The Best Ace Attorney Protagonists

Key Takeaways

Athena Cykes brings a new dynamic with her skills and character development, deserving further spotlight.
Phoenix Wright’s narrative evolution suggests a mentoring role may be better suited for future installments.
Apollo Justice demonstrates growth and independence, making his branching off a narrative success.

As a seasoned fan of the Ace Attorney series, I can’t help but feel a profound sense of admiration for the characters that populate this captivating universe. Among these intriguing figures, two stand out as the epitome of legal brilliance: Phoenix Wright and Ryunosuke Naruhodo.

The “Ace Attorney” series, a visual novel franchise, has steadily grown to be one of Capcom’s top-selling titles. It uniquely blends intriguing mysteries with over-the-top caricatures of the Japanese legal system, often resulting in the conviction of defendants.

The narrative predominantly revolves around Phoenix Wright, a tenacious lawyer dedicated to uncovering the truth in every case he handles. He collects evidence from his investigations and presents this proof in court to support his arguments. Ultimately, he uncovers the truth and sees the guilty party brought to justice. Over time, numerous sequels and spin-offs have been produced, causing Phoenix Wright’s status as the game’s sole protagonist to be debated. As other characters take up defense work in his absence, it’s worth examining how effectively they’ve been utilized in these roles.

5 Athena Cykes

A Newer Character That Deserves More Time In The Spotlight

In Dual Destinies, Athena Cykes debuted as the latest addition to the Wright Anything Agency. She uniquely blends her legal expertise with an extraordinary hearing sensitivity that perceives emotions, and profound understanding of analytical psychology – traits rarely seen in attorneys. This unique combination empowers her to gauge emotions during testimony, spot inconsistencies through them, and employ her portable computer and AI companion, Widget, more effectively. Despite featuring in only two Ace Attorney games, she still appears relatively inexperienced alongside Apollo and Phoenix.

In every game where Cykes appears, she’s only taken on the role of the main defense attorney once. Yet, she frequently works alongside other lawyers, even though she is often portrayed as a central character. An intriguing aspect about her is that her first full trial as the primary defense attorney, “Turnabout Academy,” is considered one of the most engaging trials in the game. This trial is unique because it investigates a murder at a law school, and boasts an interesting ensemble of characters. Notably, Cykes is the only female character who leads an investigation; other temporary protagonists like Mia Fey and Susato Mikotoba exclusively handle courtroom cases. However, in “Turnabout Countdown,” she initially took on the primary defense attorney role but soon stepped aside to let Wright take over when he entered the courtroom.

In her second major role as the lead defense attorney, “Turnabout Storyteller,” stands out distinctly. Yet, it’s brief and suggests that Cykes has much room to grow before she can match the caliber of her fellow defense attorneys. It also offers an intriguing twist by having a prosecutor serve as her co-counsel instead of the usual defense attorney or assistant characters common in the series. Developing a future game installment where Cykes demonstrates her full potential could make for an engaging Ace Attorney storyline.

4 Phoenix Wright

The Legendary Attorney

Phoenix Wright, hailing from the popular series “Ace Attorney,” is renowned for being its primary lawyer. His unique blend of sarcasm, emotional depth, and occasional humor make him an engaging character to watch. He possesses a magatama, a sacred charm presented to him by Pearl Fey, which allows him to discern lies when put to use in questioning someone. While the games aren’t universally recognized as canon, Wright has found himself on a mission to save the world on multiple occasions, appearing in titles like “Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3” and “Project X Zone 2.

Though Phoenix Wright is entertaining to watch, there’s an inconsistency in the story regarding his advanced legal skills and his involvement in numerous cases. Throughout the game “Spirit of Justice,” Wright has been portrayed as an exceptional defense attorney, even defeating prosecutors once considered invincible. However, this image is contrasted at times by his absence from America (or Japan in the original text), which serves as a plot device in various cases. During this time, he’s engaged in legal matters in Khura’in, a place where the law could potentially punish him as severely as his clients if they are found guilty. This is demonstrated through instances such as saving a 9-year-old (and himself) from capital punishment.

Currently, it’s challenging to enjoy Wright as much as the main character because of his skills at this stage. Originally, Wright was slated for Trials and Tribulations, but the success of the initial trilogy fueled calls for additional sequels. A potential future role for him could be that of a mentor, much like in Apollo Justice, where he displayed a more relaxed side, less engaged with the court system due to his disbarment.

Despite losing his badge, he remained fiercely committed to uncovering the truth of the case. On numerous occasions, he guided Apollo towards the correct path. If another “Ace Attorney” game emerges, it could be beneficial for him to take on a supporting role, perhaps handling cases not directly related to the main storyline, thus preventing potential re-occurrence of events that led to his badge loss.

