Ace Attorney

Oh, I'm so sorry for you. I mean, despite you've already been warned by this blog's name, you have the courage to enter this place. Here is where I can talk about absolutely anything as long as I do it in English. Well, except porn. But if porn was the topic, what would there be to talk about?

Having said that, you should already know that you're about to read about something, that I, as a nerd, adore. And that's what makes this post so dangerous. Because if you aren't tolerant enough with nerds, you'll start to think about me as if I was an alien. And if you do that, I'll have to do another oral presentation about that. And you'll have to listen to my humble story and my philosophical stuff anooooother time. And you don't want that, right?

So, this is your last chance to exit. If you're a teacher (maybe there's one reading that, you never know), this is your last chance to say "Ok, I won't waste my time with that s***. I'll just assign him a 10 for his blog and that's it."

Still here? Whew, you really have to like me. 

Just kidding.

So, you thought that 999 and it's successor were the only visual novels I freaked out about?

Because the Ace Attorney series, ladies and (mato fato SHUT UP) gentlemen, is the one that inspired the creators of 999. Yep, this game is the godfather of the modern visual novels. And as always, it gets so little acknowledgement... It's a shame.

But, let's stop complaining and let's talk about the game!

You play as Phoenix Wright, the smart guy with the spiky hairstyle you see above. He's a rookie attorney, he just passed his exams and he's already about to start his first case. Yep, his name's Wright and he works as an attorney. Guess where I got this love for wordplays from. Yep, my father. Oh, and this game, too.

  

Phoenix' mentor is Mia, the woman with the big... eyes you can see in the picture on the left. Mia teaches him the most important things to be a good attorney. An ideal attorney. That is, she doesn't tell him how to betray the whole court to win. No no no, she tries to teach him the philosophy of the job as a an attorney. 

So, talking about courts, attorneys, etc., I'm quite sure you think this game is rather serious and maybe a little boring.

Hahahahahaha, if that's the case, you don't know me at all.

This game is FULL of humour, crazy stuff and even some paranormal activities (no, no reference this time, I don't like those films). And still, the story's so moving and logical that you get the feeling that you're reading a very good written book. 

But how do you play? Well, the game is split up into two parts. The investigation part and the court part.

When you're investigating, you simply go from one place to another and examine the crime scene. You look for hints, talk to the people involved, try to find out some secrets. When you have enough information, the game turns to the court part, which is the highlight of this game.

You see that serious-looking guy in red in the picture above? He's a star prosecutor, Miles Edgeworth. He's never lost any case. And guess what, he becomes Phoenix Wright's rival quite quickly in the game. In court, you have to cross-examine the witnesses. Whenever you find a contradiction between the testimony and the evidences, you object and show everyone the lies or the mistakes of the witness.
And exactly this is what makes this so game so epic. When you had to fight a long time in court, you're about to reveal the truth about the crime, the witness says something and then your inner light turns on and you object because you just found the contradiction. And then the prosecutor, who almost ALWAYS finds a way to weaken your defense objects too and gives an explanation for the contradiciton...
During a case, there are always several twist points in the plot, when you realise the truth and turn the whole case round.
And I can't forget to mention the characters. Every, really every single character, is so peculiar that you won't be able to forget any of them. The script is so good, you really begin to love or hate the characters. Or maybe both things. And everytime you think that the characters and the cases can't become crazier, Phoenix shouts out OBJECTION!

I can tell you so many things about that game, but I don't want to spoil you the story and you have to experience it by yourself to understand its perfection. The Ace Attorney series consists of 4 games, being the first three games the main trilogy and with a 4th game changing the protagonist. There are also two spin-offs where you play as Miles Edgeworth, but only one of them managed to get released outside of Japan. This autumn, the 5th game of the series will make its way to Europe and I CAN'T WAIT FOR IT.
If you'd like to experience the game by yourself (legally, of course), don't worry, you don't even need a game console. If you have an iPhone you can download the whole main trilogy from the app store in an HD version (I think this is the only moment in my whole lifetime I really desired to have an iPhone.. but shhhht!)* for only 15€! And the first two cases of the first game are free! So if you want to have a look at it before you download it, here's your opportunity ;) Click on me for information about the app!

*Yes, I'd buy these games a second time