case by case: 6-2: a se-reus crime
Welcome back to Case by Case, our ongoing journey through the grimdark world of Japanifornia and beyond! In Spirit of Justice we're solving crime on two continents, which is . . . exciting? Let's go with exciting. Last week we caused an international incident; this week it's time for magic, which, as we all know, rhymes with murder. Spoilers after the cut.
This is, of course, not the first time Ace Attorney has delved into the world of magic, but I think this one is the most successful at integrating the themes of magicianship into the story. It didn't feel like it was just a murder where some magicians happened to be hanging out nearby, but it felt like the magic performance was integral to the mystery, and that was really cool.
Did you know this game came out in 2016? I have not really been paying attention to release dates, but this one had smartphones and media mobs, and ended up feeling distinctly contemporary as a result--many of the previous cases could have taken place at any point after cell phones were invented, but this one really felt like it couldn't have happened earlier than, say, 2014. This helped add some weight to the fact that Trucy was the defendant in this case: she was being faced not only with the threat of a murder conviction, but also with a malicious actor spreading lies about her for no purpose other than to stir up an angry internet mob.
I always like the cases which feel like they focus on our characters, and this one does a great job of letting everyone shine. Apollo and Trucy have some great moments, and Phoenix giving some encouraging advice over the phone but otherwise being on another continent really helps solidify this idea that Apollo is really coming into his own, and isn't just living in his boss's shadow anymore.
It's too bad that this prosecutor's gimmick is, apparently, "be a religious bigot." While I was able to adjust to it by the end of the case, it lacks the charm of previous prosecutors; in a series so full of colorful characters, the fact that I'm mostly left, after this case, just thinking "yep, this guy sucks" is disappointing. While obviously we're going to be exploring more of his character and will probably be expected to end up being positively inclined towards him (given he has A Past with Apollo, if nothing else) . . . can't say I'm looking forward to it. But I expect I'll survive.
And finally, something that was present in the previous case but really shines here: a great deal of care has clearly gone into the animations in this game. The 3D models are being used to their full potential; I felt like in Dual Destinies they didn't really accomplish much that the sprites couldn't, but now they feel like they are adding something to the game. I like to see that.
Great case overall--a promising start to the game proper. Looking forward to seeing what else it has to offer. Next week we're back in Khura'in to deal with some rebels being murdered, apparently? That sounds fun. I'll see you then, friends.