3 Apollo Justice

A Strong Character In His Own Right

In simpler terms, much like Phoenix Wright, Apollo Justice is portrayed as a character with a witty, sarcastic side and a strong sense of justice. His quest in every case revolves around uncovering the truth. Moreover, he has a distinctive accessory – a bracelet that constricts when it senses dishonesty.

As a dedicated gamer, I’ve had the chance to spend more time with Apollo Justice than Athena Cykes. His first major appearance was from his perspective, and Wright and his adoptive daughter Trucy were there to lend a hand for most of his trials. He shared the spotlight with Phoenix in the game titled “Spirit of Justice” and was the primary defense attorney in two cases during “Dual Destinies,” serving as co-counsel in another one. Eventually, he left Wright Anything Agency to rebuild the shattered legal system in Khura’In. However, being the only active law office around, I found myself dealing with a flood of cases after that.

It seems likely that his departure was a smart move from a storytelling perspective, since the trilogy consistently depicted Apollo becoming more self-reliant and emerging from under Phoenix’s extensive influence. Leaving to start his own law firm may have been the most suitable way to conclude this particular plot development.

2 Miles Edgeworth

Prosecutor Turned Attorney

In the initial Ace Attorney game, Edgeworth was introduced as Wright’s adversary. He is portrayed as an arrogant prosecutor with impeccable style, willing to go to any length to secure a victory in court. However, following his representation by Wright, Edgeworth reconsiders his values and resolves to pursue truth above all else. Interestingly, he took on the role of protagonist during the first half of Bridge to the Turnabout, the concluding part of Trials and Tribulations. Later, due to a severe injury, Wright enlists the help of his friend and rival, Edgeworth, to defend him in court.

Although he was a prosecutor, Edgeworth found himself drawn to accept new opportunities. His brief stint as a defense attorney in the spin-off games was just a foretaste of more to come. In these games, Edgeworth’s logic skills took center stage, playing a crucial role in solving cases. This methodology involves carefully gathering facts and logically connecting them to draw sound conclusions. The follow-up game, Prosecutor’s Gambit, introduced Logic Chess, a gameplay feature where one strategically aligns points (represented by chess pieces) to counter an opponent’s argument in a visually engaging way.

In the fictional world of Edgeworth’s series, the justice system often leans towards the prosecution, causing a shift in focus towards investigations rather than courtroom appearances. In these narratives, Edgeworth frequently encounters individuals who are wrongly accused of murder, and he works tirelessly to prove their innocence by uncovering evidence, developing arguments, and ultimately identifying the true culprit. In some instances, such as in “Prosecutor’s Gambit,” Edgeworth contemplates switching sides to become a defense attorney due to obstacles encountered while solving cases. Yet, he ultimately chooses to remain a prosecutor, believing that the system can function more efficiently with honest individuals working within it.

Prior to Dual Destinies, Edgeworth was appointed as the head prosecutor. Although he doesn’t serve as the main prosecutor in any game he features in, he assumes a significant role, almost like a special adversary, taking on one trial for each game. In essence, Edgeworth is positioned prominently as a protagonist, with both games revolving around his interactions and concerns about systemic corruption, along with showcasing his distinct reasoning and argumentation techniques. His restricted but impactful appearances help establish him as an exceptionally capable prosecutor.

1 Ryunosuke Naruhodo

The Great Ace Attorney

Phoenix Wright’s Japanese ancestor from the Meiji era was also a defense attorney. He stars in a spin-off series known as The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles. Ryunosuke is similar in a lot of ways to his modern-day descendants, with developers admitting the differing time periods act as the best way to distinguish the two. A string of events compels him to study law in London, where he operates as a defense attorney with aid from his more learned assistant, Susato Mikotoba. The pair investigate various mysteries tied to the courts with the help of Herlock Sholmes, a local detective who is famed for his mystery-solving prowess.

In this spin-off, the storyline deviates from some traditional elements, like the magatama, and introduces new mechanics instead. Ryunosuke engages in Sherlock Holmes’ style of logical deduction, where initial assumptions are often corrected by Ryunosuke as they both navigate the crime scene. At times, it appears they are performing a dance around the crime, with Ryunosuke frequently encountering racism from certain English individuals who express disdain for his Japanese heritage during their moments of frustration with him. This is especially true of his rival prosecutor, Barok Van Zieks. However, despite these challenges, Ryunosuke demonstrates his competence as an attorney and ultimately exposes the corrupt underpinnings of London’s criminal justice system.

Ryunosuke is the most effectively used main character in the Ace Attorney series, and the number of games he features in creates a compelling narrative arc. Unlike many other games in the series, Adventures and its sequel, Resolve, strongly hint at a continuation. Despite the conclusive nature of these two games, they leave room for more stories to unfold.

2024-10-07 10:54