History TearJerker / PhoenixWrightAceAttorney

* Miles Edgeworth's entire backstory. As a kid, he wanted to be a defense attorney just like his father, and defended Phoenix passionately in his class trial, believing strongly in the protection of the innocent and the pursuit of justice. Then his beloved father was murdered, the killer was never caught, and he grew up with a hatred for criminals (and a crippling phobia of earthquakes and, probably, elevators.) He was raised and mentored by his father's rival, the man who killed his father, who demanded absolute perfection and a guilty verdict for every case, and later becomes a genius prosecutor with a terrifying reputation. And for fifteen years he is haunted by a nightmare that makes him believe he killed his father. And then, when he is accused of murder, he initially refuses Phoenix's- his childhood best friend's- help. Even when you finally prove him innocent, he confesses to the murder of his father he believed he committed fifteen years ago. This would be a brutal case of BreakTheHaughty, but he was broken a ''long'' time ago.

* Will Powers is a big teddy bear of a man, and he honestly looks devestated that he got involved with this situation. Sure he has the FaceOfAThug, but he's a nice guy who wants kids to have a hero to look up too and wears the mask to be that hero. He's only looking out for the kids with this role, and he is crying his eyes out when he asks how the kids will feel about it. I am not sure that there has been an actor that dedicated to a role in a long time and thinks about the fans first.
* Wendy Oldbag of all people actually gets one during the third day, when you prove beyond all doubt that Hammer drugged Powers, stole the Steel Samurai costume and tried to kill Vasquez. She's initially gives out her usual hair-trigger temper as her first response, which slowly fades to a sad resignation as she comes to accept that her beloved idol had committed some serious misdeeds, and subsequently spills the beans on the secrets that she's been keeping under wraps at Vasquez's bequest. It's probably the only time in the series when she seems genuinely human, instead of cartoonishly curmudgeonly.

* It's a bit of contentious topic, but some think that Dee Vasquez's story is a major Tearjerker. The man she loved was killed by a coworker, who claimed it was an accident. She doubted that, and set about ruining his life as revenge, dedicating her life to the studio. Then he tries to murder her and frame Will Powers for it. She freaks out and kills him in self-defense, and hastily tries hiding the evidence, accidently framing Powers even further. She never wished Will any ill will, and honestly considering what we've seen of Jack Hammer (the fact he was so jealous of Will his response was to frame his murder on him) the idea that Manuel's death wasn't an accident looks pretty likely.

* The Cornered theme is playing, and it was absolutely necessary to save an innocent man, but there's just something ''not right'' about pressing a second grader on the witness stand and make him relive seeing his hero (who never loses) being murdered. The OcularGushers make it feel worse.

* In the first game's second case, when the time for Maya to pick a defense attorney before the state assigns her one is up, the player is given a choice - "Defend Maya" or "Go home." If the player selects "Go home", Phoenix narrates about finding out about her guilty verdict in the newspaper a little later, the high possibility of never seeing Maya again, and asking Mia if he made the right choice. He then falls silent, before angrily announcing that [[ButThouMust he won't let that happen, and the game picks up from the "Defend Maya" option.]]

'''Please note that ''Trials and Tribulations'' is ten years old as of this edit, and the page previously looked like swiss cheese for all the spoiler tags. As a result, all spoilers inside folders [[Administrivia/HandlingSpoilers will be unmarked on this page.]] ''[[Administrivia/YouHaveBeenWarned This is your only warning.]]'''''

* While the case was fairly simple to win (as a Training Stage should be), it doesn't change the fact that a good man and a good police officer was murdered for doing his job, and that his girlfriend was being accused of said murder.

* When Maya is arrested for the murder of Dr. Grey, she's convinced that she ''is'' the one who killed him, and emphatically tells Phoenix that he can't take her case, because she's a murderer and he'll lose. Phoenix tells her "Stop it!", making it clear that he will not abandon her. That's when she breaks down into tears.

*** This parrot remembers a lot of conversations he and Polly had that went like this. Yogi probably had a tendency to blame himself for troubles. His fiancee's response? Not "That's okay," not "I forgive you," just simply "I love you." I've already forgiven you, because I love you, and nothing will change that. "''I love you'', Yanni Yogi." Then one day he gets caught up in a murder case, and only escapes punishment by convincing the world he's gone insane. Then Polly kills herself. Could she not forgive him this time? Yogi must have blamed himself. He's regretted it every day of his life, wishing he could tell her how sorry he is. And every time he says "I'm sorry, Polly," the parrot says "I love you, Yogi." In her voice. It's the only thing that's kept him going.

