

But this is the best the writing has been since the original trilogy, in my opinion. Objectively, the trial segments are more difficult than Dual Destinies and subjectively (because I know a lot of people really enjoy it), I find the story to be less...I don't even know. I personally find it more interesting than Apollo Justice, but, again, that's an entirely subjective opinion.

The not subjective part is that Spirit of Justice doesn't have Turnabout Serenade.

I think the thing for me is that every single case so far has had some aspect to it that was memorable to me: The musical bits in the first case; the incredible asshole-ry of the culprit in the second case; the twists and turns--and Phoenix finally using spirit summoning to summon something other than a better lawyer--in the third case; Simon and Athena working together on the fourth case; Apollo and Phoenix going up against each other in the beginning of Case 5.

I read that people don't like Case 4 because of how condescending Simon and Nahyuta are to Athena. I just read it as Simon being a typical big brother. He stepped in because he didn't like the way Nahyuta was treating Athena, but as a big brother, he couldn't just say that; he had to act like it was because he didn't trust her. Additionally, he just wanted to be involved because he's a gatekeeping weeb. But just because that's how I read something doesn't make it true, so I'm not gonna, like, go after anyone that didn't like that case.

And I cannot emphasize enough how cathartic it was to see Apollo win a court battle against Phoenix. I know the narrative says that he'd never be able to if Phoenix was at his best, but whatever.

I love Rayfa. I understand she also isn't for everyone. I'm not actually crazy about tsundere-types myself. But a huge part of Phoenix's appeal to me is his weird-girl-dad energy, and her investigation segments gave me a lot of that. I'm looking forward to seeing what the last bit of the game does for her.

I'm also surprised by how much I love Dhurke (at least at this juncture). The games really don't have any good boy-dad representation, and his open love for Apollo is very endearing. Like, obviously he's flawed. He abandoned Apollo in America for reasons yet to be revealed, and that might sour me on him. But for now, just having someone around to encourage Apollo and give him fancy sushi and call him "son" just makes me very, very happy. I just want good things for Apollo.

Nahyuta is the weakest link for me here. I'm not going to say that he's scum or anything. I just...don't find him very interesting. I assume he's going to play a pretty big role in this last bit, so I'm willing to change my mind! But right now, he doesn't do anything for me. I know he's not a complete jerk. He's a reasonable authority figure to Ema. But I sure would have liked to see him branch out from just calling the defense "putrid brained" or whatever. His made-up hells were funny at first, but now they've just kind of devolved into nonsense, and calling everyone "putrid" is all he has. And I know. Godot only had coffee, and I liked him. But he just went up against Phoenix. Nahyuta goes up against Phoenix, Apollo, and Athena. I'd just have liked to see some variety beyond, "oh, you wear yellow, so you're a putrid egg." Wow, calling them names based on food based on their outfit colors. How original. No one's ever done that before.

But yeah! Overall, I've had a really good time with Spirit of Justice! I've had to look up solutions for the first time since Apollo Justice; I've talked myself through answers for the first time since Trials and Tribulations; and I've actually been excited to put the fanfiction down and play since that game as well.

I've heard this last bit in Khura'in lasts just short of forever, so I suppose all of my opinions could change. But as of right now, I'm pleased with this one!

[trlvsn]

this is an explanation of why the later ace attorney games suck so, so badly, and it is probably common knowledge, but i will post it anyway.

so. i talked a little about the aa5+6 issue in this post and decided to look into it further, because i needed to know the reason why the later games are. well. like that. why did no one tell me it was this easy?

first four games? clearly written by shu takumi.

the last two have multiple different writers, and, also, different directors.

so at this point, it all makes sense, but now i'm curious about why this happened. here is a part of the wikipedia article that explains that:

For the fourth game, Takumi wrote the scenario and took on a supervisory role. He had wanted the series to end with the third game, as he felt Phoenix had been fully explored and that his story had been told; he said that it is important to know when to end a story, that he did not want the series to become a shadow of its former self, and that he did not see any reason to continue it. Despite this, the spin-off series Ace Attorney Investigations was created, being directed by Takeshi Yamazaki and produced by Motohide Eshiro; Takumi returned to the series to write the crossover Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney. He also directed and wrote The Great Ace Attorney, which was described as being the first entry in a new Ace Attorney series. He said that he has mixed feelings about the series being developed by other Capcom staff, comparing it to a parent sending their child to their first day in school. Yamazaki and Eshiro went on to direct and produce the main series entries Dual Destinies and Spirit of Justice. Due to exhaustion after working on Dual Destinies, Yamazaki split direction responsibilities with Takuro Fuse for Spirit of Justice, with Yamazaki working on the scenario, and Fuse on the art and gameplay. In 2020, Yamazaki left Capcom.

aa5 and aa6 were basically never meant to exist.

i'm not saying that's a fully good thing. as someone who hasn't played anything other than that main trilogy and aai, it is wonderful to see the fandom interpret the characters from the later games (like athena cykes) in fanfiction and art. i enjoy it! i enjoy the potential and the ideas the new games have apparently given us, however, the games on their own seem to be disliked by the majority (at least the majority of my surroundings in the fandom).

there really is no point or solution to this, at least not from me. i'm just wondering what the games would be like if there were no other writers other than the original one. perhaps, there would be no other games except for the first 3 or 4 ones; perhaps, of capcom didn't push for profit, he would have written a new one eventually.

actually, scratch that, there is one point. the fandom is amazing in my eyes so far and acknowledging the wrongs in the games is important. collective outrage is a weapon in the era where companies make internet personas and interact with us. maybe, just maybe, aa7 will be better. if it will even be, of course. and if it isn't? i'm sure the fandom will pirate it out of spite make better content out of it.

[nyaagolor]

How would you rank all the Ace Attorney games you’ve played from favorite to least favorite? You seemed to enjoy all of them, to varying degrees.

So this is actually kind of hard for me to answer depending on whether you base your metric on “how much fun were they to play” “how much do I think to explore the themes / writing / think about the game in general” or “how well written do you think they are”. I’m gonna do all of them and prolly talk a lot so yeehaw. Under the cut bc. surprise surprise! I got long winded

Quick disclaimer: Not including DLC cases or spin off games because if I did we’d be here all day

“How much fun did I have playing through the actual game”

Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney

Trials and Tribulations

Apollo Justice Ace Attorney

Justice for All

Dual Destinies

Spirit of Justice

This might be kinda surprising to some people considering what I talk about on this blog, but honestly my opinions on these games changed drastically after I had time to ruminate on them. Here’s some explanations if you’re curious!

AA1 very well could be at the top because it was the first game in the series and I was going in fresh— while Turnabout Samurai was a bit of a slog, I managed to get through all of these cases in a day each and just could not put down Turnabout Goodbyes. I don’t think about it as much anymore because it was so foundational and all the things it introduced have been explored by other games, but this game really is the reason I fell into this series with such ferocity.

AA3 was much of the same, and I don’t think I had as much fun with a tutorial case as I did with Turnabout Beginnings. The characterization present in this games and the nonlinearity of the narrative is genuinely fantastic, and my opinion of it has only increased over time.

AA4 is ranked a little lower because I actually wasn’t vibing with the game when I first played it— it was only after Turnabout Succession that everything fell into place and the game skyrocketed up my favorites list. Once I’m finished with all the spinoffs and have some time to chill I actually plan on revisiting it with fresh eyes because I think a second playthrough has the potential to be soooo much better than the first. Also APOLLOOOOOOO he’s my little guy :)

I thought justice for all was fine, but boring. Big Top made me feel some emotions that were less than positive, but generally speaking all the cases were fine but didn’t leave a big impression on me. Also I don’t like Farewell My Turnabout nearly as much as other people— I still like it but it didn’t totally blow me away or anything. Game is still like an 8/10, but it didn’t leave a huge impression on me.

Dual Destinies was confusing as hell timeline wise and it made it kinda difficult to figure out what was even happening, and for that same reason I struggled to attach myself to the plot. The game had some moments that really were stellar but the sheer length and layout of the cases kinda made me wanna cry

I literally only finished this game so I could get to Investigations. Characters were great but it was so. Damn. long.

“How much do I like thinking about the games, its writing, and its themes”

Dual Destinies

Apollo Justice Ace Attorney

Trials and Tribulations

Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney

Spirit of Justice

Justice for All

This part of the list actually has very little to do with how good I think the games are or how much I like them, but sometimes a game’s themes just Captivate you.

If you’re reading this you’ve probably seen this blog, and you know how I feel about Dual Destinies. I am OBSESSED with this game. I love the characters, I love the themes, and I am fascinated by every part of the writing process and how the game ended up the way it did. I think about this game an unhealthy amount actually. Don’t let my complaining make you think I don’t love this game to pieces. Bc I do. So much.

I love expanding on things. The media I blog about? KIrby and Pokemon, stories that practically beg for you to fill in the gaps and work with their vagueness. So when Takumi handed me a game with half a dozen hanging plot threads and massive time gaps just begging to be filled? You can bet I would never shut the fuck up about it. AJAA my absolute beloved

I could probably talk about Miego for hours. This game is incredible I think about it on the regular. Ough.

