How the Phoenix Wright Trilogy can be improved

Let me one thing clear from the start: the current PWAAT available on modern platforms is perfectly serviceable as it is. We do not need to remaster these games once again before a new title in the series is pubblished.

That being said, it is also unmistakable that, compared to the other compilations that followed it, the PWAAT falls just a little short in a couple of places. Even CAPCOM realized this, as in their recent survey that they did, they had as one of the available choices, another remaster of the trilogy.

So, I thought to make a list of things that can be improved in the future, without remaking the games from the ground up. In no particular order:

  • Restore the Cross-Examination glares: This is such a minor detail, but it goes miles to improve the presentation. Thankfully, TGAAC, AJAAT and, as seen in the trailer, AAIC, all found ways to preserve them even with the lack of a dual screen, leaving only PWAAT devoid of them.
  • Statement tracking: speaking of Cross-examinations, a simple way to track at what point of the cross-examination you are would be nice, just like you can easily check on which page of the court record you currently are.
  • Slight corrections in the tracking of new dialogues: It is frequent that selecting the same Talk option or Re-examing the same object, a second time after the first time, will occasionally give different dialogues, both in minor and major ways; while for the most part the current PWAAT does a good job to allert the player of said changes, there are one or two occasions where this is not the case (the most egregious example that I can think of, is during Turnabout Sisters first investigation, where selecting the "Mia" talk option with Gumshoe a second time gives a completely different, and surprisingly touching, dialogue).
  • Case selection & chapter selection: This is a very nice QoL feature to have, whenever you have to interrupt play or you just want to check/relive some parts of certain cases (Rise from the Ashes comes to mind as an example where it would be useful, due to the quantity of little details that can be missed).
  • Options after a Game Over: As it is now, Game Overs in the PWAAT can be quite punishing, especially depending if a bad save has been done; adding the option of either return to the title screen like usual, or to restart from the current section, like all the other compilations offer, would be a huge improvement.
  • Restore the RftA credits: speaking of Rise from the Ashes, the original and 3DS's credits had alongside the classic "where are they now" segments and the credits themselves these nice finger powder-made potrait of the characters. Seeing them being ommited from the 2019 re-release is kinda of a shame.
  • Add some extra feature to the bundle itself: The other compilations have introduced in-game Accolades (which tie-in with the Trophy/Achievement systems of certain platforms), a gallery of in-game images and concept art, a theatre for the cutscenes, an Orchestra Hall for the music, and generally preserving the various DLC that the games originally received (with some exceptions due to, ironicly, legal reasons). The current PWAAT is so spartan in comparison that is not even funny.
  • Some other, new idea?: this is not much as a requirement as it is just a very strong probablilty, since TGAAC introduced "Story Mode", AJAAT introduced the "Animation Studio", and the upcoming AAIC will have the option to switch between new art and the "original" pixel models. While it likely that Story Mode would once again make a return, and it isn't clear if the Animation Studio would do the same, it is however, more than likely that some out-of-the-box feature would be added to spruce up the PWAAT and warrant once again a re-purchase.

Have I missed something obvious, or you have a suggestion of your own?

EDIT:

Forgot about

  • Backlog history: A way to see just seen text is very good, especially for fast-talkers like Wendy Oldbag.

EDIT 2:

According to a big chunk of the comments, another nice feature to have would be:

  • The option to swap back to the original/DS backgrounds and sprites: Similarly to the new feature that the upcoming AAIC will, have many commentors have expressed the desire to have the option to the art of the original backgrounds and sprite, as not everyone fully enjoys the modern ones.
    • An update to some of the art: On the other hand, some have noted that certain pieces of evidence have barely been touched from the original sprites, resulting in them being quite crunchy. An overhaul to said incosistencies is also a popular option.