Everything Wrong With: Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney
Episode One: Turnabout Trump
Spoilers... duh
"Wait, this case took place took place on 4/20? Damn. I should have smoked a joint before starting this review. Hold on a sec..." *forgets to sin
(In the lobby) "Who did the local government pay to do that painting of His Honor? However much it was, I can guarantee it was too much." *ding
"Professional attorney Kristoph Gavin forgot to put his collar down this morning. Considering how obsessed we later learn he is with personal appearance, this should be our first sign something is seriously wrong with him." *ding
("Your first trial, and it's a homicide. I guess "Justice" doesn't start small.") "No, it's because Justice is a main character in this series, and that's the only kind of trial they're allowed to take. Get it right, Gavin." *ding
"Apollo wakes up at five am to scream for four hours. And I thought I hated my life." *ding
"Phoenix makes fun of Apollo for having an odd name, but um... His mother named him Phoenix. Does he really have room to talk?" *ding
"Also... (ahem) (in my best impression) I'm sorry, the old Phoenix Wright can't come to the phone right now. Why? ...Oh! Cause he's dead. (Music restarts)" *ding
(In the trial) "Winston Payne's hair." *ding
"The Phoenix Wright reveal. I cannot be the only one who screamed when I first played this game." *ding
"Also, Apollo gives a voice to every player ever during the "Phoenix is a gambling hobo" scene. He should already know this happened, but we need to audience to get used to this, so-" *ding
(Grape juice was the murder weapon) "Obvious substitution of alcohol is obvious." *ding
"Shadi Smith. There's no way that's an alias or anything." *ding
"I click that I don't want a Cross Examination tutorial, but the game gives me one anyway. Why?" *ding
"Game goes from the optimistic, we're-all-family-and-help-each-other-fight-our-demons mood at the end of T&T to... Gambling in a smoky room once made for gangsters all night with a bottle of "grape juice" at your side. Some might call this maturation of the series. I call it the edgy teenage years." *ding
"The Logic theme. I don't normally remove sins for Logic themes, but this one is too good to pass on. The whole soundtrack is amazing." *removes a sin
"Does Phoenix still own the same cell phone he did in the first game? I think he still owns the same cell phone he did in the first game. It's been ten years, man!" *ding
(Orly takes the stand) "Orly confesses to casually dropping cold borscht onto customer's laps all the time, but is still employed as a waitress. I don't care how high I am. If some wastes my meal by dropping it on me, I'm not going back to this rest- Great, now I want some borscht. Hold on..." *remembers to sin before leaving
"A gangster named Badgai. It's not quite naming a character after lettuce, but really?" *ding
"Apollo jumps to the same conclusion as the rest of us about Orly being the killer. I guess he, like us, played the trilogy before coming here. Too bad this game was made to be a big fuck you to its predecessors, or I could almost count this as genre savviness." *ding
("That's ridiculous because... Mr. Wright can't lose!") "Frivolous Objection cliche. I see we're starting early this game?" *ding
"His Honor was scandalized by the thought of poker at the beginning of the trial. Now, he's "the Poker Head of Courtroom No. 3". I'm going to be saying this a lot to various characters in this game, but... Hypocrite much?" *ding
(Phoenix gets out of the charge he stole a locket by saying it has a picture of his daughter inside) "Clever bastard." *no sin out of grudging respect
(The poker chip contradiction) "Game thinks I'm willing to do math in order to solve this case. Game could not be more wrong." *ding
"First Payne and the judge admonish Phoenix for playing poker, then they shame Apollo for having never played. Make up your mind, assholes." *ding
(Apollo examines the back of the cards) "How is the Apollo the first one to notice this? Are you telling me no one in the police investigation ever flipped the cards in the victim's hand over even once? Not even by accident? What is it with this series and their inability to check the back of things?!" *ding
"The Pursuit theme." *removes a sin
"Fainting in court cliché." *ding
