Note: This countdown idea comes from Alexxx(DahliaHawthorneFan). This countdown is therefore dedicated to them.
Ace Attorney cases, be they filler or plot relevant, have one major thing that gives them charm, no matter the quality, and that’s the characters. In this list, I’ll be counting down my top 15 favorite one-shot Ace Attorney Characters. By my definition of “one-shot”, I mean characters who only appear in one case, maybe two at max. They could either have major plot relevance, or just appear in one case as a side character. Now, a few things to mention. First: There may be times where I pick two characters from the same case. That’s just a testament to the quality of the case’s character writing. Second: There will be spoilers because some of these characters have plot relevance. Finally: Don’t be jerks in the comments section. We can all be civil here. So sit back and enjoy the list.
#15: Bonny De Famme (The Magical Turnabout)
Let’s start this list out on a sweet note. This little bunny girl was the most charming side character of the second case of Spirit of Justice, and despite not having a ton of screen time, she still managed to steal my heart. Not only is she utterly adorable and innocent, but she’s got a good heart and even helped out during the trial. She was the first to suggest that neither Trucy or Betty was Manov Mistree’s killer, which got Apollo on the right track to finding the real culprit. I honestly hope we see her alongside Trucy or at least mentioned by her in a future installment, because this sweet girl deserves more love and I would love to see more of her own magical talent.
#14: Uendo Toneido (Turnabout Storyteller)
When it comes to new characters in Turnabout Storyteller, this guy definitely stole the show in terms of being the most interesting. Having Dissociative Identity Disorder really opened the door to expanding on Uendo, and not only did Capcom make the other three personalities likable, but they managed to do it without taking away from Uendo himself. And using the Mood Natrix on him was definitely a unique experience due to the conflicting emotions of the personalities. Turnabout Storyteller was kind of weak as a case, but every dark cloud has silver lining, and this guy was it for this case.
#13: Sister Bikini (Bridge to the Turnabout)
First character from a big final case. While not as major as other characters in the case, Sister Bikini still plays a role in the events of Bridge to the Turnabout. She had the personality of a delightful grandmother, but she has enough wisdom of the Fey Family to be someone who isn’t just kooky. She also served as Iris’s mother figure for the majority of her life, to the point where Iris sees her as her real mother, and considering Iris’s actual mother, Morgan Fey, it’s nice to know that there’s someone at Hazakura Temple with kindness. It’s nice to have someone who brings joy into other’s lives.
#12: Lana Skye (Rise from the Ashes)
It’s times like this when I’m glad that Capcom gave us Rise from the Ashes. If not, we wouldn’t have had characters like this to appreciate. Lana is the older sister of Ema Skye and the defendant in Rise from the Ashes. She seems cold and stern at the start, but like many Ace Attorney characters who start this way, Lana had a good reason for being so. Blackmailed by Damon Gant, Lana was terrified at the suggested possibility that her little sister was responsible for the death of Neil Marshall, and did everything in her power to protect her, which included falsifying evidence and submitting to Gant’s will. However, Lana really does love her sister, and despite the mistakes she made, she’s still able to move forward and become a happier person at the end of it all. I wish she could at least get a shout-out in a future title, but if not, I’ll live with her one appearance in Rise from the Ashes.
#11: Hugh O’Conner (Turnabout Academy)
Similarly to Lana, there’s a secret behind Hugh’s coldness. Honestly, I just think this guy is a little more compelling, despite Turnabout Academy technically being a filler case. Hugh is a twenty-five year old young man with poor grades, but his parents bribed Professor Aristotle Means into creating an illusionary reputation for their son. And once he finds out, Hugh is disgusted at his parents actions, because he takes his studies seriously. He takes his friendships even more seriously, which gave him a chance to show his heart of gold that he has underneath. I hope Phoenix taught him well, because another good lawyer in court is never a bad thing in my book.
#10: Adrian Andrews (Farewell, My Turnabout & The Stolen Turnabout)
Adrian is one of the few characters on this list who appears in more than one case. However, her role in Farewell, My Turnabout is much more prominent then her role in The Stolen Turnabout. In Farewell, My Turnabout, Adrian is tied to almost every other major player in the case, being the manager of Matt Engarde, the student of Celeste Impax, and the “lover” (not really) of Juan Corrida. She’s also emotionally damaged, and you feel like a real jerk after pressing her so hard after the first day of the trial. Thankfully, not only are you able to save her from a false conviction, but The Stolen Turnabout shows that she’s moved on with her life an is a much happier person. It’s a nice touch to see her first step forward, and I hope she didn’t hurt Phoenix too badly with her newly acquired skills with a whip.
#9: Ron Delite
Coming back to The Stolen Turnabout, we have this little cinnamon roll of a man. Though timid and the defendant of the case, Ron truly is a sweet guy, and I think it’s beyond obvious that he’s not capable of murder. He’s devoted to his wife, Desiree, whom he loves dearly, and he’s able to be brave when the situation calls for him to be. I know I found him charming, even though he may not be a prince. But you don’t have to be a prince to be a man.
#8: Vera Misham (Turnabout Succession)
Not only do we have a defendant here, but from a final case no less. Vera plays quite a big role in Turnabout Succession, being one of the key players in one of the cases that would eventually lead to The Dark Age of the Law, albeit it unknowingly. Whether she’s a twelve year old child, or a nineteen year old forger, her personality doesn’t really change. She’s really timid, to the point where it’s almost unhealthy, but she really does have a good heart, and though she fell victim to Kristoph Gavin’s manipulation, after recovering from poisoning, she decides to step out into the world and stand on the own two feet. I kinda hope she’ll get a shout-out in the future, maybe in the form of Apollo or Trucy owning one of her paintings. I hope she does well for herself, now that she’s smiling again.
