Writer: Evan Randle
Editor: Mira Khan
Spring 2024
Although their reputation in mass culture has improved steadily over the years, video games remain a controversial subject. Some praise their unique approach to interactivity and storytelling, while others decry their sensationalist and distracting nature. Very few games have touched on the legal world respectively, yet those that have seem to be no exception to this kind of debate. A noteworthy example of a video game that is intrinsically tied to the realm of law is the Japanese video game company Capcom’s Ace Attorney Series. The franchise has produced six main series games and five spin-offs, and all but one involves the player taking on the role of a defense attorney in a quite frankly nonsensical world that seems to merge the cultures of Japan and the United States. While the Ace Attorney series is far from accurate in its depiction of the American justice system, it – and many other legal video games – has also inspired many lawyers, video game developers, and even activists.
The Ace Attorney series’ illustration of the United States legal system suffers multiple faults, some of which verge on the realm of parody. These errors of fault range from relatively inoffensive details – such as a lack of focus on certain rights incorporated into the Fourteenth Amendment and a lack of plea bargains – to outrageous and fantastical elements. Seances are performed, lies are magically detected with the help of a magatama, emotions are statistically codified, and defendants threaten prosecutors who then threaten attorneys. It would be remiss not to mention the series’ infamous ‘breakdowns,’ where characters burst out into comically exaggerated fits in response to being exposed for their errors. Many of these mistakes are intentional and typically serve to make the game more understandable and more entertaining to players. Yet, critics may claim these fantastical elements and comical portrayals detract from the genuine meaning one could find in the game’s legal focus. This argument, however, is almost as nonsensical as many of the series’ elements.
Despite its largely comical and parodical nature, the Ace Attorney series can still provide great inspiration and meaning to those who experience it. At its core, the narrative of the franchise revolves around justice: how it is impeded, ignored, yet ultimately fought for by those who care for the system and the individuals they interact with. One of the series’ most beloved cases revolves around the dilemma that defense attorneys may face when their clients are genuinely responsible for horrific crimes. Especially in a series where the relationship between lawyers and their defendants is emphasized, the very idea of defending and aiding a guilty individual is treated as disturbing and worthy of seriousness. While a majority of the other defendants are ultimately innocent, the true culprits and their motives are elaborated on. Often supported by flashbacks, the development of these criminals provides players with the rather mature concept that, despite their crimes, many lawbreakers have genuine nuances and tragedies in their lives.
The value of Ace Attorney’s positive elements has not gone unnoticed. April Preyar, a defense attorney based in Chicago, has utilized video games in order to educate citizens about the function of the law and their role in it (Jackson, ABA Journal, 2019). In addition, an adjunct professor at both Penn State University and the University of South Florida, Chris Smithmyer, argues that video games – such as the Ace Attorney Franchise – can help younger generations develop an interest in law (Jackson, ABA Journal, 2019). Furthermore, the series has also been used as a springboard for other video game developers to advocate for important issues. All Rise is a similarly-courtroom-based video game in development, and it is stated to allow players to engage with court cases regarding climate change and the actors of the fossil fuel industry (Vervoort, et. al, 2024). The developers of All Rise have cited the Ace Attorney series and its stories as a great point of inspiration for their climate-focused work. In effect, the games’ focus on criminal law has acted as a springboard for activists to advocate for change in other areas of the legal system. Whether it be towards fellow video game developers, potential lawyers, or even activists, the Ace Attorney franchise has proven incredibly impactful.
At its core, the Ace Attorney series is one about narratives: the narratives of an attorney’s argument, a prosecutor’s argument, a culprit’s defense of their actions, and the lives of those who interact in the legal world around them. And, regardless of their medium, narratives have the power to not only entertain but to encourage and inspire. While video games such as the Ace Attorney franchise may seem – and often are – to be limited and fallacious views of legal systems, they also possess the incredible ability to develop interest in the legal system and the nuanced mindset necessary to excel in it.
References
Jackson, Liane. “GAME TIME.” ABA Journal, vol. 105, no. 6, 2019, pp. 9–10. JSTOR,
https://www.jstor.org/stable/26913453. Accessed 11 Mar. 2024.
Vervoort, Joost M., et al. “Games for Better Futures: The Art and Joy of Making and
Unmaking Societies.” Ecogames: Playful Perspectives on the Climate Crisis, edited by Laura op de Beke et al., Amsterdam University Press, 2024, pp. 181–98. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/jj.10819591.10. Accessed 11 Mar. 2024.
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