Ace Attorney Deep Dive: “Turnabout Reclaimed” (Dual Destinies – Special Case)

“Turnabout Reclaimed” is a DLC case for Dual Destinies that sees Phoenix and Athena investigate a murder at an aquarium. There are pirates, penguins, and singing orca … but just what on earth happened at the Shipshape Aquarium?

I’ll be deconstructing the case in ten distinct categories and giving a score out of ten for each. This will give a definitive score out of a hundred, if the maths checks out!

Before we begin, you can check out some of my related blog posts below:

Micro Story

While Athena is watching old Shipshape Aquarium videos, a news reporter announces a murder at the very same aquarium – Athena wants to help, of course, so Phoenix is dragged along too.

When they arrive and agree to defend the client, they’re both met with a surprise twist – the aquarium’s orca “Orla” is the accused, and if they don’t prove the animal’s innocence it will be put down.

Was it an accident? Is someone framing the orca? What happened a year ago that led to the death of a trainer? There are lots of cool story threads in “Turnabout Reclaimed”, and the light-hearted yet meaningful tone of the plot kept me engaged throughout.

Score: 8/10

Macro Story

“Turnabout Reclaimed”, being a DLC case, is not related to the main plot of Dual Destinies (other than the fact Fulbright and Pearls make appearances). This means the Macro Story score is going to be low automatically, but there were still some overarching ideas I appreciated.

There’s an overt focus here on how a lawyer fights for the truth and for their client’s best interests, like how Phoenix saved Marlon at the end even though the trial was already won. It was nice of the writers to reemphasize these ideas – especially since this is supposed to be Phoenix’s first case after a long hiatus. In other words, I’m glad our spiky-haired protagonist hasn’t changed.

Score: 6/10

Mystery

I can probably count on one hand the Ace Attorney cases where it’s not clear at all who the culprit is until the ultimate reveal, and “Turnabout Reclaimed” is one of them. That alone scores it some major Mystery points.

There are lots of red herring characters, like Herman Crab and Norma DePlume, and there’s a whole sub-plot about a different, mysterious death a year prior. Even when Marlon confesses, it turns out that’s not the whole truth – way to keep me on my toes!

Score: 9/10

Side Characters

Every single side character we meet in “Turnabout Reclaimed” is interesting in their own regard.

Sasha Buckler is the energetic animal handler, and at one point she even becomes the defendant. Her pirate outfit and persona are the real highlight, and her love of Orla and the other animals at the aquarium is quite endearing.

Speaking of endearing, the first defendant and clear star of the case is Ora “Orla” Shipley, the aquarium’s main attraction. It’s refreshing to defend an animal for the first time in the series, and the various tricks and songs were adorable. And the testimony it gives in the second Trial was one of the funniest moments in the whole game.

Norma DePlume is probably the “worst” of the cast, but she still had her moments. I like how she forgave the aquarium by the end, and her segment where she challenges Athena’s memory of the pirate song was lots of fun. That being said, her wardrobe malfunctions in the courtroom made for some of my least favourite witness breakdowns yet.

I talked about it a little before, but Herman Crab is such a great red herring. You first meet him in the last Investigation, he’s clearly hiding something, and his sprites are that sweet spot between evil and scheming. He won me over in the end with his kind heart and his penguin-saddled hair.

Score: 8/10

Soundtrack

Not many songs worth noting this time around. The Shipshape Aquarium theme is alright, and the Reminiscence “Departure From Regret” theme hits all the right notes.

The real star is clearly the “Swashbuckler Song”, which is both charming and overplayed at the same time.

Score: 7/10

Investigations

You can tell most of the case’s budget went into Shipshape Aquarium’s design, as every location you visit – from the tunnel to the stage to the tavern to the lab – was brimming with detail. It made the Investigation slightly more interesting than it would’ve been otherwise.

I also liked the sub-plot of Rifle the penguin running around … so yeah, not much going on in the Investigations this time around.

Score: 7/10

Trials

The Trials in “Turnabout Reclaimed” are a lot less intense and serious than most of the series, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. It would’ve been weird if a case where you defended an orca – and heard its testimony at one point – took itself too seriously.

I really like the ties to the incident a year ago, how the defendants switch halfway through, and the twist that there were two orcas all along. I especially loved the “Dissin’ Of Phoenix Wright” – one of the best testimonies in the entire series.

Score: 8/10

Case Logic

I’m going to look past the fact we defend and also cross-examine an orca in a court of law, as that’s the kind of Case Logic that’s consistent within the Pheonix Wright universe.

To my surprise, “Turnabout Reclaimed” was really tightly written – I was especially impressed by how the outdated show song DePlume heard was actually from a year-old recording that Marlon used. Clever stuff!

The only thing holding the case back is how the first trial was completely inane and avoidable. It centers around Orla being the potential culprit – an impossibility once the police bother to do their autopsy report.

Score: 8/10

Culprit

… Is it weird that Marlon Rimes, a DLC culprit, is one of my favourite culprits yet?

He’s the most sympathetic culprit ever with how the orca killed his girlfriend a year prior (it didn’t actually, but everyone assumed the orca did anyhow) and the captain’s death was a complete accident (as Marlon was targeting the orca). The parts where he raps are also some of the most fun I’ve had with Dual Destinies.

The fact he’s not an obvious culprit made the twist worthwhile too.

Score: 9/10

Charm

“Turnabout Reclaimed” doesn’t take itself too seriously, which works wonders when it comes to laying on the charm.

You defend an orca in court, there are lots of fun songs and swashbuckling, and the ending is really sweet with how the original orca and Marlon return to the aquarium. I certainly had a smile on my face, that’s for sure!

Score: 9/10

FINAL SCORE: 79/100

I remembered the DLC case being good, but I was really impressed with how “Turnabout Reclaimed” balanced serious and sometimes tragic character beats with a silly, charming plot.

Here are the cases of Dual Destinies ranked from highest to lowest score:

1 – Turnabout For Tomorrow [80]

2 – Turnabout Reclaimed [79]

3 – The Cosmic Turnabout [78]

4 – Turnabout Academy [72]

5 – Turnabout Countdown [58]

6 – The Monstrous Turnabout [56]

Which makes an average of 70.5 – one of the highest we’ve seen yet. Dual Destinies has its flaws, but from the third case onwards it’s consistently a good time.

Aaaaand that’s my list! It’s Spirit Of Justice up next … but until then, you can check out some of my latest blog posts below: