Get ready to object and raise the gavel, Japan’s gotten itself a new lawyer on the rise. However, don’t walk into this assuming that Phoenix Wright will make an appearance like in the sequel trail of Apollo Justice games that fell in sequence with Mr. Wright’s story arc. Mostly because this game is deduced for taking place centuries before to all of that. The main character himself is named fairly close to Phoenix Wright’s name in the original Japanese characters; giving the overall assumption that this character is in fact an ancestor to Phoenix Wright, rather then being unrelated to the main Ace Attorney series altogether. The source of the article is from Famitsu, a well-known Japan-based gaming magazine that has been known to catch wind of the game’s development firsthand. A quick translation of the article revealed that the main character’s name is Naruhodou Ryuunosuke. Pheonix Wright’s official Japanese name is Naruhodou Ryuichi, thus spurned the idea that it’s not just a mere visual appearance that seems uncannily familiar between these protagonists.
But we do not know for certain if Ryuunosuke is going to be an ancestor or spin-off from Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney. The game is being developed under the same Ace Attorney developer Shu Takumi, the game will eventually launch on the 3DS at a later date which is still unknown. Speaking of the unknown; we’re also not certain at the moment if the game will even touch western shores. The release in Japan is assured, but the game’s presence overseas will take some time to sort out. Though with the constant trail of localization that the development studio has done for the Ace Attorney series, there’s a good chance we’ll eventually get to see Japan in all of its feudal glory.
It will definitely prove to be a unique experience. As the Ace Attorney series was based primarily in our modern era (and in some cases set in the future) it’ll be directing itself to the lesser known Meiji era. But fear not, there’s need of justice in every era, and that’s one concept that this newfound information embraces. Some might find the twist to be a little unsettling, but there is grandiose potential for the development team to dabble in to surprise their loyal fans.
We’ll keep you updated on future installments as the game makes its way to western sources, as well as any additional screenshots, scans, and information that might leak from Japanese-based publishers. The title “Dai Gyakuten Saiban – Naruhodou Ryuunosuke no Bouken,” or in English “Grand Turnabout Trial – The Adventures of Naruhodou Ryuunosuke,” has already begun to make ripples in the gaming community. If there is something in particular you’d enjoy seeing in the Ace Attorney series, feel free to leave a comment below. As of now, we shall keep our eyes peeled for further official details that might make themselves known as the month of April comes to its conclusion.