Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney is set 7 years after the events of Trials and Tribulations and just grips you right from the start with one of the best opening cases in the series. Turnabout Trump is dark, it's mysterious, it introduces new characters and old alike, it takes Phoenix Wright our happy, lovable protagonist of old and turns him into a shady, morally grey homeless looking man who might be willing to bend the law if it means reaching the truth and boy does this case have an incredible twist too. I think that's what Apollo Justice excels at is all its complex twists. That whole first case really sets the tone for Apollo Justice in its darker portrayal of both Phoenix and the law itself and gives us plenty of mysteries to unravel as well like what happened with Phoenix 7 years ago, why isn't he practicing law anymore and just how are Apollo and Trucy involved? The subtle foreshadowing throughout the game and the way everything connects together by the end of the 4th case Turnabout Succession and the whole overarching narrative with the Gramarye Troupe was all just masterfully written.
My biggest problems lie with the middle of the game. Case 2, Turnabout Corner is a fun case thanks to the characters and it's written well enough, but it's also completely filler to the overarching narrative and just feels like padding, whereas case 3, Turnabout Serenade is very important to the story and gives some characters good development as well, but both the gameplay of the case is tedious (Watching the same clip over and over and using the mixing board so much) and there's a massive plot hole/moment where you have to suspend your disbelief and the writing just tanks a bit there.
However both the opening and ending cases are some of the best in the series that I've experienced to this point and while I have some gripes with the middle cases, they still aren't awful and I mostly enjoyed playing through them they just are not quite as good as the start and end, but the game expands the world of Ace Attorney in exciting new ways giving us many new interesting characters like Apollo Justice who acts like Phoenix's protegee, Phoenix's daughter Trucy and of course the flamboyant rockin prosecutor Klavier Gavin and watching how all these character's stories tied together alongside Phoenix was a truly thrilling experience I won't be forgetting anytime soon.
My biggest problems lie with the middle of the game. Case 2, Turnabout Corner is a fun case thanks to the characters and it's written well enough, but it's also completely filler to the overarching narrative and just feels like padding, whereas case 3, Turnabout Serenade is very important to the story and gives some characters good development as well, but both the gameplay of the case is tedious (Watching the same clip over and over and using the mixing board so much) and there's a massive plot hole/moment where you have to suspend your disbelief and the writing just tanks a bit there.
However both the opening and ending cases are some of the best in the series that I've experienced to this point and while I have some gripes with the middle cases, they still aren't awful and I mostly enjoyed playing through them they just are not quite as good as the start and end, but the game expands the world of Ace Attorney in exciting new ways giving us many new interesting characters like Apollo Justice who acts like Phoenix's protegee, Phoenix's daughter Trucy and of course the flamboyant rockin prosecutor Klavier Gavin and watching how all these character's stories tied together alongside Phoenix was a truly thrilling experience I won't be forgetting anytime soon.