MORGAN Jack
by MORGAN Jack - Published 3 months ago
Ace Attorney: All Games Ranked (Best to Worst)
Highlight
- The Ace Attorney series has a lot of excellent games, but some are definitely better than others.
- The best Ace Attorney games offer a compelling mix of gripping mysteries, intriguing puzzles, and well-developed characters.
Capcom's Ace Attorney series, spanning over 20 years, lets you play as lawyers, defending clients and solving crimes. While it might not resemble actual legal practice, the engaging stories make it easy to overlook the discrepancy.
This iconic series features protagonists like Phoenix Wright, Apollo Justice, and Miles Edgeworth. With multiple games to choose from, this ranking will guide you, though it prioritizes enjoyment over legal accuracy.
Updated on September 24, 2024, by PJ Molloy: After 13 years, Capcom finally localized Ace Attorney Investigations 2 with the Ace Attorney Investigations Collection. This raises the question of how Edgeworth's latest adventure stacks up against other entries.
13 Ace Attorney Investigations: Miles Edgeworth
Miles Edgeworth Is Great, But This Game Isn't
Ace Attorney Investigations is the first game to feature Miles Edgeworth as the main character. Edgeworth's limited playable time in Trials and Tribulations likely served as a test, making his own game series almost inevitable.
The game attempts to connect backstory to present-day cases, but some conflicts feel more technical than exciting. Extensive debates about diplomatic immunity are not particularly engaging. Despite Edgeworth's intelligence, the Logic mechanic can be confusing and unintuitive.
12 Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Dual Destinies
Who Would Have Thought You'd Get Scared When A Roof Caves In?
Many fans expected a direct sequel to Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney, but Capcom took a different direction with the fifth mainline installment. While Apollo is present and has a backstory to explore, Phoenix takes center stage. Dual Destinies, the first game on the 3DS, utilizes its hardware effectively. However, the game suffers from awkward 3D models, with some characters appearing stiff and emotionless.
Athena Cykes' introduction held a lot of promise, but her storyline ultimately revisits the familiar theme of a defense attorney having a troubled history with the prosecution. Athena's application of psychology throughout is exciting, but sometimes lacks depth.
11 Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Justice For All
The Music Is Great, Though
Justice for All is a game that almost succeeds. It's a good sequel to the original, with an interesting mystery surrounding Edgeworth's disappearance and the introduction of a new von Karma. However, the game has many weak cases. The tutorial case is especially bad, with a boring villain. And the case "Turnabout Big Top" has some of the most annoying characters.
However, the game is hampered by a very uneven quality. The introductory case is incredibly underwhelming, especially the lackluster villain. And the circus-themed case features some of the most unlikable supporting characters imaginable. It's best not to dwell on that one.
10 Professor Layton Vs. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney
Talk About A Dream Crossover
Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney shows how to combine two different series. Both characters rely on puzzles and strategic thinking, but in different ways. Layton uses logic, while Phoenix is good at persuasion. They complement each other perfectly.
The game is set in Labyrinthia, a fantasy town where magic is common. Layton investigates the town's secrets while Phoenix defends people in witch trials.
9 Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney
Finally Remade
Apollo Justice was supposed to be Phoenix's farewell, introducing his "apprentice" Apollo. Fans could see how characters had changed in the seven years since the last game.
However, Phoenix is still very important to the story, even though it's Apollo's game. It's a shame, because Apollo is a good character. This game also introduces Trucy Wright, Phoenix's adoptive daughter, and Apollo's new ability, Perceive.
8 Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney
The Game That Started It All
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney was made in ten months by a team of seven people. It features iconic characters like Phoenix, Maya, and Edgeworth, all with satisfying stories. The music is memorable and the game has strong themes.
Whether it's exploring a cheesy knockoff TV studio, helping Lotta Hart find the Gourd Lake Monster, or catching a guy literally named Frank Sahwit in a lie, it's all top-notch. Re-released with its bonus case, Rise from the Ashes, the game quickly became a hit with Western audiences and paved the way for all the other games.