* The classroom trial. The fact that it doubles as a SugarWiki/{{Heartwarming Moment|s}} for Edgeworth and Larry doesn't quite erase the heartbreak of what happened of poor little Nick.
* After Phoenix and Maya get tazed. When Maya says she wishes she hadn't woken up at all after giving a short speech about why she sucks.

* The 'final photo'. Not just because it has the main cast of the game- Phoenix, Maya, Edgeworth, Gumshoe, Larry and even Mia in spirit form, but particularly, Edgeworth's face. For the first time in the game, he's smiling. Not the trollish smirk kind he does in court, but actually smiling. Plus with the 'FREEDOM' banner...

* From the movie, there's Edgeworth's flashback to seeing his dad in the Evidence room. Not only does he see his dad seemingly steal inconvenient evidence to destroy it, but then he watches Yani Yogi beat his dad up. And when Edgeworth steps out, his dad has this horrified look, like he desperately doesn't want his kid seeing this. And unlike in the game, Gregory actually ''sees'' Edgeworth pointing a gun, which makes his lying from the afterlife to protect Edgeworth even more tragic.

* More like Fridge tearjerker, but, replaying the case a second time, when interviewing her older sister at the detention center, Ema accuses Lana of only thinking about herself. When you find out what she did, it kind of becomes a cruel IronicEcho.
* And earlier in that case, as the realization hits as to exactly what the evidence in Gant's safe [[{{Blackmail}} implicates]], and why Lana has acted the way she has: Neil Marshall appears not to have been killed by Joe Darke at all, but in a tragic accident was pushed to his death by ''her own sister''. Lana has spent two years taking the fall for Gant to protect her sister from this knowledge. And then Phoenix has to ''make the accusation in court'' to prove Lana innocent. It somehow becomes even more heartwrenching when Ema was ''willing to accept this truth if it could save Lana''. Just... no. Of course, it all turns out to be a plot by the real murderer, Damon Gant, to gain control over the Prosecutor's Office. Exposing Gant as the real murderer is very satisfying.
** Also, when Ema tells you that she became a budding scientific investigator to give the police lots of evidence so Lana wouldn't have to forge it. D'awwww...
** There's a reason everybody remembers the SL-9 case with a mix of sadness and anger. Ultimately, it caused the deaths of two good police officers and send several people into prison or at least caused them to lose their jobs, which most of them seemed to be greatly dedicated to. Not to mention all the emotional suffering it caused for all the various participants. The worst case of [[FridgeHorror Fridge Tragedy]], is about Damon Gant. As much as he's an evil ManipulativeBastard with a [[DeathGlare stare of death]], it's noticeable that, after his big breakdown, he doesn't act like a sore loser at all. Plus, he once WAS the ace of the police force. The judge also remembers him as a different person. While he doesn't get any FreudianExcuse, just the implication that Gant may actually be a bit of a FallenHero makes the thing a whole lot sadder because the reasons he went evil are so simple, pointless and banal. This gives the whole thing a feel that it all could've been avoided so easily...

* The first game's credit's theme has a feeling of "The show's over, but there's more to come!" 1-5 has a spy-like feel to it. ''Justice For All'' has a moving piece. Then there's the credits theme to ''Trials and Tribulations'', which will hopefully make you feel (mostly) satisfied with the Phoenix Wright trilogy.
* Detective Gumshoe, having gone through a lengthy series of pay-cuts throughout the game, feels betrayed in 1-5, when allowing Phoenix and Ema into Gant's office gets him fired. The guy never gets a break, despite doing everything he possibly can to support the prosecution and catch criminals.

* Wendy Oldbag of all people actually gets one during the third investigation day, when you prove beyond all doubt that Hammer drugged Powers, stole the Steel Samurai costume and tried to kill Vasquez. She's initially gives out her usual hair-trigger temper as her first response, which slowly fades to a sad resignation as she comes to accept that her beloved idol had committed some serious misdeeds, and subsequently spills the beans on the secrets that she's been keeping under wraps at Vasquez's bequest. It's probably the only time in the series when she seems genuinely human, instead of cartoonishly curmudgeonly.

* Miles Edgeworth's backstory: as a kid, he wanted to be a defence attorney just like his father, and defended Phoenix passionately in his class trial, believing strongly in the protection of the innocent and the pursuit of justice. Then his beloved father was murdered, the killer was never caught, and he grew up with an unnatural hatred for criminals (and a crippling phobia of earthquakes and, probably, elevators). He was raised and mentored by his father's rival, who demanded absolute perfection and a guilty verdict for every case, and later becomes a genius prosecutor with a terrifying reputation. And for fifteen years he is haunted by a nightmare that makes him believe he killed his father. And then, when he is accused of murder, he initially refuses Phoenix's- his childhood best friend's- help. Even when you finally prove him innocent, he confesses to the murder of his father fifteen years ago. This would be a brutal case of BreakTheHaughty, but he was broken a ''long'' time ago.