This game slams but all the ideas introduced by it have been expanded on and talked about and worked with in a hundred different ways so it’s hard to me to really go back other than to say “wow Turnabout Goodbyes was so fucking good”

Literally the only context in which I think about this game is “this should have been a spinoff” but honestly it barely crosses my mind except when I purposefully try to ignore it

JFA is good and makes me feel absolutely nothing

“How well-written do I think the games are”

Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney

Trials and Tribulations

Apollo Justice Ace Attorney

Justice for All

Spirit of Justice

Dual Destinies

These are suuuuuper close so this list is a lil shakier than the others but explanations are below as usual!

Ok this is really REALLY tough because I think AA1 and AA3 are tied. They both have their moments and I think the themes are incredible, but for the purposes of this list I’m putting AA1 above AA3 because BttT is a little bit absolutely batshit insane? Turnabout Goodbyes is TIGHT. Sorry Godot you’re still my favorite prosecutor ily kitten

See above

I’ve never seen an AA game whose final cases elevates the entire game quite like AA4. I thought the game was good, but the Turnabout Succession hit and oh my GOD. I think about this game constantly it’s so, SO good. Also helps that Apollo really shakes up the series, he’s my favorite species of insect

These cases were fine, Franziska is a solid prosecutor, the whole “chooses death” thing was fresh, and Farewell was some of the best character writing this series has seen. I don’t honestly have much to even say about it bc it’s super solid

The difference between DD and SOJ is that I think DD had a really good story that it failed to tell effectively while SOJ succeeded in telling its story but that story fucking sucks. Jokes aside I don’t like SOJ but the story is cohesive at least. It had a plot. It was Fine. DD failed miserably but oh my god what you could have been. Ily. Mwah.

See above

Sorry this wasn’t a clear ranking / favorites list, hope you enjoyed regardless!!

[96percentdone]

Your ace attorney opinions are so valid and I wish they did aa5 and aa6 more justice? The characters are interesting and fun but when they play 52 pickup with each individual storyline it really shoots the collective narrative in the foot. From a gameplay standpoint, the stuff introduced in aa5 and 6 are fun and rly cool ways to expand upon the universe, and the Wright lie detection agency is fun, but it feels like. Idk. Like they didn’t trust their writers OR their fan base with their story. Idk if that makes sense? (I have similar beef with aitsf and aini though so,,,)

Yeah I honestly hold more contempt for AA5 and 6 than I do any other art I've experienced. Defenders of these games will posit the detractors are so fixated on AJ's plot they cannot see the merits of DD and SoJ, but I don't care about Kristoph's psyche locks, the untouched sibling reveal, or Apollo's 70000 backstories nearly as much as they suggest. Those things are annoying, but they are minor symptoms of the real issue: bad writing across the board. Most if not all culprits have store-bought motives that are thinly elucidated, if they're even elucidated at all, which impacts the writing of every case. If the cause of the suffering is a caricature, the victims end up similarly toothless. They are equally generic. AA has always struggled to write witnesses and culprits consistently well--there's a reason people talk about ace attorney middle cases like that for instance--but it's compounded by the frequency that it happens especially for the main characters.

The returning main cast are hollowed out versions of themselves. Trucy is just a quirky magician girl which they walk back a little in Spirit of Justice by giving her a focus case, and then she's back to being Quirky. Phoenix Wright is a generic mentor figure with goofy internal dialogue sometimes. Klavier is a rockstar prosecutor!!! That's it!!!! Miles Edgeworth is BACK, and because they worked on the investigations games you can kind of see why he's this big good figure, but Pearl and Maya are seemingly around just to be around cause they have nothing going on emotionally. Apollo is a stock dweeb except when he's stock Edgy as a result of one of his new poorly written backstories involving poorly written new characters who might not even be characters (looking at you, Clay Terran).

And the new main characters suffer just as much. Let's take Dual Destinies as a case study. Blackquill was convicted and imprisoned for a murder he did not do, something that changed him and shows in his scenes, in order to protect Athena, whose upbeat personality is only preserved because she is so traumatized by the events and her complicated relationship with her mother and hearing she cannot acknowledge it consciously. These are compelling emotional beats, it makes for well-rounded characters, but what's the payoff? Why did they suffer this way? Because some hired goon with no name and no face had a job at GYAXA to execute. In a better game, you could use Phantom's emptiness as commentary about how often the things that ruin your life don't have good explanations, but I will not be lending credit to that notion for this game, because void man is the origin point for "The Dark Age of the Law," which now also happened because it did, and it was a shallow idea from the jump.

"The Dark Age of the Law" is an simplified cartoon explanation for distrust in the legal system. Instead of people being flawed whether through selfishness (MvK, Kristoph) or trauma (Miles, Justine) lending itself to corruption, exploitation and injustice in systems meant to protect, leading to a myriad of reasons the public would be skeptical that the law serves them, they just feel that way because one lawyer got disbarred for evidence forging and one prosecutor was convicted for murder. Spirit of Justice largely takes place in a made up country with a tyrannical government that kills defense attorneys for assuring fair trials for guilty clients! Why does this happen? Idk, because Ga'ran sucks, and she has ultimate power and creates all the laws. The root of all evil in Khura'in is one woman who is a factory set trope surrounded by generic citizens, diluted returning leads, and new characters who must be dragged down by the garbage that surrounds them in order to take part in it.

You brought up AI. Since you're anonymous, I'm guessing you're one of the countless people who takes issue with Nirvana Initiative on the grounds it's a bad followup to AITSF, to which I first have to ask.... Are you new to my blog? This is a AINI defender account lmao. I think it's better than AITSF, fight me. I'm writing a whole essay about it; I'll win. That said, I get the comparison because it's one I've made before, even if I don't quite stand by it anymore. I'm not going to explain my AINI opinions here, wait for the essay if you're curious, but I think I can get at that difference to me just by using Ace Attorney alone.

My favorite Ace Attorney game is Investigations 2, a sequel to a spin-off that has two of the writers for the mainline games I hate. It's a game about legacy and family. Whether they were admirable and just like Gregory Edgeworth, or duplicitous abusers like Blaise Debeste, the cast of this game wrestles with who they are, how their parent (or parental figure) shaped them, and who they should be in the face that now. Maybe they have to learn what that person is actually like and separate from them, or maybe they find a new family among their friends to fill that absence, or maybe they make peace with that loss and accepting who they are now is someone worth being. Maybe they deny that memory as their own or significant until the end to preserve what they want to believe. It's also a game about systemic failure, and all the things that have to be done to make the law an institute that actually protects people. Specific bad actors may be out of the picture now, but there is still more work to be done.

And the funny thing is? I2 does all of this without actually talking all that much about the rest of the series. Most of the characters are new, even to Investigations, and the ones that return don't bring up most of the shit that happened like a week ago. Miles references the events of Turnabout Goodbyes, and "That Man", and Gregory Edgeworth is a key figure in this game, to the point where you play as him, and yet all of that is only alluded just enough to understand the magnitude of his image and his loss. The heart of AA has always been in its characters, who are zany and fun, but they face real tragedy and real abuses, at the hands of one another which are then reflected in the world of law because the justice system is created and run by people; in I2 it beats so strongly.

Dual Destinies and Spirit of Justice may have the skin of Ace Attorney and the bones to prop them up, but underneath that familiar exterior, they're empty. They lack the the muscles and veins and blood to bring them to life, because the character writing and thematic conceits are shallow. The reason AA5 and 6 fail as followups is not because they don't engage with prior entries enough, but because they are poorly written on their own terms. They say nothing at all; they have removed their own heart.

[fruityastronaut]

i am going to talk about the way stakes are used in various ace attorney games because i've been doing a lot of thinking recently especially with how it correlates to who's writing it and how well they capture the franchise

ofc the elephant in the room here is farewell, my turnabout because what case in ace attorney has higher personal stakes than that besides mayyybee bridge to the turnabout, but either way the use of high personal stakes especially in the trilogy is so well done in a way that ends up so compelling which is also why i think a lot of aa5 and 6 fall flat for a lot of people. bc once you get to something like the courtroom blowing up or robots taking people hostage or international super spies you really don't have anywhere larger to go that still feels authentic to the series (not that those stakes were really authentic anyway). the sheer absurdity of a literal fucking firing squad being aimed at phoenix and apollo during the final case of soj is so intense and wild thst it just loops back around to meaning nothing because we know they won't actually kill their main guys like that. while we're on the subject of aa5 and 6 though i think it's interesting how although soj wants to drill into our heads that everyone onscreen is going to Die and be really really dead dual destinies doesn't seem to want us to think about what would happen to our defendants realistically outside of simon and athena. in both of them though the game never really lets you emotionally process the idea that someone's actually going to die like in the trilogy so even cases where characters we've cared about for many games (like maya and phoenix) don't feel real. the one exception to this is the magical turnabout (and that case still has a lot of Flaws) because it's certainly got better personal stakes and it handles the emotional response better than the rest of the game. that case is still. hmm interesting but in comparison it's closer to what the original trilogy and aj was getting at i think.

[thereaderpoint]

Motivational Speaker in India: Pramod Raghav

In today’s fast-paced world, many people struggle with challenges and obstacles in their personal and professional lives. This is where a motivational speaker can make a significant difference. One such inspiring figure in India is Pramod Raghav, who stands out not only as a motivational speaker but also as a dedicated social service worker and philanthropist in India.

