Genki's detective 'Lullaby' sings for DS in March

TOKYO--The first detective game for the Nintendo DS will be available in Japan on March 24, retailers have announced. Genki's Tantei Kibukawa Ryosuke Jiken Dan (The Incident Files of Detective Ryosuke Kibukawa): The Masquerade Lullaby will be priced at 4,800 yen ($47).

In Masquerade Lullaby, you assume the role of shrewd detective Ryokuse Kibukawa to solve a mystery that takes place in a Japanese port town. Players use the DS's touch-sensitive screen to both check items and talk to people, although the game also lets users play with the conventional direction pad and buttons. Masquerade Lullaby takes advantage of the DS’s two screens by using one as the main exploration screen and the other as a means for conveying information. As a result, you won’t have to switch between the two.

As with most dialogue-heavy adventure games, the chances are slim that Masquerade Lullaby will be released outside Japan, but GameSpot will let you know if the game gets announced stateside.