Game Theory: Phoenix Wright is a CRIMINAL (Ace Attorney) 

Remember, we're talking about a game where one of the prosecutors hits the judge with a whip

WELL EDGEWORTH SURPRISED THE COURT TOO WHEN HE BROUGHT THE FREAKING UPDATED AUTOPSY REPORT!!!!

OBJECTION! *That theory is O U T D A T E D, Your Honor.*

The problem with this theory is that in this world detectives explicitly work for the prosecution and all evidence can be hidden from the defense until the prosecution presents it in court. The defense basically acts as their own investigators because they have to. It's not a good system, but the system is consistent and the prosecution follows similar rules.

OBJECTION! This doesn't seem shocking when you remember that a prosecutor whips the JUDGE in the middle of the session when things aren't going her way. Their judicial system has as much in common with our laws and customs as an apple and an orange. They are both fruit and share the traits that fruit often share, but if you are given an apple and only have experiences with apples, you can't understand an orange. Therefore, without further information about this court system you cannot make these slanderous claims!

Now that I’ve played the games, I can confidently say Phoenix’s actions are least of this courtrooms problems

Edgeworth to MatPat- *"You're not a clown, You're the entire circus."*

4:47 Edgeworth, the case's prosecutor, has no idea that that thing exists and has no chance to think about the evidence Me in my head: what about that time edgeworth suprised everyone with an updated autopsy report which pheonix did not know about?

>The game that no-one's ever played I mean... Speak for yourself, pleb.

USA: You are innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Japan: You are guilty until proven innocent beyond a reasonable doubt.

5:05 But Edgeworth did know that the bellboy existed as a witness. The bellboy literally says “because Mr.Edgeworth told me not to tell you unless I was directly asked” so Edgeworth clearly knew about him. Please use a better example.

MattPat: -And this is why Phoenix Wright is a crim- Everyone: *OBJECTION*

I thought Phoenix never took any of the evidence or even touched it, but just made a note of it.

Oh wow I didn't know a game that has physically abusive prosecutors, spirit mediums, testifying animals and having them as defendants, where a verdict is handed out within three days could in anyway be inaccurate in the real world

"Edgeworth had no idea that pill bottle exists' Also Edgeworth: *Your autopsy report is outdated*

"He tried to bend the trial to fit his needs" Every prosecutor in the game besides Franziska, Payne, and Klavier: *Intense sweating*

Matpat:phoenix Wright is a bad guy Fans of game: OBJECTION👉🏻 Edit: I never got this many likes before! Thank you all 😊

Are we sure MatPat's badge isn't made of cardboard?

Game Theory: phoenix guilt- Comments: theme starts playing*

Game Theory: Phoenix Wright got away with it! Kristoph Gavin: Ah, I see you’re a man of culture as well.

Hmmmmm This reminds me of a certain character. I believe his name was Miles-I-withhold-evidence-and-pull-out-an-updated-autopsy-report-out-of-nowhere/Edgeworth.

OBJECTION! Point 1: The wiretap This video claims that Phoenix stole the wiretap that was in April May's hotel room, but that is not the case. If you look carefully, the wiretap is "added to the court record". If he had physically taken the evidence with him, it would say something like "slipped into pocket", words that are used later on in the series. What he likely did instead what take note of the existence of the wiretap and take a photo of it to be able to prove it later. Point 2: the receipt This video also claims that Phoenix nonchalantly collected evidence after Mia Fey's murder in the second case instead of calling the police, but that claim is bogus when you look at the sequence of events at that part of the game. This is what happened: Phoenix, being the second person to arrive at the scene, finds his mentor dead and her sister, Maya, in tears. She passes out and Phoenix places her in a sofa in the next room. He then does the sensible thing and checks if Mia is dead. For all he knew, she could have been unconscious. Her body goes cold after he puts his hand on her shoulder, so he concludes that she is, in fact, dead. He then looks at the scene, taking note of the Thinker, the broken glass light stand and the receipt with the word "Maya" on in blood. (The phrase "added to court record" is used.) He then tries to call the police but the phone in the office was tampered with, so he is unable to. He then finds Maya awake and, after learning of her name, tells her about the note. The police arrive at the scene. Detective Gumshoe finds the note next to the body and arrests Maya after also learning about her name and concluding that Mia wrote her killer's name on the receipt. When did Phoenix conceal any evidence here? He didn't! If he did, Detective Gumshoe wouldn't have found the note in the first place, and thus wouldn't have suspected Maya when he did. Plus, the evidence that Phoenix found was still there for the police to find later, which is how both Detective Gumshoe and Prosecutor Edgeworth knew about it in the trial. Therefore Phoenix is NOT a criminal!

