Board 8 > Favorite Ace Attorney First Case?

(+) Yeah! (+)

In the mood for some Ace Attorney polls, so here we go. We've had a couple years to digest the Great Ace Attorney games now, so I'll be curious to see how they fare.

Apologies to anyone who wanted to vote for The English Turnabout from Layton/Ace Attorney. Now that we have 11 games, something has to miss the cut. I guess I could've cut 2-1 since I feel like no one's voting for that one either, but it's probably fine either way.

Personal ranking: E2-1 > 4-1 > 3-1 > G2-1 > 6-1 > G1-1 > 1-1 > E1-1 > 5-1 > L-1 > 2-1

Honestly I think it's G2-1

The setup is just too good.

It was also GREAT to come into right after leaving off the last case of G1, which I am on the record as fucking despising.

G2-1 has a great initial concept but the case itself doesn't really have much to it

It's between 1-1 and 4-1 for me. Ended up voting 4-1 but could go either way depending on the day. 1-1 is just so nostalgic for me.

I think I like 5-1 the most even if I feel like it is not objectively the best, good villain and I enjoyed the way it set up the game. Ill defend it

also since I beat GAA1+2 I can finally say

you all are the insane ones GAA1 rocked

I don't really care for G2-1, there just isn't that much to it and it doesn't really lead to anything. I actually prefer G1-1 despite the fact that it has an atrociously slow and long final act.

3-1's my fave though - Mia vs Dahlia and Rookie Crusher Payne is just way too much fun, and it sets up the game's arc perfectly.

Paratroopa1 posted...

there just isn't that much to it and it doesn't really lead to anything

Yeah, this is the main thing holding G2-1 back for me from ranking it higher. I like a lot of things about it, but it doesn't feel super important in the overall scheme of the game. G1-1 definitely has weight to it (and a great villain), but it just goes on way longer than it needs to.

3-1 rules

5-1 probably the worst

I love 3-1... Dahlia is a great character. The back story in that one and the way everything gets revealed was done really well.

But 4-1 is still probably my favorite due to the "shock" factor.

I didn't vote for it, but 1-1 is severely underrated. It's an extremely charming case, and the series wouldn't have taken off without 1-1 making such a good first impression.

I dunno. I feel like people properly appreciate 1-1. It's just hard to say anything about it that hasn't already been said, especially since it's literally only 30 minutes long.

I remember back in the day it was one of the lowest-rated cases during a topic series, so I guess that stuck with me.

KamikazePotato posted...

I remember back in the day it was one of the lowest-rated cases during a topic series, so I guess that stuck with me.

I think that just speaks to the quality of the series as a whole. 1-1 is a really good case, which is...basically average or maybe even below average for Ace Attorney...!

But on the other hand, it is difficult to rank it relative to other cases because I think there's a tendency to dock it points because it is so short.

1-1 is a good case. It is also the weakest case in the first game.

E2-1 has an incredible plot, some solid plot twists, a fantastic villain, and superb pacing. Legit my second-favorite case in that game.

2nd place is 4-1, which has the same, except arguably the villain (and then the further cases weaken it considerably, but just going by standalone case, it's still super good)..... also legit my first-favorite case in that game.

While first impressions are important, I think 1-1 only impresses because you have no idea what Ace Attorney is yet and this 30 minute long bite sized nugget makes you really want more. But like, every other first case is better imo, 1-1 has major pilot episode vibes

By the way, since I'm sure nobody will even bother to bring it up, I think E1-1 is a super underrated first case. It's fairly short and there isn't a lot to it - there's pretty much only one character besides the main cast - but it's got some surprisingly good murder mystery tricks and Edgeworth's office is a cool environment for a murder. The whole twist of there having been two separate invasions, and the future reveal of why the other one happened, was really well done and genuinely surprising. And Edgeworth threatening the intruder at the start is just iconic.

Pilot episodes are very hard to get right though. Whenever I'm writing something new, the beginning is what I obsess over the most, because it's the initial filter. Other first cases in the series may be more elaborate and in-depth, but no one would have bothered with them if 1-1 wasn't a really fun time.