The Role of a Motivational Speaker

A motivational speaker is someone who encourages and inspires others to overcome difficulties and reach their goals. They share personal stories, insights, and strategies that can help individuals lead better lives. Motivational speakers often address various topics, including self-improvement, leadership, success, and resilience.

In India, the demand for motivational speakers has increased as more people seek guidance and inspiration. The country is home to numerous talented individuals who specialize in this field, and Pramod Raghav is one of the most prominent among them.

Who is Pramod Raghav?

Pramod Raghav is a well-known motivational speaker in India. His journey began from humble beginnings, where he faced various challenges, just like many of us. However, he never let these obstacles deter him. Instead, he used them as stepping stones to build a successful life. Pramod’s ability to connect with his audience is one of his greatest strengths. His speeches resonate with people from all walks of life, making him a favorite among many.

Apart from being a motivational speaker, Pramod is also a passionate social service worker. He believes in giving back to society and has been actively involved in various charitable initiatives. His commitment to helping others reflects his understanding of the struggles people face daily. This dual role as a speaker and a social service worker allows him to make a real impact in the lives of many individuals.

Philanthropy: A Driving Force

As a philanthropist in India, Pramod Raghav supports numerous causes aimed at improving the quality of life for those in need. His philanthropic efforts include education, health care, and empowerment programs for underprivileged communities. He understands that motivation and encouragement are essential, but action is equally important.

Through his charitable work, Pramod Raghav helps to uplift communities and provides opportunities for individuals to succeed. Whether it’s organizing workshops, funding education for children, or providing resources for health care, he is dedicated to making a difference. His philosophy is simple: when you empower others, you create a ripple effect of positive change.

The Impact of Motivational Speaking

The impact of motivational speaking cannot be underestimated. Pramod Raghav’s speeches have touched countless lives across India. His ability to share personal stories of triumph over adversity inspires hope and encourages individuals to take charge of their destinies. He uses relatable examples and practical advice to engage his audience, making his messages accessible to everyone.

Many people who have attended his sessions report feeling motivated and energized. They leave with a renewed sense of purpose and the belief that they can overcome their challenges. Pramod’s engaging style and genuine passion for helping others set him apart from many other speakers in the field.

Learning from Pramod Raghav

For those looking to make a positive change in their lives, Pramod Raghav offers valuable insights. Here are a few key takeaways from his teachings:

Embrace Change: Change is a natural part of life. Embracing it rather than resisting can lead to growth and new opportunities.

Set Goals: Having clear, achievable goals gives direction to your efforts. Write them down and break them into smaller steps to make them manageable.

Stay Positive: A positive mindset can transform challenges into opportunities. Surround yourself with positive influences and practice gratitude.

Take Action: Motivation alone is not enough. It’s essential to take action towards your goals. Small, consistent steps can lead to significant progress over time.

Help Others: Engaging in social service and philanthropy not only benefits others but also brings fulfillment and joy to your life.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Pramod Raghav is an inspiring motivational speaker in India who has made a considerable impact as a social service worker and philanthropist in India. His dedication to uplifting others through motivational speaking and charitable initiatives demonstrates the power of kindness and the importance of giving back to society. Whether you’re facing personal challenges or seeking inspiration for your professional journey, Pramod Raghav’s teachings offer valuable lessons that can help you find your path to success and fulfillment.

So, the next time you feel lost or overwhelmed, remember that with the right motivation and support, you can achieve great things, just as Pramod Raghav has shown us.

[dyelwi]

6, 12, and 25 for the hater ask game!!!

6. Hmmmm. I don’t really get annoyed by fans of specific ships……. I suppose maybe some narumitsu shippers, the ones that get pissy if you even consider shipping either character with anyone else. But I haven’t seen that as much recently as I did a few years back so either they’re disappearing or I’m just better at avoiding them lol

12. This is also hard. I like a lot of underrated characters but not exactly unpopular ones, and idk if most people think there’s a difference there but I do. I suppose the best answer I can give is nahyuta. He isn’t a blorbo-level favorite but I do love him. As an older sibling constantly trying to protect the younger sibling from bad parenting I can relate and so I have a soft spot for him and rayfa too. I also think he’s funny and pretty and more interesting than a lot of people give him credit for. aa6 has its flaws and stuff but I don’t think nahyuta is as bad as people seem to think. Or even quite as mean tbh.

25. I am, at least to an extent, a dual destinies apologist. So complaints about that game get on my nerves sometimes. You can absolutely criticize it, and don’t get me wrong it isn’t amazing or anything, but I also think it’s better than people give it credit for. Mainly I think Athena is rather well-written (yes she could be better, if she had more screentime/her own game etc etc) and so is Simon. Also I think it’s weird that people complain so much about the game “undoing” aa4 when that’s what a lot of people wanted??? Like aa4 was super divisive when it released and aa5 has things that are clearly in response to what people didn’t like about aa4. And so like. I get annoyed at things like “aa5 focuses on Phoenix too much” bc while I agree it does, one criticism of aa4 at the time was people hating Phoenix’s new role and sometimes just hating Apollo. Like. You get what you wish for. I’m not saying aa5’s weird choices were good from a writing standpoint, but they were understandable from a company trying to please the fans and continue the franchise and I just wish people would keep this stuff in mind during their complaints instead of just being like “this game sucks the new characters suck” does that make sense???

[folkdances]

this is the narumitsu thesis. aa1 doesn't work because they literally hate each other for most of the game. in aa2 neither of them is in any way at a stage where they coud pursue a relationship with the other because phoenix is busy going you FAKED your DEATH and edgeworth is busy going holy shit i can have MORALS? and aa3 is boring like just admit you did this because you wanted them to get together but also i think towards the later end of aa3 is funny because i think that's when they enter the bad hookup stage which truly genuinely does not help their relationship at all and actually has the potential to make things much worse. people that write them getting together in aa4 fascinate me too like ok you think they got together when phoenix was busy being a single father and unemployed like ok whatever I GUESS. to me it only works out in some nebulous time period in the middle of dual destinies

i also think a qpr works better for them than an actual clearly defined relationship because i don't think what either of them is looking for is a relationship in the conventional sense they both have fulfilling lives outside of one and have never shown any interest in romance but also they are so crazy obsessed with each other so there definitely is something going on. i just think they're really great friends that have a daughter and kiss sometimes. anyway i don't think they would date or get married for emotional reasons but it's there because i don't want people to misunderstand what i am trying to say

[chidoroki]

Takt Op. Destiny EP12

aka: SPEECHLESS

Oh they're playing the OP right away so we can get no interruptions during the final fight.

Orpheus has dual harps that send out a horde of missiles.. and also have actual guns stashed away in them, how grand.

Destiny has proven to become quite proficient in 1v1 fights but Takt looks like he's seriously hurting and if he goes down then so does she, right?

Orpheus displaying some Ragyō energy.

These troublesome harps have chains too, great.

Oohh even Takt went in delivering a kick to the face!

It ended up distracting her from noticing Destiny coming up close to fire off that huge shot but I have feeling that didnt quite kill her..

Yeah Orpheus isn't done yet, but Destiny wants to take her on alone? Oh I'm worried.

You can show me flashbacks of Heaven and all you want but I won't forgive either of them for what they did to Lenny and Titan.

This is just me, but after TPN, being shown a slideshow of some "important" events during a final episode has me a little annoyed.

How the hell is Sagan alive? Dude you literally have crystals sticking out all over you and you still want to chat with Takt?

We got a sword fight between destiny and orpheus now hm?

"I am going to seal all of the D2s away here. in order to end all the sacrifices around the world, we just need to father them all in one spot." I mean, Sagan’s heart is in the right place, sorta? but his methods are insane.

Also, Takt's hair is turning white now? join the club with yuliy jirov and licht todoroki.

"Rooster's death was brilliant. as was Lenny's." You can go fuck off, sir.

Oh now the girls are switching to a fist fight!!

Bro Destiny landing some powerful hits! Let's go girl!!

Aahh Takt's baton disappeared! Hopefully that means Destiny just ran outta power and not like.. dead.

"God, would you shut up already?" Yea Takt you tell him! Sagan has been chatting nonstop, reminds me too much of Makishima.

Aaah Destiny walking right up next to our boy like that. Glad she's okay.

Well holy shit, Destiny just casually handing Takt her weapon so he could shove it right through Sagan for the kill.. okay y'all, chill!

Aww takt was humming the song he was writing!

"What do you even know about music?" "Well, I was literally born from music, so.." I love their bickering so much.

So the fight is over but is Takt gonna be okay? He still has that mark all over him and his hair is still partly white.

Oh, and his arm is still missing, duh, but reasonable since Destiny is still transformed.

Did.. Destiny always have that bit of red underneath the white hair? Or am I slow in noticing it? Probably the latter.

OH MY GOD!! Now she's kissing him too!! and that was a long one!

"Takt.. I.. love you." GOOD LORD she spoke the words!!!

Y'all my heart doesnt know what to do?? K was totally on board with Anna's kiss last week but now they throw me this?? I understand if Destiny is finally realizing the feelings Cosette once had but DAMN!

Wait a fucking minute! She just disappeared??

OH NOOO!!! Is she dead?? Oh shit oh fuck! Anna is gonna be heartbroken! and Lotte! and everyone basically!

Aw she left Takt a little memento though, kinda looks like her weapon.

YO HOLD UP! Anna became a conductor?? or just joined the Symphonica? I need answers!

