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[Opinionatedfish]

AA3, on the other hand, is ridiculously good. Ridiculously. I still think about its music all the time.

THIS THIS THIS THIS THIS.

To me, she is one of the best written

Spoiler

villain

characters in the series.

She is to the Phoenix Wright what

Spoiler

Cathy Ames

is to

Spoiler

East of Eden

.


And that THEME.. Holy shit. Seriously.

Also, AA3 has GODOT. Godot is awesome. You have to play it for Godot. He's great.

 

[Frolow]

Play them in order. Ace Attorney 5 will be much more enjoyable for you due to all the callbacks and plotpoints from previous games, Apollo Justice in particular. Not to mention that you'll be skipping out on arguably the best entry in the series in AA3.

Ignore anyone who says you should skip AA4. While the middle two cases slog at times, the first and last cases are still excellent and have story elements that lead into AA5. Also, feel free to skip Ace Attorney Investigations since it has no barring on AA5. I'd still recommend playing through it when you get the chance.

 

[BassForever]

Play them all in order you'll thank us for it

 

[LiK]

You can just read a wiki summary for the characters no need to suffer through AA4 just to know the characters.

But I like her. :3

 

[Alex]

It's frustrating that the non-cart releases skipped no. 4, especially when 5 seemingly takes so much from it.

Usually I give people the crazy look when they tell you to play every single iteration of a series, but with PW you kinda need to, I mean it is a series based around its characters and writing.

 

[PK Gaming]

Tough it out and play through all of them

 

[dragonlife]

What an odd statement to say considering AA5 is the first in the series to use experienced voice talent instead of random Capcom employees.

Phoenix's voice actor just doesn't sound right for the part at all. He sounds good for other characters (Flynn from Vesperia, etc) but not Phoenix. Not one bit.

It's easy to get attached to the voice clips from the DS games because they gave you a taste of what the character sounds like without actually hitting you over the head with it (not that AA5 does this, but it's definitely way more when comparing it to the older entries). And because the DS games were just that--clips--they were inoffensive to the ear and charming as hell. Yes, even Payne.

With actual voice acting now... the charm's kind of gone away.

 

[Griss]

I wouldn't say that AA4 is important because of Apollo, but because of Phoenix. AA4 is much more about Phoenix Wright than it is Apollo Justice.

Well I didn't say that because I reckoned it was a minor spoiler. I didn't know that going into that game at all.

 

[LX_Theo]

Ignore anyone who says you should skip AA4. While the middle two cases slog at times, the first and last cases are still excellent and have story elements that lead into AA5. Also, feel free to skip Ace Attorney Investigations since it has no barring on AA5. I'd still recommend playing through it when you get the chance.

Agreed and Agreed

 

[Divvy]

Voices aside, I also don't really like Phoenix's characterization in AA5 (though I'm not all the way through yet, so I might change my opinion).

Weird, I really like the way they handled his characterization. The contrast between how he appears when you play as other characters and when you play as him is pretty great.

 

[Glass Rebel]

original Phoenix Wright trilogy is required playing

 

[Griss]

Yeah okay, I forgot.

Spoiler

Trucy

is also a awesome character. But the cases of Apollo Justice were terribad, especially with that

Spoiler

concert

.

What are actually the best Dual Destinies cases? I found case 1 to be a very good 'case 1'. And I didn't mind case 2 either although it dragged a bit. Case 3 looks like something special.

Agreed on AA4.

Cases 1 and 3 are the best in AA5. Case 2 is the worst in the series along with the Gavinners case from AA4.

Spoiler

The Circus case isn't that bad.

Cases 4+5 go from brilliant to dull and back again - very inconsistent but worth playing. I found the ending of AA5 to be a huge anti-climax, but most other people appear to disagree.

 

[BorkBork]

You're on the best case of the franchise. Pay attention. Savour it instead of looking ahead.

Would you skip a book in a series? No. Play everything in order, and enjoy the game you're playing.

 

[BassForever]

AA3 = AA5 > AA1 > AA2 > AAI > AA4

 

[FluxWaveZ]

Well I didn't say that because I reckoned it was a minor spoiler. I didn't know that going into that game at all.

Ah, I see. He was part of the promotional material, so I think a lot of people knew, but that's fair.

Weird, I really like the way they handled his characterization. The contrast between how he appears when you play as other characters and when you play as him is pretty great.

