You know, some games just don't get their proper due and it really ticks me off. A recent example of this is Atlus USA's charming new DS mystery adventure game, Touch Detective. Now, if you've been reading the dreary coverage it has mostly received in the press thus far, you are probably under the impression at this point that the game turned out poorly - however, in the eyes of this reviewer that assessment couldn't be any further from the truth and I'm here to get the good word out. Not only is Touch Detective a gem of an adventure game, it's also visually gorgeous and loaded with bizarre humor.

The key cog that makes Touch Detective such a loveable game is a hilarious storyline that's beautifully complimented by a charming cast of quirky characters and witty dialogue. In this crazy adventure game you play as Mackenzie, a young girl who has taken over her family's long-time detective agency family business. Aided by her invention-crazed butler Cromwell and her mushroom sidekick Funghi, you must help her solve four cases laced with mystery, crime and, most of all, goofy humor. There is also a lot of game to explore here, with each of the four episodes lasting a good couple of hours, in addition to a Touch List of touchable items to fill out and a bunch of bonus missions to complete in between the main cases that further develop the game world and its inhabitants - there is well over ten hours' worth of material, should you take on everything the game has to offer.

Solving each of the aforementioned cases follows a gameplay scheme exactly like what you would find in any traditional point-and-click PC adventure game. Touch Detective's town world is comprised of six different areas - the Office, Shopping Plaza, Park, Condominium, Planetarium and Circus - and you must repeatedly direct Mackenzie through these areas (yes, there is quite a bit of backtracking) using the stylus, interviewing witnesses and suspects for information surrounding the case at hand, scouring every nook and cranny of each environment for evidence and collecting items to solve puzzles. The interface is smooth and intuitive; simple strokes and taps of the stylus are all you need to pick up items and sift through dialogue, while the inventory menu along the bottom of the touch screen makes it easy to keep track of and examine evidence for new clues. Puzzles are generally basic exercises in discovering how gathered items should be used and/or combined to solve the current dilemma and advance the case - while the puzzles do require some clever thinking far beyond the realm of practicality, resulting in moments of trial-and-error, their imagination and off-the-wall nature make for a one-of-a-kind experience.

Besides the puzzles, chatting with the talkative characters fills much of the gameplay composition, so if you aren't one to find interest in reading a lot of dialogue then you won't find much excitement here. As I've already said, the dialogue is masterfully scripted, so gamers who enjoy text-heavy adventures need look no further than Touch Detective for hours of enjoyment. While controlling Mackenzie on the bottom screen, a still image of her is also displayed on the top screen. As you converse with characters of interest or search for clues, thought bubbles pop up over her head on the top screen image to constantly keep you in tune with her inner thoughts. Oftentimes these thoughts are used to introduce additional jocularity to a scene, but they can also provide you with useful hints in figuring out the next course of action.

It's not just the gameplay that draws you in though - Touch Detective is absolutely beautiful, showcasing the most breathtaking and original art direction and character design ever seen on the Nintendo DS. The backgrounds and environments look as if they were hand drawn and colored in right on the screen like a piece of fine digital artwork, while the virtual inhabitants populating the world are so endearing and full of personality that you'll immediately grow attached to each and every one of them. None of them are voiced, unfortunately, but each character's text-scrolling sound effect is different, which subtly extenuates their varying personalities. Speaking of personality, the high-energy soundtrack is another strong point that drives home the game's style and theme wonderfully.

Touch Detective is the latest oddball innovation from Atlus and yet another lustrous showpiece for the DS that exemplifies why it is today's leading handheld gaming platform. I understand that the slow-paced adventure gameplay isn't for everyone, but there is so much to love here that I firmly urge each and every one of you reading this right now to open your mind and try it for yourself.

Reviewed by Matt Litten for AceGamez (All Rights Reserved).