Case Ratings

These are just my personal opinions and ratings on all of the Ace Attorney Trilogy cases! I'll be adding the cases from the other games at a later time :] Cases are in order from favorite to least favorite! Full ratings are currently a work in progress, but all the numerical ratings are here.

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Bridge to the Turnabout - 10/10

IS THIS A BASIC FAVORITE? MAYBE. BUT IT'S A POPULAR CHOICE FOR A REASON!

Everything about this case is exactly what I want out of Ace Attorney... From getting to play as Edgeworth, to the slow unraveling of Phoenix and Iris' relationship, to the twists and turns of how channeling was used throughout the case. Everything about it is so brilliant.

As a massive Phoenix fan (who loves to watch him suffer, lol), his decision to try and run across the bridge to save Maya just really gets me. His willingness to put himself into danger for those he loves is consistently one of my favorite traits of his. Even with his fear of heights, even with the bridge on fire, even with Eagle River rushing below, he didn't think twice before running to save her.

I just think this case was such an amazing send off for the original trilogy. It really feels like an ending. If Ace Attorney ended here, I would be satisfied.

Farewell, my Turnabout - 10/10

MAN. THIS CASE. I think there's something deeply fascinating about playing a case that you CAN'T win (at least, not if you want the good ending). And speaking of, I LOVE that this case has the option for a bad ending. I think it does an excellent job of tying together the theme throughout this case of just what it means to be a defense attorney...

Phoenix's savior complex comes in swinging again in this one. Between his statement on how he believes that to be an defense attorney is to save people (and Edgeworth's reminder that they aren't heroes), to his desperation to save Maya, he's putting a lot of pressure on himself in this case.

Like with Bridge to the Turnabout, a solid chunk of this case is Phoenix being stressed as all hell over Maya, and I adore every second of it. For all that the two of them bicker, I love these moments that show just how much Maya really means to Phoenix. They may get on each other's nerves, but the moment Maya is in danger, Phoenix drops everything.

All of the post-trial scenes are also wonderful, it really strikes that fun found family vibe I love between the cast. Though Justice for All is my least favorite game in the trilogy, it absolutely has my favorite ending.

Turnabout Goodbyes - 10/10

I might like the finale cases...

Look, as a massive Edgeworth fan, I adore this case. It does such a wonderful job of really showing just WHY he is the way he is. I think up until this point, he's a very charming antagonist, but I think this case makes him a SYMPATHETIC one. I love a tragic, traumatic past.

And I REALLY love an estranged childhood best friends plotline. Even setting aside my biases (I love you, Narumitsu), I just find Miles' history with Phoenix to be incredibly compelling.

(Even if you don't ship Narumitsu... I think we can agree becoming an attorney to meet your childhood best friend again to save him is undoubtedly an act of love, even if you don't read it as romantic.)

I adore seeing Miles outside of the courtroom... Something I love about his characterization (that I feel is under-utilized by the fandom) is just how awkward Miles can be outside of court. He's clearly very dependent on the push and pull of a trial, and without it, it seems like he can struggle when it comes to talking to people.

I think the ending here is a great set-up for Edgeworth's story in the next game (or, beginning that set up. Rise From the Ashes exists in some sort of vague, abstract space within canon). This uncertainty of himself and what he stands for is impossible to ignore now, and it's easy to see how it all culminates into his actions between this game and the next. Though his actions are definitely drastic, I don't think it's hard to see why he would feel like faking his death was the best thing to do.

Basically, I love Miles and how angsty and dramatic he can be. This case, to me, is the REAL start of his story.

Turnabout Memories - 9/10

Is this pretty high for a tutorial case? Maybe. But consider this: I don't care. I adore it anyway.

To start: I think having Mia be the player character for this trial is a great way to approach the tutorial. It gives a great reason for WHY you would need everything explained for you, without it feeling clunky. I also simply love getting to play as Mia. I love you Mia.

Of course, I'm a Phoenix Wright lover first and a human being second. I'm sure plenty of people have their own thoughts and feelings on Phoenix in this case (I'm well aware that many people think he's annoying or embarassing here), but they could never make me hate him. I love seeing this younger, more naive Phoenix, so deeply in love that he's willing to take the fall for Dahlia.

(He eats GLASS for her. That may have had poison in it. What the fuck is wrong with him (affectionate.))

Being a short case, I don't have the most to say here. Mostly, I just love Phoenix a lot. Yes, that is enough to get it a 9/10. That's all it needs.

Turnabout Beginnings - 8/10

Reunion, and Turnabout - 8/10

Rise From The Ashes - 7/10

Look, we all know this case's downfall...

I spent about 4 days telling myself that I WOULD be finishing this case, only for it to suddenly be 3am and I still wasn't done. This case is LONG.

Don't get me wrong, I think this case is great. And I thing I would be able to put it higher if only I hadn't spent so much time wondering when it would finally end! Very rarely do I love every single side character in a case, but I think everyone here is great.

I'll admit, this case didn't sell me super hard on Ema until the end. I ADORE the reveal of her involvement in SL-9.

Turnabout Sisters - 7/10

Turnabout Samurai -

The First Turnabout -

The Lost Turnabout -

Recipe for Turnabout - 2.5/10

Big Top Turnabout - 1/10

Fuck this case.

(Jk, I will be writing a serious rating, I promise.)