The Thrilling Trials of Ace Attorney Apollo Justice

The recent announcement of Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney Trilogy has been met with excitement, but the collection's unusual name has left some questioning its details. Despite Ace Attorney's past success, the series has been relatively quiet in recent years, with the exception of the spinoff compilation The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles in 2021. With the potential to reignite interest in the series, Apollo Justice Trilogy may be just what the franchise needs after its hiatus. Phoenix Wright's lovable character and the games' quirky humor played a significant role in Ace Attorney's popularity in the US, making it a visual novel landmark. With the end of the Nintendo 3DS eShop, the fate of Dual Destinies and Spirit of Justice was uncertain, but now, thanks to the remake, the games have a chance to live on - albeit with an unconventional title.

Apollo Justice is Important to Ace Attorney, But Naming a Trilogy After Him Seems Unusual

Despite Ace Attorney's proud legacy, the name of the Apollo Justice Trilogy is somewhat misleading as Apollo is not the main protagonist throughout the series. While he plays a central role in Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney, in Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney- Dual Destinies and Spirit of Justice, Phoenix takes over as the main character, with Apollo serving as a supporting character and playable in a few cases. However, despite this, Apollo's role in the ongoing plot of the second trilogy is significant. Not only does he work for Phoenix, but he also undergoes a notable character evolution, growing bolder and more confident as he gains independence. In Spirit of Justice, he discovers his biological father's role as a freedom fighter in the kingdom of Khura'in and ultimately decides to stay there to help rebuild the country after Ga'ran's defeat. By the end of his arc, Apollo has transformed into an entirely different character from his introduction.

Despite receiving substantial character development, Apollo cannot be considered the main character of the Ace Attorney franchise. In the latter two games of the first trilogy, Phoenix remains the lead character and ultimately resolves the cases involving The Phantom and Ga'Ran. While Apollo may receive more character development, Phoenix is clearly the protagonist after Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney. Although Apollo is important to the series, naming the trilogy after him feels like an odd choice. The announcement of the Apollo Justice Trilogy is a promising sign for the future of the series, showing that Capcom has not given up on Phoenix's adventures. The return of these games offers players a chance to experience the latter chapters of Phoenix's story, even if they missed them the first time around. While the name of the trilogy may not be entirely accurate, the return of these games is a triumph.

Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney Trilogy will be released in 2024 for Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.