Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney/Awesome

This page covers the first three games. Take moments specific to Apollo Justice or Investigations to those pages, please.

Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney
"Maya: "...? Nick? What are you doing?"
 * There's a lot from the Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney series to choose from, but one of the best is in the third case of the first game when
 * More than once. Including to point out a glaring hole in the testimony that everyone else somehow managed to miss. This officially convinced me that Edgeworth is freaking awesome.
 * Not to mention when determining the motive. The Smug Snake witness declares that there's . At which point Phoenix presents the evidence, and he and Edgeworth team up to kick the witness's ass.
 * Gumshoe's Big Damn Heroes moment in 1-3, where
 * While Phoenix himself doesn't really have a specific moment, stop and think about what he accomplished at the end of the fourth trial of the first game.  That's why we call him Ace Attorney.
 * Also, ? PRICELESS!
 * Don't forget to take into consideration the fact that
 * Or the fact that
 * Earlier in the fourth trial of game one: Didn't think that could be topped, up until the bit above.
 * Related to the above, Gregory Edgeworth gets a Moment of Awesome in the backstory for being the first person to ever get Manfred von Karma penalized during a trial, destroying his perfect and to that point unblemished record.
 * Hey, don't forget Edgeworth! His own Moment of Awesome came when he realized  Edgeworth = badass.
 * Right after Edgeworth  and they all sit out in the lobby...

Phoenix: "Huh? Oh... I was just reading through the court record once more. I'm getting my case ready."

Maya: "Your case... for what?"

Phoenix: "Huh? Isn't it obvious? I'm going to prove that"

"Phoenix:"
 * And then, a little later:

"Lana "Mr. Edgeworth. I am I don't think...
 * In 1-5, when Edgeworth explains the King of Prosecutors trophy. "Cross Examination ~ Moderate" plays while he's explaining, until a contradiction appears in the story. Phoenix actually objects to it, and "Pursuit ~ Cornered" starts playing. Awesome.
 * Mia's first Big Damn Heroes moment when
 * "Just sit back, relax... and enjoy the sound of the noose tightening around your own neck." When Edgeworth said this in 1-5, this troper simply stopped, sat, and reveled in the pure awesome created by the timing and circumstances surrounding the line.
 * Made even better by an Edgeworth line before that. Gant tells Edgeworth to be a good little boy and shut his mouth. Edgeworth shuts him down, allowing the case to move forward without.
 * Then, of course, there's this, when Lana  tries to end the trial prematurely:

Edgeworth "I don't care what you think.""

"Judge: I permit the use of the metal detector. Mr. von Karma, you WILL submit yourself to testing!"
 * Owned.
 * Of all people, Larry Butz gets my vote for the best moment of the game for his Just in Time save during the fourth case.
 * The scene where Manfred Von Karma mockingly suggests to a beaten Phoenix that "perhaps you'd like to cross-examine the parrot for a little comic relief?" And Phoenix takes him up on his proposal. And it works!
 * This troper, however, feels, that von Karma had that planned as well. He actually  and he was about to bring up the   anyway, parrot or no parrot.
 * Gant's Epic Stare Of Death. It pierces my soul. The first time it showed up, I was paralyzed with fear for a good minute before I could hit the "next" button.
 * Gant's
 * Speaking of Gant,
 * 1-4, when the noose

"Phoenix: What did you do then?
 * During case 1-2 when you cross-examine a witness who you know is the real murderer, after you've already forced him to alter his testimony several times, making him very nervous, you can press him when he talks about the way the victim moved before being killed. This results in this dialogue:


 * I chased after her, of course. ...Wait, I didn't mean that!"


 * The best part? This does not get him convicted, making this moment completely optional, not required to complete the case.


