References to other media in Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney.
- In Apollo's first case, Winston Payne clarifies what the poker chips are thusly:Payne: Poker chips are poker chips. They're not fish and chips, not a chip off the old block, not a motorcycle cop...
- During the cross-examination of Kristoph Gavin, we get this nod to this 1987 anti-drug
PSA:Apollo: [internal monologue] (Who was it that taught me never to pull punches in cross-examination? It was you, Mr. Gavin! I learned it from watching you!)
- During the cross-examination of Kristoph Gavin, we get this nod to this 1987 anti-drug
- At one time in the second case, Wocky kinda misquotes Neil Young when he says, "Better to die young than fade away, bizzzoy!"
- At least two The Princess Bride references:Zak: In his last years, Magnifi worked us to the bone... No. To the Pain.
Klavier: "Logical"? I do not think this word means what you think it means, Herr Forehead! - Also, Apollo has this little exchange:Trucy: Maybe they're trying to trick kids into thinking the police are some kind of band.
Apollo: But that's just silly. Who'd name a band the "police"?- There's a reference to the Police song "Roxanne" in the same room: when you examine a red siren Apollo tells Trucy not to put on the red light.
- Gavin's song Atroquinine, My Love might be a reference to the Jethro Tull song Aqualung (which includes the line "Aqualung, my friend" quite a few times).
- Apollo: (I should have learned to play the guitar.)
- Klavier's phrase, "Achtung, baby!" is most likely reference to U2's hit album in the 90's, Achtung Baby.
- Additionally, he surmises that one of the culprits "moves in mysterious ways."
- The simulation used in the fourth case is called the MASON System. When first introduced, it features a loading screen crediting the program to "ESG Studio" (ESG standing for Erle Stanley Gardner, author of the Perry Mason book series)
- "How about flowers made of metal?" "What, like a magnolia made of steel?"
- In the case where you encounter Valant for the first time he goes to you before entering court for the last time, Apollo thinks to himself: "Valant Gramarye! (Using the door like an average muggle, no less.)"
- Judge: "With a great accusation comes great responsibility!"
- Capcom also does a shout-out to its less-known survival horror series, Dino Crisis. The first DC game took place on Ibis Island in "The Republic of Borginia." Two key characters in Apollo Justice are from the Borginian Republic, suggesting a very bizarre intercontinuity canon.
- Case 4:Judge: I do hope this latest accusation is well-based.
Phoenix: (...Don't worry, I've got all your bases right here.) - Trucy's dummy is named Mr. Hat.
- The following exchange:Trucy: My panties are Bigger on the Inside!
Apollo: (Hm, that reminds me of that TV show I used to watch...) - Klavier clinches his status as an Expy of Dante with this line.Klavier: Not so fast. This party's just getting started!
- Klavier: I play new rock, not Great Balls of Fire!
- Apollo: (Curiouser and curiouser...)
- Klavier gets two shout-outs in a row in this exchange in the fourth trial. Phoenix even lampshades it.Klavier: ...The victim was already climbing a three-month stairway to heaven. ...Why not wait for him to knock-knock-knock on heaven's door? Why shoot him?Phoenix: (I wouldn't have put it quite so lyrically, but it's true.)
- Apollo shows some theatre prowess by referencing Oedipus the King when you examine the back of the brooch found on the floor of Lamiroir's dressing room:Apollo: A sort of pin-fastener for attaching things to clothes. Not a safety pin-type, though.
Trucy: So if it's not a safety pin...
Trucy: ... is it a danger pin!?
Apollo: I suppose if you stuck it in your eye, then yeah, sure. note - If you examine the number on the back of your attorney's badge, Apollo will remark "There are many numbers like it, but this one is mine".
- Apollo says "Well hello, Ms. Fancy Pants!" during one of the ladder/stepladder debates with Trucy.
- When Ema explains how to use the fingerprinting powder by dusting it on and blowing the rest away, she says: "It's like whistling. You know how to whistle, don't you? Just put your lips together..."
- In keeping with the third case's musical references Apollo and Klavier have this exchange: "Klavier: Nobody told me about days like these. Apollo: strange days, indeed" only thing missing was someone chiming in with a "most peculiar, mama".
- Zak and Valant's Quick-Draw Shoot'em trick may be a subtle reference to the infamous bullet trick, a magic trick known for being dangerous and even killing a few magicians who'd attempted it.
- In response to one of Apollo's more off-the-wall theories:Klavier: Now you've done it. You've gone beyond ridiculous and into... ludicrous.
- Guy Eldoon has a noodle-bowl-shaped hat with a built-in wig with hairs the shapes and colors of noodles and dark eyebrows. The colors of noodles are close to blond. Ken Masters from Street Fighter has bleached blond hair and dark eyebrows. Also, Guy Eldoon shares his first name with Guy from Final Fight, which is part of the same universe as Street Fighter.