Like, in comparison, if 2-1 was the first case in the series I'm not sure I would have played 2-2.

Paratroopa1 posted...

By the way, since I'm sure nobody will even bother to bring it up, I think E1-1 is a super underrated first case. It's fairly short and there isn't a lot to it - there's pretty much only one character besides the main cast - but it's got some surprisingly good murder mystery tricks and Edgeworth's office is a cool environment for a murder. The whole twist of there having been two separate invasions, and the future reveal of why the other one happened, was really well done and genuinely surprising. And Edgeworth threatening the intruder at the start is just iconic.

E-1 is the only part of Edgeworth 1 I enjoyed, so I'll agree with this.

Also my second-favorite case of that game!

I think it's actually 4-1 for me. That case really made me excited to play more of AA4. Lol, lmao even.

Dishonorable mention to 2-1 for being probably the worst case in the whole series.

Thought about my ranking for a bit

3-1 > E2-1 > 4-1 > E1-1 > G1-1 > G2-1 > 6-1 > 2-1 > L-1 > 5-1 > 1-1

E2-1 and 4-1 are the standouts to me. AJ in particular sticks out because the first case is arguably the best case in the game lol.

I like E1-1. It's a shame the series never let us just casually roam around Edgeworth's office again after that, because it is a really cool setting. Portsman is a solid intro villain, too. I don't dig the mystery of the case all that much though.

1-1 still kind of is the platonic ideal for AA to me. punchy dialog, hammy villains, bizarro court, punny names, striking music, and unmatched pacing.

2-1's amnesia plot/maya random disappearance/maggey byrd were terrible, but on replay i kinda hated it a little less because the contradictions are kinda fun and the hands villain is so bad he's good in a way.

3-1 is stellar and my god that allegro music hits hard. mia is an amazing playable character and phoenix is a hilarious victim and my god that payne hair

4-1 is good mostly because of the reveal, the dirty trick ending, and (let's be honest) the AA1 objection music. i think in the end it's not at the top though.

E1-1 is so forgettable for me. probably deserves another run.

E2-1 is the best. it's got the scope of a full early-game case and doesn't really pull any BS like the ending to 4-1 (admittedly cool though). has the best villain.

5-1 is possibly the worst case in the series. athena's intro is terrible and the villain has zero charisma and... is this the case that's technically split into multiple days? phoenix's return feels weird and out of place and it's all just awful

6-1 is comically too long and is not interesting as a plot but peeslubbn andistandi does a LOT of work. ultimately it (like many of the more bloated cases) does not exceed the sum of its parts, but those highs are hilarious.

G1-1 is pretty tedious due to length. the villainess is great but the ending is so incredibly unsatisfying.

G2-1 is also quite unsatisfying but susato aa ryunosuke's cousin is spectacular. and her theme as an objection theme!

1-1 is "Mr. Sahwit more like Mr. Did It" that's all I remember really.

2-1 is bad.

3-1 is good

4-1 is also good. Competes with 3-1.

5-1 leaves me with questions. What I really don't understand about is that we know Athena has already successfully defended at least one case before so why does is she desperately trying to not suck so Phoenix can come in and save her.

6-1 is just unsettling and too long for the tone it sets

E-1 is... Fine

E2-1 is pretty decent even if no one other than Knightly or Huang could possibly have been the killer due to the angle at which the victim was shot. Also, Ice Cream.

G1-1 is a good case with a good opening villain that unfortunately bloats itself badly near the end with some obvious misdirections. At least half of part 3 didn't need to happen.

G2-1 I find Susato surprisingly cute, but the case itself doesn't have a lot to it. Some of Rei's behavior goes too far and starts feeling.. Weird.

It's probably 3-1, but G2-1 is up there. It's definitely not 5-1.

did SSBM Guy show up to vote for 2-1 because of Wellington or did someone just do it as a gag

Nah, I voted E2-1. Wellington good, but 2-1 is pretty mid tier for case 1s!