... to absolutely love AJ:AA even more than I liked the first three games.

Now, don't get me wrong, I've been playing PW since it first was relased in English... I bought a DS for the sole reason of playing this game. And when I heard that PW would not be starring in the fourth game... I was dumbfounded, and rather peeved after the ending of T&T.

But after playing and beating the game in... 2 days, I realized that I liked this game much, much more than the other 3. Maybe it's because I'm getting off of a new-game high, but I don't think so. The characters were all great, the music was just as awesome as some of the best sons from the previous games (Remiscence, PW1 cross examination, Search~Core 2002) and better than a whole lot of others, and the tone/atmosphere for the cases, and the game in general, was just perfect... funny when it needed to be, deadly serious at others.

Not only that, but I was also very pleased to find out that this entire game was pretty much almost all about our beloved spiky haired attorney . The first three games were more Kurain/Fey centered... which is putting it lightly. The entirety of AA4 is centered around PW, and we get to see a completely new side of him. I don't see how anyone who didn't love PW could even think of ignoring this iteration of the series. You focussed more about PW in this one game than all the others!

Now, clearly there are negative points. The "DS-functionality-specific" segments were far and few between, and the game was so focussed on PW that poor AJ was left in the dust, pretty much! We learn very little about him, and we are simply left wanting more connection to him as a character. PW's presence dominates the entire game NOT in a bad way, but in a way that overshadows AJ completely... which is wrong. BUT! I can't help but fee; this was purposefully, and masterfully done. Introduce a new attorney, begin a transition, focus and slowly fade on PW. Perhpas not entirely, but in the next game we can definitely expect to see and learn more of AJ than PW.

What I loved most about AA4 was that all four cases had a thread of logic and continuity to them that the previous three games didn't have. I went back and replayed the first case (in AA4) after beating the game and found that the case starts off with a certain man... painting. How tricksy of them to do that... and I had no idea the tone it was setting for the game! Also, consider case 4:



I realize that T&T also had a lot of such ontinuity. But keep in mind that it was the "finale" of the trilogy, so to speak. It would be a crying shame if it didn't have such a story to tie up all the loose ends. A game like AA4, when compared to PW1 or heck even AA2.... simply shines in this aspect of storytelling.

The characters grew on me so fast I was in shock. I haven't built up such empathy for a client so quickly as with...



And then the "interesting" part of case 4... a very interesting way to do a final case - one that could have possibly failed terribly if not done properly. But it wasn't, and it tied up the many loose ends and answered so many questions about everyone involved in a very very intriguing way.

AJ:AA kept me enthralled to the very end, like all the other games... but I just can't help but feel like this has been the best of the series so far. I just beat the game today, so perhaps I can elobarate on my reasons further when I have a more objective view of the game in a day or two, if the above wasn't a full enough reasoning.

What bothers me is that the general consensus on the forums doesn't seem to be praise... and the reviews also are seeming harsh, and I simply don't understand why!

It was... magnificent!

Not the only one, sure.

I think it's crap, but to each their own and you are more than welcome to your opinion <3



But... APOLLO is the main character. XD; This game should have been about Apollo, not Hobo.

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I agree with you, to an extent. It probably should have been more about Apollo. There was a bit too much PW in the game, but I think it was for a reason... as a sort of transition between the first three games and the next ones, where there will, and should, be less of him.

I mean, they can't stick with Phoenix forever. They have to pass the torch at some point. And when they do, the fans will cry bloody murder if he simply didn't show his face in the follow-up game. Heck, some are pretty much carrying pitchforks and torches now for him not being the main character in this one, despite his ridiculously huge role! I think they did the best they could do to get a proper balance, keep as many fans as possible happy, and afford a smooth enough transition to the rest of the series, considering they are removing the face of the "Ace Attorney" series from the spotlight...

...assuming they don't botch it up the next one by putting in the backseat again.

I'm watching, Capcom.

To be completely honest, my ideal solution would have been no Phoenix at all--or at least, keep him to a cameo. Have him be a legendary defense attorney who inspired Apollo to take up the badge, have him still kickin' the Wright Stuff... but have him maybe onscreen once or twice at most.

