If there's one reoccurring thing I've noticed, it's the theme surrounding the topic of love. Case 1 with Phoenix doing everything he can to hide Dahlia's crimes because he truly loved her. Case 2 with Ron loving his wife so much that he was afraid if she knew the truth she wouldn't be with him anymore. Case 3 with Gumshoe going through the lengths he did to make sure Maggey wasn't guilty, and a triumphant piece of evidence he brought out of the love he had to save her. Case 4 with how the defendant loved Dahlia also that he willingly killed himself for her. And lastly Case 5, Godot commits murder to protect the ones he cared about the most, admitting he loved Mia and Iris admitting that no matter what happened, she still loved her sister. Cause she of all people knows why Dahlia turned out the way she did, maybe if things were different she wouldn't have become the twisted soul she is. Unfortunately, it was too late, and that's what ended up taking her own life. That trial from the start of the game. Not to mention Pearl was a part of the crime because it was all due to following her mother's orders.

This game really surprised me, after the shitshow that was the 2nd game there was a faint glimpse that maybe if the game had the same quality of case 4 for every case, we'd be experiencing a masterpiece in our hands. Trials and Tribulations is that masterpiece. It tells an engaging story filled with characters you want to care about because it focuses on delivering the same thematic presence that's there from the start. It really does feel like every case here serves a purpose and not once did I really find there to be one that felt like "filler" It's rare to find a game that is consistently as good as this one.

I'm glad I finally experienced it too. Easily the best of the original trilogy.