Parents hoping their kids grow up to be doctors or lawyers should consider buying their children a Nintendo DS. Capcom's Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney gives players the chance to see what life is like for a defense lawyer, and stands with Atlus' Trauma Center (which lets you play doctor) as one of the more unusual premises for a video game. The game is more than a novelty act, though, delivering some moments of genuine tension and humor in a game that's not only simple to pick up, but also very forgiving for novice players. Indeed, hardcore gamers will probably find Phoenix Wright a little too easy, and with just five cases to try, a little too short as well.

A young, up-and-coming defense lawyer, Phoenix Wright has never tried a case before his friend, Larry Butz, is accused of a murder he didn't commit. So it is up to Phoenix to discover the actual killer by combining detective work in the field and shrewdly cross-examining witnesses in court. That's just the beginning of Phoenix's career as a defense attorney, but it eases players into the pattern of the game and shows how to think about the evidence that is gathered and the witnesses who are questioned.

Ah, the witnesses. Probably the best part of the game is cross-examining witnesses on the stand. Unlike a real trial, you don't have to choose who you want to testify, or formulate questions. No, Phoenix's only task with witnesses is to find holes in their testimony. Revealing contradictions in witness testimony forces them to re-phrase it, each time getting you closer to the truth of what actually happened in the case. These witnesses run the gamut, ranging from the kooky Wendy Oldbag to the eerily intimidating Redd White. Seeing how they twist and squirm as you pin them down is surprisingly good fun. Best of all, you can use your DS microphone and actually shout "Objection!" in the middle of a witnesses' testimony, though you may want to make sure you're alone when you do this.

The other component of the game, evidence gathering, is straightforward. You move from place to place in a point-and-click interface viewed from Phoenix's perspective while examining pertinent locations for evidence and talking with people involved in the case. Thankfully, the game won't advance to the next courtroom segment until you've gathered everything and talked to everyone relevant to the case, meaning you won't be stuck in a dead-end once you get to an actual trial. Once in trial, you have five chances to present the right evidence or answer key questions, which is usually plenty as it's pretty clear what you have to do next to break down your witness.

Snappily written, Phoenix Wright reads like a good whodunit novel, with twists and turns throughout. A short whodunit novel, unfortunately, as you only get five cases to try, and there's no reason to go back and retry the same case. The game's excellent execution and snappy writing make it a fun ride while it lasts, and definitely warrant giving this game a good verdict.

Anime-inspired graphics that, while a bit stiff, are easy on the eyes.

The soundtrack can get a little repetitive, but does get your blood racing in the middle of a heated trial.

Tremendous fun while it lasts.

Nothing to speak of. Once you're through the game, there's no reason to go back.