So much better, I'd think :/

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I loved this game too! I don't know if I would say it's better than the first three, but that's just my indecisiveness, I love all the games equally xD
There does seem to be a lot of harsh reviewing, but to each their own I suppose ^^

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I must admit, I really like this game. I won't deny it has some issues (they clearly tried to cover more than they should have in one game and ended up screwing up with a bunch of plot holes), but I think its a pretty good start. The new cast is great and the cases themselves were fun. Hopefully, by the next game they'll have worked out the issues this game had and it'll be even better. I have high hopes.

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I liked it up until 4-4, which was a disappointment on multiple levels.

Yes. :[

I enjoyed the game a lot (aside from the cop-out final trial session), but the entire time I was playing I felt kind of saddened that everything Phoenix worked so hard for in his games ended up being all for nothing. If he's not going to be the central character anymore, at least let him leave with dignity.

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EDIT: Because this topic isn't marked for spoilers yet, I'm hiding my post under spoiler tags for now.

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Last edited by Velotican on Fri Feb 29, 2008 8:51 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Funny, it's the exact opposite for me :/

And I thought 4-3 was the worst case in the game, easily down there with 2-3.

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Aw, but I love 2-3. The circus is fun, and you get to bash von Karma's face in during the trial, which the 2-2 trial is too short for. D:

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Oh gosh, I loved that thing xDD

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Well, considering that I can never rank the games I can't say I love Apollo Justice more than the previous ones. But it's certainly equal to them. All this complaining about plot holes seems really strange to me as there aren't really more than in the previous games. Alas... if only the MASON system weren't so confusing I think the reaction to this game would be a lot more positive.

I definitely enjoyed AJ a lot. I think it was how there was a lot more mystery surrounding your evidence (like you'd pick stuff up and wouldn't know what it was for ages and then it'd become clear and you'd be like OH SO THAT'S WHAT IT WAS) and it wasn't so focused on owning in court, it was just getting to the bottom of things.
I know everyone complains about plot holes but I honestly overlooked most of them until I had beaten the game and gone off my game buzz. Even the MASON system didn't bother me, I mean sure it's convoluted but a pretty cool step sideways IMO.

I loved 4-3 (despite the "They're accusing him of doing what?" moments) and 2-3...

and yes, the Mixing Board was win. :D

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I think one of the reasons I now love AJ so much is all of the comics Peachi made about it.

*highfives* YES YES YES.
I actually started replaying after reading the "Zak is a Jerk" ones. Hey, before I forget:


I loved AJ. It's definately up there in my faves. It got a little confusing in the end with MASON, but, hey: If the game was totally wrapped up in a neat bow in the end, why buy the next one? I mean, there aren't even hot dead people anymore!
I think that's why Capcom did that.

And the Hobonick thing. Yeah, it did kinda revolve around him, but like Velo said, half wanted big changes, half wanted the same old shiz. The answer? Fire Phoenix but still make him a very important character. I liked it, but I agree that Apollo should have been focused on more. I think they'll put in less and less Feenie as the series go on...

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I agree with this point.

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In some ways it was better, like the precieve system. And being able to use the DS's capabilities more. But, to me. As far as prosecutors, Characters and cases go, T&T was the best for me. But that's just me

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I, personally, really liked AJ. Polly is one of my favorite characters. But, I was kind of annoyed at the fact that Phoenix did seem to be in the spotlight quite a bit. He's just a really important secondary character.

Bad argument: The game's called Gyakuten Saiban 4 in Japan. It doesn't insinuate any main character. BAH. And wasn't the writer forced to put Phoenix in as one of the conditions for a new story? That has to suck for a writer to find a way to fit in an old character to a completely new story. But he was put in, and the story was kind of bent to fit him in. He hopefully won't have too big of a role in the next game(s).

And, pardon my asking, but what are the plot loopholes? I know they exist, but I'm kind of STILL on a game high and don't want to acknowledge them. XD (I'm on my third playthrough...and it's sitting in front of me right now)

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Case 3 had a lot of logic problems.

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I like T&T better, but still, this game was really awesome, but it still gets a lot of bashing on, not just disagreements, pure, relentless bashing.