 * That entire case warrants a mention, as it is the first real case. It's wonderfully designed to give you a great pang of satisfaction when you put all the puzzles together and lay down the law.
 * Mia  for the first time. This leads the court into a recess, and Phoenix asks her what to do...and then she says "You've already won". She updates one of your pieces of evidence, and there is something strangely tensely satisfactory about coming back into court and knowing exactly what to do. It goes from hopeless to triumphant so quickly that it's truly fantastic, and seeing the reactions of the prosecution and the witness as you make the point none of them knew about...just. Awesome.
 * Don't forget what you do to get  to confess.   That's right, you just won the case by blackmailing a man who built his entire career on blackmail.
 * The final case in the first game,, is a BIG Moment of Awesome for the Judge, of all people: Phoenix points out two facts that give his argument weight, but prosecutor Manfred von Karma dismisses them both as coincidences with no weight in the case. The Judge then answers that Prosecutor von Karma has a point, a coincidence should not be admissible as evidence... However, he retorts "Two coincidences at the same time seems more like a pattern to me", and he allows Phoenix to continue his line of questioning. HELL. YES.
 * It's even more awesome when you realize that von Karma was, for all intents and purposes, running the whole trial, having intimidated the Judge into silence to the point where he even started trying to overrule objections on his own, to which the Judge only protests meekly. This moment marks the point where the Judge decides that he's had enough of von Karma's crap and takes the law back into his own hands.
 * In 1-4, Edgeworth gets another Moment of Awesome when he, as a child, It's pretty awesome to see  He had more bravery as a kid than some people do for their entire lives.
 * More for 1-4.  It doesn't work, but she still manages to get the evidence needed to close the case.
 * Then there's also her Moment of Awesome in court where she gets Phoenix out of von Karma's trap, convincing the Judge to hold her in contempt of court instead.
 * The Judge gets one for
 * The finale to case 1-5. The true culprit,, was pretty much built up to be all but untouchable by the time he takes the stand, starting it off by immediately saying that he can refuse to testify at any point. Not to mention that Lana Skye, right up until recently, was still vehemently taking the blame for the murder   Throughout the trial (which has Phoenix and Edgeworth teaming up to take him down, which is already a Moment of Awesome in and of itself,) the culprit has pretty much turned into a Devil in Plain Sight, constantly mocking you while the stakes keep getting higher, until not only is Lana at risk of getting convicted for murder, but  , not to mention that Phoenix could not only lose his job, but get sued by the culprit himself and possibly even face jail time over the lengths he's gone to get him convicted. And that's not even counting all the numerous traps he's set throughout the entire case, including one near the very end of that will instantly end the game if you fall for it. Needless to say, when the culprit finally falls into one of his traps and allows Phoenix and Edgeworth to move in and seal the deal, it's one of the most satisfying moments of the series.

Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney: Justice for All
"Matt:"
 * In 2-4, Edgeworth gets another Moment of Awesome as he makes his triumphant return. At the end of the case, he delivers a World of Cardboard Speech about the true role of a prosecutor - not to get a "Guilty" every time, but to uncover the whole and complete truth - and the long, hard journey he made to discover that.
 * One of this troper's favorites is Phoenix kicking down the door in case 2-2 to save Maya. "Send the bill to Wright and Co.!"
 * Especially when you think how much that door probably cost and how often Phoenix has money issues, it doubles as a Heartwarming Moments.
 * And Matt Engarde has pretty much the best

"Edgeworth: Due to the circumstances, I will be taking over the prosecution. While I did not investigate, I have read over the notes and am familiar with the details. The prosecution is ready...naturally."
 * Phoenix Wright: Door Killer. He successfully manages to knock down a fully-locked door by ramming into it, and actually does it in two different occasions. This is mentioned often as a particularly manly moment for Wright.
 * Even the Judge concurs that how Wright blasted the door in Kurain Village must've been badass.
 * Another moment of Pearl's awesome is when she shows up at the court for the first time in 2-2. She lived a two hour's train ride worth from the court and she didn't walk her way to the court then.
 * "To the gentleman who spoke just now...excuse me, but would you care to die?"
 * Franziska von Karma gets one in 2-4: the case is nearly over
 * Not to mention that
 * I would add the ending of 2-2 when Franziska
 * Edgeworth. Case 2-4. Phoenix is panicking because the judge is trying to end the day's trial and begin another investigation, but . When Udgey asks why he's upset, since it means his client has another day to live, Nick blurts out "If I don't get the verdict... then ..." Edgeworth immediately catches on that something weird is happening; cue OBJECTION! to keep the witness on the stand because he can tell Phoenix is a) desperate and b) on the wrong track, leaving Mia wondering exactly whose side he's on.
 * When Edgeworth suddenly shows up to take Franziska's place as prosecutor in 2-4 (he has a lot of these moments, doesn't he?):


