Ok...so it's obvious that Mia and Mareka are completely different characters. And they don't even really look much like each other.......NOW.

But...in some alternate world (or at least one where rough, developmental sketches counted for more than to see the progression of a character's design), they may have very well been the same person, or at least related! I mean...take a look at Mia's older designs (via the fanbooks).

http://www.court-records.net/art/gs3_05.jpg

Now...look at Mareka

http://www.court-records.net/art/gs3_31.jpg

Looks familiar, doesn't it? Aside skirt/pants thing....they look pretty damn close, don't they?

Could it be....A CONSPIRACY?!

Ok....so it's probably more them falling back on an old discarded design and refining it to make a different character, but it does seem interesting the similarities between Mareka and the old Mia design.

Just one of those things that hits me during that lull between when my Ritalin wears off and when my Nyquil kicks in </Carlin> That and it gives me an excuse to ogle over Mareka.

---

It definitely looks like they were "recycling" an old design there. Nice find, though.

---

Eh, wouldn't be the first time unused designs were recycled;


- Edgeworth's original design eventually became von Karma.
- The outfit for Phoenix's original design, the one with green hair, was eventually reused/retooled for Franziska.
- The original design for Phoenix's mentor, which was eventually scrapped in favor of Mia, was reused for the Judge.


There's quite a few more, too..

---

...

Wow. I just saw it, and I'm ridiculously glad they didn't keep that design. >_> <_<

---

Great, Now I'm getting the feeling that someone is going to write some / fanfictions.

I don't think they really intended to reuse the design for Mareka. It probably happened by accident because their isn't much room to change designs for a "Biker's" outfit. It's like they were just trying to fill in a stereotype and this just happened.

Another case of re-use. Payne was gonna be Wright's lawyer when he was arrested in Ace Attorney, Case Two.

If that had happened, Phoenix would have been ten different kinds of screwed. Since it's obvious he can't prosecute his way out of a paper bag, what would make him any good at defense. Because, Phoenix is much cooler.

---

In all fairness, Payne has earned his "Rookie Killer" title, which suggests that he has some ability, even if it is only picking on the newbies. You're right about the defense, though. I can't see his suck-up ways working as the defense...