Exactly. Playing as Phoenix, he's the same as he was in the first trilogy, but he appears as a more mature mentor character when seen from the perspective of the other characters.

 

[Crash Station]

Technically you only need to play Apollo Justice, but the original trilogy is most definitely worth playing. I'm not a huge fan of T&T, but everyone else seems to like that, so power through it and AJ and you'll be good.

 

[ShadowElliot]

THIS THIS THIS THIS THIS.

To me, she is one of the best written

Spoiler

villain

characters in the series.

She is to the Phoenix Wright what

Spoiler

Cathy Ames

is to

Spoiler

East of Eden

.


And that THEME.. Holy shit. Seriously.

Also, AA3 has GODOT. Godot is awesome. You have to play it for Godot. He's great.

Also,

Spoiler

Coffee-drinking Phoenix

 

[Nerokis]

Great timing on the thread! I ordered the first one a week ago or so (it's probably been sitting on my doorstep for a couple days now...), and I was curious how important it is to go through the series in chronological order. I've never played a Phoenix Wright game, so I'm definitely excited to cure that blind spot. It actually wasn't until I started to lurk GAF that I developed full context for that Objection! website that became popular some years ago.

 

[Septimus Prime]

Weird, I really like the way they handled his characterization. The contrast between how he appears when you play as other characters and when you play as him is pretty great.

Maybe I'll see it when I finish the game. =)

You're on the best case of the franchise. Pay attention. Savour it instead of looking ahead.

Would you skip a book in a series? No. Play everything in order, and enjoy the game you're playing.

Yep. It's been years since I've played the older games, and I don't remember most of the characters now, but Matt Engarde is one who stands out above the rest.

EDIT: Oh, also, for the newcomers, AA1's case 5 is the hardest in the series, so don't get discouraged if that one stumps you for a while.

 

[LiK]

Great timing on the thread! I ordered the first one a week ago or so (it's probably been sitting on my doorstep for a couple days now...), and I was curious how important it is to go through the series in chronological order. I've never played a Phoenix Wright game, so I'm definitely excited to cure that blind spot. It actually wasn't until I started to lurk GAF that I developed full context for that Objection! website that became popular some years ago.

Yup, go in order. You'll thank us. They're all great experiences so skipping them for the latest one makes zero sense to me.

 

[En-ou]

i played a bit of AA 5 demo, omg those gfx, and 3D...i'm in the same boat as the OP, but i am taking my time to play catch up. i had beaten AA 1 and 2 like 5 years ago already. in the past 2 weeks i have been replaying AA 1 with my mom (she loves crime shows, court dramas, so it was easy to get her to play it), i finished AA 3 - the final case was epic, and should not be missed.

right now i am on the final case of AA 4. i dont get the hate, i am thoroughly enjoying it. especially the new themes, the new court begins theme is pure bad-ass. and this final case seems super intriguing as i am very excited to find out what happened 7 yrs ago. apollo is a cool character also. but the phoenix presented here seems like a different person from the phoenix in AA 1-3 and AA 5(from little i saw in the demo). i hope eshop has a sale on it by the time i finish AA 4.

 

[Waldo Lydecker]

That's because you're not missing any gameplay, AA5, like AAI, runs on autopilot. Very disappointing in that regard, but still a decent AA story and I wouldn't recommend skipping any of the games.

Been a long while since I played the earlier games, might be time for a second playthrough of all of them.

Yeah you are right on that one. I was really surprised to see that Dual Destinies is more a visual novel than it's predecessors, especially due to the lack of exploration. And that was just something I really, really loved in the original trilogy, searching every nook and cranny and hearing some funny comments and small talk.

 

[Fantastical]

You should be more excited for AA3 than AA5. AA5 is good, but AA3 is the best.

 

[t26]

AA4 has the best first case in the series.

 

[Divvy]

AA5 may be more streamlined, but as a benefit you don't have those annoying situations where you know the answer to something, but the game makes you jump through hoops to have the story catch up to you like in previous games.

 

[zero shift]

The DS games are like better in every way.

Better music, better characters, better story, better graphics. 5 is by no means bad but like the others say. Its like "insert mainline console Zelda game you dislike". Still one of the best experiences of the year but not as good as the previous ones.