 * In the first case of the game, even after losing his memory, Phoenix's lawyer instincts are as strong as ever, leaping in with an "Objection!" and a pointed finger before he even realises what he's doing. As Phoenix himself says, "What a rush!"
 * 2-3 wasn't my favorite case, but there are two moments I have to give cred to. 1: At one point, Phoenix sums up how the murder happened in court, to circus music, with every twist in the tale accompanied by a crash of cymbals. It's a fantastic effect, and thoroughly impressive. 2: The way Phoenix perfectly sums up and clarifies the sneaking suspicioun you've been having about an incident that happened in the circus. It's the phrase that finally ties the bond between a harmless prank and a fatal accident. Two words:
 * It was a minor moment, but Phoenix managing to intimidate the judge (something usually reserved for the prosecution and particularly intimidating witnesses) with the determined look on his face in 2-2 was pretty badass.
 * Another small moment, but rather badass: the end of case 2-3. Throughout the trial, Franziska has been needling (and whipping) Phoenix while proclaiming her own superiority, and when he finally wins, she grudgingly bites out that he "beat [her] again!" Even after all the abuse he's suffered, though, Phoenix doesn't rub it in her face; he just stands there with his expression unreadable. He's not just an ally of justice, he's a graceful victor, too!

Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney: Trials and Tribulations
"Godot: "You'll never be half the lawyer that Mia was! Isn't that right, Trite...?""
 * Gumshoe's Big Damn Heroes moments in 3-3, where
 * Phoenix and Mia get a joint Moment in the final case of the third game, when,
 * Speaking of Tigre, no mention of how you defeat him in 3-3?
 * I'd say that its more on the lines of how Phoenix makes the situation an  if he remained silent about what was happening. Because he should . So basically Phoenix put the witness in a position where he had three choices as too how too respond:  . Not only that, but in a spare of the moment decision that he had too make within a few seconds, it's very easy too see how he ended up.
 * Even Pearl, a nine-year old girl, gets one of these when she verbally blasts Franziska, telling her: "You're nothing but a little girl without your whip!" (amongst other strong words). Franziska is actually rendered speechless.
 * The last evidence-presenting part of "Bridge to the Turnabout":
 * The last evidence-presenting part of "Bridge to the Turnabout":

"Larry: D-Don't be stupid! The bridge is nothing but a burning wreck right now!
 * And of course, the
 * From the same case, I rather liked Phoenix's line to : "no matter how hard you try, you will never be able to hide the truth from a true defense attorney!"
 * The revelation that Ron DeLite, who had previously been presented as a completely spineless fantasist, actually met his wife by saving her from two armed robbers singlehandedly.
 * Even better is where he points out that he can't be convicted as Mask DeMasque, One has to wonder if he's Obfuscating Stupidity.
 * There were four other heists. He was only cleared of the last one.
 * No, he was cleared of all of them, which is why he's not in prison during the end credits.
 * Near the start of Case 5 from Trials and Tribulations, Phoenix nearly loses his life trying to cross a burning bridge to get to Maya, who he fears is trapped with a murderer. He know how dangerous it is (borderline suicidal) but tries anyway- he is frantic with worry about her and the thought of NOT doing it simply doesn't occur to him:
 * Near the start of Case 5 from Trials and Tribulations, Phoenix nearly loses his life trying to cross a burning bridge to get to Maya, who he fears is trapped with a murderer. He know how dangerous it is (borderline suicidal) but tries anyway- he is frantic with worry about her and the thought of NOT doing it simply doesn't occur to him:

Phoenix: Listen to me! There's been a murder! Here! At Hazakura Temple!

