What Makes a Protagonist [To Me] - An Essay on Ryunosuke Naruhodo
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- Опубликовано: 18 мар 2022
- Yeah, I'm simping for this man extra hard....
This video does NOT need to be watched, it can just as easily be enjoyed audibly!
Transcript for anyone who wants: docs.google.com/document/d/1o...
Special thanks to:
@RedVelvetVA for encouraging me to get back into the game and changing my life.
/ chardevoire
Dragondropit for being my beta reader!
/ tgdragondropit
#TheGreatAceAttorney #DaiGyakutenSaiban #RyunosukeNaruhodo 
Игры
You know what got really got me about this good boi? Kazuma wanted to bring Ryunosuke along because Kazuma believed that he will keep him on check or prevent him from going too far with his vengeance. And if you think about, when Ryunosuku realize the stakes of what's going about the whole "Professor" case, he is not doing this for his friend anymore, he's doing to eliminate the real villian and bring justice, so this not longer have to happen. Even if means going against his best friendo.
And despite all the slurs, racism, prejudice and mockery from Van Ziek --- Ryunosuke was still willing to defend him and proves his innocent to the court.
I fucking love Ryu in 1-5. I love him throughout both games, but him blatantly saying that he doesn't care who he makes an enemy by defending his client. That shit was badass and really showed his character growth from 1-1. Fuck man this game just GETS character and knows how to pull off satisfying character work, in every single character
"Let's not forget, Inspector, that you - a Scotland Yard officer - leaked confidential case details to a witness!"
"That you continue to lie to the court! And all because, by fair means or foul, you're determined to do your duty."
"Well... by fair means or foul, I'm prepared to do mine!"
"I *will* stop at *nothing* to protect my client!
I don't care who I make an enemy of!"
Look at this fucking line!
Are you hearing this?
Are you seeing this right now?
Are you joking me with this?!?!
It is by far one of the greatest lines I've ever witnessed in a video game and easily the greatest line in the game. It's truly the peak point of Ryunosuke's resolve. That line is all it took to completely show his character arch accomplished in the most unbelievably epic and satisfying way and to demonstrate the true power and being of Ryunosuke Naruhodo. The true badass that awaited when he's finally able to express absolute faith and confidence in himself. This... Is the awakening.
The best part about these lines and plot points are that (spoilers!)
They foreshadow perfectly that Greyson was willing to go beyond the law, as the Reaper of the Bailey.
YOU. You get it! I resonated with this video so much because, for me, Ryunosuke truly is, not only the video game protagonist I relate to the most, but THE most relatable *character* of *any* story I’ve experienced. It sounds so memey to say “he’s so special to me,” but he truly, truly is.
I’ve understood and/or related to many characters over the years, but I’ve never had a character that I so deeply relate to as much as I do with Ryunosuke. I understand his insecurities and indecision on such a personal level because they are so similar to my own. Which is why it is so cathartic to see him go through things that, at first, progressively make those issues so much worse (as life is often wont to do) until it reaches a point that he realizes he needs to work on them, not only for himself, but for those around him; BUT it also doesn’t *all* magically go away the moment he decides that. He begins to get better, but he still has lingering insecurities even by the end of the second game. Which is so nice, because these things can take a long time to unlearn and sometimes can’t be *completely* unlearned, but that progress is still an improvement. And on top of that, he realizes he *shouldn’t* try to deal with it all on his own.
Not to mention, he’s just such an endearing character. He’s kind, and overly polite, but also a nervous wreck and a bit impulsive at times (I.E. trying to pull the emergency alarm just to see how it works). He loves tongue twisters, and has a sweet tooth, and buys useless knick knacks to fill up their office. 🥹
YES YES YES!! EXACTLY!! I avoided going too deep into DGS2 just bc most of his major development happens in 1 but it’s how he stumbles into his growth but he still makes mistakes, he still has his shadows of doubt but he continues to push onward despite them all and i think it’s what makes 2-5 so powerful as a cumulation of everything he’s learned to save the two people who’s taught him the most about what it means to be a lawyer.
he has no right to be such a damn good protag, a damn good character 😭
Around 19:24 Actually the director of the game came out and confirm that both games were suppose to be just one big game, but it was too big for the 3DS cartridge. So it was split in 2 and that require for them to analyze how to cut it in half.
spoilers
15:00 Protagonists bearing their mental struggles alone is something the game tries to explore through Kazuma, in the second game. How that mindset will ultimately cloud your judgment and choke your relationships. It's only by accepting help and working with others to achieve a common goal that allows him to let go of his preconceived ideas and goals, and pursue the whole truth, not simply avenge his father.
