20. The Rite of Turnabout
Honestly, they should've just kept the name to Turnabout Ritual. Going from Turnabout Magic Show to The Magical Turnabout, and from Turnabout Grand Revolution to just Turnabout Revolution were good changes, but this one is just...not as good. One of my least favorite case titles in the series, to be sure. But outside of that, this is one hell of a case that just feels a tad bit slow.
The main plot starts out with Maya being accused of murdering a priest. Unlike in Golden Court, where it felt like it fit well with the game, this just feels like it's done because Maya is here. And considering how only 2 of the defendants are one-time defendants (Bucky and Ellen), they could've really gone with another Khura'in person here. But anyway, you go up to the crime scene, investigate and all that fun stuff, drag Rayfa everywhere, and it just feels like your run of the mill case, which is actually a pretty big plus in it's favor. Once you hit the trial, you start with another Seance, which is probably the worst one due to the massive confusion it causes (Only one I needed a walkthrough for) and it's the definite low-point of the case, and maybe the game. Once that's over with, you cross examine A'nohn Ihmus (Good lord, the puns) and it feels like classic AA, as you just bulldoze your way through his feeble testimonies. After it's proved he's actually a rebel escapee, he runs away and Maya is pretty much screwed. But right after her guilty verdict, the bailiff comes in to save the day!...by accusing Maya of serial murder. Welp. So you gotta investigate another murder, and here's my other big issue with this case. It's just two cases shoved into one. DD split up the Cosmic Turnabout and Turnabout for Tomorrow, but honestly those should've been together. However, these should've been spread out just a bit more, as both feel crammed into one case just for the sake of a second seance. But putting that aside, this is the much better half of the case, as pretty much everything starts to come together. You find the true scene of Rheel Nehmu's murder, do some other stuff, and go into trial day 2. Pretty soon, it's proved that Nehmu is actually Puhray Zeh'lot (More puns) and, with no other choice, you have to get Maya to channel the victim, the priest. Because the one thing the world really needs is to see Maya channeling an old man who does creepy yoga. But besides the general creepiness factor, Inmee (the priest) is the final boss of the chapter, and that was one of the best parts of the game. I always thought there would be another witness, and even at the thought route I was confused. When it came together that Inmee's death was a suicide to protect his wife, it finally came together. One confession and exorcism later, and the case is closed.
The characters are pretty good, with the main cast standing out more than the one-timers. Having Maya back, although accused, was fantastic. Rayfa was the surprise star of the case, as her teenage attitude of "Trying to act mature" was often hilarious and perfectly written. Datz is another star, and his over the top animations are a joy to watch. Phoenix, Ahlbi, Ema, and the Judge are all pretty much the same as they were in previous cases, which in other words means perfectly fine. Nahyuta is meh, but I've already shared my opinions on him before. The brief appearance of Queen Ga'ran plants that seed of doubt in her, and this is the only time in the game where you get an extensive conversation with Inga, who is just a complete dickbag. When you find out that those papers he was stamping were execution orders, it really sets the tone for his character. The weak link here are the Inmee's, particulary Beh'leeb. For one, their names are awful (Tahrust and Beh'leeb). I don't even understand why they chose those for puns here, and they honestly didn't need puns in the first place. Tahrust is fun to cross-examine, but his position in the rebellion makes it questionable for why he'd try to pin the crime on Maya, who was completely innocent. Sure, he loves his wife, but would he be willing to sacrifice another innocent for her? As for Beh'leeb, she's nothing memorable. Not bad by any means, but not good either.
Of course, there's one big part I've left out, and if you've played the game, you know that it has to do with Apollo, Nahyuta, and Dhurke. I'll be talking about that more when I get to 6-5.
19. Turnabout Succession
Here it is: The first final case falls (Not counting The Final Witch Trial, but that's so far off I don't really count it), and it's from Apollo Justice. If it weren't for the questionable motive for the big bad, and the super-righteous story they give Phoenix that he didn't really need, this case would be much higher. Due to the crazy way this case functions, I'm gonna be talking about each section in detail.
Investigation/Trial, Day 1: The plot is, well, very complicated. It starts off with what looks like a simple poisoning incident. With the defendant being "probably guilty" and not willing to talk, along with the fact that Phoenix purposely chose to use this case to test the jurist system, it seems like Apollo's work shouldn't be too difficult. After some investigating, nothing solid is proven except for Misham being a forger. But after uncovering the sketches under his paintings, Apollo finds some very odd sketches; sketches of his first 3 cases. The trial approaches, and you reveal that Misham was the forger, and that he was actually killed by a stamp, not the coffee mug. However, if Misham was the forger, he would've died 7 years ago. With no other option, Apollo names Vera the forger, and she then confirms that to be true. Press her a little more, and it becomes increasingly apparent that Vera was the one that forged evidence for Phoenix. But, after chewing her nails too much, she passes out from acute atroquinine poisoning. Her nail polish had been laced by the real killer, her former client, and she was then put into intensive care. It's here where the case takes it's first turn for the crazy, as you rewind 7 years to Phoenix's last trial, where he was found of forging evidence.