OH! She also cut her hair super short!!! K dunno how well I like that honestly, but she has the gift Destiny left for Takt as a necklace now!

Takt is still unconscious huh? but I assume Lotte is giving him treatment.

Wait it just ends there??? No way!

I was gonna say, there had to be a post credit scene.

Not that it.. showed us anything remarkable..? at least I don't think so? HHHMM, I'm conflicted.

Okay so, reading other stuff after the episode now and I feel a little better about it.

For one thing, Destiny didn't die due to the fight but actually sacrificed herself to save Takt's, which I can accept more than the former, but she is still dead, which sucks. She was such a powerhouse during this episode and I loved it.

Another thing, apparently Anna isn't a conductor but a musicart?? So that's far more surprising considering her appearance looks fairly normal compared to others, but supposedly she transforms into one like Destiny did with assistance of the necklace she left behind? which explains the post-credit scene a bit more with showing the transition between Anna and Destiny. SO I can only assume she's gonna be Takt's new musicart, and if so, then I want another season, like, now. I wanna see them work together SO BADLY!

Although upon further reading, this was like a prequel to the actual game? So Anna takes on the "Destiny" identity completely, hence why the hairstyle reflects the game in ep12 a little bit. No wonder I thought the game-Destiny always looked a bit different and more mature than the anime one.. game one is actually fucking Anna. I'm speechless. Also noticed that Kaede Hondo voices Anna in anime and Destiny in the game.. now I'm floored. Anna is literally best girl.

[dmsden]

A History Lesson - Looking back at D&D’s history

Hullo, Gentle Readers. Well, this is the 5th Monday in March, and that means I get to write about anything I want! It’s also my birth month, which means it’s my anniversary of getting into D&D (42 years!), and that has me feeling nostalgic. Coupled with a discussion I had recently with some friends, I thought it would be fun to look back at the various editions of D&D and give you all a bit of history. I’m not going to get into Gygax vs Arneson or any of that. I’m only talking about the published game itself, not its creators or its storied origins.

The original D&D (or OD&D as it’s sometimes called) came in a small box. It had three booklets inside - Men & Magic, Monsters & Treasure, and The Underworld & Wilderness Adventures - along with reference sheets and dice. Each was softcover and roughly the same dimensions as a DVD/BluRay case. The game was pretty rudimentary - for one thing, it assumed you already had a copy of Chainmail, D&D’s direct wargame predecessor. It also recommended you have a game called Outdoor Survival for purposes of traveling through the wilderness. It had only three classes - fighting man, magic-user, and cleric - and nothing about playing other races. It did have the insane charts that 1st edition would ultimately known for, and it was possible to play a pretty fun game of D&D with it, as its popularity would come to show.

The game expanded through similar chapbooks - Greyhawk, Blackmoor, Eldritch Wizardry, Gods Demigods & Heroes, Swords & Spells. With the exception of the last one, each brought new facets to the game - new classes like Thief and Monk, new spells, new threats. It was clear the game was going to need an overhaul, and it got one.

I consider this overhaul to yield the real “1st Edition”, as so much of the game didn’t exist in those original games. The game split into a “Basic” game, just called Dungeons & Dragons and Advanced Dungeons & Dragons.

The basic game was a boxed set that included a rulebook, a full adventure module, and dice...or, well, it was supposed to contain dice. The game was so popular and new in those days that demand for dice outstripped production. My copy of D&D came with a coupon for dice when they became available and a sheet of “chits” - laminated numbers meant to be put into cups (we used Dixie Cups with the name of the die written on it), shaken, and a random number pulled out without looking. It was meant to introduce new players to the game, so it was a trimmed down version. Races were human, elf, dwarf, and halfling, and classes were fighter, cleric, magic-user, and thief. The box only included rules for going up to 3rd level, with the intention that players would then graduate into AD&D. This is where I joined, with the old blue cover box set and In Search of the Unknown, before Keep on the Borderlands even existed.

AD&D was the game in its full glory. Along with the races I mention above, we got half-elves, half-orcs, and gnomes. The four basic classes also had sub-classes, like paladin and ranger for the fighter, druid for the cleric, illusionist for the wizard, and assassin for the thief. There were rules for multi-classing, as well as “Dual-classing”, a sort of multi-class variation for humans only, which, when done in the correct combination, could yield the infamous bard...which didn’t actually yield any bard abilities until around level 13 or so.

This edition had 5 different saving throws for things like “Death Magic”, “Petrification & Polymorph”, “Spells”, and so on. It had the infamous Armor Class system that started at 10 and went down, so that having a -3 AC was very good!  It also had specific attack matricies for each class; you would literally look on a table to determine the number you needed to roll on a D20 based on your class, your level, and your opponent’s armor class. It was fun, but it was very complicated.

It also had some, frankly, shitty rules. There was gender disparity in terms of attributes, which my group totally ignored. Because the game designers wanted humans to be a competitive the game, and because non-humans had so many abilities and could multiclass, non-humans were severely limited in the levels they could achieve in most classes. In fact, some classes, such as monk and paladin, were restricted only to humans.

As the years went on, things got a bit muddled. It probably didn’t help that the rules in Basic D&D and AD&D didn’t perfectly line up. In D&D, the worst armor class was a 9. In AD&D, the worst armor class was a 10. All of this led to an overhaul, but not one considered a separate edition. AD&D mostly got new covers and new books, like the Wilderness Survival Guide and Dungeon Survival Guide, Monster Manual 2, and the Manual of the Planes. It got a number of new settings, too. In addition to the default Greyhawk setting, we got the Forgotten Realms setting for the first time, details of which had been appearing in Dragon Magazine for years, thanks to the prolific Ed Greenwood. We also, eventually, got the whole Dragonlance saga, which yielded the setting of Krynn.

In this new version, Basic D&D broke off into its own game system to some degree. Elf, Dwarf, and Halfling started being treated like classes rather than races, with specific abilities at different levels. Higher level characters could be created using progressive boxes - Expert, Companion, Master, and Immortal, each with its own boxed set and supported by Mystara, a completely different setting that got its own updates over the years. It was odd, because D&D essentially was competing for players with AD&D, and I remember arguments with friends over which version was better (I was firmly in the AD&D camp.)

In 1989, when I was in college, they finally brought forth 2nd edition D&D. This streamlined things a little. Armor Class still went down, but now attack rolls boiled into a single number called To Hit Armor Class 0, or THAC0. It made the whole process of figuring out what you needed to roll a bit less cumbersome, but it was still a bit awkward. The classes got a lot of overhaul, including making Bard its own core class. But what I remember best about 2nd edition was the boom in settings. This was the age of settings, and many beloved ones got started, including Dark Sun, Planescape, Ravenloft, and Spelljammer.

It was also the age of the “Complete Handbooks”. They brought out splatbooks about every class and race in the game, as well as books expanding several concepts for the DM, such as the Arms & Equipment Guide, the Castle Guide, and the Complete Book of Villains. There were also splatbooks about running D&D in historic periods, such as Ancient Rome, among the ancient Celts, or during the time of the Musketeers. The game got new covers for the rule books again, and a bunch of books about options started coming out. It was a boom time for books, but many people complained there was too much.

Without going too deep, TSR ended up in severe financial troubles. They declared bankruptcy, and there was real fear of the game going away. And then Wizards of the Coast (WotC) stepped in. They helped TSR get back onto its feet, and they helped produce some modules specifically engineered to help DM’s bring an end to their campaign...possibly even their whole campaign world...because something big was coming.

That something big was, of course, 3rd edition D&D. The game got majorly streamlined, and many sacred cows ended up as hamburger. AC finally started going up instead of down. Everything was refined to the “D20″ system we’ve been playing ever since. Races could be any class. There were no level or stat limits for anyone. After years of the game being forced into tight little boxes, it really felt like we could breathe. I had stopped playing D&D, but 3rd edition brought me back into the fold. I often say that 3E was made for the players who’d felt constricted and wanted more flexibility.

The trouble with 3E, and its successor 3.5, is that it was still a dense and difficult game for newcomers to get into. It’s been acknowledged that D&D essentially created many of the systems we see and know in other games - experience points, leveling up, hit points, etc. But trying to break into the experience for the first time was difficult. The look of 3E was gorgeous, but I understood that it must seem awfully daunting to someone who’d never played.

4E and its follow-up, Essentials, was an attempt to course correct that. They tried to make this edition incredibly friendly to new DMs, and, frankly, they succeeded. By creating player classes and monsters and magic-items that were all very plug and play, they did a great job of creating a game that someone who had never DMed before could dive into with no experience or mentor and start a game pretty easily. Encounter design was given a lot of ease, and there were promises of a robust online tool system that would help out with many of the more tedious aspects of playing.

There was also a lot of shake up in terms of choices. Suddenly, new classes and races were proliferating like crazy. We got the dragonborn, the tiefling, and the eladrin right in the core book, but we said good-bye to the gnome and half-orc at first. Suddenly the warlock was the new class everyone wanted to try. We got paragon paths and epic destinies that would really shape a character as time went on. The game went very tactical, as well, which some of us loved. The concept of rituals came into the game. Later books like the Player’s Handbook 2 and 3 gave us back gnomes and half-orcs, and also gave us minotaurs, wilden, shardminds, and githzerai. We got new psionic classes, brand new class concepts like the Runeknight and the Seeker...