Comments:- Proves Mat’s theory is inaccurate Mat:-NGOOGH

If you actually played the game, you would know that there exists a book about evidence. It has 2 rules. 1. No evidence shall be submitted without the approval of the Police Department. 2. Unregistered evidence presented must be relevant to the case in trial Just try to play the game next time.

MatPat: So I’m putting our favorite lawyer on trial- **puts him on the judge stand**

1:50 Matpat: *says phoenix is on trial but puts phoenix in the judge's seat*

I love how he says he played the game, but based on the video, he didn't even pay close enough attention to know everything that was going on. Kinda funny, seeing as how this whole series is based on attention to detail.

Matpat: PHOENIX IS THE WORST MOST CORRUPT 'ATTORNEY' EVER. Meanwhile, at the prosecutor's office: A 70-year-old trial speedrunner, a lady who regularly assaults everyone in court with her whip, a traumatised coffee-hurling robocop, and Miles 'updated autopsy report' Edgeworth. Also that other dude is there as well I guess.

“He tried to bend the trial to fit his needs” Edgeworth: y-yeah! That’s wrong, Wright! Von Karma: t-totally! What were you thinking wright?

I understand why you made this video. You played Phoenix Wright, it's amazing, you couldn't wait to make a theory on it. Unfortunately, because you haven't played the rest of the games, you only had one game to get info from and it suffered as a result. Phoenix being a criminal is nothing new. Play Apollo Justice and you'll see what I mean. Phoenix isn't even the worst offender of this type. Look at the prosecution, Von Karma and Edgeworth both commit similar crimes in the same game. But even then, it makes sense why he could get away with this stuff. The Ace Attorney universe uses the 3 Day Trial method, and so the defence and prosecution are logically encouraged to get as much information as possible as quickly as possible. I love that you've played Ace Attorney. I hope that you find the time to play the rest of them and I can't wait until your next theory after you've played all of them.

Mat Pat: Phoenix is a criminal Edgeworth: I believe your brain is OUTDATED

Admit it, Matthew Fittzpatrick. You just wanted to rise the ire of a fandom, because you knew it would get you clicks and view time. Also, insuating that there is a possibility Pheonix would want to get a little "personal" with the dead body of the mentor that SAVED HIS LIFE at one point? Even the Karma's wouldn't stoop to such mudslinging.

*OBJECTION!* Your honor this is irrelevant to the case!