Larry: Wha-Whaaaaat!?

Phoenix: The murderer might have fled across the bridge! I have to make sure Maya is safe!

Larry: B-B-But...

Phoenix: Please! Call the police! I've got to go! ...Get outta my way, Larry!"

"Judge: Well, to be frank, my younger brother is quite judgmental... He often criticizes me for not studying hard enough. That's why I made a concerted effort to study up on I've seen quite a few things in my many years on the bench. And in all that time, I've finally learned this one thing: Each case is different, and takes place in its own world, if you will. In order to fully understand that world... First we have to immerse ourselves in it completely. And that's where... My brother and I used to differ."
 * After that, This Troper has to wonder whether Phoenix's insistence that She Is Not My Girlfriend isn't really just him protesting too much.
 * This troper just calls that being in denial.
 * +100 Bravery points for Phoenix doing this when a) he's afraid of heights, and b) the bridge was a rickety old thing high above a rapid river.
 * Incredibly enough, even the Judge himself has his moment in Trials and Tribulations in which, right after Phoenix pointed out how the Judge was rather calm and collected even after, the Judge's reply displayed an insight of wisdom never before seen on him:

"Godot: When talking to a beautiful lady, always ask for her name and occupation. That's one of my rules.
 * Mia daring Dahlia to take one of Phoenix's Coldkiller X pills at the end of case 3-1 has to be on here, if only for Dollie's reaction. And then when Payne receives the same offer and loses his hair and is reduced to the pathetic shell of a man we see in the first two games.
 * It also ensures that Dahlia will finally face justice for her crimes. In addtion to the Glowing Eyes of Doom she starts screaming like a madwoman.
 * Franziska von Karma gets one in 3-5: Say what you will about her, but she knows how to make an entrance.
 * A moment of awesome that is the result of another, from Edgeworth.
 * The tail end of 3-5. The music cue in particular, with the callback to the case 7 years prior, always sends chills down my spine.
 * She may be a despicable excuse for a human being, but, you've got to admit, 's introduction in case 3-5 was pretty badass.


 * (nonchalantly) . And my occupation?"

"Phoenix: (T... Too cool...)"
 * And also when she gives her  testimony section, instead of regular testimony music,   plays instead for a spine-chillingly awesome effect.
 * The way Godot effectively shuts up Furio Tigre when he's brought into court while the Judge and Maya were cowering under their desks and Phoenix was about wet his pants. "You're caught in a snare... the relentless snare of the law." *takes a gulp of coffee* "And I'm the one that hauled you in!" Phoenix's reaction sums it up:

"Judge: I know the existence of this umbrella seems trivial... But as long as the smallest doubt remains, I cannot render final judgement!"
 * Judge finally explaining why he always gives both the defense and the prosecution so many chances.

"Judge:"
 * I still call that blatant lies, but nevertheless impressive.
 * Another one for the Judge. In case 3-3 :


 * What makes this a moment of awesome is that right afterwards, the Theme Music Power-Up usually reserved for Phoenix starts playing

Multiple games

 * The first cases you played through, no matter which game. The incredible satisfation of taking down the witnesses lies one by one, driving him/her slowly mad until they explode with fury, and winning. When you were not spotting lies in the testimonies, you were extremly cautious and afraid of receiving a penalty, and while the games are not time based, you felt a damn high pressure yourself as everything depended on you.
 * Gumshoe gets one in all three games - usually even two! Let's tally - bursting in to save you from being lynched by Vasquez's mob (1-3), finding no matter what it takes (1-4), letting you investigate Gant's office even knowing he'll lose his job (1-5), chasing  to save Maya (2-4) and then, in the same case, (!!) to save her, saving you from Tigre and bring in a crucial piece of evidence (3-3), fixing the bridge (3-5)... It's almost too many for one character.