** The only thing stopping him from breaking down for good was the fact that he could convince himself that his dream was just a dream. Just think about that for a moment.
** And add this to your list of horrors. At some point after being taken in by von Karma, at some age when he'd lived there long enough to trust the man but was still young enough to want comfort, he must have ''told him'' about the nightmares he was having every night. At the very moment a very scared little boy was looking for help, his 'mentor' was filing that away as a weapon he could use later if he needed to.
* Yanni Yogi's story. He was the suspect in the DL-6 incident, where Edgeworth's father was killed. Hammond, his lawyer and a man who cared not for his defendents, ordered him to fake brain damage in order to win the case. Following his orders, Yogi lost his job, his social life, and his fiancee, who committed suicide. All he could do was sit in hatred for 15 years, with nothing but a parrot by his side. For a crime he didn't even commit!

* ''Oldbag'' of all people actually gets one during the third investigation day, when you prove beyond all doubt that Hammer drugged Powers, stole the Steel Samurai costume and tried to kill Vasquez. She's initially gives out her usual hair-trigger temper as her first response, which slowly fades to a sad resignation as she comes to accept that her beloved idol had committed some serious misdeeds, and subsequently spills the beans on the secrets that she's been keeping under wraps at Vasquez's bequest. It's probably the only time in the series when she seems genuinely human, instead of cartoonishly curmudgeonly.

* It's a bit of contentious topic, but some think that Dee Vasquez's story is a major Tearjerker. The man she loved was killed by a coworker, who claimed it was an accident. She doubted that, and set about ruining his life as revenge, dedicating her life to the studio. Then he tries to murder her and frame Will Powers for it. She freaks out and kills him in self-defense, and hastily tries hiding the evidence, accidently framing Powers even further. She never wished Will any ill will, and honestly considering what we've seen of Jack Hammer (the fact he was so jealous of Will his response was to frame his murder on him), the idea that Manuel's death wasn't an accident looks pretty likely.

* ''Oldbag'' of all people actually gets one during the third investigation day, when you prove beyond all doubt that Hammer drugged Powers, stole the Steel Samurai costume and tried to kill Vasquez. She's initially gives out her usual hair-trigger temper as her first response, which slowly fades to a sad resignation as she comes to accept that her beloved idol had committed some serious misdeeds, and subsequently spills the beans on the secrets that she's been keeping under wraps at Vasquez's bequest. It's probably the only time in the series when she seems genuinely human, instead of cartoonishly curmudgeonly or a StalkerWithACrush.
--> '''Oldbag''': ...I see. Poor, poor Hammer. You did wrong, Hammer, rest your soul. Okay, you win. I'll talk. I'm tired, see...Tired of holding it all in.

* The Cornered theme is playing, the deductions are brilliant, and it was absolutely necessary to save an innocent man, but there's just something ''not right'' about making a second grader relive seeing his hero (who never loses EVER) die. The OcularGushers actually make it feel worse.

* Even though Cindy Stone was no saint, she DID love Larry, or at least held him in high regard. Her death left a big impact on him, who even wanted to be declared guilty and given the death penalty. True, Larry loves to exaggerate and to overreact, and yes, he got better; but it's still quite sad to see him that broken and to know [[ThrowTheDogABone someone who actually appreciated his art]] just died.

* In the first game's second case, when the time for Maya to pick a defence attorney before the state assigns her one is up, the player is given a choice - "Defend Maya" or "Go home". If the player selects "Go home", Phoenix narrates about finding out about her guilty verdict in the newspaper a little later, the high possibility of never seeing Maya again, and asking Mia if he made the right choice. He then falls silent, before angrily announcing that he won't let it happen, and the game picks up from the "Defend Maya" option.

* The classroom trial. The fact that it doubles as a CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming for Edgeworth and Larry doesn't quite erase the heartbreak of what happened of poor little Nick.

** And during the second trial segment, when Gumshoe [[BigDamnHeroes rushes into the courtroom to reveal]] [[CrowningMomentOfAwesome the victim's medicine bottle's newly found fingerprint traces]]? Phoenix tells him that they need evidence that proves Furio poisoned Elg's coffee, and that the new information is essentially useless. At this point, you probably expect him to get emotional and run out again. [[OOCIsSeriousBusiness But this time]], he just says how his efforts are useless and says and leaves as soon as Maggey shows up after apologizing to her for screwing up, but seeing Gumshoe just admit, with a ''smile'' on his face, that he's "useless", after working so hard throughout the entirety of the case and making the very person he wants to save hate him... is just heartbreaking. [[CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming Thankfully, Phoenix ends up being able to use the information as the decisive evidence anyway, and specifically says how he "can't let Detective Gumshoe's hard work go to waste" while doing so, and Maya and Phoenix go out of their way to put in a good word for him when Maggey continues to berate him after her acquittal.]]

