Phoenix Wright is an attorney simulator, of all things.
And an extremely absorbing one, at that.
The game plays like a great mystery novel in text-adventure form. Half the time you're investigating scenes in classic point-and-click style and talking to characters. But the real fun comes when you go to court. Discovering the plot-twists is only half the battle. You have to prove it in court.
The game is short, lasting a bit over 15 hours. It's also the best 15 hours I have ever spent with my DS.
The downright hilarious script combined with the over-the-top artwork gives all the characters a certain charm that makes them likeable as hell. The gameplay actually is in the script- it's that funny. You don't need any law training to play the game, just an eye for detail. The game is not an accurate simulation of a real courtroom, which is good, or else the game would not be so damn fun to play.
There's not much to complain about in Phoenix Wright, unless you have an intense hatred of text for some bizzare reason. The game is insanely addictive and will keep you playing until the very end. At that point, the realization that it's over sinks in, and you get the same bittersweet feeling that comes after you finish a really great novel. You're glad that everything's resolved, but at the same time, you're sad that it's all over.
Easily the best game on the DS, to date.