The Down and Dirty

Into a world of injustice and crime comes a hero sworn to uphold the law and punish wrongdoers. Enter…Phoenix Wright, Ace Attorney! Yeah, it's a little silly.

The Goods

Fans of Law & Order, look elsewhere. Phoenix Wright is certainly no by-the-book courtroom simulation. It's a whimsical, silly, comic book-esque take on the land of gavels and juries that's meant for a slightly younger crowd. As Phoenix Wright, the player's goal is to make his case, usually by catching witnesses in lies as they testify in court. Wright must visit the scene of the crime, confer with experts, and stay chummy with the police in order to gather the evidence he'll need to prove the bad guys are fibbing on the stand. There will be three or four complete cases in the final version of the game, which is due out in late 2005 or early 2006.

Graphically, the game is appealing, but not mind-blowing. Characters are anime inspired, but completely static. Usually, the only movement on the screen comes from text dropping in as characters speak in comic book style bubbles. The top screen shows the scene, while the touch screen acts as an inventory and control panel for Wright's choices. The demo for the show was a brief snippet of a courtroom scene, designed to highlight how Wright will confront witnesses. As the witness testified, Wright had the options to press for further information, or to contradict the testimony. Only three contradictions were allowed, though whether it's per case or per witness was a bit unclear. Once an objection is raised, players will use the touch screen to select the appropriate evidence that contradicts the false testimony.

The demo was short and fairly simple, but hopefully the cases that actually make it into the final version will be more complex. If not, then this title will likely be far too easy for gamers old enough to drive.

The Verdict

Phoenix Wright, Ace Attorney looks to be some goofy, if not brain-busting, fun for the DS. Its oddball nature should appeal to puzzle and mystery fans, or even players just looking for something a little different on their DS.