It's almost meta, in a sense, how this picture-perfect ideal protagonist was punted to the side, to see what it would be like for an everyman to undertake a journey that was supposed to be his.
The memory of Kazuma and his attitude served as a boon to both Ryunosuke and Susato, which allowed them to go on and do great things in his honor. But it was also poison. When he returned, we ultimately saw who he became in isolation. He wasn't a different person, not at all. How he acted was the fruition of the true ambition that he'd had the whole time. It was that contrast of that memory of him and how he was acting now that served to paint him in a more dubious light.
Ryunosuke's confusion , and allowing the players to feel that way about Kazuma highlights the many struggles of the characters who were facing the same situation. Gina with Gregson, Barok with Klint, Maria and her mother, and Kazuma with Genshin.
All this serves to convey the main theme of the games: the truth isn't a guiding light. It can be painful, and horrible, and ugly. But looking them in the eye, seeing those truths and accepting them for what they are, and moving past them with the help and support from those dear to you, accepting that you still care about those who witheld the truth from you, and moving towards a brighter future is the game's ultimate message.
The way that Ryunosuke acknowledges this, and how he comes to embody those ideals makes him a great protagonist, because we don't have to look under layers of themes and abstraction, he just says it outright. And it works because he's experienced those lessons firsthand.
Through all the pain, murder, and misery, Great Ace Attorney remains lighthearted, but not tone deaf. It reminds us to cherish those around us, and to open up once in a while, to stand tall and be there for others, and as long as you have support, keep moving forward.
I don’t mind these video essays, I really enjoy this video essay and I don’t mind the changing in content. This video essays is funny, listen your voice was great, entertaining, and this video was excellent.
i just want to say that they did NOT have to make everyone in this case so pretty
like, holy shit
These two games are absolute masterpieces to me for one simple reason: the characters. I don’t think I’ve ever played a game before where there wasn’t at least one character that made me say “oh no, not you again!” Along with Ryunosuke, every single character in this game is written so well that it’s actually mind blowing. You have Susato, a brilliant young assistant who is helpful, cheerful, and always supports Ryunosuke even in the darkest hour. You have Barok Van Zieks, who is intimidating, but even with his racist remarks, you get the feeling that he’s not a bad person and that he has his own story to tell that explains why he acts the way he does. You have Herlock Sholmes and Iris, both hilarious and goofy in their own ways, but you can’t help but feel connected to them as they help Ryunosuke and Susato throughout their journey in London. Kazuma, Gina, Gregson, Mikotoba, McGilded, Natsume, Stronghart, Jigoku, and so much more are all such brilliant characters that I can’t compliment enough. And that isn’t even the end of it. These characters interact with each other so brilliantly. Every conversation feels natural and their personalities bounce off each other perfectly. All of the dialogues is a treat to read, and it confirms for me that the writing in these games is an absolute masterpiece. I could go on and on, but wow, what an experience.
5:00 to be fair, this wasn't even a big surprise to most Ace Attorney Players. In fact aome were expecting it, because of the very first Ace Attorney game
Someone finally put it into words. For the longest time I’ve wanted to start making content and after playing through the game, I want to do it even more. Not because I think other people will watch it or even like it, but because I want to tell as many people as possible why I love this game. Thanks so much for your incredible essay!
Also, I have to ask what is your opinion on someone like Van Zieks? (He’s one of my favorite characters in the series)
Do it, just give it a go!! I love watching video essays made by small channels, it's so nice to hear others thoughts on the game :D
Honestly I'd love to see you do more essays like this. Your passion for the subject matter really helps to make the essay engaging to listen to, on top of your voice in general just being very pleasant and easy on the ears (but I'm sure you're well aware of my thoughts on your voice lol)
Excellent job, Luu~
I was drawing while I was listening to this, and I don't even know who you are, but I had to stop for little while and compose myself because GOD DO I UNDERSTAND, I LOVE HIM, he's just... The way he can be naive BUT have a Steel resolve and incredible evaluation of what are his circumstances is just mesmerizing. Beautiful essay
omg i’ve made it onto “artists who use video essays for background noise” youtube THANK YOU SO MUCH❤️❤️
YOOOOO RYUNOSUKE CONTENT!!! aaaaaaa i genuinely love this sorta content!!! (especially about the best boys) i just love this!
