#it’s how I felt playing plvspw

[gumdefense]

Just for once I wish Phoenix was the one in danger to Maya’s panic

[pumpkinsouppe]

I haven’t played all of AA4 yet but I was thinking a lot about how uneasy the first case made me feel (in a good way) and I finally figured out why. (AA 4-1 spoilers btw) Part of it of course is the overall scheme: what happened 7 years ago and what are the answers to all these unresolved questions. But I genuinely don’t think I’ve seen a more accurate depiction of how I experienced GAD and social anxiety than I have with Apollo Justice.

Thankfully, I have learned to stand up for myself and I’ve controlled the majority of my anxiety but I can very clearly see that Apollo has not done that, at least yet. I am hoping hoping hoping we get to see him grow in this game because I know that AA5 and 6 won’t do that justice (lol). All throughout the first case, Apollo rarely spoke for himself. He was very much a follower and wanted approval, ergo he was very easy to manipulate. Kristoph and Phoenix both recognized this about him and were able to both use Apollo as their own puppets. He followed Kristoph’s orders whenever he gave them (‘expose phoenix’s lies’ ‘don’t embarrass me’) but he also was very willing to follow Phoenix’s orders too (‘point on the map for us’ ‘name the fourth person/killer’ ‘accuse Kristoph’). He followed who he thought was seeking the truth but he had to be told that doing these actions was for the truth.

I never was manipulated in court like Apollo experienced, but I was VERY quick to abandon plans for something else or act in ways if someone told me to. I remember sometimes even saying yes to things that made me super uncomfortable because I didn’t think for myself and didn’t want to disappoint or make anyone mad. And you can tell that Apollo really looked up to both Kristoph and Phoenix in that trial. He wasn’t sure who to believe so he followed both simultaneously until at the end when he realized both were assholes. I LOVE the unease I felt during the first case. It felt so real to me how Apollo was able to be so easily manipulated and how that was able to be used as a very interesting way to set up a new game and protagonist.

It’s amplified especially if you played all the past Phoenix Wright games. Hell, I finished PLvsPW an hour before picking up AA4 and that really influenced how much I wanted to also follow and believe Phoenix. So I absolutely love how this trial was used not only to play with the heart and mind of Apollo, but the players as well. There’s less reason to follow Kristoph since the players don’t have the same bond Kristoph and Apollo have since this was our first time meeting him, but because he’s our boss and he’s standing at the defense with us like Mia has, that adds to his credibility. Which is even better that Phoenix took Kristoph’s spot behind the defense bench when Kristoph was summoned to the stand. “Don’t believe that other guy, look at where he is now. Believe me instead, the person who just left that same spot.” You want to believe him, it’s Phoenix Wright! Teaching us the ways just like Mia. But what he’s actually done is replace Kristoph as the supposed voice of reason in Apollo’s ear. Yes that’s the spot for mentors, but does every mentor have your best intentions in mind? Are you able to distinguish genuine advice versus motivated advice?

I am truly fascinated and captivated by the writing. You can tell how much Shu Takumi has grown as a writer compared to the original AA1. I am so excited to play the rest of this game.

[1960z]

so the rite of turnabout! I honestly really enjoyed it. imo it does a lot of things that make it feel super fresh and unique as a case.

I genuinely can’t think of a time in the main series that there’s been a double murder before, so being able to play that out felt new and fun. also with all the jokes there are out there about maya never using her powers to channel a victim in a case, it felt cool to finally have a set of circumstances where we got to experience a victim’s testimony through channeling. honestly most if not all aa cases that feature spirit channeling as a major part of the case itself go super hard imo.

getting a guilty verdict on the first day is genuinely kinda shocking when it happens too, it was a good twist on the formula of “first investigation first trial second investigation second trial” because ultimately it still is that but the feeling of the experience is still different due to there being a seemingly definite conclusion to the first trial as well as a second murder.

