The Ace Attorney's Magical Daughter
Gender: Female
Location: Austria
Rank: Prosecutor
Joined: Tue Sep 07, 2010 2:16 pm
Posts: 817
Really, reading most of what you guys argue with, I feel like the real problem is that you're compare Apollo to T&T's Phoenix, who, just for the record, is a very,
very different one from AA1's Phoenix.
Playing AJ and AA1 back to back recently, I honestly don't see how Phoenix was that much better than Apollo in the beginning. He constantly misses crucial points (Am I the only one who notices that Edgeworth actually never altered any Autopsy reports in the second case, but that Phoenix just missed a giant contradiction in the version Gumshoe gave him?!), he comes off with so off-the-wall deductions that even his own future self three years later would smack him for it and he often fails to investigate his crime scenes or evidence thoroughly on first go, which later causes him troubles in court. The movie didn't depict him as chronically battling more against the diarray of his own court record moreso than against the prosecution for no reason, you know. The thing that Phoenix has that Apollo doesn't is the ability to quick action (Object first, think later) and the will to cross lines if necessary. Phoenix bluffs whenever he can't come up with anything, while Apollo seems strangely averted to this tactic. Also, I really doubt Apollo would have crossexamined the parrot. He'd have demanded the parrot be made evidence to the case, but he'd not crossexamined it.
TheBlarghMan wrote:
Which is exactly the point. Phoenix got kicked out of the main character's role, which never gave Apollo a chance to develop any sort of personality. They never gave the fan base a reason to like the new character, so people were upset.
That is very true, but I'd argue Apollo *does* have very much of a personality. The thing is, it can barely ever shine because, truly, he wasn't the true protagonist. He was a so-called "Supporting Protagonist"... A side character who just happens to be the narrator. Which is a pity, because Apollo has enough conflicts going on to be very, very good protagonist material (Even moreso than Edgeworth, I'd argue.)
But if people never give him the chance to, he's never gonna be able to show it. That goes in-universe like on the meta-level.
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I think you're missing the point.
When AJ came out, Phoenix was, in essence, being dumped for Apollo, to put it bluntly. Phoenix had to give up the main character role.
When AAI came out, Phoenix was never intended to be a main character, as you pointed out, it was Ema. So not as many people were upset.
It all has to do with whomever the main character's role is being replaced by.
I think you missed my point too. When AAI came out, there were a lot of people still upset of how Nick was reduced to "Guy in Blue" in Game Dialouge and many said they didn't want a spin-off and would rather have another main game (An, actually, the opinions were pretty split about a main game with *who* that should be. It's not like everybody hates Apollo, you know. Not by far. At least 60% of the Fanbase were not averted to another game with him.).
And still, AAI got made and a sequel.
So, as Edgeworth would say "Your logic doesn't necessarily flow. It is mostly subjective conjuncture."
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Yes, it does have to do with his personality. It basically portrays him as a skill-less, childish attorney who literally cannot get anything done without the help of others.
I wish I had the time to read through the entire AJ script and point out every point that contradicts the claim that he's portrayed as "Helpless" or childish, but I unfortunately have an exam on monday and have to study. An endeavour like this would cost me an entire day and I could just as well play the entire game again, so I'll refrain from it, but I'll try to argue regardless.
"skill-less" He constantly tries to think everything through before he raises an Objection. He never makes any horribly off-the-wall claims without having strong evidence. He seems to know his law very well and does not fret when he sees Mia's law books in the office. They seem to fascinate him, rather than scare, like they did with Nick. Now, he's Skill-less, how...?
"childish" He's constantly the only one noticing when the court turns into Kindergarten and trying to restore some sanity to the discussion. Trucy has to force him to do a lot of the more daring things they do, because, as I already mentioned several times, he does not feel comfortable crossing any lines. He does complain a lot, but that's because he's meant to be a hot-blooded character, which I find quite refreshing a change from Phoenix, who only turned aggrevated when things became personal for him. Hot Blooded =/= Childish. Then, there's the fact that Apollo, in comparision to other characters, cries a lot, but he never cries in-court, only during the recesses when noone but his Defense Team is watching. Now, are you saying only children cry? Is being sensitive really so a bad thing? Yes, Apollo is younger than Phoenix. He's in his early twenties.
But, may I remind you of
Phoenix in his early twenties?!.gif)
I think next to this Apollo looks almost overly mature for his age. My point stands. Thank you.
(While we're at it, passing the bar exam with 22. Is a feat. Especially when you're as prone to nervousness as Apollo. The only two known Defense Attorney Characters who passed even younger are Kokone Kizuki and Tateyuki Shigaraki, both of with are not even remotely as easily to fluster as Apollo is. Apollo in a test situation would probably be just as close to a "Cardic arrest" as he put it as when he first met Phoenix, and he still passed. So, "skill-less" and childish"? Ahahahah, come again, please.)