"In both the first case of the fourth game and the fourth case of the first game, an acquittal is prolonged by the defendant for the purpose of revealing the true killer and dragging up past events. And I thought I named all the parallels in my Turnabout Goodbyes review." *sin on me for forgetting one
"Just think: If Gavin hadn't felt the need to wax poetic about card color, he would have never been suspected of this murder by anyone other than Phoenix. Culprit foils his own plot for one of the most minor and stupid of reasons." *ding
"Judge calls Gavin to his chamber for unspecified (and, as far as we know, unimportant) reasons, all so Phoenix can talk alone with Apollo for the sake of the plot. Is His Honor in on the plot? Did Takumi promise to play poker with him afterwards? This is never explained." *ding
(Phoenix and Kristoph passive-aggressively fight during recess) "Phoenix and Kristoph are locked in an intense foreshadowing contest to see who can tell you the most about how this case ends. Right now, I'd say they're about neck and neck." *ding
"Phoenix tells Apollo about Apollo's own superpower. Because clearly Apollo has never been around a tense person before, felt his bracelet tighten, looked around to figure out why, and possibly figured the trick out for himself. No way was that a situation that ever could have occurred in his life." *ding
(Back in trial) "Innocent first case witness is given a transformation worthy of a culprit for the sole purpose of confusing the player. Much like the character, AJ:AA doesn't start small with their mysteries, does it?" *not really a sin
(Making jokes about Orly's name) "This goes on for some time." *ding
"Shadi Enigmar came out of hiding not to see his daughter, ensure her adoptive parent is taking care of her, explain why he abandoned her, or to clear his name. No, it's to keep the Gramarye rights out of his ex-partner's hands and destroy Phoenix's second career. When the latter fails, he throws a hissy fit and assaults his accomplice. If he hadn't been killed off before the first case started, I can almost guarantee he'd be one of the most hated characters in the series. In some circles, he still is. This guy has no redeeming character traits. None." *three sins for now
(Orly takes pleasure in her role of framing Phoenix) "Why are all the blonde characters invested in exposing Phoenix as a fraud in this game? I thought it was the redheads who had a problem with him." *ding
"Also, heavy-handed parallels with the finale case. It makes for a great intro case, but a lackluster finale. Everyone expects the best twists to come at the end of the story. If you play your best hands in the first round, you aren't going to walk away with the big bucks when the night is over. For a game with a case so focused on gambling, you think it would adhere to the principles better." *ding
(The Perceive Minigame) "Whoooooaaaa that background. I know I took drugs before this case started, but I don't have anything close to what Apollo is on. Who does he get his shit from?" *ding
(Orly explains her assault) "Speaking of getting hit with a bottle... one hit on the head from an empty glass bottle at a cheap, seedy restaurant (who probably buys the cheapest grape juice possible) is supposedly enough to give a man cerebral hemorrhaging (internal bleeding within the brain) and instantaneous death without breaking the bottle. Despite that, a hit to the neck causes no ill effects beyond lingering soreness and temporary unconsciousness. Why? How? No way do I believe a white collar lawyer who prefers poisoning his victims has more upper body strength than a trained magician on the run from the law for years, so either Shadi Enigmar has a crazy thin skull, or this murder makes no sense at all." *five sins
"Also, with bottles as cheap as I think they are, there should be shards at that crime scene. Gavin should be wearing gloves to hide the cuts. His blood should be at the murder scene. Orly should be covered in broken glass from her assault. But none of this is included in-game, because... reasons. I guess there's a reason our writer went into gaming, and not forensic science." *three more sins
("Mr. Gavin vs. Mr. Wright... This can't end well.) "Apollo summarizes the entire game in less than ten words. Also:
Apollo: Why can't I have a normal trial!?
