2. Trials And Tribulations
Meant to be the end of the Phoenix Wright arc, Takumi aimed high with the third title Trials and Tribulations. While there were no new gameplay additions, as he felt the Magatama addition from Justice For All was enough, he focused on story and characters more. And boy did he hit the nail on the head. I honestly have trouble not picking this game as the top spot, but I do maintain this is one of the best Phoenix Wright games ever.
For me, what made this game fun and memorable was that it perfectly blended the past, present, and even future in this game. Even if unintentionally on that last part. Its use of Mia Fey, who had long since been dead (outside of summons!) was masterful. As we got to see her in her rookie days before she became the mentor to Phoenix. Along the way, we found out what connected Mia to Phoenix, how they became a team and the person that would haunt them for years to come.
Not only that, we got hands down one of the coolest characters in the history of games in the form of Prosecutor Godot. His look aside, his demeanor, moves, and his epic music, really set him apart from Miles and Franziska in the best way possible. Call it, “one of his rules”.
Not to be outdone, the main villain of this tale was easily one of the most chilling villains ever in Dahlia Hawthorne. On the surface, she was nothing more than a sweet little girl. On the inside? She was the devil in every sense of the word. Even when you thought she was gone, she was there. Watching, waiting, and planning her revenge. You couldn’t help but feel joy when you finally saw her banished back to the afterlife. But as in all things, it came at a cost.
Easily one of the most heart-wrenching stories in the series was “Bridge To The Turnabout,” as it showed just how much hatred one family could have for one another, and the lengths they would go to “fix” their problems. With no caring for who would get caught in the crossfire, or who would be left holding the memories of what was done. You truly felt bad for Maya and Pearls, who were the unwitting pawns of a larger game.
Yet, in the end, there was hope. Hope for a brighter future. And though it was supposed to end there, we did get that hope. Trials and Tribulations was a triumph pure and true. And I always enjoy playing it.
