Ghost Trick spooking DS Jan. 11

It has been more than a year since Ace Attorney creator Shu Takumi first began talking about his latest zetetic handheld effort, Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective. And while the game didn't exactly light up the Japanese sales charts upon its release for the DS in June, North American audiences can soon begin peeling back the game's mysteries, as Capcom today announced a January 11, 2011, release for the title.

Ghost Trick's box art in its corporeal form.

A blend of the adventure and puzzle genres, Ghost Trick tells the story of an amnesiac ghost who attempts to solve the mystery behind his own death while saving the lives of others. As the deceased Sissel, players can take control of objects in the world to accomplish various challenges, with puzzle examples including making a bike float through the air to scare the living or possessing a light switch to zap an assassin.

Takumi fans have more than just Ghost Trick to look forward to in the near future. Earlier this month, Capcom and Level-5 announced it would be creating a crossover for its Ace Attorney and Professor Layton franchises. Tentatively titled Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright, the game will be penned by Takumi and released on the 3DS, though a date has yet to be announced.

For more on Ghost Trick, check out GameSpot's previous coverage.