Great timing on the thread! I ordered the first one a week ago or so (it's probably been sitting on my doorstep for a couple days now...), and I was curious how important it is to go through the series in chronological order. I've never played a Phoenix Wright game, so I'm definitely excited to cure that blind spot. It actually wasn't until I started to lurk GAF that I developed full context for that Objection! website that became popular some years ago.

Go: AA2:Justice for All --> AA: Attorney at Law --> AA3: Trials and Tribulations --> AA4: Apollo Justice--> AA5: Dual Destinies

That way you won't be disappointed.

 

[Kimppis]

So I have never player any of these games and I just downloaded Dual Destinies now that the eShop is working again. So now you are telling me that I can't play it? Thanks GAF. And the series is confusing... So many different games with no numbers on their titles. Just checked Amazon and the prices are reasonably high too... And there are apparently 5 games before Dual Destinies, even though everyone here is mentioning 4.

 

[dragonlife]

So I have never player any of these games and I just downloaded Dual Destinies now that the eShop is working again. So now you are telling me that I can't play it? Thanks GAF. And the series is confusing... So many different games with no numbers on their titles. Just checked Amazon and the prices are reasonably high too... And there are apparently 5 games before Dual Destinies, even though everyone here is mentioning 4.

#1 Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney

#2 Justice For All

#3 Trials & Tribulations

#4 Apollo Justice

spin-off: Ace Attorney Investigations: Miles Edgeworth

#5 Dual Destinies

 

[Htown]

So I have never player any of these games and I just downloaded Dual Destinies now that the eShop is working again. So now you are telling me that I can't play it? Thanks GAF. And the series is confusing... So many different games with no numbers on their titles. Just checked Amazon and the prices are reasonably high too... And there are apparently 5 games before Dual Destinies, even though everyone here is mentioning 4.

Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney
Justice for All
Trials and Tribulations
Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney
Dual Destinies

there's also a couple of spinoff games, but that's the main series

Play them in order.

 

[FluxWaveZ]

So I have never player any of these games and I just downloaded Dual Destinies now that the eShop is working again. So now you are telling me that I can't play it? Thanks GAF. And the series is confusing... So many different games with no numbers on their titles. Just checked Amazon and the prices are reasonably high too... And there are apparently 5 games before Dual Destinies, even though everyone here is mentioning 4.

No one is telling you you can't play it. What people are doing, however, is trying to recommend people play the games in order so that those who are wondering if they should can maximize the amount of pleasure they'll get from playing the series.

And it's not confusing if you bother to look. It's actually really simple:

Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney = 1
Justice for All = 2
Trials and Tribulations = 3
Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney = 4
Dual Destinies = 5

 

[chickdigger802]

play them all including 4 and investigations.

they are low points but are still some of the best games around the past decade (for me).

 

[PrinceOfKoopas]

You need to play them in order.

Here. Let me try to temper your anxiety a bit: AA5's voice acting is AWFUL. It is--by a longshot--the absolute worst in the series in that regard. Phoenix and Apollo's (and

Spoiler

Klavier's

. Holy damn does that new voice suck) new voices will make you want to throw up. The anime cutscenes are also trash.

AA3, on the other hand, is ridiculously good. Ridiculously. I still think about its music all the time.

...As someone who has played all the other Ace Attorney games in America, I completely disagree with your characterization of AA5's voice talent and cutscenes.

...Or at least, that's waaaaaay too much hyperbole.

 

[Immaculate]

do not skip aa3. every case in that game is perfect even the filler ones

AA3>AA5=AA1>AAI>AA2>AA4

 

[PumpkinSpice]

I played AA1 and then most of 2, but gave up on it near the end of the intolerably long circus case. After AA5 came out and looked really good, I played it even though I skipped AA3 + 4.

It is still really worth playing. There are some characters you won't recognize at first but each character gets an intro so its not so bad. You get to know Apollo and Fullbright well regardless.

Plus AA5 introduces some really nice new mechanics, like the notes system that kinda tells you what to do next.

If you feel like getting AA5, get it. Play the ones you missed later if you really like AA5.

 

[chickdigger802]

I forgot, every AA game is worth playing for the must alone.


Some of the best music ever.

 

[Nerokis]

Yup, go in order. You'll thank us. They're all great experiences so skipping them for the latest one makes zero sense to me.

I definitely will.

