2023 has been an incredible yr for video video games, however as I stay up for 2024, there’s one factor I am significantly joyful about: the possibility for Apollo Justice to lastly get the popularity it deserves.
Apollo’s like… I do not know, Ray? In the identical means that following a bloody Luke Skywalker because the protagonist is just about unimaginable, so is Phoenix Wright. Over the course of three script-heavy video games stuffed with lead characterization, Phoenix steals the present. This meant that when Apollo arrived in 2007, he had a mountain to climb.
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I at all times felt like he might by no means attain the highest both. Phoenix is nonetheless an enormous a part of the Apollo story – a bit rougher and extra faraway from the motion, with the outdated protagonist, now a veteran, coaching the brand new one. His adopted daughter grew to become Apollo’s buddy, taking up the position of Mia. Finally, the primary thriller of the primary Apollo recreation has to do with discovering out what occurred to Phoenix between the top of his trilogy and the start of Apollo.
Extra importantly, by the top of the match, I keep in mind most followers solely had one query: So, Fenix is coming again as a lawyer, proper? That is precisely what occurred: the following two video games within the second trilogy, named after Apollo, cut up the caseload not solely between him and Phoenix, but in addition between the third rising lawyer, Athena Sykes.
I actually like Athena, and as a fan of the unique trilogy (utilizing these phrases, the Star Wars comparability appears actually apt), I clearly like Phoenix. However I at all times felt like Apollo ended up being a little bit of a loser.
Capcom made the best strikes with it, as the selections I really feel keen to guess on got here from Ace Lawyer collection creator Shu Takumi. Shaw wrote the script and supervised the primary Apollo recreation, however not the following two. In consequence, the primary recreation has a extra assured really feel – keen to distinguish itself, keen to offer a strong commentary on Japan’s authorized system, and keen as an instance a really totally different protagonist with contrasting attitudes and approaches to issues.
The later video games are nonetheless good, however with out Takumi on the staff, they positively really feel slightly keener to stay to the established order as set out within the Phoenix trilogy, and return to an iconic protagonist from the DS days. They’re nice video games, however I want the main target had remained solely on Apollo for slightly longer. By the point Edgeworth and Maya return, the video games are roughly simply outdated Phoenix video games of victory.
However regardless of that, Apollo remains to be nice in all three video games. Athens too. Each are worthy full-time successors to Phoenix, even when the collection is unlikely to proceed with out the unique protagonist. Now that greater than a decade has handed because the first releases of the primary Apollo recreation, I hope audiences can step again and re-evaluate Apollo not within the shadow of Phoenix, however as an incredible chief in his personal proper.
Gamers will be capable to make this evaluation quickly. Apollo Justice: Ace Lawyer Trilogy shall be launched on virtually all main platforms on January 25.