During the last part of 3-5, when it's clear to Phoenix that Godot killed Misty, and why he killed her, Maya pleads with Phoenix to let the matter drop, but Phoenix mentally replies that no matter what the circumstances, he has to see justice done.

We aren't given a choice here like we are with Engarde's trial, but if we were, would you have wanted to do as Phoenix did, press on, and get the killer convicted, or considering the circumstances, and remembering that the Judge was satisified that neither Iris or Maya committed the murder, would you have tried to call for a end to the trial?

(I know Godot wanted to be found guilty, and would have objected if Phoenix had tried to stop the trial, which would have meant either option would have probably lead to the same conclusion.....)

I found the ending to be dissatisfying. Part of the fun of convicting killers like Manfred von Karma and Damon Gant is knowing that they did it, trying to prove it, and shaking your fist at them every time they stymie you with a cheap trick (Manfred zapping you and stealing the letter is still one of the coolest plot devices yet, I think). Versus this case, where you only find out that Godot had anything to do with it in the last ten minutes of the trial. I don't play Ace Attorney games for the realism, obviously, but I'm having a hard time rationalizing why Godot didn't just claim that he was defending Maya and leave it at that - after all, even Phoenix was arguing for him. Getting yourself put away in prison like that just doesn't solve anything. His claim that his backup plan was to pin it on Iris seemed like it was thought of at the last second to try to arouse some ire towards Godot, but it didn't work for me. Winning 3-5 didn't feel like a victory on any account, and not in the good, melancholy way that 2-3 was like. Dahlia was already dead, and seeing Mia tell her off wasn't as satisfying as it should have been. Morgan's still in jail and is no worse off than before. Godot's in prison and I don't feel like I "saved" him. Misty Fey is dead and Maya/Mia seem to have no comments on the matter.

TLDR summary: Grand finale cases like 1-4, 1-5, and 2-4 felt like great victories over insurmountable odds. 3-5 just seemed like an overall loss for everyone.

I would have continued to get the real killer convicted. The worst thing you can do to a killer is underestimate them and their methods of incrimination. If I knew who the real killer was I would go after them till I could go no more as there's no telling what sort of decisive evidence they have hidden up there sleeve ready to bust out at the last minute before the client is about to get acquitted.

Best not to take any chances and get owned at the last minute thinking, "CLIENT GUILTY?! KILLER INNOCENT?! NOES *headbang/grape*"

Also, I don't think Godot would willingly give himself up like that. He just wanted to test Phoenix to see how strong-willed he was in pursuing the case until the real criminal was caught. He just wanted to see if Phoenix could live up to the kind of person that Mia was.

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Last edited by Mr. Bear Jew on Tue Sep 04, 2007 11:26 pm, edited 2 times in total.

Yeah, as long as neither Iris nor Maya were going to go to jail if Godot didn't, I would've just dropped the case. Armando has suffered enough!

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Oh Whodi, I agree with you so much, I think I <3 you~ (Except, I thought it was beyond obvious that Godot was guilty the moment he showed up on the second day of investigation. That was the point in which I really lost faith in the case).

I thought 3-5 was a horrible way to end Phoenix's arc. The only satisfaction I got out of beating Godot was the fact that he finally shut up. I don't think it compared at all to besting Karma or Engarde. I couldn't even feel that much relief for having saved Iris and Maya, since...Godot was the one nudging Phoenix in all the right directions anyway. He wouldn't have let either of them get convicted--I never felt either of them were in danger.

Though I don't think you can just "let the case drop" anyway. Godot was guilty. Any leniency that would have gone into his sentencing would happen after Iris' trial, which Phoenix would have no part of. So I don't see how the game could offer you any kind of choice. No trial of Phoenix's has ever ended without him proving a viable suspect. I don't think the Judge would have been satisfied just to say, "They're innocent, that's all I need to know."

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Maybe I'm just dense, but I knew that Godot was the killer thanks to an unlucky hit on a Google search for "godot visor" and I still didn't catch it until the end. And I know I'm gullible, I really thought he just lost interest in the case on the first day because Phoenix wasn't defending it.