Go: AA2:Justice for All --> AA: Attorney at Law --> AA3: Trials and Tribulations --> AA4: Apollo Justice--> AA5: Dual Destinies

That way you won't be disappointed.

Haha. How so? Is AA1 not the best introduction, or is there a dip in quality from AA1 to AA2?

 

[ActStriker]

Wheres that picture that explains this?

 

[ramoisdead]

I say be patient. If you have other AA games, I say play through them. They're no slouches and should provide you with entertainment if you're a fan. Marathon them and you'll get to Dual Destinies in no time.

 

[FluxWaveZ]

Wheres that picture that explains this?

.

 

[nikos]

If you want to play AA5, play it. Otherwise, trying to power through the previous games will feel like a chore and might end up not being enjoyable. By the time you get to AA5, you might be burned out.

 

[Frolow]

Wheres that picture that explains this?

edit: beaten

 

[izzyizzyizzy]

I skipped all but the 1st one. I was on the eshop one day looking for a game and saw it and remembered I wanted it so I picked it up.

I do feel like I'm missing somethings but the game does a pretty good job explaining who everyone is (and having paid a little attention to the series I can usually figure most of that out anyways).

I'm having a great time with the game and I'll go back and play the previous games soon. I'm 100% sure that it is better to play those first but I've yet to regret skipping them.

 

[infinityBCRT]

I played all of AA1 and only part of AA2 back in 2009. I burned out because the games were too long and the puzzles got more and more tedious as the series went on. I think I tried playing AA3 as well at some point and also got burned out really quickly on that. That being said I'm playing AA5 right now and REALLY enjoying it. The problems (at least at the point where I am) are not nearly as tedious as AA2/3.

Honestly, just play AA5. You'll get burned out if you try to go back and play all of the games. I know some people here are like... but but you must play it in order to get the story! But playing AA5 is better than burning out on AA2/3/4 and not playing AA5. The fact that you're here asking this question says that you probably are not going to stick with playing the older games anyway.

 

[zero shift]

Haha. How so? Is AA1 not the best introduction, or is there a dip in quality from AA1 to AA2?

Dip in quality.

 

[SmithnCo]

I don't get why you'd want to power through some of the best stuff in the series to get to the last one. The series is pretty consistent so just enjoy it. 3 is considered the best game by many.

 

[Kimppis]

No one is telling you you can't play it. What people are doing, however, is trying to recommend people play the games in order so that those who are wondering if they should can maximize the amount of pleasure they'll get from playing the series.

And it's not confusing if you bother to look. It's actually really simple:

Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney = 1
Justice for All = 2
Trials and Tribulations = 3
Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney = 4
Dual Destinies = 5

Yeah I get it and I wasn't being serious. It just that I usually play games in order and this is really an exception. I though that these games were somewhat independent... But guess not. I'm going to start Dual Destinies now and play the rest in order. Just gotta find some good deals on them...

 

[Frolow]

I played all of AA1 and only part of AA2 back in 2009. I burned out because the games were too long and the puzzles got more and more tedious as the series went on. I think I tried playing AA3 as well at some point and also got burned out really quickly on that. That being said I'm playing AA5 right now and REALLY enjoying it. The problems (at least at the point where I am) are not nearly as tedious as AA2/3.

Honestly, just play AA5. You'll get burned out if you try to go back and play all of the games. I know some people here are like... but but you must play it in order to get the story! But playing AA5 is better than burning out on AA2/3/4 and not playing AA5. The fact that you're here asking this question says that you probably are not going to stick with playing the older games anyway.

Not necessarily. I played through the entire series in the span of about a month and never got burned out. That's just my experience, however.

 

[frankMX]

I say play AA5.
Play what most interests you ,don't force yourself to play games to avoid Spoiler.
Star wars prequel trilogy and godfather 1 are still worth watching even if you don't watch them first.

 

[infinityBCRT]

Not necessarily. I played through the entire series in the span of about a month and never got burned out. That's just my experience, however.

I guess it depends on what type of gamer you are. I have a lot of games I want to play, so when a game starts to bore/tire me out, I decide its time to move on as I have more games that I want to play than time to play them.

Also... you probably have a lot of time to play games lol. The whole series in a month!?! I think I played through AA1 and half of AA2 over the course of like 3 months. And that was when I was unemployed!

 

[wsoxfan1214]

I'm loving AA5 but I hate the 3D models. Would have preferred the old look.