"Because you're a main character in this series. I know it might not feel this way, but you are the protagonist of this game. Believe it or not." *ding
"Phoenix admits to purposefully altering a crime scene under oath in court for the sole purpose of entrapment. And naturally, these actions lead to no consequences whatsoever." *ding
(Phoenix recorded the conversation between himself and Kristoph Gavin) "That's not legal. In order to record a conversation in California and have it be legally accepted, both parties must consent to the recording. Sure, this isn't the only time Phoenix uses illegal evidence to prove his point, but I'm surprised no one (say, Kristoph) objects to it." *ding
("You mean someone cracked that flawless bone china plate?") "I'm serious. The only flaw Kristoph has as an Ace Attorney villain is his tendency to wax poetic about details he shouldn't know about. If this man knew how to watch his mouth, he would've gotten away with everything. And despite everything... I kinda get the feeling he should have. But more on that later." *ding
"Also, there's a very easy way for Kristoph to get out of this one: just claim the victim tipped his hat at Kristoph as they passed in the hallway. Sure, he has no way of proving it, but Phoenix can't prove it didn't happen, and Kristoph isn't the one on trial here; Phoenix is. If the burden of proof is on anyone, it's on Phoenix (at least at this juncture)." *ding
"Also also... where was Kristoph when Phoenix made this call? If he was still in the passageway near the Hydeout, there's no way he had cell phone signal. This call should not have happened." *ding
"His Honor calls a recess so Payne can prepare Gavin's testimony, but when they actually go into recess, both Gavin and Phoenix are in the judge's chamber. I guess 'judge's chamber' is code for 'plot convenient absence'?" *ding
(Trucy's appearance) "Phoenix couldn't have forged evidence in Detention, which means Trucy was instructed by her father to forge the ace card, deliver it to a defense attorney during trial, and have the attorney present it at the exact moment necessary to corner (who he believes is) the true killer. Save the first part... does this not sound familiar to anyone? Does Phoenix not think it's at all risky to put newbie, innocent, third-party Apollo's badge on the line on his very first case using the same trick his enemy did to get him disbarred? Does he not see the hypocrisy in using Trucy to hurt Gavin the same way Gavin did him? Part of me wants to hate him for this, but the other... can't see another way for him to have taken Gavin down. I've both loved and hated this case for years on end, all of because of this one action. On one hand, this very move is a complete contradiction to everything the trilogy and greater series stands for in terms of ideals, optimism, and morality. On the other... it's coldly cynical in a way no other game in the series is, and done for purely practical purposes. If Phoenix hates criminals, and wants to take them down alone... he'll do what's needed. In one game, this would make him the villain of the story. But in this one, he's seen as a hero. And how you personally view his actions ultimately says a lot about you as a person. It took Justice For All four cases to set up a conundrum this thought-provoking, and this game does it right out the gate. That takes skill." *ultimately no sin. But only because I can't decide
("My father's fate is in your hands.") "Foreshadowing. In more ways than one." *still not a sin, and I'm not sure why
(Back in trial for the last time) "Objection 2001." *removes a sin
"I know Kristoph claims the only way Apollo could have the ace is if it were forged (and that's ultimately what does him in) but... is being the killer really the only way to come to that conclusion? Apollo never visited the scene of the crime in person. The card was never found during the police investigation. Phoenix was (presumably) searched upon arrest, and it wasn't with him. So if the card was genuine... how on earth would Apollo have acquired it? I understand the plot needs to happen, but if the game was so sensitive to forged evidence seven years ago, why don't they feel the same way now? I want Apollo to remain a lawyer as much as the next player, but... I can't justify this logically! I just can't." *three sins
"Also, Phoenix's explanation of picking up the card for Trucy is bullshit for the reasons outlined above. No way would the the police not seize that card as evidence, had that been the case." *ding
"Also also... forgery claims are made in this court, but no one ever actually analyzes the evidence in question. I doubt Trucy had a sample of her father's blood on hand, so a DNA test would likely prove the evidence isn't genuine. I mean, I guess this is lucky for Apollo, but it seems odd that no one even bothers to check the disputed card. As of now, Kristoph is still seen as a more trustworthy person than Phoenix. Why would everyone just ignore him?" *ding
"If the victim's head dripped blood on the table, why did his hat fall on the floor? That never gets explained." *ding
"Kristoph makes a true statement about the validity of the evidence in question under evidence law (as defined by Rise from the Ashes), and the court's response is to completely ignore him. I get he's an asshole, but does everyone just collectively hate this guy and want him to be convicted at all costs? ...Believable, but still sin-worthy." *ding
"3D layouts of the crime scene." *removes a sin
