Play Gyakuten Saiban Online

Summary

Gyakuten Saiban (known as Ace Attorney outside Japan) launched on the Game Boy Advance as the series’ debut. Shu Takumi directed a seven‑person team that spent ten months turning a planned Game Boy Color private‑investigator game into a courtroom thriller after the developers saw the GBA’s screen and Mega Man Battle Network footage.
The title even features the creator’s own voice for Phoenix Wright, while Masakazu Sugimori, who also wrote the music, got to use PCM samples on the limited hardware, producing a soundtrack that ranges from jazz‑fusion to 80’s pop. In Japan the game moved 62,169 copies in 2001, with a budget re‑release adding another 37,143 units, and Famitsu scored it 8/10, 8/10, 9/10, 7/10. Readers later voted it the second‑best GBA game of all time.

Storyline

Phoenix Wright, a freshly hired defense attorney at Fey & Co., takes on his childhood friend Larry Butz, accused of murdering his girlfriend Cindy Stone. With mentor Mia Fey’s guidance, Phoenix uncovers that prosecution eyewitness Frank Sahwit is the true killer.

Shortly after, Mia is murdered and her sister Maya, a spirit‑medium trainee, is arrested for the crime. Facing veteran prosecutor Miles Edgeworth, Phoenix identifies blackmailer Redd White as the real murderer, only to be framed himself. He represents himself, and Maya channels Mia’s spirit, forcing White to confess. Maya then becomes Phoenix’s assistant as he inherits Mia’s firm.

In a later case, Phoenix defends TV star Will Powers, accused of killing co‑star Jack Hammer. Investigation reveals that producer Dee Vasquez killed Hammer in self‑defense after he tried to frame her.

During the holiday season, Edgeworth is charged with the murder of attorney Robert Hammond. Phoenix squares off with legendary prosecutor Manfred von Karma, discovers bailiff Yanni Yogi shot Hammond with von Karma’s gun, and learns von Karma’s vendetta against Edgeworth’s father. Von Karma confesses, clearing Edgeworth.

The saga ends with Edgeworth reconsidering his career, Larry admitting his true guilt, and Maya returning home to complete her medium training.