I really like the first Apollo Justice game.
Some of the middle cases drag a bit, and there's one character I despise (Spark Brushel). But it has a lot more going for it than against it:
+A new character who is similar to Phoenix, yet also different enough to seem fresh. Apollo is kind of an inverse Phoenix. He comes off as more of an outward goofball, but his inner dialogue is more serious and focused than Wright.
+An absolutely killer first case, possibly one of the best in the entire franchise. The fourth and final case is fantastic as well. Kristoph Gavin is quite possibly my all-time favorite major villain. Part of that comes from his role. Where Wright's mentor was a good person and helped him throughout his journey, Apollo's ended up being the big bad guy - this dynamic is unexpected and adds good drama to the story. Apollo also carries some of his mentor's mannerisms with him into the subsequent games as well.
+The fresh, cool vibe the game gives off is much different from the original AA trilogy, and a lot of this has to do with the soundtrack. Composed by Toshihiko Horiyama, who some may know from Mega Man X4, it has a more future-like feel to it. It's also way more chill than the other games. A lot of its music feels like it would be on the options menu of another game, or the select a stage screen, or the "home base" portion of a game. It's very home-y and relaxing.
+Like the music, the characters also seem a bit more mellow. Ema is a much more down to earth detective than the bombastic Gumshoe. Klavier is more of a friendly rival than an outright villain of a prosecutor, instead giving up the villain role to his brother. I wouldn't like this for every game in a series like this, but it's a very nice, relaxing change of pace when coming directly off of the finale of the original trilogy.
+It has my favorite portrayal of Phoenix Wright in the series. Hobo Dad Phoenix may seem like an entirely different character at first glance, and he has indeed matured from his rookie days, but once you get inside his head you realize he is most definitely the same guy inside. This is also the first time you see him from another person's perspective, not counting his college flashback self. This is how he comes off to others. Cool and competent on the outside, but a lovable goof on the inside.
I really like this game overall. If it existed in a vacuum, I think I'd like it less. But it knows its place in its series. It's a breath of fresh air, a new start, a different vibe. And it wears that on its sleeve.
Any black sheep games you like? Why?