I also love how this case is… kind of a political drama?? I find the world of khura’in genuinely super interesting and getting to uncover more and more of who holds power, who’s fighting against it and why is genuinely really compelling to me. on paper I do think this idea of a fictional world run by a police state that’s using its religion to justify the most extreme measures of punitive justice very interesting. like if it were some kind of dystopian sci-fi world? khura’in would fuck. however it’s not a dystopian sci-fi world however and there are obviously a lot of issues w the real world political implications of khura’in which I intend to talk more about when I finish the game but for now I do think the very bare bones of “let’s create a fictional world to set an ace attorney game in” IS quite fun, PLvsPW did something similar and I haven’t played that game in ages either but I do really remember enjoying it there too.

having maya back is of course a delight I missed her so much. they definitely did a very great job at making her feel older and yet still like she’s the same character. her off screen progression feels very natural. love having rayfa as an assistant character too. she has a really fun rapport with phoenix and seeing her internal conflict of trying to reconcile who he is with what she was taught to believe about lawyers her whole life is also genuinely compelling

[askaceattorney]

Dear Miraz van Nohrr,

Chief Mod Edgeworth: Thank you for your kind words.

Unfortunately, the moment that letter is seen, it will get deleted, because it does break the rules of breaking canon. Phoenix Wright intended to never tell Trucy or Apollo about their origins on behalf of Thalassia and she feels unready to tell them at the moment. Every letter that has ever toed the line would always result in neither Apollo nor Trucy knowing or else deciding to research themselves outside of the letters. So, until AA brings us a game where Phoenix or Thalassia intends on telling Apollo and/or Trucy, neither will ever know on this blog. Even Thalassia and Phoenix talking about revealing this to Apollo and Trucy at the end of the post-credit scene in Spirit of Justice doesn’t count.

That being said, you could do a letter like that for one other person without breaking canon: Iris Wilson. When Yujin Mikotoba revealed the truth of Iris’ origins to Ryunosuke, Susato, Barok and Kazuma, there was a pause before Iris began talking on the talkie. It’s also proven in canon that Iris has a tendency to eavesdrop and there were subtle hints that Iris already knew after that reveal, unlike with Apollo and Trucy.

Dear Anonymous,

Chief Mod Edgeworth: I think they’re a person that likes to make funny letters for the characters’ reactions.

Dear Anonymous,

Chief Mod Edgeworth: It doesn’t matter to me, but there is something to admire about 2D with all the work that goes into it. That being said, 3D can be admired, if work goes into it. I once said that if AA was going to do 3D, then they should take a page from PLvsPW’s playbook on how to do it. It seems they did when The Great Ace Attorney came. The animation was clean, it took advantage of its surroundings. Much of the gameplay felt familiar to PLvsPW, especially cross-examining multiple witnesses and questioning one that you’re not talking to. 

If AA was to do another game, I’d like to see them bring back the Jury idea, but take a page from The Great Ace Attorney in how to do it. My issue with how it was done in Apollo Justice was that there was no interaction or threat of the Jurors choosing Guilty or Not Guilty. They were ultimately in Phoenix’s favor. I like that the Jurors were not on Ryunosuke’s side and could even be racist jackasses to him sometimes. He had to talk with them and use their words against them, only submitting evidence when asked. I’d like to see Phoenix, Athena and Apollo go through something like that if Capcom was to make a new 3D AA game.

Modshoe: I love them both :D. Though, when I first saw playthroughs of DD, I wasn’t a fan of the 3D style. I just finished the first four games so I was biased towards the 2D style. But eventually, I grew to love the 3D style just as much as the 2D :).

Mod Justice: Don’t care about graphics or gameplay - I only care about good storytelling when it comes to Ace Attorney (and pretty much every video game ever to exist).

If a game has a good story, then graphics and gameplay are secondary. Don’t like me for having this opinion? Three words: SUCK IT UP.

(Referenced Letter)

Dear Anonymous,

Chief Mod Edgeworth: You and I both. I was on the fence about that one for a moment.

(Referenced Letter)

Dear Anonymous,

Chief Mod Edgeworth: That’s the problem. The letters used to show the emails of anonymous letters, but now they don’t. It’s a pain. As if Tumblr hasn’t given us enough trouble as it is.

Dear Dawsongfg,

Chief Mod Edgeworth: Have never played half those games, so I can’t say.