i got way ahead of myself adn commented before i finished the video and i just wanna say you captured all his best points,, i love, love, loved this video and it was genuinely heartfelt hearing how personally he impacted you and it just makes me so happy to hear how he's helped you. :) he's also been a massive comfort character for me so i'm so glad other people see him for the amazing,, unique,, and forever memorable protagonist literally ever.
i hope you're doing better mentally and physically because you're super awesome and deserve to take care of yourself and be genuinely respected and loved
THIS COMMENT MY HEART AAA🥺🥺Thank you!!!🥺❤️
okay i actually finished the video and. yeah. YEAH. holy fuck this man is probablyt he best written protag ive ever seen tbh and it's just. mmmm words hard but. ye.
Around 22:04 So fun fact, the stuff with Gina it's not so much just because of making nice and all that. I knew it because im a fan of Sherlock Holmes, and the moment i readed the name Lestrade, i knew she would ends as an inspector... Because there is a character call Inspector Lestrade in the Sherlock Holmes book, he is a man in the books, but it's Japan Genderbend is expected from them.
Aww the simping is super relatable (Not To Naruhodo though he’s so cute ☺️) the video essay kept my attention because I could relate to rambling on and on Great Video Luucarii! 10 out of 10
Im glad I found this channel from the video. This video essay is so great! It really helps funnel through all the feelings I have about this game. And Ryunosuke may seem bland to some, since he has no complexities and is easy to understand.
But his experiences and motivations are very compelling. And his personality, is so light and gentle, but also assertive, firm and fair.
But that aside, I shall be following your channel quite alot! Severely underrated! Hope to see your channel grow more and more!
Oh your words are so kind! Aah, thank you! I’d love to do more content like this but my brain is very scattered haha, this was my first attempt at a video essay and most of it was coming from my heart more than it was particularly analytical. Might be something I’ll try to capture more in the future but for now my channel’s definitely gonna be for fun-fan content but I appreciate you sticking around regardless❤️❤️❤️
What a great video. Shu Takumi is a freaking genius, what a game, what a characters. I agree with your critics on 2-2, I'm not entirely satisfied with it. Anyway, I wish you talked about Resolve, I'm curious to see what you think about Ryunosuke's journey on the sequel. All I can say is that I want to be hugged by Kazuma and feel his giant chest on my face.
LMAOOO BIG TIDDY KAZUMA CUDDLES FOR THE WINN !!!! thank you for the love
Dude, you managed to put into words why Ryu is a fantastic character. Great video!!
I know it’s been 2 years but I would absolutely LOVE if you made more TGAAC video essays!!
This was absolutely fantastic and heartwarming! Thank you so much for sharing your experiences and I hope you're doing well
Wow…it’s so….potent how much this game really changed you. What a deep emotional commentary on such a beautiful game. Well done ^w^
I LOVE LOVE LOVE TGAA AND RUNO SO MUCH. i swear nobody talks about what masterpieces these games are, and i just so. so dearly adore runo im so glad you made this video
I found this video now, and how could I not find it earlier T^T I relate to your experience greatly. What you described here is exactly why I love the first game dearly. I love the second game it is complex and epic, but the first game is so close to me because of how personal and close it is to the heart and how relatable Ryunosuke was T^T I cried watching this video it brought all the emotions back.
I’ve got a theory that ryunosuke naruhodo is left-handed and I believe it actually fits within the themes of the story if it’s intentional. Here’s some evidence first:
He wears asogi’s armband on his right arm (generally where lefties wear armbands) as opposed to asogi who wore it on the left.
As opposed to every other character who appears in the dance of deductions (aka sholmes, susato, yuijin), ryunosuke is the *only* character who *always* gestures with his left hand.
In the pawnbroker cutscene where he’s in a hurry to get into the storeroom he uses his left hand on a right handed door handle.
The reason he wields karuma with his right hand is because left handed samurai were *forbidden.* I’m not kidding, it was an actual taboo back then so it’s possible that this is a portrayal of how ryunosuke and other lefties had to conform to society’s expectations of the time. There’s some videos on RUclips about the reasons why they were forbidden if you’re curious. Not to mention that left handed people, ESPECIALLY in Victorian era Britain were considered demonic and harshly reprimanded if caught writing with their left hand.
Oh and there’s also the matter of the wrist band that he wears on his left hand but no one can bloody decide what it’s supposed to be lol. I’ve heard it’s either a guard for kendo (a form of fencing I think) or tekou which was generally used to absorb sweat to allow for better grip while performing labour.
