Standing in front of the Nintendo World Store, I wonder to myself what I’ll find at the Mystery Case Files: MillionHeir launch party. Stepping inside, I’m surrounded by families packing both levels of the gaming mecca, ready to uncover the secrets hidden around the shop. A friendly Nintendo staffer gives me the rundown. My job is to play a bit of Mystery Case Files: MillionHeir and then interview such in-store characters as Justine Time and Emmy Daynow to locate the whereabouts of one Mr. Phil T. Rich.

I make my way to a small table and chairs with a palate of DSs spread across the top. Settling into the teeny mushroom seat, I hunch over to grab the game in front of me. Another attendant gives me a quick introduction, and I’m off, stylus waving. It doesn’t take long to get the gist of the game.

Mystery Case Files: MillionHeir is the first title in the traditionally PC series made for handheld release. As a crack detective, you must investigate 12 possible heirs to the Phil T. Rich fortune by working your way through 30 static environments to locate the hidden items on your list. Between each of these hidden object areas, you also must solve several brainteasing minigames.

I got a chance to spend some time in the Story mode of Mystery Case Files: MillionHeir, locating objects like arrowheads, meat tenderizers and sailboats hidden in the game. The environments are all larger than the touchscreen, which requires you to move your window of vision around until you locate the correct item. The game has two difficulty levels: Rookie and Detective. All of the activities of MillionHeir are completed with the stylus, so there is no need to have your button-pressing fingers ready.

Mystery Case Files: MillionHeir also features competitive and cooperative multiplayer options. For the first time in the Mystery Case Files series, up to four gamers can play together using four cartridges. DS Download play also is available.

Despite my detective work, I never did find Mr. Rich., but I had a great time looking for him. I spent time with each of the characters around the store, listening to their monologues and doing my best to find the answers I was looking for. More often than not, I found myself just enjoying their comedic performances and disregarding the clues. Mystery Case Files: MillionHeir may not be the next hardcore gaming revolution, but the game will definitely find a home among kids and casual gamers.