Hands on with Cate West: The Vanishing Files on DS

When a sequel begins development before the original has even hit the streets, either things look extremely promising or there's a disaster waiting to happen. Destineer must be tapping into the psychic abilities of its titular heroine to see the future of this new series because it's already hard at work on a follow-up to the tap adventuring of Cate West: The Vanishing Files.

As a psychic, Cate West aides the police in solving mysterious crimes ranging from murder to theft. Like any investigation, creating a compelling case for court involves collecting evidence, discerning motive for the crime, and apprehending the right suspect. You do this by using Cate's psychic abilities and completing a series of straightforward puzzles.

One such type of puzzle requires locating objects hidden within a static scene. A list located on the top screen informs you of the items you need to find, which are summarily ticked off the moment you hone in on them. The stylus comes in quite handy for tapping away at objects. Points are awarded for finding evidence quickly, with more rewarded for fast finds. These points contribute to an overall career score, which determines which of three possible endings you receive.

Along with object discovery, you also need to decipher discrepancies between two scenes. Similar to the aforementioned mini-game, the top screen tells you how many differences to find between the two screens. Of course, you're not told what those difference are – you have to figure them out on your own. They can be rather tough to identify, particularly when faced with a time limit.

When you've collected enough clues and evidence to take a suspect to court, the game shifts into a recreation of the crime. Consider it a reward for amassing the necessary evidence. A short cut-scene detailing the crime and suspect's attempts to cover the act plays out. That signals the end of a case, although you're welcome to revisit stages in Quick Play mode just for fun.

The Vanishing Files hardly departs from the formula established by other touch-enabled adventures such as Mystery Case Files: MillionHeir, but that's fine. By introducing a psychic element, the game has a unique element that adds dimension to its story. It's not nearly as campy as Nintendo's title, which ought to be more appealing to an older audience. Keep a sharp eye out for the game when it hits stores in the US before year's end (there is currently no European release date set).