* Also, the whole scene involving the Master's talisman in the end. Also a CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming.

* And just when you think the game's going to let up, the ending credits include a shot of Mia, Misty, and Diego looking happy together... in heaven, it is heavily implied. Also a CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming, even more so when you realize that it's a shot of Larry's sketchbook.

'''Please note that ''Trials and Tribulations'' is ten years old as of this edit, and the page previously looked like swiss cheese for all the spoiler tags. As a result, all spoilers inside folders [[Administrivia/HandlingSpoilers will be unmarked on this page.]] ''[[YouHaveBeenWarned This is your only warning.]]'''''

** Max Galactica got framed for murder and had to endure the trials.

** Becomes even worse once you realize that, considering the entire Iris/Dahlia situation, Phoenix ''wasn't'' just being a naive, lovestruck kid who was easily tricked by a manipulative bitch - the "Dollie" he knew was the loving girlfriend he thought she was that whole time. Imagine someone who's genuinely sweet, kind, and loving to you... suddenly turning cold, wicked, and being proven a murderer who only ever used you to cover up their crimes, and having no logical explanation as to why besides them truly being a psychopath the whole itme and not finding out until ''years'' later. It's a miracle poor Phoenix isn't totally crushed by the reveal.

** Becomes even worse once you realize that, considering the entire Iris/Dahlia situation, Phoenix ''wasn't'' just being a naive, lovestruck kid who was easily tricked by a manipulative bitch - the "Dollie" he knew was the loving girlfriend he thought she was that whole time. Imagine someone who's genuinely sweet, kind, and loving to you... suddenly turning cold, wicked, and being proven a murderer who only ever used you to cover up their crimes, and having no logical explanation as to why and not finding out until ''years'' later. Poor Phoenix.

-->'''Gumshoe''': [[HeroicSelfDeprication It's alright. I'm a real loser. It's not breaking news to me, pal.]]

* Edgeworth panicking and fainting during the earthquake, letting Iris slip away [[spoiler:and trade places with Maya channeling Dahlia in the Sacred Cavern]]. He kicks himself for the rest of the day over something he really couldn't have prevented. Then Phoenix has to bring it up in court.

* ''Oldbag'' of all people actually gets one during the third investigation day, when you prove beyond all doubt that Hammer drugged Powers, stole the Steel Samurai costume and tried to kill Vasquez. She's visibly crushed at the realisation that her idol committed some serious misdeeds, and subsequently spills the beans on the secrets that she's been keeping under wraps at Vasquez's bequest. It's probably the only time in the series when she seems genuinely human, instead of cartoonishly curmudgeonly or a StalkerWithACrush.

* Edgeworth losing his cool during the earthquake and feeling responsible for letting the suspect go. To top it all off, you will have to mention it during trial. And instead of a hug or a reasurring word from Phoenix, he gets [[GetAHoldOfYourselfMan whipped.]]

----

* Godot blaming Phoenix for the deaths of Mia and Maya. Even if you know it's not true, Phoenix still thinks he's responsible for what happened to them both. And then as it turns out, Godot was just outwardly blaming Phoenix to hide the fact that deep down inside, he's blaming ''himself'', even though neither him nor Phoenix could've stopped her death from happening. He may be a wise-cracking coffee addict who fearlessly looks a Mafia/yakuza thug in the eye, [[SadClown but he's one of the most tragic characters in the game]].

* Godot blaming Phoenix for the deaths of Mia and Maya. Even if you know it's not true, Phoenix still thinks he's responsible for what happened to them both. And then as it turns out, Godot was just blaming Phoenix to hide the fact that deep down inside, he's blaming ''himself'', even though neither him nor Phoenix could've stopped her death from happening. He may be a wise-cracking coffee addict who fearlessly looks a Mafia/yakuza thug in the eye, [[SadClown but he's one of the most tragic characters in the game]].

* Godot blaming Phoenix for the deaths of Mia and Maya. Even if you know it's not true, Phoenix still thinks he's responsible for what happened to them both. And then as it turns out, Godot was just blaming Phoenix to hide the fact that deep down inside, he's blaming ''himself'', even though neither him nor Phoenix could've stopped her death from happening. He may be a wise-cracking coffee addict who fearlessly looks a Mafia/yakuza thug in the eye, but [[SadClown he's one of the most tragic characters in the game]].

* Godot blaming Phoenix for the deaths of Mia and Maya. Even if you know it's not true, Phoenix still thinks he's responsible for what happened to them both.