7 Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney − Spirit Of Justice
The Grand Finale To Apollo's Story
Spirit of Justice shifts to the kingdom of Khura'in, where a corrupt autocracy has taken control and ruined the legal system. It's up to Phoenix, Apollo, and Athena, who are visiting Maya, to fix things. A few plot points from previous Ace Attorney games remain unresolved, and appearances from Maya and Edgeworth feel like fan service rather than meaningful contributions to the story.
Apollo finishes the adventure with more backstories than anyone should have to deal with, leaving little time to explore his relationships with existing characters. However, the new testimony mechanic, Divination Séances, lets you see the victim's final moments and is ambitious and unique.
6 The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles
Why Not Add Ancestors To The Mix?
Few people expected that The Great Ace Attorney would ever be released in the West. The series had spent almost two decades trying to convince English-speaking players that the games were set in Los Angeles instead of Japan. Never mind that Maya claims to love burgers while eating at a noodle stand or all the cherry blossoms everywhere.
Initially released on the 3DS in Japan, this was meant to be a trilogy but was shortened to two after budget issues. You play as Ryunosuke Naruhodo, a Japanese ancestor of Phoenix Wright in Meiji-era Japan, as he navigates the challenges of immigrating to London in a time of great racial tension.
He and his assistant, Susato 'Susie' Mikotoba, face prejudice from the moment they arrive, and it's refreshing to see such a lighthearted series tackle mature themes. Add to that a satisfyingly complex narrative, the inclusion of a legally distinct Sherlock Holmes, and more puns about ladders than you can imagine, and this was well worth the wait.
5 Ace Attorney Investigations 2: Prosecutor's Gambit
This Is How You Do A Sequel
Before it was officially localized in the Ace Attorney Investigations Collection, Prosecutor's Gambit was only available in English through an outstanding fan translation. It deserves all the attention it can get, standing out as a sequel better than the original.
The game boasts enhanced puzzle mechanics, like Mind Chess, and all its cases are, thankfully, linked to the main narrative in a meaningful way. Relationships established in the first game are developed, deepened, and tested in ways that are truly moving. Moreover, the climactic plot twist is one of the most brilliant in the entire series, if not the visual novel genre.
4 Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Trials And Tribulations
A Masterclass In Mystery Writing
Trials and Tribulations, widely recognized as the best in the Ace Attorney series, allows players to control three different attorneys, switching between timelines rapidly. The ability to play as Mia Fey is exciting, but Phoenix Wright's college background is sure to further pique players' interest.
This game brings the original Phoenix Wright trilogy to a satisfying conclusion with style and grace. The new, enigmatic prosecutor, Godot, adds a layer of intrigue and charm to the overarching mystery, seamlessly connecting to the previous titles. It would have been a perfect ending to the series if it had been the final installment.
3 Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney Trilogy
Three Remasters With Exciting New Features
The Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney Trilogy remasters Apollo Justice, Dual Destinies, and Spirit of Justice, featuring enhanced visuals and user-friendly improvements. All DLC content, including alternative costumes and special cases, is included.
When you're not solving mysteries, you can enjoy orchestral versions of iconic Ace Attorney music in the music player. Explore concept art in the art gallery and create animations using the animation studio, letting you animate any character from the trilogy against a green screen. Apollo Justice fans have a wealth of content to explore.
2 Ace Attorney Investigations Collection
The Long Awaited Return Of Miles Edgeworth
Ace Attorney Investigations Collection made a significant impact by finally localizing Prosecutor's Gambit after 13 years. The wait was definitely worth it. This bundle remasters both Edgeworth games, the second of which includes some of the best cases in the series.
In addition to new features like a dialogue history, music player, and art gallery, players can switch between new HD graphics and the original DS visuals. This collection is the perfect way to revisit these titles or experience them for the first time.
1 Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy
The Best Ace Attorney Game
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy is the best choice if you can only select one Ace Attorney game. This collection upgrades the first three games in the series with high-definition visuals, widescreen support, and many other user-friendly improvements. The script has even been revised to close a few plot holes.
The trilogy's writing is its most impressive feature. The series' best stories, mysteries, characters, and courtroom battles are all included in this package, allowing you to follow Phoenix's journey from a novice lawyer to a seasoned attorney. Every Ace Attorney fan should purchase this game.
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