But there was a tremendous backlash. People felt that, in making the game so very plug and play, they’d taken a ton of choice away from the players. Without the tools (which were never that robust, frankly), it was almost impossible to navigate the massive panoply of options. And, worse, it was harder and harder to develop encounters without those tools. People complained that the game had gone more tactical in order to sell miniatures and battlemats. Given that I have never played the game without miniatures and battlemats (since I started in the days when D&D was still half-wargame), I found this odd, but I also understand my style of play isn’t everyone’s.

The one argument I will never understand is that it didn’t “feel” like D&D, or it was somehow ONLY a tactical game and not a role-playing game any more. Again, given that the original game didn’t even call itself a role-playing game, this felt odd. Personally, I roleplay no matter what game I’m playing. If I’m playing Monopoly, I’m roleplaying, doing voices, and pretending to be something I’m not. I honestly enjoyed 4E, and I know a lot of folks who did, too. A lot of it may simply come down to style of play. But I also enjoyed all the games that came before, including Pathfinder. To paraphrase the YouTube content creator The Dungeon Bastard, “Does your game have dungeons? Does it have dragons? Great. I wanna play.”

As a sidenote, in the months leading up to 4E’s release, a lot of internet videos were released by WotC emphasizing the nature of change and talking about differences in the rules. They also released some preview books showing the direction they were heading. WotC must have anticipated that people were going to find this edition very different indeed. They also cleverly brought in some very funny folks - Scott Kurtz from PVPOnline and Jerry Holkins & Mike Krahulik from Penny Arcade - and got them to play D&D for podcasting purposes. Looking back, this must’ve brought in a lot of listeners who might never have played D&D and given them a reason to try it out.

After its release, WotC clearly noted that missteps had been made, as this edition of the game was losing them players. They began work on what they referred to as D&D Next, and, this time, they did massive amounts of playtesting, some of which I participated in.

I don’t feel like I have to describe 5E to any of you, Dear Readers, as you could go to virtually any store and pick it up. I am a big fan of 5E’s simplicity and elegance, and I suspect this is the edition of D&D we’re going to have for some time to come, especially given its popularity. Given the effect of podcasts like Critical Role (and I might save an article on Critical Role’s importance to D&D until my next Freestyle article), D&D is likely more popular now than it’s ever been, with a much wider and more diverse audience than ever before.

I know I’m painting with broad strokes here, but I hope this was, at least, entertaining, and maybe you learned something, Gentle Readers. Until we next meet, may all your 20s be natural.

[frost-felon]

Uendo would be fine if he wasn't stuck in such a frustrating case and treated as a case of Dissociative Identity Disorder (a real mentally disorder that impacts people's lives) when he's actually got Multiple Personality Disorder (a fictional disorder that, if treated appropriately, harms no one). Having Athena be the one to say he has DID is especially bad, because she's presented as someone who should be knowledgeable on the subject (her whole thing is 'analytical psychology in the courtroom'). I played this case at an especially bad time for me, since I'd realized that part of my father's abusive behavior may have been untreated DID. DID is a lot more complicated than what the game portrays. I really wish the game hadn't presented the off-the-cuff diagnosis as fact.

But yeah, other than that, Uendo (plus the other three) would normally be fine--the main problem is that this case had no right to be the penultimate case, so frustration towards the case as a whole makes it much harder to enjoy Uendo. I think if not for that and the Yikes Mental Illness/Disorders Representation, Uendo would be rather enjoyable elsewhere.

As for Nahyuta...I can tell you that it doesn't get much better, sadly. Given what happens in 6-5 (which I will not detail here), this was also just a terrible waste of him, too.

Blackquill...he's got issues in Dual Destinies, but it's damn-near like they were writing a different character in 6-4. He also just shouldn't have been involved.

Overall, if none of the cases were to be changed greatly, this and 6-2 definitely should have been swapped.

Playing Ace Attorney: Spirit of Justice for the first time (note: like Dual Destinies, this is labeled as a "Phoenix Wright" game). I didn't like Dual Destinies, but outside of a few issues, Spirit of Justice was shaping up to be a better game than DD. That wasn't a hard bar to pass, but then I get to case 4 (henceforth referred to as "6-4").

Sweet GOD, this case sucks ass! As an Apollo fan (who knows some of the spoilers for the late game¹), I have anger, but I can't imagine the pain Athena fans likely felt, holy SHIT.

The way that this is written to be Athena's first big case on her own, where she proves that she doesn't need to be rescued or babied (as Phoenix was her 'savior' when she had a panic attack in DD). So what happens? Simon Blackquill, a twenty-nine-year-old man, has to rescue her during the trial. Not because she has a panic attack, but because she's CLEARLY too stupid to not need assistance, Your Honor.

This is after Blackquill had been pestering her into trying to get any sort of assistance from her (male, much older) boss, Phoenix, and her (male, older) co-worker, Apollo. She notes that neither could help her even if she wanted to acquiesce to Blackquill's concerns, as Phoenix is in a different country, and Apollo is on a theater stage as the boss' daughter's assistant.

Blackquill FREQUENTLY nags Athena about how he doesn't want to "nursemaid" (babysit) her during the trial, and often insults her intelligence/competency, insisting that she needs the help to successfully defend the accused.

The accused, whom Blackquill benefits from proving the innocence of.

Prosecutor Shithead also frequently insults Athena's intelligence and competence, and mocks her for her inexperience and age. She's 19...Shithead is only 25, the same age as her co-worker (and as we found out in 6-3, his adoptive brother).

Athena literally gets manhandled by Blackquill at one point, when he's frustrated that she's floundering. This is a unique animation using the 3D models, from Athena's perspective. This is a grown-ass man assaulting another member of the court, when he was the one to force himself into the Defense Bench.

The Defendant, who shows up drunk to the trial (and is only sober when he is found Not Guilty), mistakes Athena to be Simon's lover, due to a misunderstanding that Simon caused. Defendant: "Is she, like, yer fellow apprentice or sumfin'...?" Simon: "...Heh, something like that. I've known her longer than I've known you. You could say we're bound to one another." Defendant: "Ohhhh, m'kay... Well den. Guessh I better call 'er MIZ chickadee, den." Simon never corrects this during the case. (Not sure if he ever does afterward.)

In general, I feel like this case was meant to be the developers saying, "Hey, we didn't forget about Athena, guys!" (She was Apollo's assistant for Case 2.) And...seemingly to push Blackquill/Athena. I don't mind the fans of that ship, but that's a pairing I definitely don't want to see become canon. Especially if it's going to be like this.

Things that don't have to do with Blackquill below:

Prosecutor Shithead is particularly unbearable in this case. I believe that in general, he has some of the worst arguments of any prosecutors in the series, save maybe the Paynes and DeBeste. I'm not even sure if he's got better arguments than them, honestly.

Athena went into Law School abroad, but specializes in analytical psychology (particularly as to be used in court cases). One of the witnesses is revealed to have a certain psychological condition. Anybody wanna guess?! ...Yeah, it's a popculture favorite: Multiple Personality Disorder. The correct choice to reveal this is, "[The witness] has multiple personalities." Athena then correctly identifies the real phenomenon of Dissociative Identity Disorder...before using both that and MPD interchangeably. I actually don't think it's ever referred to as DID again, after that. The secret witness (the fourth personality of this witness) is revealed when the other three become unconscious, due to being alcoholic lightweights. This fourth personality, who is portrayed as a child, is not affected by the alcohol (at least insofar as how the case portrays drunk characters, including the other three personalities).

The other witness (besides Blackquill, who is actually a witness as well) is used for boob jokes (if you've seen the clussy memes with the balloon lady, that's her). She's also the killer.

The case is pretty easy...save for one or two issues. My primary one is with the murder weapon. The autopsy report notes that the victim suffocated, but "Nothing was found in his lungs." He is killed by...being smothered to death with uncooked dough. Even beyond what a pain it is to realize what you're actually supposed to point out, this...this is a painful revelation for the case. And by that, I mean it goes against almost everything that was established before, and is suspect, logically. My only defense for this would be that maybe he didn't inhale any of the dough, but ingested some, and the coroner just didn't check. In typical Ace Attorney fashion, the defendant is tried for this murder the day after the body is found...but still. Very frustrating.

But what's HELLA FRUSTRATING is that this is the penultimate case. And it might as well be a Case 2 in terms of structure and difficulty, as well as overall plot importance. 'Cause this has NOTHING to do with the overarching plot, as far as I can tell. Case 3 literally left off with the plot ramping up. Apollo's got a ton of connections to the overarching plot. Athena has...a filler case that puts the brake on any forward momentum in the plot. I already thought that Dual Destinies either should have been an Apollo Justice game² or more appropriately, an Athena Cykes game. She didn't do anything to get shafted like this, good Lord. And it's not like this messy handling would appease the majority of players, either...right? Athena fans, you deserve better--as an Apollo Justice fan (of the game and the character), Godspeed.

I like literally none of the characters in this case, ugh. Connected to the last point, my feelings would probably be different if this was actually Case 2. But the Case that is Case 2...as much as I have mixed feelings on it, there is a lot more to enjoy there. AND IT'S PLOT-RELEVANT. Is...is 6-4 even thematically relevant??? It sure doesn't feel like it.

