Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney, released in Japan as Gyakuten Saiban Yomigaeru Gyakuten (???? ???? ?, lit. "Turnabout Trial: Revived Turnabout"), is a visual novel-type adventure video game published and developed by Capcom in Japan, North America, and Europe, and published by Nintendo in Australia. It was first released in Japan exclusively for the Game Boy Advance in 2001, and was re-released for the Nintendo DS as an enhanced remake in 2005 with touchscreen support, microphone support, and exclusive content. This version was first released in Japan, and later in North America, Europe, and Australia. The Game Boy Advance version was also re-released for the PC as Gyakuten Saiban PC, published by the Japanese company SourceNext shortly after the Nintendo DS release. A mobile phone version version of the same name as the English version was released in 2007 episodically. However, only a portion of the game has been released to date.
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney stars Phoenix Wright, a rookie defense attorney in the Fey and Co. Law Offices, owned by fellow defense attorney Mia Fey. Other characters include Maya Fey, Mia's sister, Miles Edgeworth, a rival prosecutor, Dick Gumshoe, a scatterbrained detective, Larry Butz, an old friend of Phoenix's, and others. Most trials are separated in individual episodes, of which there are five of. Phoenix must present his case to the Judge, and has to cross examine witnesses and present a compelling argument. Often, the true criminal is one of the witnesses, and Phoenix will have to crack their alibi to get his client found not guilty. Outside of the courtroom, Phoenix must collect evidence and try to get as much information from the people involved in the case as he can. The court perspective is usually in the third person, while the perspective outside of court is in the first person.
Throughout its life, Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney has been commercially successful. In Japan, the original Game Boy Advance version sold 58,877 units to date, and the Japan-only budget-priced version of it sold significantly more, selling 129,630 units. The Nintendo DS version sold 128,842 units, while its Japan-only budget-priced version sold 148,552 units. By the end of 2007, the Japan-only budget-priced version has sold 254,681 copies, with 141,681 sold in that year and 130,020 the year prior. The Nintendo DS version experienced a shortage due to its high demand in North America.
Since the release of the Game Boy Advance version, the series has produced many sequels and spin-offs. Two direct sequels were produced titled Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Justice for All and Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trials and Tribulations, which feature the same characters as Phoenix continues to take on trials. These games were also remade for the Nintendo DS, though with no additional content like this one had. Trials and Tribulations closed a mystery that was left unsolved in this title, and there have been no games starring Phoenix since it. However, a new title has been released starring a new attorney called Apollo Justice titled Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney. A spin-off has been announced titled Gyakuten Kenji, which will star Miles Edgeworth and Dick Gumshoe.
