#did I mention that Gumshoe is my blorbo

[snoocupz]

"Slowly I start to think they might be lovers instead??"

[muninnhuginn]

Top 5 Ace Attorney characters and why, including spin offs!!

1. Miles Edgeworth

2. Phoenix Wright

3. Mia Fey

4. Ema Skye

Couldn’t decide who to pick for 5th so just did top four.

Went slightly overboard with my reasons so I’ve chucked them below the cut.

Miles Edgeworth

I probably don’t show it too much nowadays but he is one of my all time blorbos ngl. His character arc is just so well done over the trilogy and then tied off with a bow in the Investigations games.

So, like, with Edgeworth the thing is that his dad was a defence lawyer and that one aspect plays out into the first trilogy pretty strongly. Phoenix becomes defence before of Edgeworth whilst Edgeworth is pushed into the role of prosecution because of von Karma. If not for DL-6, the trajectory of both of their lives would have been so different. And it’s not until von Karma is gone that Edgeworth is free to explore what he himself wants his role to be.

Of course, being... not the most emotionally aware or communicative he takes a long route about it (“accidentally implied I committed suicide” is an original detour, I’ll give him that :V). But as of 3-5, he’s in the position where he takes on Phoenix’s role and is therefore able to see what could have been if he had grown up to be a defence lawyer instead of being forced into prosecution. It’s not an ideal situation, but it’s super important character-wise that he has that opportunity and it forces him to consider his own role as prosecution/defence. And tbh I would've been happy if they'd finished it there with him, but then we have the Investigations games which actually tie off the stuff with his dad and take him to his final decision. Even though he was initially forced into it, he is now proud to be a prosecutor. That’s the role he wants to take.

I’ve barely even said anything about DL-6 either but the first game actually does a lot of heavy lifting in terms of his character because it’s there that he takes his first step and chooses not to head down the path he was straying towards (evidence forgery, lack of belief in defence attorneys in general). Instead, he takes on the view that defence and prosecution working together will get to the complete solution and they both have to trust in each other and try their hardest to get there. But honestly, Edgeworth’s character develops in every single game pre-time skip even if it’s clearly not easy for him. And speaking of not easy for him, I really like how his fear of earthquakes is kept up throughout and never diminished. It was a refreshing treatment when I’m used to a lot of series introducing a phobia just for it to be overcome and never mentioned again.

Anyway, on top of all the stuff above, I like him because it feels like you really have to earn it as the player before he has his first breakthrough? And even once he's had that he's still fairly abrasive/arrogant/lowkey socially oblivious (which makes his interactions with characters like Gumshoe hilarious) but there’s now an understanding underlying his interactions with Phoenix. (Also, even before he mellows out it’s fun to see him going full fan about Steel Samurai)

Phoenix Wright

I know people who say player characters have no real personality because they exist to be projected onto and whilst I can see why that comes about I don’t actually find it an issue with Phoenix? Probably helps we get peeks at him from other POV characters at times, but honestly his inner monologue is just incredibly entertaining. And the disconnect between what he’s thinking (read: snarking or panicking about) vs what he actually says and does is a great source of humour tbh.

My main issue with him comes from the way that in aa4 he gets this alternate characterisation and then come aa5 that’s just... entirely wiped? I’m under the impression there was a load of rewriting/re-steering the series and aa4/5 fell victim to this, but I can’t help but feel if you’re going to overhaul a character like that you should at least try and commit to it? Carry over some more poker references or ways of acting so it doesn’t just become some bizarre aside. Show that even if Phoenix has mostly returned to “normal” that that entire saga (which in canon lasted years) has had an effect.

But like, even despite that, he’s one of my faves. He’s impulsive and doesn’t have his brain screwed on at times but once you’ve earnt his loyalty you have it for life. Mainly though, he’s hilarious.

Mia Fey

Honestly I was pretty neutral on her until aa3 and then her arc there is actually what won me over. Mia as a rookie especially was really humanising? For the first two games most of what we saw of her was this mentor figure who would guide Phoenix but mainly existed as a mentor before anything else. And then third game comes along and we get to see she bluffs it just as much as Phoenix and also she has terrible taste in men. She gets annoyed with terrible defendants (Phoenix), terrible prosecutors (Edgeworth), and just like Phoenix later on, she’s determined not to give up despite setbacks.

