Company that copied Zelda: Breath of the Wild has a Phoenix Wright clone now

Chinese netizens accuse miHoYo of copying Capcom’s Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney

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When you’re this good at your job, it attracts attention. (Picture: miHoYo)

Published: 10:07pm, 31 Jul 2019Updated: 9:10am, 20 Sep 2019

This article originally appeared on ABACUS

Remember that blatant The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild clone that came out of China last month? The same company is at it again! This time the target is Ace Attorney.

Shanghai-based game developer miHoYo just released a trailer for a new mobile game that seems to have taken a lot of the signature features of Capcom’s classic legal drama game Ace Attorney. Even the name, which translates as The Unknown Case File, suggests something about where the game’s inspiration comes from.

The real giveaway, though, is a line that seems ripped right from Ace Attorney.

Capcom protagonist Phoenix Wright is known for his one-word catchphrase, “Objection!” It’s been the subject of numerous gifs and memes across the internet. Even as a common lawyer trope, it seems a little too obvious when the main character in Unknown Case File is seen yelling out the same thing in the game trailer.

“Fandui!” No, doesn’t have the same ring. Show her how it’s done, Phoenix. (Picture: Capcom via Giphy and miHoYo)

The Ace Attorney series might not be as widely known in some places as other Capcom hits like Resident Evil or Street Fighter, but it’s still been a huge success, especially in Asia. As of March 2019, it’s sold 6.9 million units worldwide.

So when miHoYo announced a new legal drama game with a protagonist that shouts “objection” with a determined stare, it was hard for Ace Attorney fans to miss. The fact that the Breath of the Wild knockoff is still fresh in people’s minds didn’t help silence critics, either.