#7: John Marsh (The Grand Turnabout)
Who says Ace Attorney children can’t awesome in their own ways? This kid is definitely proof that the answer should be nobody. I knew I was gonna like this kid the moment he was introduced, since he basically told Shi-Long Lang to piss off. However, he’s not just a grumpy kid. He really does love his adopted mother, Justine Courtney, and says some very wise words at the end of The Grand Turnabout when he sees that revenge really doesn’t benefit anyone. It only hurts those around you. Despite being thirteen, John is a good kid, and wiser at his age than some Ace Attorney characters will ever be. I hope John does something good with his life, because he deserves a bright future.
#6: Katherine Hall (The Inherited Turnabout)
This woman is as sweet as the desserts she makes, but undoubtedly her most persistent trait is her loyalty to her adopted father, Jeff Master. She spent eighteen years doing what she could in order to buy back Master’s family mansion so she could save him from his false conviction, but she still managed to visit him in the detention center every day with chocolates and a smile on her face. She was so loyal to Master that she was even willing to commit murder to expose the truth behind the IS-7 Incident. I hope when she’s released from prison, she’ll be able to happily bake alongside her adopted father and dance with Raymond Shields once again.
#5: Armie Buff (Turnabout Revolution)
Another Ace Attorney child. I don’t care though, because I love this little girl. Armie Buff has been through a lot, despite only being twelve years old. She lost both of her parents, and just like Vera, had an unhealthy fear of the outside world. However, like Vera, she learns to open up and literally stand on her two feet through her friendship with Apollo. However, I like Armie better. Not only because of her childhood charms and cute appearance, but her more boisterous personality through her military obsession and her more personal connection with Apollo. I hope she does well on her own, and I hope she enjoys herself on her future dig in Khura’in.
#4: Aura Blackquill (The Cosmic Turnabout & Turnabout for Tomorrow)
The only other character who appears in more than one case. But oh my gosh, I love this woman. Snarky, sarcastic, and not willing to take s**t from anyone, Aura really knows how to get the job done. She’s good with robots and has a rather dark sense of humor. Her role in The Cosmic Turnabout is minor, but it serves as a good introduction for her. Turnabout for Tomorrow is where she really got to shine, and we learned a bit more about her. Despite her angry attitude, she does care about her little brother Simon and though the implications of her having feelings for Metis are still ambiguous, it’s obvious that Aura really cared for her. I hope she gets out of jail soon, because her work could use continuation, and time with her brother after so long is something she could really use.
#3: Robin Newman (Turnabout Academy)
Another character from Themis Legal Academy. I like Hugh, but I love Robin, even though we know the least about her. At least out of the Themis Trio. However, a bit of speculation and dissection makes her really something special. It’s already a ton of fun to see the differences between her male persona and her true female self. But then we get to the friendship between her, Hugh, and Juniper. Though we see most of the conflict between Hugh and Juniper, I don’t believe that Robin was unaware of what was happening. Her two best friends, on the verge of splitting apart, and nothing she could really do about it except do her best to hold them together. Poor Robin could only hope that things could resolve themselves. Thankfully, Athena was able to sort out the discord between the friends and strengthen the bonds that were already there, while also giving Robin the inspiration the stick with being a prosecutor. We see her beginning her studies for the bar exam at the end of Dual Destinies, and given the understaffed Prosecutor’s Office, I hope we see her again in court soon.
#2: Dhurke Sahdmadhi (Turnabout Revolution)
I don’t even know where to start with this guy. There’s just so much good stuff to say about him, even though he only appeared in one case. (Yes I know he had a cameo appearance at the end of The Rite of the Turnabout, but he didn’t speak and it was only for like two seconds). He’s a loving husband, a good father, a skilled defense attorney, a damn good motivational speaker, and so much more. His warm and fatherly kindness is so endearing, but his death glare is enough to send cowards like Igna running for the hills. I honestly can’t find one thing I don’t like about this guy. He’s the reason I didn’t care that Turnabout Revolution was so long. And I believe that his spirit lives on through his three children: Apollo, Nahyuta, and Rayfa. A Dragon Never Yields, and is never forgotten either.
#1: Iris Fey (Bridge to the Turnabout)
I confess that the margin between #2 & #1 was small, but Iris managed to pull ahead to take the top spot on this list. Iris came from a rough background, having a sadistic twin sister, an unloving father, and a truly cruel and selfish mother. Abandoned at Hazakura Temple at a very young age, Iris had every excuse to become cold and bitter. However, she didn’t, remaining kind-hearted and determined, despite her shyness. She was willing to sacrifice her own life to protect Phoenix after she fell in love with him, even willing to cross her sister Dahlia, who she very well knew was capable of murder. She also participated in Godot’s plan to protect her younger cousin Maya, despite not knowing her very well. She’s also the older half-sister of Pearl Fey, and they both share the same kindness. Despite never receiving much during her younger years, Iris’s greatest strength was her ability to give love. Love even for her sister, who by no means deserved it. A truly determined and loving individual, Iris Fey takes my top spot as the best One-Shot Ace Attorney character, and I hope she’ll soon be released from prison in order to keep giving love in the future.
So that’s it. I know this isn’t as epic or big as some of my other countdowns, but I wanted to try something a little different. I mentioned the inspiration came from someone else, so credit was given where credit was due. See you guys next time.
Comments (1)
Rise from the Ashes exists