Miles Edgeworth, known as in original Japanese language versions, is a fictional prosecutor in Ace Attorney, a visual novel adventure video game series created by Japanese company Capcom. Initially introduced as a cold-hearted perfectionist, he appears as the antagonistic rival to main character Phoenix Wright in Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney (2001). Following the events of the first game, the character has a change of heart and reappears as a friendly rival in a minor capacity in most of the subsequent titles in the series.
Due to the character's popularity, universally positive critical reception, and status as a breakout character, Edgeworth went on to star in two of his own spin-off games, Ace Attorney Investigations: Miles Edgeworth (2009) and its sequel. Edgeworth has also made appearances in extended Ace Attorney media, such as film and animation, as well as several cameo appearances in titles outside of the main Ace Attorney series.
Design
According to Shu Takumi, Edgeworth was difficult to develop as a character compared to Wright. Edgeworth's character came together once Takumi decided he would be rich. In the original game, Takumi designed Edgeworth to be an unlikable and tragic character. This is seen in Manfred von Karma raising Edgeworth to be a prosecutor and then prosecuting him for murder, just to have his revenge against Edgeworth's father. After the first game, when Takumi saw a comic depicting Edgeworth liking the Steel Samurai, he decided that a more likable Edgeworth would be "cuter", and so Edgeworth was fleshed out into the valuable friend and ally seen since Farewell, My Turnabout.
In Edgeworth's original design, he was going to be a 36-year-old veteran prosecutor, but the staff decided that was not interesting enough as a rival. When Shu Takumi saw the second version of the character, he was struck with inspiration and created the backstory between him and Wright. The design team added the iconic cravat to make a distinct silhouette but did not finalize that addition until von Karma's design was. The older Edgeworth in Dual Destinies went through many iterations. In the first design, he had large frills that went down to his thighs. In other designs, he had grown facial hair. In the end, Edgeworth retained an "elegant" look, with rolled-back sleeves and vest, and sporting a longer coat and a pair of glasses, appearing more like his father.
Appearances
Edgeworth's first appearance was in Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney, where he is introduced as an antagonist prosecutor with a perfect record, who would do anything to win a trial; he is presented as respectable, but cold and ruthless. Throughout the game, the perception of Edgeworth changes, starting in episode three when he, for reasons then unknown, suddenly helps Wright to corner a witness. In the next episode, Edgeworth finds himself accused of murder, and Wright defends him against Manfred von Karma, Edgeworth's austere adoptive father and mentor, who won every case in his 40-year career. It is revealed during this episode that Wright and Edgeworth, along with Larry Butz, were childhood friends, and that Manfred von Karma murdered Miles's father, the defense attorney Gregory Edgeworth, and raised Miles as a prosecutor under his wing. Edgeworth believed he himself shot his father, a fact that led to him becoming a prosecutor instead of a defense attorney.
After his father's murder is resolved, Edgeworth becomes much more relaxed about his strict rules and personality, and becomes less antagonistic. It is also revealed that many rumors and negativity exist about him in the legal field. In "Rise from the Ashes", a fifth episode included in all subsequent editions of Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney after the original GBA version, he is portrayed as reaching solely for the truth; however, guilt-ridden by his reputation and past as a prosecutor, he disappears and leaves a supposed suicide note stating "Prosecutor Edgeworth chooses death."
Edgeworth returns in Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Justice for All, where it is revealed that he is alive, and his purpose for running away was so that he could think about what it really means to be a prosecutor. As a result of this, he has become less focused on guilty verdicts in favor of seeking the truth. He acts as the prosecutor for the final episode when Franziska von Karma is incapacitated, and helps Wright take down the villain. Later, he meets with Franziska to discuss his reasons for choosing the path he has, and advising her to also consider similar personal growth.