The first case of the game presents defense attorney Phoenix Wright at his first trial under Mia Fey's watchful eye, successfully defending his childhood friend Larry Butz for murder. However, in the game's second case, Mia is murdered for being aware of corporate blackmail, and her younger sister Maya Fey is charged with the crime because her name was found on a piece of evidence. While defending her, Phoenix is reintroduced to another childhood friend, Miles Edgeworth, who is the prosecutor for Maya's case and has established himself as a "genius" for the prosecution system. Maya is found not guilty of the crime, and becomes Phoenix's assistant in further cases, offering her channeling ability as a Mystic of Kurain village to bring the spirit of Mia to help at critical times. Phoenix and Miles find that while they have their friendship from their youth, they continue to face off against each other in the courtroom.In one case, Miles is charged with murder, and Phoenix steps up to defend him. It is discovered that Miles was set up by his old mentor, Manfred von Karma, who several years before had shot and killed Miles' father (which a young Miles witnessed while they were trapped in an elevator after an earthquake, though Miles had thought he himself had done it) for ruining Manfred's perfect record in court, and who was making sure that all those that knew of this were dealt with. Phoenix is able to expose Manfred's cover-up and achieve a "not guilty" decision for Miles. After the case, Miles thinks about taking time off from his position to consider the events, while Maya announces she is going back to her home in Kurain village to train more.The fifth case, exclusive to the DS version, has the scientifically-minded Ema Skye begging Wright for help to defend her older sister Lana, who claims she murdered someone. Using Ema's scientific help to establish evidence and the surprising prosecution help of Miles during the trial, Phoenix is able to learn that Lana was blackmailed by the Chief of Police Damon Gant into covering for a murder she thought that Ema had committed several years before, labeled the SL-9 Incident (the common name among civilians in the game is "The Joe Darke Killings"), when in actuality Damon himself had committed it and pinned the blame on Ema.The five cases within the game are:The First Turnabout (はじめての逆転, Hajimete no Gyakuten?) Phoenix defends Larry Butz for the murder of his girlfriend Cindy Stone. Cindy was killed by Frank Sawhit when he was caught stealing Cindy's items. He panicked and struck her with "The Thinker," a precious item Larry had made for Cindy. This is Phoenix's first trial.Turnabout Sisters (逆転姉妹, Gyakuten Shimai?) Phoenix defends Maya Fey for the murder of her older sister Mia. Mia Fey was really murdered by Red White and Mrs. April May was a false witness by also being struck by the item Larry gave her after his case. "The Thinker." Red forged evidence so it looked like Maya killed Mia, things like writing Maya's name with Mia's blood.Turnabout Samurai (逆転のトノサマン, Gyakuten no Tonosaman?, "Turnabout Tonosaman"[1]) Phoenix defends the actor Will Powers for the murder of a co-star Jack Hammers. Who was really murdered Mrs. Dee Vasquez, Mrs. Dee Vasquez pushed Jack Hammers off the stairs onto sharp garden spikes. It was revealed Jack Hammers did this to someone else five years ago.Turnabout Goodbyes (逆転、そしてサヨナラ, Gyakuten, Sostuffe Sayonara?, "Turnabout, and Goodbye") Phoenix defends Miles Edgeworth for the murder of a key attorney involved in the murder case of Miles' father, labeled as the DL-6 Incident. Yanni Yogi turned out to be the real murderer of Robert Hammond who shot him to death after his tragic past. The DL-6 Incident...Rise from the Ashes (蘇る逆転, Yomigaeru Gyakuten?, "Revived Turnabout") Phoenix attends Ema Skye's request to defend her sister Lana in a murder charge, despite her claims of guilt. Bruce Goodman wasn't killed by Lana, but by Damon Gant in the Evidence Room, who then got Lana Skye (with blackmail) to help him get rid of the body, Lana Skye changed the evidence everywhere so it made her look the murderer of Bruce Goodman.