"I get the logic behind moving the victim and the killer around, but... is there anything disproving the idea of the killer standing off to the side and hitting the victim's forehead by swinging sideways? Best I can tell, that scenario is just as possible with current evidence, not to mention far less complicated." *ding
"A secret passageway ex machina is bad enough, but how exactly does this passageway work? We know the room was created for black marketeers, and can safely assume this was meant as an escape route out of the room. Slide the cupboard aside and make your escape. With that in mind, how would Gavin have been able to move the cupboard aside from inside the passageway? How did he move it back as he was leaving? This is never explained." *ding
"Also, if the passage connects to the restaurant above, how did Phoenix and Gavin never see each other up there? When exactly did Gavin enter the passageway? How was he able to time his entrance exactly right to ensure neither Phoenix nor Orly actually saw him at the crime scene? I wouldn't think he could hear very well from behind the cabinet. And now we really need to know where Gavin was when Phoenix called him: if he were down in the Hydeout portion of the passageway, he wouldn't have cell signal. If he were in the vicinity of the restaurant area, Phoenix would have heard his phone ring nearby. We also know Kristoph substituted the murder weapons out after the murder (he was still around after committing the crime) so... yeah. This murder makes no sense at all. How none of this was brought up in Kristoph's trial (and led to a 'lack of evidence' acquittal') is beyond me." *three sins
"Speaking of Kristoph's trial... how come he was found guilty? The evidence presented in this trial has got to be the shakiest this series has ever seen, and he's supposedly the best attorney in town. You're telling me he can't defend himself against accusations this flimsy from a man no one trusts and a newbie on his first case? I understand the plot reasons behind it, but really: what would have been changed by Kristoph scoring an acquittal for himself in the aftermath of this case? He can still fire Apollo afterwarda (leaving the middle cases unchanged), it would give him the appearance of a more competent rival, make him seem like an actual threat in the finale, and the only scene they would have to alter is the setting in the MASON system. Phoenix could just go to Kristoph's house or law office and get the same result. In fact, that might even be a more believable sequence of events, because of the poison on the- I'm getting ahead of myself and ranting when I could just as easily sin." *ding
"Also... Kristoph had to get his murder weapon off the table, right? How did the victim (who was closer and wound up with rage) not get to it before him? He would be standing (or sitting) in the way, wouldn't he? Why would a man as meticulous as Kristoph not bring his own weapon? If he wanted to get the victim before the victim (who's already knocked one person out tonight) got him, he would have to strike in an instant. An instant he loses by reaching for the bottle. Remind me how Phoe- I mean, Apollo wins this case again?" *ding
"Seeing Payne flailing like this reminds me: that man is utterly useless in this case. Is it any wonder we never see his character again in the main series? My bet is he retired after this." *ding
(Phoenix requested the bottles be brought to trial) "And the defendant of this case was allowed to request such a thing... why again?" *ding
"Gavin's telekinesis powers." *ding
("A dark time is coming for our legal system...") "Foreshadowing. This may also be where Dual Destinies got their idea for the Dark Age of Law, but let's face it: when was anything Dual Destinies put in their game nearly as dark as this? I don't know which game I'm sinning here, but it's a sin nonetheless." *ding
(Apollo punches Phoenix) "...Yeah. He had it coming." *no sin
Total Sin Tally: 64
Sentence: Cold Borscht (spilled all over you)
A/N's: Well that was a ride. Like Apollo, I did NOT start small on this case. I had to research quite a few sins (I still don't have a solid answer on the bit about using a bottle to kill somebody, so if anyone has more insight on that, don't be afraid to speak up), but I wanted to make sure I said exactly what I meant to regarding this case. It's quite controversial, after all.
My opinions can be seen in this work, but I see both sides here, and don't mind discussing it with other people. This may be my favorite first case of the series, but there are still sections that make my stomach turn. I can still remember playing this case for the first time and let me tell you: it was a shock to the system. There were cases before this with surprising elements, sure, but none that shook me to the core like this one. And with a game like this, it's very unapologetic about its new direction. You either like what it's doing, or you hate it. It's really hard to be ambiguous, and yet that's what I am. Approach me one day, I'll take one side. The next day? I've switched.
Also, I feel like a shout out is in order here: thank you, Vimtrust5 for inspiring me to finish this case as soon as I did. I was procrastinating on this project when I saw them post their own review of AJ (for those who don't know, this author writes CinemaWins for this series as a counter to my own work). Their chapters are shorter than mine, sure, but they already have the first three cases of this game up. It motivated me to get in gear. So thank them for getting this chapter before Thanksgiving.
But yeah. Feel free to leave your thoughts about this case in a review, thanks for reading, and I'll see you on the far side!