OBJECTION! The thing is sure, Phoenix does do his best and sometimes uses bluffing to defend his clients and find the truth, but that is because the prosecutors that he stands against are the ones bending the truth and reality by not concealing certain facts which might reveal that the defendant is not guilty (the Von Karma case), by changing crucial evidence (such as that autopsy report by Edgeworth) which is why this game is such a cool series. Sure, sometimes the legality of the characters' actions in this game is questionable as this is a...game but the game's main plot point is the story of this defense attorney that has won seemingly unwinable cases (due to the shady prosecutors he is up against) because he points out what seems to be "irrelevant" evidence that ends up being the turning point of the trial (this also happens a lot in Detective Conan, although not in a court trial setting, but it happened once where one of the juror was Conan's teacher). While I see what this video is trying to do, there are a lot of problems. HOLD IT! 1. A lot of people have talked about this but the wiretap evidence in April May's room was included legally in the game as Court Evidence and was not slipped into his pocket (this action happens later on, you should have used those moments as a way to prove that point). OBJECTION! 2. Phoenix was far from concealing evidence of the receipt. He touched Mia's body to see if she was really dead and was unable to call the police (which they came anyways) as the phone was previously trampled with. He did not take the note for himself and Detective Gumshoe even arrested Maya first place because of that note itself. When you pointed that out in the video, you even put the footage of Gumshoe talking about the note and arresting Maya on the spot! There is also a case in Justice for All where Phoenix's client was clearly guilty (even to Phoenix's knowledge) and he chose not to conceal evidence regarding that after Maya was saved from De Killer; he would rather lose the trial but not accuse an innocent person instead. TAKE THAT! 3. You should play the other games too (I mentioned Justice for All previously and there are many more). Phoenix has been disbarred as he unknowingly presented forged evidence and he received punishment for it (bear in mind that he was tricked as well). Also, he was almost excluded from trial (contempt of court) and Maya was punished for it when she caused an uproar a second time. So no, whatever he did wrong in the series, the game acknowledges it. There are some facts about the legal court system that you pointed out that are also slightly incorrect. An example is a "surprise witness". Some court trial do allow their existence but the other party (defense or prosecutor) are allowed to have more time to prepare themselves. (However this is only a minor issue, I just felt like pointing it out.) So, my verdict is that Phoenix Wright is Not Guilty. Thank you.

*Apollo Justice Ace Attorney, Turnabout Succession, flashback* Phoenix: "So, you're accusing me in forging the evidence?" Klavier: "Um, actually, not only, Herr Wright…" *shows this video*

If a prosecutor can steal evidence from a police department and use a stun gun against a 17 year old girl with no reason, I think it's safe to say phoenix's methods are totally fine

I want to point out that Phoenix didn't hide the receipt with Maya's name on it, and in fact Gumshoe discovered it and it's the reason Maya was arrested on the spot under suspicion of murder

"So today, I'm putting gaming's most famous attorney on trial." *places him in the jugde's seat

Did matpat play this game at all beyond the first case? He talks about phoenix hiding evidence from the police, while the scene were maya is arrested because the police found that evidence is being show in the video. Also a mental note according to matpat if I find a body I shouldn't check if they're still alive, before calling the police

MatPat: Edgeworth has no clue that Wright has these pieces of evidence. Edgeworth: Laughs in *Updated Autopsy Report*

right brain: i’ll never look at nick the same way ever again left brain: *OBJECTION!*

MatPat: Phoenix is the criminal because he keeps bluffing! Phoenix: .... Edgeworth, Von Karma, and Franziska: *cha cha real smooth* :^)

"It's time for the defense to go on defense." (looks at the amount of times Phoenix defends himself in the games)

What a way to tell us you've never played ace attorney without telling us you've never played ace attorney

I like how you talk about phoenix hiding the note with mayas name on it and in the background you show footage of gumshoe the police detective literally commenting on the note.

*Video:* Made in 2016 *RU-vid:* Recommending it in 2019

Matpat: says that you can’t just bring out something suddenly in court and phoenix is doing it. Edgeworth: *OUTDATED AUTOPSY REPORT*

I hate how MatPat applies real world rules to fictional games. Minecraft is the best example. He goes from claiming that the Minecraft world isn't flat to claiming that the souls of the dead are trapped in sand.

Thing is, the Prosecutors of the Ace Attorney series are notorious for leaving out multiple details in their crimes that Mr. Wright himself (or Apollo) has to present instead. In fact, some prosecutors have even told witnesses they call to the stand to not state specific evidence that would otherwise point to someone else being the killer (because it is always a murder). If anything, Phoenix Wright and Apollo Justice are just doing what all other lawyers are doing, which would point to such practices actually being okay in any case, murder or not.

Sherlock Holmes is also a criminal by that logic. I really like Game Theory but this one is the weakest one yet.

I love how game theory forgot to say that the prosecutors do everything that Phoenix does times 10

9:09 “wiretaps are illegal unless ordered by court” did… did he miss that entire part of that case?