Alright, so last thing. The only justification this case has for being as late as it is--that would be Prosecutor Shithead's acknowledgement of Athena as a worthy adversary. With some tweaks, that could have happened at the end of 6-2 (if these cases were swapped). It would also have been way more interesting to actually utilize the information of Apollo and Shithead being adoptive brothers, instead of 6-2 having a hook at the end for that reveal in 6-3. In general...6-2 should have been 6-4, given what I understand to be going on with 6-5 (and even what I don't, as there are plenty of things I successfully avoided knowing due to my hiatus).

I'm very peeves about this case. It's a massive low point for Spirit of Justice, and I was already trying to be charitable. Thank you to anyone who read this far--hope you enjoyed my seething. 'Cause my God, the lead up to playing more of this game (watching playthroughs of Apollo Justice and Dual Destinies) and actually playing it have caused me to stew so, so hard.

¹That's got a whole backstory to it, so I won't be talking about it in this initial post. Feel free to ask in reblogs, replies, or my ask box, though. It's why I left the Ace Attorney fandom since around the time the game came out (2016).

²I have many feelings about Dual Destinies, and many of them are negative. Athena deserved better than debuting there, but similar to the above, I won't go into any of it here.

[jawsofbalmung]

my final (detailed) thoughts on the two most controversial games in the aa series, now that im done with them (contains spoilers):

dual destinies

overview: dd is one of those games that is decently fun, but not really that good. you can definitely see the difference in the writing style, and while i think all ace attorney games are good, and i did enjoy playing it, this one is by far the worst one in the whole series. i love simon though, prosecutors are always perfect.

my biases: i had to play dd on a very slow emulator which ran at 30-50% speed the ENTIRE game (slower on trials) so this game, especially monstrous turnabout, took me absolute AGES to finish. also i was... a little spoiled about fulbright, but not that much, honestly.

turnabout countdown: as far as first cases go, this one is fairly alright, but overall just kinda eh. its a bad mix of both predictable and confusing, but it's actually kinda funny in spots and not too egregiously horrible. 3.5/10

monstrous turnabout: i have a personal vendetta against this case. it took me two whole weeks to finish, when a case usually takes me two to five days on average with my pace. the actual content of the case was negligable, i liked the tenma family as characters, but the end result was very predictable (the fact that we were shown the killer in the beginning animation is inexcusable in my opinion). i could blame the length of the case on just the shitty emulator, but the fact is monstrous turnabout took me way longer than any of the other cases in this same game on the same emulator, and i can only blame its penchant for endlessly dragging out every single point, and throwing in many compounding twists when they're really unneeded and the case would be a lot better if it was simpler. they tried to make up for you knowing the killer right away by making it impossible to predict anything else, but it ended up just making the whole case frustrating and obnoxiously long. 2/10

turnabout academy: this is probably one of my favorite cases in the two games. its twists are a lot more satisfying and understandable than monstrous turnabout, and the character value of this case is very high. i love hugh robin and juniper, and i like how their friendship ties so deeply and intrinsically into the mystery of the case. a little cheesy, and as is expected with dd, not the best writing ive seen in ace attorney, but overall a pretty good case, and has probably the funniest killer breakdown. also klavier cameo is very much appreciated. 6.5/10

cosmic turnabout: i feel like there's not really much to this case, since it mostly serves as a bridge into turnabout for tomorrow, so they didn't put a lot of love into writing the episode itself, but honestly i think that's okay, cosmic turnabout does its job well, and i like how it takes the time to introduce important characters and concepts without stuffing too much into turnabout for tomorrow. as for the case itself, its honestly so hard to separate it out, and i feel like it was pretty short compared to the other episodes. 5/10

spirit of justice

turnabout for tomorrow: probably the most controversial case out of the two games in terms of fan opinions, but i frankly love this case. it's engaging, it's high stakes, it's got all the punch and intrigue that a final case should have, and on its own it's definitely one of the best. unfortunately, i wish the fulbright reveal was foreshadowed even a little bit. a mutual of mine said that since they were spoiled about fulbright being evil, they enjoyed turnabout for tomorrow a lot, but someone who went into it blind would probably find it confusing and out of left field, and i have to agree with that. it's definitely a case you want to spoil yourself just a little bit for it to be satisfying as you figure out the rest, because dual destinies seems to be allergic to Actual foreshadowing, and seems to be made up along the way. im also probably pretty biased in a weird way because ive seen a lot of fan content and meta about turnabout for tomorrow that makes it Better and Cooler and Make More Sense in a way that it certainly is not in canon, so that makes me both love it more for what fans have extrapolated out of it, and simultaneously resent that it didn't live up to its full potential. 8/10

turnabout reclaimed: this case sure was.... dual destinies. turnabout reclaimed is one of those cases that gets a lot of publicity in the fandom just for being absurd, but is actually not one of the good ones if im being honest. the twists fall flat, it drags on a bit too long, and it's honestly pretty forgettable. it wasn't awful to play, i certainly had some fun with it in spots, and it was nice to go back and play it after i finished spirit of justice mostly just to see simon again, but overall it's a very mid case, and im not too stoked about how they represented marlon rimes either tbh. 3/10

overall (averaged) score for dual destinies: 4.5/10

overview: everyone seems to hate spirit of justice and i don't know why. honestly, soj is way up there in my list of favorite ace attorney games ever. it feels more based in the feeling of the original trilogy, i love the way all the existing characters are written, and love the introductions of the new ones. nothing wrong with soj in my book, especially once i figured out that the portrayal of khura'in isnt nearly as racist as initially expected. the divination seances are a very fun mechanic that had a lot of potential beyond how they used them, and i would have liked to be able to do them every case if you ask me.

my biases: i am in love with nahyuta to a worrying degree, and dhurke is one of my favorite characters as well. the character value, which is what i automatically focus on the most, is very high in this game, so while im trying to rank these cases by how well-written they are, i can't help but adore spirit of justice for its character work. i also had a few spoilers, but nothing too strongly story-based.

foreign turnabout: once again, a first case is a first case, and foreign turnabout does its job in that respect. it establishes khura'in well, and helps lead into the complex opinion of it that you're eventually supposed to form throughout the game, but i do have to say it starts in a pretty deceptively xenophobic place in this case. kind of an underwhelming case, but ahlbi is adorable and it's certainly a fun start to throw phoenix into a new place out of the blue, and again it does its job as a first case satisfactorily. 4/10

magical turnabout: this case was fun! i like how the second case, while not connected to the overarching plotline, still had the spirit of the rest of the game imbued in it, and while i do think ace attorney shouldn't rely on the Twin Twist as much as they already do, they seem to handle it pretty well and it often makes sense when they slip it in. many funny moments, high stakes, good twists, fits in well with the game, and i love that we get to see trucy as a defendant, because it felt like a long time coming on that. 6.5/10

rite of turnabout: this case is more emotionally hard hitting than the final case of this game, if you ask me. it's juicy, it's strongly tied to the plot of the game, all the twists make so much sense and everything ties together so well, and it comes to a supremely satisfying end, which keeps hopes high for the last two cases. intrigue and immersion are high in this case, i love love love the introduction of rayfa as a weird little girl investigative assistant, and the revisualization sequence in this case is one of the only ones out of the two games where it exists that actually surprised me, and felt both satisfying and exciting at the same time. i haven't gotten a lot of those yelling "OH!!!!" as the pieces suddenly slide together moments since the original trilogy, so this case has to go down as one of the best ones in my book. 8.5/10

turnabout storyteller: y'all, i know this is a filler case, but god damn is it good!! it's enjoyable as hell, the perfect amount of challenging for me, a nice bitesize length that a filler case should be, not too predictable or too random (though i will admit i was spoiled about geiru because of the iconic tumblr posts about her whoops), and i got to see simon again, so i'm very happy with it! plus, the only realistic and respectable portrayal of DID i have ever seen, especially in murder mystery media! i could say so much about this case, and i already have on this blog before, but i do adore it. it's one of my faves tbh, especially for a very non-plot relevant case. 9/10

turnabout revolution (the name of this case still makes me laugh): learning that this was the longest case in the whole series, tied at 12 hours with rise from the ashes, came as no surprise. this is an absolute GIANT of a case. i think it's fun and fresh to split it up between two related trials in two different places the way they did, but i have to say i had a lot of expectations that went unfulfilled. the civil case and its investigation were very fun to do, especially how it seemed to bleed into more of a story-based visual novel format for a while, but i feel like they missed the opportunity to show us everything from phoenix's point of view as well. i adore dhurke, i love how he interacts with apollo and nahyuta, i love slowly parceling out the reveal of his death in a way i haven't really seen in aa yet, i think this case is very carefully and lovingly written and takes its time to stop fucking around and deliver the real meat of this game. unfortunately, i think the very end seemed kind of rushed and flat, and the characterizations of ga'ran and amara needed more work and at times were confusing or annoying. whereas dual destinies was a kinda underwhelming game with a fantastic ending (had it been foreshadowed more), spirit of justice was a fantastic game with a kinda underwhelming ending (that was properly foreshadowed, just not well excuted). but i don't think all of turnabout revolution suffers because of the very end of it, i think its a phenomenal case that brings the spirit of the old games along with the new ideas of the modern ones, and for the most part caps off the game in a way that makes sense with all the other information in all the other cases and closes it out as a very good game. 7.5/10

turnabout time traveler: compared to the other dlc case, this case is a lot more fun and engaging, though it doesn't have the gimmick that everyone talks about like turnabout reclaimed does. the killer is a little predictable right away from the first investigation, but i think the path to get there is fun anyway, and it's a pretty solid aa case with good characters and interesting twists, miles is there, and pierce nichody is hot as fuck, so i'd say it was a pretty good case! 6/10

overall (averaged) score for spirit of justice: 7/10

conclusion: i see a lot of hate and a lot of love for both these games, and while i definitely don't hate either of them, because i do love all aa games, i see where the animosity for dual destinies comes from and can somewhat agree. i think both have their merits, spirit of justice moreso than dual destinies, and their shortcomings. i love all the new characters though and always will, i adore how the waa is expanding and how phoenix interacts with new characters and old, and i think these two games do have a proper home in the aa series and in my heart <3

[rivalsforlife]

Klapollo? 👀

ooh klapollo. Admittedly this was the ship that got me into ace attorney? I saw someone reblog fanart of them (this one) and thought “oh this seems nice. I want to procrastinate AP exam studying. what’s the worst that can happen”... and then was hit by the truck that is narumitsu.