Lastly, one of his character sketches shows him with a kyudo bow. Kyudo is a form of archery for which everyone is required to practice right handed which could be another nod to ryu’s ‘disorder’ (as it was thought of at the time).
If it’s true then it’s really nice symbolism that adds to the fish out of water aspect of his character.
Glad to find another RUclipsr who appreciates Ryunosuke as much as I do, not to mention that that person has also played 13 Sentinels? That's pretty epic
tbf i only got like maybe 10 hours into 13S despite me enjoying it 😭 i have to go back to it again one of these days !!!
@@Luucarii I absolutely recommend continuing it, it's my favorite game of all time for a reason
Out of curiosity which character in the game do you like best? If you can't remember any of them that's fine
He's my favourite protagonist ever. I've played many games, and I've never liked a protagonist more than Naruhodo.
I love how he goes from absolutely flustered and confused, having to rely on his best friend to becoming so skilled that he surpasses his best friend, and even is able to prove so many people innocent. AND WITH THE WHOLE COURT, CONVICT THE LORD CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE.
I hate 1-2... I just hate 1-2... I. HATE. IT. The only thing I hate about Asogi is his death. I was crying so much that I was having a panic attack. (This isn't normal.) 😢 why Kazuma...
I just cried so much just hearing 1-4. 17:22 was immediately when I did. I struggle with a strong sense of perfectionism and hide everything from anyone, to the point that I can't show any emotion in front of even my best friends. I've never been true to myself and don't trust anyone fully. I don't want to feel that, but I force myself to. I have never felt comfortable with myself, I've been insulted heavily by my whole family, criticised for showing any emotion, treated as if I don't matter in my family. But I'm so thankful that there are people out there who do care about me. Even when I feared something, someone I knew gave me a boost in confidence at my lowest point. If only I could feel that all the time. I didn't expect to cry this badly today, but... I did. I don't know what I want to say anymore. So, just for now, I shall stop writing this. I need something to laugh at. Thank you, The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles. Truly.
Hi! This is 4 months after this vid came out but still lol
So to be perfectly honest, I haven’t watched the entire video and only skimmed through it a couple of times 😅. But I just wanted to say that I wholeheartedly agree with you on your thoughts on Ryunosuke! I just got finished replaying TGAAC, and it was as fantastic as I remembered it. I now understand a lot of what Ryunosuke has been going through and his thoughts, actions, and feelings towards others. Seeing his growth throughout both games is an extremely pleasant sight to behold. And you captured it beautifully. I know you said in another comment that this came mostly from the heart, but hey, not all essays have to be from an analytical standpoint.
So yeah, great video! ❤️
AAH, thank you thank you!!❤️❤️
I don't blame you, I love Ryunosuke too
I will stop at nothing to defend my client, I dont't care who I make an enemy of!
best line ever 😭
XENOBLADE MENTIONED ON AN ACE ATTORNEY VIDEO LETS FUCKING GOOOOOO
I have genuinley never missed fictional characters as much as I've missed the cast of The Great Ace Attorney
I adore Ace Attorney so so much, I have been hyperfixated on it since like 2020, and I ADORE all of its characters
But something about Great Ace Attorney... is just so so special
I can not WAIT till we get to thise games when I'm playing through every Ace Attorney game with my friend
I just imagine Phoenix reading up on his gay grandfather and realizing that history has repeated itself with him and Edgeworth lol.
I don't know if you plan to do a Part 2 with the second game (I hope you do that ^^) but this video is really good !
This is going to be a very personal and potentially triggering comment, just getting that out there. TW for discussions of grief and suicide. Also spoilers for both games
When I first played this game, I was like you, and had never experienced the loss of someone very close to me. Case 1-2 made me incredibly sad and sympathetic to Ryunosuke, I think I even cried at the end. But since I've played ace attorney before, I wasn't too surprised (I figured Kazuma was like Mia), and I wasn't dejected or wanting to leave the game behind. On the contrary, the good writing of the case made me curious and eager to go on. But to be honest, I didn't think back to case 2-1 much beyond that even though I've replayed lots of other cases from this game since finishing. It seemed less consequential and important than the upcoming cases.
That changed when I lost my little sister to suicide a few months ago. I've been thinking a lot about that case since then, for several reasons. One of them is that her and I were actually in the middle of a playthrough when she died (for her, it was her first, so she went in blind). Coincidentally, we were in the middle of 2-1, and now we'll never get to finish it together. She was obviously very sad when Kazuma died, and ended up goading me into confirming that he wasn't actually dead (she was the kind of person who actively liked spoilers, I'd already spoiled several stories that I'd introduced her to so I knew it wouldn't be an issue).