"
who literally cannot get anything done without the help of others." There are a lot of times, especially during Turnabout Serenade, where Apollo picks up on things nobody else notices and also points them out. He does have quite some moments to shine and, my friends, I found it quite amazing when he actually momentarily turned against Lamiroir when she was actually testifying
for Machi, when Trucy said they should just leave the testimoney like this, take the win and be happy. But Apollo actually stood up and said "No, this is not how I want to win this case.". AA1 Phoenix would not have done that. AA1 Phoenix would have tries to let it slide and then have the Prosecution scold him to the face for trying to win with a flawed testimony like that. Same goes for young Mia, by the way.
During Turnabout Serenade, Trucy is far less active than she was in Turnabout Corner, which is a good thing, because most of the deductions Apollo actually makes by himself. The only crucial one that he misses is Lamiroir's blindness, and, if I may remind you, Klavier, too, only figured out because he had much more time to examine the witnesses and Defendant thoroughly. Then, towards the end of the case, Trucy is boarderline clueless and Klavier is stunned because he doesn't want to believe that Daryan, one of his best friends, did it. Apollo does most of the work himself at that time. It's also Apollo, who (with a bit confirmation by the judge) convinced Machi to confess to the smuggling.
If you don't believe me that Apollo did this himself, that Klavier was in denial and that Trucy was clueless, take a little look at this scene:
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Apollo:
Look at the lyrics sheet,
at the top of the second
verse.
Apollo:
See where it says "Pleasure,
Pleasure..."?
Apollo:
Now listen again!
When you stole away the keys
my heart held on to so tight.
Pleasure...
But a fleeting melody
Judge:
...This is evidence indeed!
Judge:
I believe we are guilty of
making a terrible mistake.
Apollo:
The crime didn't happen
during the third set.
Apollo:
It happened during the second,
during Lamiroir's ballad.
Judge:
If that is true...
Judge:
...then no one on stage during
the second set could have been
the shooter!
Apollo:
Which means that Daryan
Crescend could have done it!
Apollo:
He wasn't on stage for the
second set!
Klavier:
......
Apollo:
Well, Prosecutor Gavin?
Klavier:
...Fascinating.
Apollo:
!
Klavier:
I don't believe I've ever
seen a trial turned around
quite so thoroughly.
Klavier:
...Yet one problem remains.
Judge:
What's that, Prosecutor Gavin?
Klavier:
Herr Forehead's theory does
have a certain kind of logic
to it.
Klavier:
Yet it is entirely based upon
Lamiroir's testimony.
Judge:
Yes? Is there a problem with
that?
Klavier:
Well, it's quite simple,
though it pains me to say it.
Klavier:
What if she is lying to
protect the defendant?
Apollo:
*OBJECTION!*
Apollo:
But you have no proof...!
Klavier:
All I'm saying is that the
truth is as yet unclear.
Klavier:
...Until we hear directly
from the man himself.
Judge:
The man... you don't mean!?
Klavier:
...Yes.
Klavier:
Though he is a friend, and
band member, Daryan Crescend
must take the stand.
Klavier:
I see no other way.
[...]
Trucy:
Apollo!
I can't believe it!
Trucy:
It really happened during
the second act?
Trucy:
A-And right in the middle of
Lamiroir's performance!?
Apollo:
Why she was in that
air vent...
Apollo:
...and that "switch" and the
flaming guitar.
Apollo:
When you link it all together,
that's what you end up with.
???:
...I knew you had what it
took.
Trucy:
Ah... Daddy!
Apollo:
Mr. Wright!
We have Klavier in denial and Trucy surprised at the turn of events herself. Then we have Phoenix, who usually only teases Apollo, actively congratulating him at his efforts. Now tell me again he "can't do anything on his own".
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Actually, he even hated it. He expresses resent whenever someone shoves him an answer to a question he wanted to figure out himself
First off, I would like some examples of that, because I can't find any of that anywhere.
Well, then.
As I said before, I really can't read the entire script right now. What I however do remember is that Apollo was very disappointed at the outcome of "Turnabout Corner". If I may quote?
Quote:
Apollo:
(I think he already knew...)
Apollo:
(He'd figured out she was the
killer a while ago...)
Klavier:
Some advice: Now's a good time
to review all you know.
Klavier:
...Everything you've learned
over the last two days.
Apollo:
(He lost... but I didn't
exactly win, either.)
Klavier:
...Hmm? Something the matter,
Herr Forehead?
Is this the reaction of someone who wants all the answers shoved into his hands and doesn't care if his achievements are his own or not? I don't think so.
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Secondly, even if that is true, that doesn't alter his personality one bit. Just cause he hates being incompetent, doesn't mean that he is or isn't.
"Incomptent"? Do you have any proof for that? I bet you that for every single instance that Apollo was "Incompetent", I can find you one where Nick was incompetent in AA1. And I mean the original AA1, "Rise from the Ashes" not counting.
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Had Mia not been killed in 1-1, Phoenix would have comes off exactly the same, trust me.
