Behind the Scenes of Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney Trilogy with Producer Kenichi Hashimoto

Ace Attorney is a visual novel video game franchise developed by Capcom, the same developer behind popular titles like Resident Evil, Street Fighter, and Monster Hunter.

The first entry in the series, Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney, was released in 2001. Since then, the franchise has seen the release of six main series games and a few spin-offs, with the upcoming trilogy set to be available early next year.

At Gamescom Asia 2023, we had the privilege to interview Kenichi Hashimoto, the mastermind behind Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney Trilogy, and gain insights into the making of the trilogy.

When asked about the challenges the team faced when consolidating the trilogy, Hashimoto said, “One of the struggles is that our staff had to import the older games to our Capcom RE engine and figure out how to fit the Ace Attorney titles into our current engine.”

Hashimoto also emphasized the team's awareness of fans' anticipation for the trilogy and how they were thinking to improve the game.

“The team has known that fans have been waiting for this game for a very long time. So they were wondering how to create the game, not only by actually making it available on the newer platforms but also adding something new, and that’s how the museum function is currently present in Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney Trilogy,” shared Hashimoto.

“Only putting it on newer platforms would be not enough for the fans of the series. That’s why we are thinking about how to improve it, by featuring a higher resolution and voiceovers, so the players can enjoy the trilogy.”

Additionally, the trilogy will also feature a plethora of new features like Orchestra Hall, Art Library and Animation Studio.

“You can use the Animation Studio to use the characters and set them in different settings and play around with them however you want. Also, you can also listen to the orchestra as well as visit the gallery, which includes all of the development pictures and development.

“Basically, everything in the game is looking better with the high-res graphics. Everything is redone and remade in a higher resolution so it will be easier for all players to enjoy it.”

Adding to the excitement, as stated on the game’s official website, the game's story is available in seven languages, namely Japanese, English, French, German, Korean, and both Traditional and Simplified Chinese, with new voice dubs in each language also included.

For those unfamiliar with the Ace Attorney series, these games fall into the visual novel genre. They revolve around the work of a defense attorney, Phoenix Wright, who investigates cases, gathers evidence, and defends his clients in court. The game features a mix of puzzle-solving, courtroom drama, and character interactions, all set in a unique and often humorous legal world.

The trilogy will include Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney, Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Dual Destinies, and Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Spirit of Justice, and it will be available on gaming platforms such as Nintendo Switch, PC, PS4, and Xbox One on January 25, 2024.