(Referenced Letter)

Chief Mod Edgeworth: If you think this is ridiculous, you haven’t played The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles, the second one specifically. Speaking of evidence.

This means that Franziska von Karma is of Japanese descent. Whether it is full or part is up to the fans to decide. I’ve just decided to go for full Japanese. The same goes for Phoenix Wright. It isn’t out of the realm of possibilities for this to be canon and, as far as I know, they’re the only characters that are accepted to be full Japanese in this blog. Maya and Athena have only claimed to be part Japanese since both have adopted Japanese religion/culture in some form. You don’t have to share the same headcanons, but this isn’t ridiculous for Ace Attorney.

Personally, I find it more unrealistic for the game to take place in the United States, yet somehow require all attorneys to wear badges, one of them representing the rising sun on the Japanese flag. At this point, I can see why some headcanons include Japan winning WW2. Until The Great Ace Attorney came around, it was easy to go along with Phoenix Wright and Franziska von Karma being American/German, but now it’s also canon that Ryunosuke Naruhodo is the ancestor of Phoenix Wright and Manfred/Franziska von Karma haven an ancestor that took the Karuma name as a surname. This blog will accept canon as it comes and will be flexible with any new information. If this means making everyone Japanese, then so be it. 

(Referenced Letter)

Dear Anonymous,

Chief Mod Edgeworth: Also, do note, even then the Judge thought that Phoenix didn’t act like himself and Tigre didn’t call himself “Overly dramatic Phoenix Wright.” He called himself “Phoenix Wright.” Maybe if the letter was from “Phoenix Wright,” the Judge could’ve fallen for it.

(Referenced Letter)

Dear Fart Smella,

Chief Mod Edgeworth: I only correct letters, if I made a miscorrection, but this is not the case. Please tell me where in the letter does it specify WHEN Ryunosuke receives the letter or is being channeled? If you only placed “Ryunosuke Naruhodo,” then that’s on YOU. 

You need to place in your letter what timeline this takes place or if Ryunosuke is being channeled. You could’ve placed the following: “To Naruhodo Ryunosuke (Channeled by Maya)” or “To Naruhodo Ryunosuke (Phoenix Wright Timeline)”. Anything that would inform me that this takes place at a certain timeline would work. If not, don’t be surprised if we don’t answer it in the timeline you want. We can’t read your mind.

(Referenced Letter)

Dear Sinyove,

Chief Mod Edgeworth: Fixed it!

Dear Emperor-vizer,

Chief Mod Edgeworth: Err... sorry for not answering this one. I do remember answering letters from you, so perhaps that answers your question?

- The Mods

[hugs-for-klavier-gavin]

Long Post with Possible Spoilers ahead! *spoilers in tags*

I’m on the final case of Duel Destinies and... I gotta admit I’ve loved every second of it so far (despite it taking me almost a year... maybe two to get through it). When I started playing the games with my fiancé like two years ago, we started voice acting them, and I’ve been loving voicing Athena. But also GOD it hurts right now. I think I’ve already cried twice and we’re not even through the trial. Then again I don’t think there’s a single game I haven’t cried in. Maybe Apollo Justice? I don’t think I did. If I did it was happy tears.

My fiancé decided to try something and had me try to predict who all the killers were in Apollo Justice, Duel Destinies, and Spirit of Justice because I had predicted other killers before no matter how out of field it was. I don’t even remember what my predictions were since that was two years ago, but I know he wrote them down. I’m curious to see if I was right on any of them. All he told me was who was in the case, who the victim was, and who the defendant was.

But like, I’ve heard so much about people not liking Duel Destinies or Athena that I got kinda concerned going in, but I honestly really love this game and I love Athena so much. It might be weird that I’ve loved this game so much but I personally love it. It might be in my top 3 Ace Attorney games so far? Maybe I’m biased though. I hated voicing Wendy Oldbag so I think that changed how I felt about the og trilogy.

I might do a main series rating once I get through Spirit of Justice? I might wait until I’ve gotten through the Investigations and PLvsPW for that. I dunno.

Signing off from this ramble that’s gotten way too long: Phoenix