Mat : It's in a alternate universe Also Mat : ACCORDING TO FEDERAL LAW

What could've been done: How the Khur'ain Channeling Technique works, what poison did Dahlia use to make Diego blind/lose pigment, why does Diego's mask glow red in the first place. What we got: Phoenix is kinda sketchy man.

"The game that no one's ever played" Me staring at the AA game my friend loaned me which I finished 2 days ago "guess I'm no one"

Most of the prosecutors do all these illegal things throughout the series, especially Von Karma, who MatPat should've known about, so it's stupid to say the "main villain of the game is Phoenix Wright" when 1. Others are breaking the law in the same/worse ways than Phoenix 2. Phoenix only cares about justice, he's trying his best to make everything fair, so you can't call him the bad guy for doing the right thing.

Ok Matpat, I think this needs to be siad because you missed a pretty crucial detail. yes, tampering or hiding evidence is illeagal and carries jail time...but he never tampered with the evidence or hid anything in that case! first of all, the only thing he truly touched was Mia's body, more specifically, just her shoulder. and since he was taken into questioning and was questioned all night, he obviously admitted that he touched her body, and maybe the phone when he tried to use it to call the police. but most importantly, he never took that reciept with Maya's name written in blood. as you can see after he adds the reciept to his court record, the note is STILL there, and Gumshoe finds it really easily next to Mia's body, hence why he arrests Maya. I don't know how you missed it, but just keep this in mind, that when Phoenix adds something to his court records, unless stated otherwise, he only makes a note of it in his court record so he won't forget and can ask someone about it later. so in conclusion, Phoenix didn't break any laws in that part.

This came up when I searched for ace attorney memes, guess that shows how much of a goddamn joke this video is

MatPat: Phoenix Surprises everybody with evidence that was unknown to the court at the time! When evidence is added, it says this! *Added to the court record*

you just contradicted yourself with the gameplay. at 10:53 you say "there is no indication that that Phoenix tells the police about this evidence", but at 11:01 you can clearly see gumshoe acknowledge the evidence that Phoenix collected, thus he did tell the police.

According to the Evidence Law Book of the game. Rule 1: No evidence shall be shown without the approval of the Police Department. Rule 2: Unregistered evidence presented must be relevant to the case in trial.

MatPat: Phoenix Wright is the one who gets away with everything unethical in attorney business! Edgeworth who constantly has the latest reports and intentionally never tells anyone: *phew* The Von Karmas who not only forge evidence, but physically harm people: *phew* Godot who throws hot cups of coffee at people and has murdered people: *phew* Kristoph: Who has manipulated the entire courtroom and all of law just so he doesn’t ruin his perfect record: *phew*

The whole fandom : OBJECTION ! Phoenix is not a criminal ! Game theorist : *chuckles* i’m in danger.

This makes me want to throw some coffee

Well Matthew immediately forgot the game’s version of “Evidence Law.” In order for a piece of evidence to be presented, it must be relevant to the case. That pill bottle may not have been relevant up until that point.

Ace Attorney fans after seeing this video: "I'm gonna pretend I didn't see that"

Matpat just argued to a fandom who plays a game about arguing regularly

Mat Pat don't joke about shipping america and japan. Hetalia fans actually do it.

"No ones ever played" I feel attacked

Oh there's a simple explanation actually: *anime logic* Cause literally every single one of Phoenix's rivals do the same

10:55 “There is no evidence that Phoenix Wright tells the police about this evidence” _shows clip of gumshoe talking about said evidence_

6:54 Objection, pal! Must I remind you that the game was created in Japan and that the creators made the game's events happen in Japan? The translators just changed the japanese references to US references. TAKE THAT! (I always wanted to say this, pal!)

4:04 but in episode 2, edgeworth presented the updated autopsy report. Phoenix did the same by presenting the sleeping pills. What go’s around comes around.

The best thing is by his logic every single other prosecutor and attorney is Guilty of these crimes.

matpat is making a theory about a fictional japanese game where everyone has puns for names and i also love how the comment section is just everyone defending nick

You think that if you were to make such a bold statement, like "Phoenix is a Criminal" than you would at least play the other two games in the trilogy....or just the 5th case in the first game....

