HANDS-ON LEGAL BATTLE CAN BE VERY ANIMATED.

Byline: Redmond Carolipio Staff Writer

Phoenix Wright handles his cases with a combination of lovable humility and anime-style flair. That's what made his first game, ``Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney,'' such a critical hit with the Nintendo DS community.

The follow-up, ``Phoenix Wright: Justice for All,'' gives players more of the same vibe of the trial process, the chance to assemble your evidence for your case and, of course, digital reams of dialogue.

If you're unfamiliar with the series, think of it as a wacky take on ``Law & Order.'' You start out by poring over the evidence provided to you by the cops and courts, and then cross- examining whatever suspects or witnesses you encounter during the trial.

Most of the ``action'' in the game lies in finding holes in suspect or witness testimony. Once you find the inconsistency you're looking for, you ``present'' the evidence that exploits it, which results in the rival attorney yelling, ``Objection!'' (you also see the word flash on the screen), and the witness/suspect is left quivering on the stand. You essentially keep doing this until you obliterate the rival attorney's case.

The series scores points by adding video-gamey elements to what can be either a dramatic or droll process. New in ``Justice for All'' is an actual ``life meter'' for Phoenix that whittles down every time he makes a mistake (like presenting the wrong evidence at the wrong time).

There's also the new ability for your spirit-medium legal assistant (and her cousin) to literally ``unlock'' information from people you are questioning. The mini-game actually features a set of chains, and despite the cartoonish style, generates some real drama.

The real strength of this game, as well as the series, is in its writing. You'll find some words misspelled, but the cases all feature clever twists with characters you will either love, hate or fear (such as the daughter of an old rival).

That said, the game's inherent flaw is that it's really not an experience for everyone. Reading text and using the stylus to poke around for clues takes up a huge chunk of your time, and it requires a healthy measure of patience and attention to detail.

Another issue is the game's all-too-straightforward path. There is either a right or wrong way to approach a case -- you can't progress in the game unless you find that one clue or piece of evidence, so there are times where the experience just stalls.

``Phoenix Wright: Justice for All'' feels like it would appease big fans of the last game, as well as those who really like to read. But if you like a little more action, you might want to look somewhere other than a courtroom -- no matter how it's drawn.

PHOENIX WRIGHT: JUSTICE FOR ALL - Two and one half stars

Platform: Nintendo DS.

Rated: T for Teen.

In a nutshell: Finding order in the court can be fun for those who like to read. Otherwise, find your drama outside the courtroom.

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(1 -- 2) In ``Phoenix Wright: Justice for All,'' players must use key pieces of evidence to discredit witnesses and outwit rival attorneys. Think of it as ``Law & Order'' animated.