As a Moments subpage, all spoilers are unmarked as per policy. You Have Been Warned.
TAELENDE!
"You never fail to impress me, Professor Layton."
— The Storyteller, Chapter 8: "The Final Witch Trial"
It's the crossover every Visual Novel fan was eagerly anticipating would happen, and once it finally did, it did not fail to deliver on a world-shattering experience.
- To open the game, a transforming black golden clawed one-eyed THING bursts into Layton's office and kidnaps his client using telekinesis and generally blowing things up. Layton is surprised for one millisecond, and then takes it on. As it bursts through the window and most of the surrounding wall screaming into the night with its captive; he frets that this is "troublesome", especially since he promised he would protect said client.
- Layton managing to outwit the witches and keep Espella out of their clutches after finding her again, even if it doesn't end up lasting long. The whole affair becomes a moment for Darklaw, however, when you realize the entire incident in going after Espella and snatching her from Layton was theater meant to set up Layton's arrival in Labyrinthia and his motivation to solve its mysteries. The Great Witch doesn't do things by halves.
- Phoenix's first trial of the game? He flat out ignores Darklaw's advisement to throw the trial and ends up uncovering a jewel smuggling ring's operations (right under Scotland Yard's nose to boot) while proving Espella innocent. He ends up surprising the entire courtroom, especially since Phoenix was thrown into the whole thing with no preparation or time to adjust to British court.
- The whole affair was so awesome, Espella remembers it despite her hypnotized state, leading to her calling in Phoenix as her Defender when she's accused of being a witch and Darklaw ends up arranging the two's transportation to Labyrinthia and subsequent brainwashing to remove them from the equation... which ends up further screwing up her plans later on when they regain their memories.
- Phoenix for going toe to toe with Inquisitor Barnham in court, something no one ever did in the history of Labyrinthia.
- In the second trial (first in Labyrinthia), Phoenix is on the ropes, when he gains an ally who makes a positively awesome entrance:Prof. Layton: HOLD IT. (Enter Layton, head tilted forward so the brim of his top hat obscures his eyes)
- Layton goes Big Damn Heroes with his own "Objection!" during the first trial to help Phoenix with the Grand Grimoire, after he realizes that his usual tricks (forensics, photography and even logic) aren't working. Since magic is a big part of this world, he needs to know about magic too.
- Layton's "Objection!" theme being a huge contrast to Phoenix's is pretty neat; Phoenix's is loud, staccato, and excitable, with a fuller sound due to having more instruments behind it. Layton's is calm, collected, smooth, slow, restrained, and most of all, classy, played largely by only two instruments, particularly the violin. And yet, it carries the same dramatic and triumphant weight of Phoenix's theme.
- Phoenix and Layton overcoming the Witch Trials just by thinking straight and blowing the court's minds as a result.Judge: (to Phoenix and Layton): I have NEVER seen anything like this! You change hearts and minds and reveal truth through words! What is this?"
Layton: It is called "Logic."- This is the very first time that Labyrinthia has ever been exposed to logic, but Inquisitor Barnham shows that he's a fast learner, and begins firing back with logical arguments of his own almost immediately.
- During Chapter 4, the second Witch Trial (and overall third case in the game) is the only Witch Trial were Phoenix doesn't have Layton helping him out—however, this one's personal business for him since Maya's on trial for allegedly murdering Layton, and it shows; after his near-customary initial floundering, Phoenix gets a lead for his case and the Chapter basically becomes about two hours of Phoenix thoroughly kicking the Labyrinthians' collective asses with an all-out barrage of logic. He has Barnham on the ropes for at least half the trial, and, in a very similar vein to the extra case of Dual Destinies, even though he's basically already won, he takes the time to prove that the witch didn't kill anyone, deeply regretted what she had done, was greatly cared for by the victim, and, thanks to his vehement protest to condemning a person to death just because they are a witch, he actually convinces the Judge to spare her life, though we only learn that later. Let us repeat that: Phoenix Wright just got a Witch Trial, of all things, TO SPARE THE WITCH. Badass.
- At the end of Chapter 4, Maya gets one when she refuses to let Espella sacrifice herself and saves her from the Flame Cage. Unfortunately, in the process, she gets trapped is sent into the flames herself.
- Phoenix gets another one when he confronts Barnham after Maya's apparent death. Even in his home series, we've never seen Phoenix this angry before. It clearly leaves an impression on Barnham, as he lets them escape shortly after.
- Barnham gets one while outside Labyrinthia, in the Eldwitch Woods. The Great Witch has disappeared and the Shades, her servants, are panicking. Upon discovering Barnham, who has been investigating, they immediately attack him. Barnham fights off the five of them with a few effortless sword strokes. He's the "Sword of Labyrinthia" for a reason.
- Layton again, going Big Damn Heroes to save Maya from the Shades after it was revealed that she was alive and well. With a stick.
- TURNABOUT PUZZLE!
- Aunt Patty! Going up against the vigilantes and Knights of the Inquisition with a rolling pin, and a bag of flour!
- Layton vs. the Storyteller's mechanical knights, sword in hand. If you successfully complete the puzzles, he'll perfectly counter each knight's moves, and then strike them down.
- During the final trial, when Phoenix defeats the Vigilantes in court, you are treated to a shot of 10 witnesses breaking down at once.
- During the last trial, there's a segment where you switch control from Phoenix to Layton, marking the first time in an Ace Attorney game where the player controls the prosecutor during a trial instead of the defense. (Edgeworth has been playable multiple times, but never as prosecutor.)
- How does one stop two girls from falling to her death? Well, if you're Layton, you do it by pointing.
- Related to the above, Luke operates a crane that catches them.
- Eve deserves a mention for getting to Espella in time to catch her. The rotted wooden rail was unable to support her and Espella's weight, but if Eve hadn't reacted and moved so quickly, Luke probably wouldn't have been able to save Espella.
- Solving the last puzzle while the game's Pursuit theme
plays. - In the game's finale, Layton and Wright point together to dispel the illusion over Labyrinthia once and for all with the final spell - Taelende!
- Layton Vs Edgeworth in the #11 DLC, Ultimate Showdown of Ultimate Destiny!
- Albeit a few brief cameos in The Azran Legacy and The Eternal Diva it was very nostalgic to see Chelmey (and Barton) again, in charge and on the case, after being replaced with Inspector Groski for the last trilogy. Now if only Don Paolo appeared in Labyrinthia to stir things up.
