Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Official Casebook Volume 1

When I was at university, my stress was reduced thanks to my Nintendo DS; it was then that the Phoenix Wright series was introduced to me and I had plenty of fun exploring such a unique and comical storyline which was helped by memorable characters and a solid script. This gives me a perfect chance to review The Phoenix Wright Files – Official Casebook volume 1; review is now in session.

The manga is based on the first three games (Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney, Justice for All, and Trials and Tribulations) so if you’re expecting this manga to be a sequel or to have cases just like the game, then you are going to be sadly disappointed. Instead it contains short stories and 4-koma panels done by various artists who are fans of the series.

The 293 pages that are offered contain a large amount of variety in art styles that might turn off one reader but interest another; however the characters’ personalties and the objections are spot-on (as a fan like myself would expect.)

The short stories can be very hit and miss; most of them centre around Phoenix and Maya’s random events. These focus heavily on the humour that the series is known for but this turns out to be silly rather than smart, which is a shame.

4-koma panels are used as a break for the reader and provide the best laughs, however going through these pages starts to feel like a chore – which only furthered my disappointment. 

This book is only for the Phoenix Wright fan base. People who are unfamiliar with the games could easily be alienated, especially as big spoilers are shown throughout. The manga also doesn’t give any back story or an overview, so it’s very hard to recommend it unless you’ve played through all three games.

The last pages contain some very charming author comments from the artists and show how they enjoyed submitting their works to the publisher. There are translation notes for anyone unfamiliar with the Japanese references mentioned in the text and a preview of the second volume.

In Summary

If you a hardcore Phoenix Wright fan then this casebook might be worth checking out but if you don’t know the series or you’re not a fan, then it’s best to avoid it. Case Closed.