And I do really like her connections because that’s where her role shines. She’s Maya’s sister, she’s Phoenix’s mentor, Godot ostensibly killed to save Maya for Mia. Something something that post about haunting the narrative. That’s Mia, affecting the story long after her death. And she drags herself back into the story to get her closure, protect Maya, and pass the torch onto Phoenix. She gets the closest thing to a happy ending she can get. And then she’s gone. For real, this time.

Ema Skye

This is probably my scientist bias I cri. But she's one of the few characters you actually get to see grow up because of the age she is in the first trilogy/investigations vs second trilogy. So you can kinda compare and contrast how bubbly she is initially vs her later “done with everything” self but with the excitement still peeking through. It’s surprisingly realistic how she changes and is much better handled than Phoenix’s equivalent personality shifts imo.

I'll freely admit there are characters with much more to them but eh. Her theme is catchy, she’s a scientist, she likes chocolate fingers, I’m a simple person.

Misc

I have some characters I suspect would make this list from dgs if I could just make myself finish the games >_< (I've been stalled mid game 1 case 3 for months now). I don't want to put anyone from that there until I've finished.

Also shout out to Apollo and Maya who both have plenty of good writing behind them but just don't click as the type of personality I'm interested in :pensive:.

Bonus worst characters round: Hotti, toothbrush guy, the Badgers.

[drbtinglecannon]

Miles Edgeworth for the ask thing.

Miles Edgeworth, original poor little meow meow ace attorney silly prosecutor

How I feel about this character

Man Edgeworth is one of those og blorbos. I first played the original trilogy back when they got localized and I still distinctly remember the feeling of fucking hating Edgeworth to being giddy when he was being a cringe bastard on screen. He was one of the first characters I was like "that is an asexual" about, and long before I realized my own asexuality. Edgeworth was also a continual cosplay I did back in the day when I used to cosplay, which was great because his outfit was so comfortable haha

I feel like we go way back, and it's been fun seeing how my thoughts on AA have changed over the years as I've gotten older and played newer titles. I am so excited for the investigations games I cannot wait for Kay and Gumshoe and Lang and Franziska and Ray again.

All the people I ship romantically with this character

Narumitsu and Langworth

I think narumitsu needs no explanation, "unnecessary feelings" "yes daddy" "that man......." Like come the fuck on. Narumitsu are the closest to canon I feel like AA will ever get for any ship and I love it like that

Langworth is also hilarious I was so into it when I first played investigations, their horny hate flirting was absurd. While Phoenix was getting into a toxic 7yr situationship with Kristoph, Edgeworth was getting his black blown out by a furry lmao

My non-romantic OTP for this character

Edgeworth and Maya are such a funny duo, he suffers even more by her antics than Nick does but they're also both pathologically obsessed with the same kid's show haha. I also am partial to platonic gum//worth, I don't dislike that ship but I prefer them non-romantic. Especially because Edgeworth is so mean to Gumshoe he deserves a sugar daddy that pampers him haha, but like Edgeworth despite all your shit Gumshoe knows you so well and treats you so well give the man a fucking raise haha

My unpopular opinion about this character

His timeskip design is not very good, love the glasses but the rest is bad.

One thing I wish would happen/had happened with this character in canon

Narumitsu marriage reveal in a very very subtle way. Any of the methods this post mentioned are good

[drbtinglecannon]

DGS for the fandom ask. KH as well if you feel like it.

DGS my beloved series ;__;

blorbo (favorite character, character I think about the most)

Barok, but he's also the plmm, so I would have to give this to Herlock otherwise.

Herlock is just the best Sherlock adaptation ever. He's so gender goals, his outfit fucks, his theme fucks, he himself does not fuck tho he's so low-key lame, he's a single dad, he's an idiot, he's an genius, he's an ADHD icon. I love him.