I do think they’re neat and it’s my preferred ship for both of them, but I haven’t written any klapollo content yet, though I’ve tried! I really have! For some reason Klavier’s difficult for me to write. And I enjoy klapollo when I read it, but it’s rare for me to seek it out unless it’s from authors whose works I enjoy. Their dynamic has a lot of potential, with Apollo “pulling the darkness out of him” in Turnabout Succession, and they respect and trust each other and share similar goals when it comes to pursuing the truth. It’d just... be really nice if their relationship was expanded on, in future games? Instead of Klavier ending up like he did in Dual Destinies. AA4 set up a lot for both of them for their possible relationship arc, but then Klavier’s been. well. DD Klavier. And then SOJ Apollo referring to him as “some guy who branded me Herr Forehead” is really kind of a slap in the face haha. It feels like there’s a lot of potential in there and a lot set up but then it’s never followed through on in the games, so there’s less to work with than there could have been.

I also feel like I don’t have much to say about them that hasn’t been said better by someone else, like, unlike lots of other things where I like the ship and think “oh I could talk a lot about this aspect”, I don’t have much to say about klapollo for some reason. It’s nothing against the ship since I do enjoy it, but for some reason they haven’t stuck in my brain as much as I thought they would when I looked into the series because of that fanart haha. 

[thereaderpoint]

Motivational Speaker in India: Pramod Raghav

In today’s fast-paced world, many people struggle with challenges and obstacles in their personal and professional lives. This is where a motivational speaker can make a significant difference. One such inspiring figure in India is Pramod Raghav, who stands out not only as a motivational speaker but also as a dedicated social service worker and philanthropist in India.

The Role of a Motivational Speaker

A motivational speaker is someone who encourages and inspires others to overcome difficulties and reach their goals. They share personal stories, insights, and strategies that can help individuals lead better lives. Motivational speakers often address various topics, including self-improvement, leadership, success, and resilience.

In India, the demand for motivational speakers has increased as more people seek guidance and inspiration. The country is home to numerous talented individuals who specialize in this field, and Pramod Raghav is one of the most prominent among them.

Who is Pramod Raghav?

Pramod Raghav is a well-known motivational speaker in India. His journey began from humble beginnings, where he faced various challenges, just like many of us. However, he never let these obstacles deter him. Instead, he used them as stepping stones to build a successful life. Pramod’s ability to connect with his audience is one of his greatest strengths. His speeches resonate with people from all walks of life, making him a favorite among many.

Apart from being a motivational speaker, Pramod is also a passionate social service worker. He believes in giving back to society and has been actively involved in various charitable initiatives. His commitment to helping others reflects his understanding of the struggles people face daily. This dual role as a speaker and a social service worker allows him to make a real impact in the lives of many individuals.

Philanthropy: A Driving Force

As a philanthropist in India, Pramod Raghav supports numerous causes aimed at improving the quality of life for those in need. His philanthropic efforts include education, health care, and empowerment programs for underprivileged communities. He understands that motivation and encouragement are essential, but action is equally important.

Through his charitable work, Pramod Raghav helps to uplift communities and provides opportunities for individuals to succeed. Whether it’s organizing workshops, funding education for children, or providing resources for health care, he is dedicated to making a difference. His philosophy is simple: when you empower others, you create a ripple effect of positive change.

The Impact of Motivational Speaking

The impact of motivational speaking cannot be underestimated. Pramod Raghav’s speeches have touched countless lives across India. His ability to share personal stories of triumph over adversity inspires hope and encourages individuals to take charge of their destinies. He uses relatable examples and practical advice to engage his audience, making his messages accessible to everyone.

Many people who have attended his sessions report feeling motivated and energized. They leave with a renewed sense of purpose and the belief that they can overcome their challenges. Pramod’s engaging style and genuine passion for helping others set him apart from many other speakers in the field.

Learning from Pramod Raghav

For those looking to make a positive change in their lives, Pramod Raghav offers valuable insights. Here are a few key takeaways from his teachings:

Embrace Change: Change is a natural part of life. Embracing it rather than resisting can lead to growth and new opportunities.

Set Goals: Having clear, achievable goals gives direction to your efforts. Write them down and break them into smaller steps to make them manageable.

Stay Positive: A positive mindset can transform challenges into opportunities. Surround yourself with positive influences and practice gratitude.

Take Action: Motivation alone is not enough. It’s essential to take action towards your goals. Small, consistent steps can lead to significant progress over time.

Help Others: Engaging in social service and philanthropy not only benefits others but also brings fulfillment and joy to your life.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Pramod Raghav is an inspiring motivational speaker in India who has made a considerable impact as a social service worker and philanthropist in India. His dedication to uplifting others through motivational speaking and charitable initiatives demonstrates the power of kindness and the importance of giving back to society. Whether you’re facing personal challenges or seeking inspiration for your professional journey, Pramod Raghav’s teachings offer valuable lessons that can help you find your path to success and fulfillment.

So, the next time you feel lost or overwhelmed, remember that with the right motivation and support, you can achieve great things, just as Pramod Raghav has shown us.

[morelikesin]

Morning

A small drabble on an emotional morning with Phoenix and Miles 💕 This takes place any time after Dual Destinies. I'm writing it where they're already married. This is just a quick bit I wanted to write when I had the idea :') I also drew a quick something at the end. The fic is under the cut!

Phoenix really wished he had more days off - everytime he was, there was always a great smell in the house from Miles' cooking. Being off work more often meant more of that, even if a little less bank coming in. It would definitely be worth it.

Lifting himself up from the cushioned mattress and tossing aside the velvety soft blankets atop of him, he stretches his limbs with a low groan - reaching his arms back before pulling them into his lap as he relaxed. Taking in a deep breath, he pulls his legs over the side of the bed and hoists himself over so he could see what was on the menu this morning.

Closing the lid of the cooking pot to steam the rice, Mr. Edgeworth hummed quietly to himself a peaceful little tune; one of which he'd seem to be making up as he went along. Turning his attention elsewhere as the grains cooked, he lowered the heat for another burner to medium, where he was cooking miso soup. Adding in a good few tablespoons of yellow miso paste, he whisked the substance into the already simmered broth before adding some previously cut up blocks of tofu. Raising the spoon to catch a quick taste, he found it was light, slightly sweet, and smooth in a way he quite enjoyed. Something was missing though, of course - turning towards the fridge to grab a few stalks of watercress to chop and throw in.

Stepping out from their bedroom and making his way downstairs into their kitchen, Phoenix paused a moment to simply watch his love candid from the steps. Miles, dressed in his soft, white robe like every morning accompanied by his perfect-as-always hair. Phoenix could nay say the same, given his own styling takes ten minutes on a good day.

Watching the way he so gracefully moved even without knowing eyes were on him was incredibly cute - though Miles would never let him say that, with how against that description he was when it was of himself. For now, Phoenix knew Miles was cute. Handsome, of course. Sexy, of course. Cute, of course.

Phoenix made his presence known by making a soft yawn as he walked down the last few steps, walking into the main kitchen and making sure to gently hold his hand against the small of Miles' back as he stood next to him. The latter shook his head slightly whilst quickly chopping up the watercress aforementioned - swiftly picking them up between his hand and the knife and tossing it into the soup.

"Good morning, Wright. How did you sleep?"

Phoenix made a darling little laugh that Miles loved so much - the type with a sort of deepness to it; a sort of breathlessness. "Well, I slept just fine with you by me, hun," he spoke prior to pressing his lips against the prosecutor's cheek, "with you being as warm as a radiator and all, ha..!"

Miles scoffed. "Very funny. Is that all I'm good for in bed? To keep you warm?"

"I was about to say no, but..'keeping me warm' sure has a lot of meanings. And I think you're good for all of them." Phoenix sighed, sporting a small smile as he pressed his face into the nape of Miles' neck contently - lips gently kissing his shoulder. It earned a sweet, if calm, sigh from the prosecutor.

"..I could say the same for you. But it's much too early for this, mm? We can work out our flirtations after we eat breakfast."

Phoenix kept his dorky smile splashed on his countenance as he pulled away, raising a hand to brush back some strands of hair from his eyes - finding himself not too annoyed today with his 'naturally-spiky-but-not-spiky-enough-and-more-messy' bedhead. "That works with me; everything smells so good!"