I disagree. Phoenix(literally, by himself) gave Edgeworth all he could handle without any help from Mia in his second case(obviously, there was the receipt at the end), and took down a corrupt, 40 year old perfect record who rigged every witness and piece of evidence against Phoenix(something that Apollo never had to deal with) completely without Mia as well. Phoenix never had any help from a prosecutor in his first few cases save for the end of 1-3, whereas Klavier was virtually babysitting Apollo through his first three trials.
You just contradicted yourself. Nick would NOT have won "Turnabout Sisters" without Mia's help, as you said yourself. Hadn't she come and given him the final evidence, he'd have lost and there'd not have been a thing he could have done. How is that any different from how Trucy saved the trial in 4-2? I am sensing Phoenix favoritism from your side her, I am sorry. In fact, Phoenix was prone to something in game one that Apollo never fell victim too: Under great pressure, his mind shut down and he'd go into "It's hopeless" mode, until someone snaps him out of it. This almost cost him the trial a few times. While Apollo is very nervous in everything he does, he never really paniced to the point he couldn't think anymore.
And, of course, we are ignoring the fact that in "Turnabout Goodbye"'s case Phoenix already HAD lost the case, technically. TWICE. Only reason he managed to pull through both times? Because the wild cards Maya and Larry caused commotions until Nick found something to argue with. He did NOT take down Von Karma completely on his own. It was a team effort by him, Larry, Maya and even Edgeworth. Oh, and Gumshoe!
On his own, Nick would have crashed and burned.
Also, Nick got never help from Edgeworth throughout the entire game? I would beg to differ, as would she:
.gif)
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Apollo, on the other hand, was in very much the same situation as Phoenix after his first trial, except he had a more intelligent assistant. And in the end, he STILL couldn't finish anything off without Klavier's help.
There's a difference between "couldn't" and "not being allowed to".
At no point was Apollo really close to losing the case in the ways that Phoenix often was in AA1. At no point did he screw up so badly, the judge's Gavel was already hovering over his client's head.
The situation was much differently. It's not like Apollo couldn't have handled the case on his own. It's just that neither did he get a chance, not was there any need to, because the situation lacked a lot of the "urgency" that "Turnabout Sisters" had. Because, as we will probably all agree, Klavier is a *bit* (understatement) too positive of a character to make "villain" material in any way. He's up there with Post!Developement Edgeworth in kind of morals.
The main problem with Klavier was that they failed to play the
"You got my brother into jail and I refuse to believe that he was really guilty, therefore you must be corrupt"-angel. Had they done that, Klavier would have been a much more interesting opponent to face. But that's not a problem with Apollo, that's a problem with Klavier.
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The point here isn't to say Apollo is a fool, or that Phoenix is the only great character, it's that comparing Phoenix's first few cases to Apollo's isn't even a realistic comparison. Phoenix was by far the more impressive attorney, dealing with forged evidence/autopsy reports, rigged witnesses who were told to hide things from the court by the prosecutors, and having to do it all with a much less intelligent assistant(no insult meant towards Maya, but Trucy is a far better thinker).
I'd be repeating myself if I tried to tell you why exactly this isn't absolutely correct, so just look above. Also, even if you say now "The point is not to make Apollo look like a fool", that's exactly what you have been doing the whole post. ^^;
I replayed AJ and AA1 a lot of times, several of them were parallel. I don't understand where you get your idea that Phoenix was that much superior to Apollo from. I agree that he was a bit better, but, well, Mia outright called Nick a "genius" and Nick also had had 2 years more to study law by that time. No wonder he is better at a few things. I really get the impression that you are actually comparing Apollo to the Phoenix of T&T, which is really far from fair, since the Phoenix from T&T is a very experienced attorney. That's like comparing Strawberries to Bananas.
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Actually, it's very true. Apollo is completely lost at the end of cases 2, 3, and 4,
He's lost at the end of 2-2 or 2-3? Come again? If you refering to the tense climaxes where you have to present the final couple of evidence, and your partner or the prosecutor giving you minor hints: Those are there in almost EVERY Ace Attorney Case. That's why they are called "Turnabout Trials", you know. For every moment where Apollo was geniuely "lost" (And I'd argue those weren't as common as you think by far) I can give you one where AA1's Nick was just as lost. It's really just a matter of which character you like better and that doesn't make the other a worse character, you know.
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Even when its Trucy intervening, he himself states that "she flipped the case on its head while I was still trying to figure it out."
As for that moment with Trucy, can I just argue that this line was different in the japanese version? I immediately noticed that when I played the game in japanese, at no point Apollo stated there that he couldn't have figured it out on his own, he was just surprised by the sudden shift in behaviour that Trucy displayed (Which was really a very sharp one in the japanese version, because she usually plays the cutesy-angle up much stronger than in the english version there. Imagine a 7 years old suddenly jumps down from her pony and beginns talking quantum physics to you out of nowhere. That is pretty much the impression japanese Trucy left on me when she voiced her deduction in this scene. It would have been much weirder if Apollo had *not* been shocked in the face of that.

...Because I felt the need to advertise
my fanfic with a self-drawn, animated banner. Yes, I'm obsessed, why do you ask?