What's ironic about this is the fact that if Mat had actually played all the games, he would have a more legitimate reason to believe that pheonix is a criminal which is the fact that phoenix literally forges evidence in the first case of apollo justice

Mat: It's illegal in US! Phoenix Wright, being a japanese game: Uh, okay, whatever

Ja-merica: "The Land of the Rising Gun"

OBJECTION! He didn't tamper with that evidence or hide the receipt, that's why Maya got arrested in the first place.

1:57 dont forget about air bending skills

4:32 (Meanwhile Edgeworth holds back critical evidence in the form of a probably fake updated autopsy report)

“Grabs whip and starts whipping matpat” Me: STOP! BEING! SUCH! A! FOOLISH! FOOL!

When the game was originally made, it was set in japan. Janet Hsu is part of the Localization team and the japanifornia explanation is only there to explain why spirit mediums, ramen, yoki etc. are all prominent in the translation's location. But if you want to ignore the games original setting, then how about the explanation in this game and onward that the us legal system has devolved into corrupt three day trial system where most verdicts are guilty? Many laws have been thrown out and their discovery law in canon is explained in case 5 of the first game! So no phoenix isn't committing any crimes according to the laws that apply to him. In our system, of course but that system doesn't exist in the games. Also you completely ignored the fact that edgeworth and von karma had surprise evidence, forged evidence, and even stole evidence so it wouldn't be presented.

"Phoenix is a criminal because he brings up unregistered evidence" Three words: *updated autopsy report*

Matpat: Phoenix is a lawbreaking, evil lawyer! Kristopher: *Sips Attroquine*

Matpat, I'm sorry but you have been proven wrong by most commenters. I mean look at these their pretty solid evidence against your theory.

Mat pat: this is a good theory Comment section: are you sureeeee

ace attorney: includes whipping the judge, throwing coffee at the other side, bringing weapons to the courtroom, everybody shouting... matpat: phoenix is a criminal

Well about the discovery thing, in episode 5 of the first game, Rise From the Ashes, they touch a bit on evidence law for Japanifornia. Officer Gant notes that as long as evidence is related to the trial at hand, it can be presented at any time, without being submitted to the court beforehand.

But the game is based on a new court system that doesn't exist in our world. Where both prosecution and defense go head to head with each other showing evidence and calling witnesses to the stand to prove their innocences. Hell, sometimes both defense and prosecutor will work together to prove someone's wrong or right. If the defense or prosecutor find something in the person's testimony as contradicting, questionable or deceitful. The person can literally change it's testimony/add to it. To give themselves leverage until they're finally back into a corner. Plus court cases can only be for 3 days within those days you can go look for more evidence etc. You can't use any existing court system no many which localization this game came in. You do love putting our world's rules into other worlds rules a lot (which already has rules of there own). Hell, I forgot her name but there was a character with a whip. That would whip the judge if he didn't see eye to eye with her and hell let's not forget in later games with the demon girl from hell

"Nobody has played the game" Kubz Scouts

A book in the game, Evidence Law, states the rules for submitting evidence: "Rule 2: Unregistered evidence must be relevant to the case on trial."

VON KARMA LITERALLY CONTROLS THE WHOLE TRIAL Phoenix Wright stealing some wiretaps are the weakest of our problems.

"The game that no one ever played", including MatPat

Actually, Phoenix didn't hide the receipt with Maya's name on it. The police actually DID find it at the crime scene. That's why Maya was arrested in Case 2. Phoenix didn't actually hide the note. He just made a note of it for future use.

…........................... Okay , we are definitely gonna forget that this universe has their own law and also Matpat didn't actually play the game , how wonderful.

You should've played apollo justice and dual destinies. You're arguments about the legal system are immediately answered. Also case 5 in the first game should've made you know that someone can take evidence out of the crime scene and be submit it into the court as that's what literally happened.

12:06 “Mr. Wrights wrongdoing would get his lawyer license revoked” *sweats profusely*

Wow, in a game where Prosecutors forge evidence, uses a whip, and throws coffee at the defense, the worst criminal we have is the one on the receiving end.