Trial, 7 years ago: It's here that you start connecting all of the dots, as you find out that your defendant is Zak Gramarye. Gramarye, now obviously shown to the player, is both Shadi Enigmar (The first victim) and Trucy's biological father. Trucy gives Phoenix the mysterious diary page, and the trial is set underway. Gumshoe makes his great comeback, and he's responsible for the first portion of testimony. Once you prove that Zak couldn't have shot both bullets, Valant gets called up to the stand. How Valant aged that much in 7 years is beyond me. Anywho, you prove that Valant tampered with the scene, and then it's time to present that fatal diary page. You present it, Misham is called in, Phoenix realizes that he's screwed, and Zak runs away. Fun times.
MASON System: And here comes the most controversial part of the case. This is really hard to recap, as the jumps from present and past are pretty ridiculous. I'm just gonna be going off the wikia summary here, as I don't remember how the MASON system really went. So, two weeks after the trial, and Phoenix is still confused as to what happened. He brings in Trucy due to her lack of living relatives, and Trucy just kinda adopts herself into the family. Phoenix then talks to Meekins (WHY) and shows that Zak performed his escape trick by using Trucy's Mr. Hat to distract Meekins. Phoenix then confronts Misham about the client of the murder, and after talking to Vera, he finds out that it was actually Kristoph. This basically confirms that Kristoph is the killer if you're paying attention. Phoenix finally goes and has a chat with Valant, who's now in detention due to him being the new suspect. Now, fast forward 7 years, and we get to Zak and Phoenix's converstaion right before his murder. A lot happens here, and it's revealed that Trucy and Apollo are half-siblings. Zak also wills the Gramarye magic to Trucy instead of letting it go to Valant. Phoenix then goes to Kristoph's cell to interrogate him, and this is where the infamous black psyche-locks show up. Besides that, there's not a whole lot to do here. Phoenix then returns to Misham studio to talk to Brushel, and once again, nothing too noteworthy happens here. Phoenix then heads out to Sunshine Coliseum, where he finally resolves the Gramarye murder with Valant. Valant, wanting Magnifi's tricks, intended to kill him and frame Zak. However, he couldn't do it, but Magnifi shot himself as he left. Valant then took this opportunity to frame Zak. With nothing left to work for, Valant turns himself in. With almost everything solved, Phoenix returns one last time to Kristoph's cell to find the mysterious yellow letter Misham sent to the client of the forgery. He finds enough evidence to prove that it is indeed Kristoph, but legally he couldn't take it, leaving him with nothing but a recording instead.
Trial, Day 2: All of that craziness, and we're only on day 2?! Good lord. Apollo, unlike his other 3 trials, comes out firing. He immediately goes for the kill by accusing Kristoph of trying to kill Vera with her nail polish, taking advantage of her habit of biting nails when she gets nervous. Kristoph fights back hard, but eventually Klavier turns on him and joins Apollo in his fight to take him down. It doesn't take long to link Kristoph to the murder of Misham, and the obvious motive being the forgery of seven years ago. Apollo accuses Kristoph of being the client, and Kristoph follows up with a common theme in this trial: Evidence or it didn't happen. Apollo presents the yellow letter, or the copy of it that Phoenix recreated from his video tape. However, the Judge can't accept it into evidence. With the trial fast approaching towards a guilty verdict, Klavier objects and says that Kristoph was the one who told him about the forged evidence. But this isn't enough to prove Kristoph murdered Misham, and with no evidence, everything is going in Kristoph's favor. Then Klavier drops the bomb that this is actually the Jurist trial, and with the circumstantial evidence available, it's pretty obvious what'll happen. When Kristoph finds out that Phoenix was the one behind it, and that he had done it for this trial purposely due to the lack of evidence, Kristoph has an epic breakdown, and the final verdict is reached.
Wow, that's a lot of text. But we're not done yet! Characters shouldn't take too long though. The normal cast is fine, nothing noteworthy except for Phoenix's determination to take down Kristoph and Klavier's turn from protecting Kristoph to fighting against him. Kristoph is a great villain, and his mystery motive from the beginning is solved. But the overarching motive brings EVERYTHING down. Instead of this being some sore of massive lunge for power, or to avenge a family member, etc, it's just because Kristoph lost a GAME OF CARDS. WHAT THE FUCK. His ridiculous pettiness is just terrible, and it tears down the entire case. Brushel is decent, Vera is the best defendant of the game not counting Phoenix (Which doesn't say much), Drew Misham is solid, and Meekins is trash. Zak is kind of a bitch (Especially to Valant) and Valant is a great character who I wish would come back again.
I'm getting tired, as this is a lot more writing than normal. But the forgettable cast outside of the big characters (Zak, Valant, Kristoph, Klavier), the weird pacing, and Kristoph's horrible motive slot it in at 19.
Next up, another 3rd case and another final case.