This was OK, but it ultimately killed my interest in Phoenix Wright. More so because I've had enough of the formula after six games, but also because DD didn't really produce any highs of the series. The Monstrous Turnabout was pretty forgettable, other than the culprit being too similar to Redd White. Blackquill was a decent prosecutor/foil, better than Franziska and Klavier but I wouldn't take him over Edgeworth or Godot. Final case was good, had some sad moments and I liked that Apollo got a strong character defining moment. Turnabout Academy's culprit was pretty hilarious, that I'll admit.

Ultimately, it was just 'fine'. Nothing awful about it but nothing compelling either.

This took me like five years to finish and I have absolutely no idea why. I still haven't finished the DLC... I kept having this weird sense of not actually wanting to get to the end, even though the series isn't actually over.

It's not even that I actually dislike this game? It's honestly not too bad. It's kind of a mess in certain ways, but I think the cast is generally pretty charming! Blackquill is a fun weeb, Athena is great, Fulbright is hilarious, and it was nice to see Apollo get some more backstory even if... it had nothing to do with the backstory he already had... The casts of all the individual cases are also pretty good! Also, while I miss the good good sprite art, the 3D models make for some really good animations and breakdowns.

The plot's through line is pretty dumb though. Yeah, Phoenix's disbarment kicked off the Dark Age of the Law. Even though the system has been a satire of corruption in the Japanese legal system since... the first game? Okay, game. Sure. Also while the spectacle of the last case was neat, it didn't hit the emotional resonance I think they were going for.

Anyway, it's definitely not as good as the original trilogy, but it's still pretty alright, I think, especially in terms of Capcom's weird mandates for the series.

While not as good as the original trilogy, and also being a game that took me forever to finish, Dual Destinies really didn’t disappoint. I think Athena is a great addition to the cast as one of Phoenix’s apprentices, and the segments with the Mood Matrix are very intriguing, not to mention Athena’s moody, traumatized back story. There was one case however that I felt dragged on for far too long though and made me sigh numerous times. The last case definitely paid off in the end though and made up for whatever that other case was lacking. The soundtrack is really solid as well, but not as good as the previous entries. My favourite tracks were the Objection and the Mood Matrix theme.

I’d say it holds up as a pivotal entry in the Ace Attorney franchise, and is sooo worth playing if you loved the original trilogy and Apollo Justice!

This game is just super disappointing honestly. Coming right after Apollo Justice chronologically, Apollo as a character gets completely shafted while they introduce somebody completely new. Athena and Blackquill are cool characters but half the cases are just kinda boring. The solutions to the mysteries feel more obvious than in previous games (though maybe that's just because I played this 7 years ago and still remember a little bit), but the final case and the ending are actually pretty good. The whole overarching story is OK overall, probably could have been delivered better.

The presentation of this game is actually pretty good though, especially the new 3D graphics. Most of the character models look great, and it's neat how they can do more creative camera angles in a 3D space like panning across the courtroom. Obviously there are things you can do in 2D that don't work in 3D and vice versa but I think they still pulled off the style of animation they'd been using in the older games pretty well in this one. I really enjoyed the soundtrack as well, especially the remixes of Phoenix and Apollo's themes. There are a lot more little aspects that I enjoyed, but overall this one was just OK.

Also they finally added a log so you can scroll up and see old text. Took them seven games to do that somehow.

Robin is a trans icon- okay no, not at all, but at least that subplot is in the realm of "worth dissecting" instead of "just plain offensive."

The overarching plot here is about how law is now in a "dark age" where false accusations and fabricated evidence dominate the courts. Which seems like the natural continuation of Phoenix's style of high-risk lawyering. He made trials a spectator sport. Hell, one chapter is an unofficial trial held in the ruins of a destroyed building and somehow it still attracts a full audience. When the lawyers are the glitzy stars of trials, of course the actual case becomes nothing more than backdrop, and it's kind of Phoenix's fault.

...Except actually no, says the game, Phoenix's absence brought the darkness and his return will bring salvation to the courts. (The Biblical imagery is the game's, not my own.) Also the game's proposed solution to fabricated evidence is the dismissal of evidence as a concept?

I like all the cases which is especially lucky when half of them tie back to one central incident. This is the game where it goes full Eat Your Hamburgers, Apollo and I love the implication that every other character is just a huge Japanophile. The Mood Matrix is a fun addition that only really shines at one point, when it's interwoven with another mechanic. Overall, probably one of my favorites in the series.

athena roolz ok

Ace Attorney returned to the spotlight almost 6 years after Apollo Justice appeared. It does not dissapoint. A soft reboot of sorts, the game covers the return of Phoenix Wright to the legal profession, and his adventures with the aforementioned Apollo Justice and new partner Athena Cykes. The game looks visually stunning, and the classic Ace Attorney gameplay is intact - with each of the three main characters bringing something new to the gameplay that keeps it fresh, again. The visuals are translated superbly to 3D and the overarching story, while having notable hiccups such as the main villain, is remarkably effective and filled with emotionally impactful moments. Dual Destinies is a fantastic transition to a new generation of consoles, and a standout entry in the series on its own merits.

SLIGHTLY edited review:

this game definitely has it's flaws, though i still very much enjoyed my time with it! i really love athena (can u tell lol) so i'm grateful for this entry into the series despite the overall consesus of this game is shart.

i won't lie and i'll say probably a lot of what i like about this game comes from nostalgia, my first introduction to the series was the dual destinies demo for the 3ds. i was like 10 or younger when i played it for the first time so im sorry... forgive me please

i am not the most critical when it comes to games' quality (critical about the topics + how well they cover them though), i enjoy a lot of the games i play and it takes a lot for me to hate one so that's probably why i like this game so much despite the reviews. gonna replay it and update this review when i do though!