I have so many thoughts about how his life with Iris must've been pre-canon and even more gripes with how their early relationship in canon was portrayed. How much did this sensitive man cry over the years when Iris didn't take his last name? What I wouldn't have given to see Herlock cry on screen when Iris finally called him 'daddy'. Also what I wouldn't have given to defend this dingus in court.

scrunkly (my "baby", character that gives me cuteness aggression, character that is So Shaped)

Gina my baby, I was immediately drawn to her the second she popped up on screen. Not too into the "petty criminal reforms by becoming a cop" trope but it really warmed my heart seeing Gina in better fitting, nicer clothes with a dog and able to finally smile easily, but still steals Ryuu's money lol. She deserved a softer situation than what she had before. Also her theme fucks. (Yes I'm aware Inspector Lestrade is a Holmes reference I just still don't like that trope)

scrimblo bimblo (underrated/underappreciated fave)

Gregson! I love him, even despite his crimes, he was such a fun detective char and really funny. It was also an interesting change where he wasn't like clearly on your side vs the prosecutor (like Ema) or felt equally loyal to both sides (like Gumshoe), but he does noticeably start to warm up to Ryuu and Susato as the story progressed. Also be became a begrudging dad, we love character growth. I still miss him.

glup shitto (obscure fave, character that can appear in the background for 0.2 seconds and I won't shut up about it for a week)

Maria my girl. Her design is Peak Goth Victorian Goals, literally a plague doctor. I'd argue Maria's one of the most morally sound chars in the entire duology too. Never once does she compromise her integrity in favor of someone she loves (Kazuma, Barok, Susato) or out of fear (Gina) or for an authority figure (Mikotoba, Dr. Sithe), which combined with her seemingly genuine apathy towards the law is so fascinating. Like she was perfectly made to copy Barok or Kazuma's mistakes but she didn't, and not because she didn't love her mother as much as they loved Klint & Genshin, but because she cared too much about her work, and then even further she held no bitterness towards Ryuu, Susato, or Barok for indicting her mother and still adores her mother as much as before even after learning what she did.

I would love another DGS game or anime or something, and Maria getting more screentime is one of the top 3 reasons for it.

poor little meow meow ("problematic"/unpopular/controversial/otherwise pathetic fave)

Is there even a greater Poor Little Meow Meow than Barok van Zieks? Like, he was molded in the plmm form, his mascot is literally a cat, he's a depressed pathetic (affectionate) adult man, his one hobby is wine, he's a snarky bitch but secretly very compassionate like a total tsundere, his office Looks Like That, he's dripping sex appeal but is so repressed and ace. He starts out very problematic but shows genuine attempts to change by the end, and as I mentioned above I live for character growth. Barok is my fav prosecutor in the entire franchise; he legitimately helps the defense in every case even when he's still more of an antagonist, he's a tough opponent without using scummy tactics, his design fucks, his theme FUCKS, his speech bubble is personalized, he doesn't attack the defense... (which honestly was only funny with Franziska and Godot, and even with Godot it wasn't as funny), his big objection gif is showing off his flexibility by slamming his leg on the fucking table while holding a chalice of wine, he's the only char that they finally said "yeah this mofo's drinking alcohol not juice" --- I could go on.

One of the things I hate most about the fandom (aside from how often people tag their hate posts with the actual char/ship tags) is how many fans just straight up pretend he didn't spend the last 2 cases changing. Like yeah anyone can hate him for whatever reason and no one is obligated to forgive him for his many grievances up until then, but pretending he didn't change at all? Come on.

horse plinko (character I would torment for fun, for whatever reason)

Skulkin Brothers, they'd be great in a plinko machine. I wonder which one would fall faster?

In a more sympathetic/happy torment? sense then Kazuma hands down. And it wouldn't even be difficult, it'd just be like Susato enlisting Gina & Iris' help to kidnap him from the prosecutor's office, drag him to the celebration party at 221B Baker Street, and forcing him to hug it out with his husband Ryuu. (Which should've happened they should've hugged after 2-3 and again before leaving and also Kazuma should've been at the party. ;___; ) also the mental image of 3 cute little girls kidnapping an adult man much stronger than them is beyond hilarious, esp if Barok saw and did nothing to stop it.

eeby deeby (character I would send to superhell)

Klint van Zieks my beloved. He's already in superhell for eating the rich crimes. I love you, you ruined everything, my bi poly slut (affectionate)

As for KH I actually barely know shit about it outside of memes, I only ever watched my bff play 1&2 and that was back in middle school haha. All of the Org. XIII are interchangeable for plmm & the horse plinko tho