The other reason I've been thinking about that case a lot is because of how the game portrays Ryunosuke's shock and grief and how I appreciate it much more now. I don't see anything new in the portrayal that I hadn't before, but I now know what it feels like, and it hits so much stronger. Particularly the way Ryunosuke and Susato talk about Kazuma's death being so pointless, feeling like it's such a waste. That to me, is such a powerful sentiment. Many stories try to portray death as honourable, as something tragic but ultimately something that needed to happen, because the characters progressed as a result of it. That's not what death is like, in real life. Death is not useful. There is nothing to be learned from death. It is simply a horrible thing that should never happen, and I don't wish it on anyone. As Ryunosuke and Susato note, it's a shame. It's very common for people experiencing grief to try to make something out of a loved one's death, because otherwise it feels crushingly pointless. This is basically what Ryunosuke's doing right up until the end of case 2-3: trying to follow in the footsteps of his friend's dream so that his death can *mean* something. Because if he doesn't, it'll feel like Kazuma, and all his dreams with him, are truly and finally gone. I feel that desperation keenly. I still don't know what to do with myself or how to make it feel like anything matters. Ryunosuke ends up latching onto that posthumous memory of Kazuma so much that he outright struggles to recognise the real man, with all his flaws, as being the same person once he returns. Same with Susato, who I think in 2-4 says "Is that even Kazuma-sama standing before us?". The desperation to keep a person's image alive in grief can warp its accuracy a lot. You end up exaggerating the good qualities and downplaying the bad ones. You try to fill in the uncertainty with guesses.
I don't really know how to finish this comment, I guess it got away from me. Basically what I wanted to get across is: I already liked this game's portrayal of grief before I experienced it myself. And now, I find it brilliant. It's made me learn a lot and helped me find a bit of peace with my own sometimes confusing emotions. Playing this game helped prepare me for something I never thought I'd have to experience. And I'm very thankful for that.
im glad i wasnt the only one who ended up complaining about the speckled band case to a friend sdkfj
😊
Great video! Hey would you happen to be latin american? You have a very pretty accent and it sounds like mine
So are you planning on making a part 2 on this subject? You've only talked about TGAA1, but I don't think that talking about Ryunosuke as protagonist works unless you're talking about both games. It is a dualigy afterall and so only talking about the 1st half of his arc kinda feels like you're skipping a bunch of stuff.
Most of Ryu’s character development happens in TGAA1! It finalizes and really rounds out to a conclusion at the end of TGAA2 (esp when he chooses to go back to Japan as opposed to staying in GB) but most of his major growth happens in 1 to allow the plot important stuff to take hold in 2 (where the themes are much more apparent and yknow who takes a more prominent place in the narrative and all). TGAA1 sets up the growth for 2-5 to finish it but most of what I wanted to tackle on how he affected me personally happens in TGAA1, hence me only focusing on the first game and only making subtle mentions to the 2nd game!
@@Luucarii ohh ok. I am wondering if you're gonna make a full review on the entire dualigy at some point🤔
this was more so just a dump of my feelings on Ryu than a proper analysis or review! kinda a one time thing unless i really get hit w character brainrot again haha!
So this video was right below another video in my feed with anime women clickbait thumbnail and I chose Ryunosuke over anime tiddies. The Great Ace Attorney was such an amazing experience and characters are my favorite in the Ace Attorney series. These games felt like the Ace Attorney formula mastered and balanced beautifully.
Hey! This was an absolutely fantastic video!
Can you give me the link to the discord? I REALLY WANT TO SEE THE LIVE REACTIONNN
it’s a personal server of mine so unfortunately i can’t but trust me it was a lot of keysmashing, simping and nonsense ! glad you enjoyed the video!!
my only complaint about Ryunosuke is at the most INCONVENIENT times, he is SUCH a doormat to other characters. to Sholmes, to Susato, to literal murder suspects, to Van Zieks, and ESPECIALLY to Kazuma. I do understand this is both his AND Susato's major thematic flaw in the duology: the deifying of Kazuma, and that after he is revealed to be alive, they seem him for what he REALLY is: an emotionally unstable person, understandably so, but one worth really deconstructing as "the perfect angel".
Other than that, Ryunosuke is pretty alright!