#my calling him a gatekeeping weeb is said with affection

[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!