An overlooked an strangely maligned gem!
After seeing it used I decided to finally give it a shot. I couldn't have made a better choice.
First of all, the game is definitely skewed in a sense. The involvement of the player in the game is unique, as is the constant presence of the professor in the top screen (sometimes in the bottom for the occasional cut scene). The process of healing (eating and taking baths) must be unique in the gaming universe and works in the context of the game. There are strange enemies to combat and stranger townsfolk to meet.
The dialogue is snappy: you can tell that the initial script writers as well as the localization team had a great, subtle sense of humor. There is little in the way of slapstick or gut-busting humor, but rather the game opts for a wry, understated sensibility. A smile was on my face nearly the whole time I played. Contact's system for leveling up - by way of using the skill you wish to improve - is leaps an bounds above most traditional RPGs, in which an increase in level results in an arbitrary increase in some skill. In addition, the suit system and sticker system, while not deep or immersive, are fun and add customization to the character.
The sound design is quite wonderful. While I wouldn't rush out to buy the soundtrack (I must admit I rarely would) it was well done and never annoying. The quality of the instruments and the incidental sound effects should be noted.
There are a few abilities that can be learned, such as fishing and cooking, that will add to the experience as you try to catch rare fish and make gourmet meals.
And finally there's that combat system: by pressing the A button, you will enter "combat mode" and attack at timed intervals. At first this felt clumsy and ungainly, but once I began to play the game entirely with the stylus I found it to be liberating to have the power to dodge attacks and position myself strategically. It takes some getting used to and is certainly not action packed, but is nowhere near as boring or game-ruining as most reviewers seem to make it out to be. It can't be worse than holding down the A button as in the Final Fantasy games, in any case.
All in all, I am very happy to have taken a chance on this game and would recommend it to DS owners who want a semi-action RPG with great humor and enough variety.