Miles looked flattered from that. "Thank you, Wright. It is certainly better than what you normally make yourself in the morning-"

"Hey- don't knock cup coodles! I could live off of those."

Miles furrowed his brows and gave a glance to Phoenix in exasperation. "This is why I'm the one who feeds us. Anyhow.." The former smiled to himself as he pulled a plastic package of soba noodles in front of him on the counter - removing the wrapper and slowly adding the noodle block into the miso broth. "Maya called me earlier. She asked me to tell you that she'll be unavailable all day."

With Phoenix opening the fridge door to grab something to drink, he paused to speak before grabbing the carton of orange juice - much like many of their groceries, an expensive brand that Phoenix wasn't used to, and Miles' choosing. "Oh? Was she planning on taking Trucy and Pearls somewhere?"

Miles shook his head as he wiped off his hands with a damp washcloth that he'd set beside him prior, "Sort of. She wanted to make a trip to Hazakura Temple - she and Pearl are to train while Trucy is their...how did she put it, ah.. 'hype-man'." He felt silly even recalling the term, but Phoenix's expression seemed to prove that he knew what he meant.

"Hah- well, she'll get no bother from me then. I'll just check up on them when they get back. We have the whole day to ourselves, for once.." Phoenix meekly spoke - pouring himself a glass of the aforementioned juice before guzzling it down in a post-sleep thirstiness. He wiped his upper lip with his wrist as he went back in to pour some more.

"It is rare, isn't it..?" The prosecutor seemed somewhat sorrowful in stating that. "I want to make the most of it. It's not often I'm not out travelling, or you're not on duty, or there's no emergencies."

Phoenix parted his lips to speak, before sighing and looking down to his cup solemnly. He set it down. "...Yeah. But..I still love you all the same." He looked back up to the love of his life; a carefree smile pulling at his lips and a special brightness glittering in his eyes, "We're a family. Things are..always going to come up, but our time spent away or together feel all the same to me. The only difference is that I get to actually kiss you, in times like now. Being apart..just reminds me of how much I trust you."

The words hit harder than Miles expected them to. Even with the defense attorney's unorganized nature, and his less-than-articulate manner, it was somehow more meaningful to him. Phoenix was always emotional, and true to what he said - this was no different. Edgeworth's expression was strong; brows furrowed up and eyes purposefully lying low.

Phoenix paused, "..Come here."

He gestured for a hug after his gentle words; Miles all too eager for the embrace. Phoenix's arms draped over Miles' shoulders, wrapping around his neck as to pull himself closer. Vice versa was Miles wrapping his arms tightly around Phoenix's waist; both of their heads lay upon the other's shoulder, welcoming what warmth was available. They held each other for what felt like so long, and simultaneously not long enough; the only reason for their part was so they could meet at their lips, instead. Passionate, and yet soft - just a simple press without much else, yet it was all they needed. By the end of their embrace, their heads leaned forward to touch at their foreheads while holding each other's hands between their chests. Their thumbs occasionally brushed over each other's wedding rings.

"..You know how much you mean to me, Phoenix."

"I know, Miles." He huffed out a short breath before breaking into a smile, "..You could always just say 'I love you'."

And with that, the silver-haired Edgeworth broke into a laugh and slowly pulled away, "Alright, alright..I love you. You know that."

"I love you too, Miles."

Phoenix watched as his love went back to his work - Miles grabbing his wooden chopsticks as to stir the noodles. The more defensive of the two sat at the dining table, glass in hand.

"...I'm going to guess that you won't want onions in your serving of noodles."

Phoenix pretended to gag in response to Miles, "Ghk-! Absolutely-! Onions taint everything they touch..." He hesitated, "..Other than onion rings. But that's the only good thing with onions!"

Edgeworth rolled his eyes with a playful smile, chuckling to himself a bit at just how strongly Wright felt over such a thing as onions. "Of course. Though, you're missing out on their flavour, dear - I've never met someone other than you who has a distaste for them."

"You haven't met anyone with any tastebuds," Phoenix scoffed back - earning a snort from the other.

"Oh, have I? Dear, I think you're referring to yourself there."

The defense paused; his face lifting as his cocky court grin curled onto his lips. "Unfortunately, Edgeworth, I think you have some words to eat. Clearly my statement is right - anyone who's ever tasted an onion could tell you that it tastes like damn garbage."

The prosecution stifled a laugh, lolling his head to look over his shoulder at his rival. "Oh, Wright. I'm afraid you've buried your grave - onions obviously give any dish they're added to an excellent depth of flavor."

"Well obviously they do not- ow-!" Phoenix burst into a soft laugh as Miles leaned over to smack his arm with his chopsticks - ending their court imitations. "Hun-!"

Miles rolled his eyes and looked back down to his cooking. "My love. We don't need to argue over onions. Besides, I'm not about to settle a case over opinion."

"Ha-! Well then, baby doll, I'm prepared to settle a case of any kind. Maybe you just don't have that kind of determination?" Phoenix jested, taking another swig of his orange juice.

"Of course you would be, Feenie." Miles hesitated before chuckling to himself. Swirling the noodles inside the pot, he shook his head. "That's a new one. I don't know where that came from... It's sort of cute, no? Feenie. Hm."

When Miles went to look at Phoenix for his approval, he was numb; his husband's face suddenly not as lively as it once was. His eyes gazed low, gazed dryly. His hands tensed around the glass he held, knuckles bearing white. Worst of all, his countenance really held no expression at all - the fact that it was so stiff, so miserable looking was what'd caused Miles to choke back a breath.

What was it about that name that suddenly struck Miles as odd? Feenie. Feenie.

"It's.. uh.. not great, honestly, Miles. No offense or anything."

"I'm- sorry." Miles was admittedly stunned - a little ashamed, a little confused, very concerned. "..For some reason its.. ringing a bell-"

"Dahlia."

"I'm..sorry?"

"..Dahlia used to call me that. You know, before.."

The room was drenched in silence - Miles struggling to find any words to say. What could he say to that - what should he? Though, the look on Phoenix's pitiful face urged him to find something.

"...I didn't mean to hurt you, saying it. I-" Miles hummed to himself and turned his head to Phoenix, lip bitten and unsure how to word himself. He slowly looked back down to his cooking when words couldn't properly form in his throat.

"It's fine." Phoenix nodded - looking away and tapping his fingers on the table in a sort of anxiousness. "You didn't know."

"I didn't remember," Miles scolded himself, "I should have remembered such a thing like that."

Phoenix looked a little put off. "Don't feel guilty for that. It was so long ago - I.. I didn't expect you too."

The soft bubbling of the broth in the pot filled the silence between them; chopsticks occasionally hitting the sides of the pot, Pess jingling her collar as she scratched herself from the living room all the while. Phoenix tried to will Miles to turn around so he could assure him it was fine, without words - however when Miles never did he spoke up hesitantly.

"I didn't mean to ruin the mood."

Miles quickly scoffed and turned to look at Phoenix with a pained expression, "You didn't, Phoenix. You were just telling me of something that hurt you."

"It's just a nickname, though," Phoenix laughed at himself, seemingly ashamed, "It's a little stupid to hurt so much over a nickname, isn't it?"

"I don't think so," Miles replied, his tone hurt from his husband stuffing his emotions down - such a thing from Phoenix was rare, and it made this hurt just a little more than usual. Setting the chopsticks horizontally on the counter, he ushered himself away from the stove to lay a gentle, lithe hand on Phoenix's forearm, and leaning down so he could rest his chin atop his head.

Phoenix nearly melted into his touch, feeling comforted by Miles' body and his warmth. Finding solace in the safety of his arms, Phoenix allowed himself to exhale a deep breath and relax. Unsatisfied with the arrangements, however, he shook his head and gestured his head down. "Get in front of me a bit, Miles."

He wasn't about to complain, though as he moved in front of Phoenix to kneel, Miles was still a tad confused. Before he could ask why Phoenix wanted him to, the man placed his hands on the prosecutor's cheeks and leaned forward to kiss his forehead.

"I prefer looking at you, dear," Phoenix hummed. He moved his hands down to take Miles' own - raising them to place endearing kisses against flushed knuckles and fingertips, much to his husband's timidity. "..Thank you. For not minding putting up with me and all."

"Ah, yes," Miles started, smiling, "I married you because I simply 'didn't mind putting up with you'."

Phoenix laughed as he realized the hilarity of what he had said, "Hey! You know what I mean!"

"I married someone I just 'put up with'." Miles continued, chortling to himself, "Not in an act of pure love or anything."

Phoenix hushed Miles' teasing by leaning down and pressing his lips against the other's - the two humming against the warmth before falling into the quiet passion, then lingeringly pulling away. Their hands kept their doting hold still.

"..I love you, Phoenix. However, breakfast is due to overcook."

Phoenix shrugged and pressed his lips against Miles' cheek, unwilling to pull away as proven by how he spoke against his skin. "I don't mind."

"Suppose you wouldn't," Miles breathed out, amused.

Miles held himself in Phoenix's grasp before reluctantly pulling away to take charge of the stove again. Phoenix didn't seem to be happy with such an arrangement, so he took it upon himself to stand and wrap his arms around Miles' waist, head resting on his shoulder. The prosecutor pressed his palm against Phoenix's forearm in silent fondness - his other busy stirring food.