And for those who are saying it's more about Phoenix, yes it is, I think of Apollo Justice more as a transition game, the passing of Ace Attorney from Phoenix to Apollo. I'm sure in the next game, we'll learn more about Apollo and his reason for becoming an attorney. This game was no more for Apollo getting the basic ropes of being a defense attorney, and his introduction and integration as the main character of the Ace Attorney series

I mean, there's no deadline or anything to how many games will exist in the Ace Attorney series. Still plenty of room to learn about Apollo and let him have the limelight.

I like to believe that...


It was a nice transitional game, I think. Can't wail 'till GS5.

But right now I think I'm more worried about whether Gyakuten Kenji will kill my fanfic or not. :P

As for liking either Phoenix or Apollo, I do like them both, yet it feels different this time around. With Phoenix, I really started to like his character once he started interacting with others: The Feys, Edgeworth, etc. (Am I a bad person if, for me, getting Von Karma Tazer'd was a defining point? :P).

With Apollo...he has so much potential. As someone who's constantly writing and coming up with scenarios, I really want to know what direction he's going to go in. They've set up for not not only some...



I think the thing that Apollo does more for me than Phoenix (though he did too) is that I fangirl over Apollo. Feels strange to admit, but I've had way more epic fanfic dreams with the Apollo (and, by consequence, the GS4 cast) than with Feenie. I should totally write them. (Sorry, Feenie! I still love you! You make a great hobo! <3)

So, yeah. I loved AJ. Honestly, I'm keeping it as a separate thing in my mind then the first 3 games: with a different "main character" (I mean, Appy was the main character, right? ;P), I feel that you can't really compare it to the first three. Different characters mean a different story, after all.

what confuses me... is what happened with freakin iris? ;-;
I mean, they show what happens like two months after T&T and there is NO mention of any of the important characters from the past games. I would've loved to see Iris be with phoenix, Maya be the godmother of trucy or something, Gumshoe become captain! (would be M'azing) edgeworth become head prosocutor! something!
I wanna see pearl grown up ;-;

I mean they JUST used phoenix (and ema, that was cool) but as far as the full storyline.. ALL of his friends like... went and disappeared?

But... There was no one but phoenix... and he wasn't very phoenix like, they could've used any random defense attorney..

I really enjoyed the game and the new characters, cept the main villain was kinda lame... and appolo wasn't really developed at all.. Trucy and Gavin are awesome, and the mechanics were fun.. I'm just convinced that's someone disguised as phoenix =P

i love AA:AJ. Great character design, got me in love where no previous character designs from AA ever could.

also, there were more complicated relationships links which worked well for me.

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I, too, fangirl over Apollo. XD I will not hesitate to say that this is probably the first real "fangirlism" that I've ever had.

And...I'm not sure I would have liked the game as much (or even have given at a first glance) if Phoenix weren't involved in some way. I call it the "Digimon Complex," because that's where it first started for me. 01 was good, and 02 was okay--I actually liked it quite a bit, and was so glad that they actually brought 01's cast back. But then you get to 03 and the later seasons. *shiver* Nope. Sorry. Didn't even look. (...03 was okay, though. I was just in denial at that point) I remember being thoroughly pissed when I found out about AJ, but then warmed up to it mostly because Phoenix was in it. Maybe they knew what they were doing when they decided to keep him in there. It really does make for an interesting back story, because even he's connected to it all somehow.

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umm your not the only one...
i actually liked AJ more than the other 3 games.
I don't know why most people hate it

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I agree AJ is a fantastic game each case is awesome music is gr8 charecters rocks the only few downsides are the motives for case 4-3 in the killers case arnt really explained and the final trial for case 4-4 is rather short but overall an great game. Also alot of people complain about the mason system far as i can tell it is just a way for phoneix to show what happened 7 years ago and how it links with the past and it is a very fun way of doing it

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Yeah. tl:dr.
bascially got your point though. It was great. I fell in love with Apollo instantly and all the characters were captivating.
but.
I cant agree it was better then all the others.
it just fell weak at things it shouldnt have.
to point out an example, they never checked the fingerprints on the weapon in 4-2.
elementary.

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Actually, I disagree. I personally feel that Phoenix has gained something very
great; he gained a daughter. I mean that's just awwwwwww cute. ^^
But maybe that's just Trucy being my fav character.

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