It’s rare when a trilogy is good from beginning to end; whether it’s a film, book, or video game trilogy. Many times, there’s a pretty big dip in quality somewhere along the way. That can’t be said for the original Ace Attorney trilogy, however.
The video game series that follows the porcupine-haired defense attorney, Phoenix Wright, is a great example of a trilogy that lands its beginning, middle, and end.
Even though some cases might not be as great as others, none of them ever fall below the line of good. Even the “worst” ones are still a blast. This begs the question: if all of them are good, which are the best?
Luckily, there’s an (opinionated) answer to that question. Here are the 5 best Ace Attorney cases from the original trilogy. Oh, and there are spoilers all over the place, so stop reading here if you have yet to complete the three games.
Best Ace Attorney Cases from The Original Trilogy
- Turnabout Memories (3-1)
- Rise from the Ashes (1-5)
- Farewell, My Turnabout (2-4)
- Turnabout Goodbyes (1-4)
- Bridge to the Turnabout (3-5)
1. Turnabout Memories (3-1)
Although it is the first case in the third game, Turnabout Memories takes place before the trilogy even begins. And instead of playing as Phoenix Wright, the player assumes control of Mia Fey, Wright’s mentor throughout the games. That’s not to say that Wright doesn’t appear in the case at all.
He is there in an important way; he’s the one being accused of murder! Wright lands in hot water with the law after being witnessed having a confrontation with a man who later winds up dead.
This is a great case for several reasons. One, it shows a different side of Wright, before he became a serious defense attorney. Two, players get to witness Mia Fey do her thing in the courtroom. It’s refreshing to see since she mentors the players in every game, and they finally show what she could really do.
Finally, this case isn’t a one-and-done. The story told by this case continues, and it has lasting consequences that we see unfold in the future.
2. Rise From the Ashes (1-5)
This is the last case of the first game, and it was originally a bonus case for the Nintendo DS version. Who knows why the development team decided to go all out for a bonus case, but fans aren’t complaining because it’s one of the best in the series.
Chief Prosecutor Lana Skye is accused of murder. To the dismay of Phoenix Wright and Lana’s younger sister, Ema, Lana fully confesses. However, Ema begs Wright to take the case, and although it seems like a massive uphill battle, he agrees.
This case has so many twists and turns that it’s hard to predict what will happen next. The end of the case seems near, the truth seems ready to be spilled, and then there are more bombshells dropped on the players. Rise From the Ashes continues to be one of the best cases in the series.
3. Farewell, My Turnabout (2-4)
The grand finale to the second game, Farewell, My Turnabout has the highest stakes imaginable. Normally, the people who need help the most are the defendants accused of murder. In this situation, there is someone who needs help more than anyone else.
Maya Fey, Wright’s friend and assistant, is kidnapped. The kidnapper doesn’t demand money or expensive items; instead, all he wants is Phoenix Wright to represent a man suspected of murder and to get a not guilty verdict.
It’s never an easy task to do that, but it’s especially hard in this case. The defendant, an actor, seems guilty in every way imaginable. With a loved one’s life on the line, Wright has to do everything he can to win a seemingly impossible case.
That’s what makes it so great; the fact that it appears to be virtually unwinnable, and that’s why it’s one of the best Ace Attorney cases in the trilogy.
4. Turnabout Goodbyes (1-4)
This is the case that wraps everything up in the first game. A man named Miles Edgeworth is accused of murder. He’s Wright’s former friend, rival, and the prosecutor that has been battling with Wright in the courtroom throughout the game.
Now, he finds himself on the defense’s side in a way he never imagined. If that’s not bad enough for him, this murder he’s been accused of seems to have a connection to another murder that happened many years ago. The murder of his father.
To solve the mystery of what’s happening in the present, Wright and Edgeworth have to figure out what happened in the past. This is one of the most satisfying cases in the trilogy because its story was foreshadowed and alluded to a few times in previous cases. To finally learn what really happened makes the wait worth the while.
5. Bridge to the Turnabout (3-5)
All of the aforementioned cases are fantastic, however, the absolute best one is the final case in the entire trilogy. Bridge to the Turnabout ends the story in a big bang that sees past characters return, storylines wrap up, and secrets unfold.
A woman is murdered in a temple located in a faraway mountain. Phoenix Wright, Maya, and Maya’s younger cousin Pearl, were visiting the temple when it happens. However, the worst is yet to come for the trio. During the night of the murder, Wright gets hurt, Maya gets isolated, and Pearl becomes lost.
All seems lost for the protagonists, and everything especially seems lost for a nun who’s accused of the murder. But that’s when Wright’s friends step up when he’s unavailable to keep this case afloat until he can return. Friends and even a former enemy come back to help him during his time of need.
The game’s big story is finally completed and fully explained, and even storylines that were there since the beginning of the trilogy are concluded. Bridge to the Turnabout is the best case in the trilogy, and it’s one of the best Ace Attorney cases in the entire series.