Ace Attorney 1 is definitely the funniest game in the trilogy. Justice for All adds so much to the formula, making it a great sequel. Comparatively, Trials and Tribulations seemingly doesn't bring much to the table. It's also (and this might be my hottest take ever) the most forgettable game in the trilogy. I first played all of these games about 4-5 years ago. When I got the HD trilogy last year, I found A.A.1 and JFA great revisits and great refreshers, but ultimately stories I remembered. I can't say the same for Trials & Tribulations. Outside of the basic premise of each case, a few tidbits about Godot, and knowing that this game delves deeper into Mia's significance, I remembered absolutely nothing about it. About a year ago I messed around with a tier list of Ace Attorney characters, and ended up making an entire tier for characters I straight up didn't remember, and all of them were ones from T&T. In the end, I'm thankful for this, because it allowed me to play this game essentially for the first time again. And what I discovered is that, while there isn't much new here, this game still is more than deserving of its reputation because it has the best goddamn story in the franchise by a landslide.
That's all there really is to say. This game is the most consistent in quality across each case compared to the first two. A.A.1 and JFA built consistency throughout the game in the form of character development (which worked well), but this game does that and has a plot that develops throughout each case. The final case has the most insane premise, mystery, and twists. I don't know how to compare it to Rise from the Ashes and Farewell my Turnabout, but Bridge to the Turnabout does something that those two don't do: its greatness doesn't exist independently of the rest of the game, and its ability to work as a phenomenal case that builds off the rest of the game is commendable. Also, this is the best soundtrack in Ace Attorney, I'm more confident of that now playing it again.
And now that I've replayed the entire trilogy, my love for this franchise feels reinvigorated, but I'm also in withdrawal. What a damn good series this is.
That's all there really is to say. This game is the most consistent in quality across each case compared to the first two. A.A.1 and JFA built consistency throughout the game in the form of character development (which worked well), but this game does that and has a plot that develops throughout each case. The final case has the most insane premise, mystery, and twists. I don't know how to compare it to Rise from the Ashes and Farewell my Turnabout, but Bridge to the Turnabout does something that those two don't do: its greatness doesn't exist independently of the rest of the game, and its ability to work as a phenomenal case that builds off the rest of the game is commendable. Also, this is the best soundtrack in Ace Attorney, I'm more confident of that now playing it again.
And now that I've replayed the entire trilogy, my love for this franchise feels reinvigorated, but I'm also in withdrawal. What a damn good series this is.