Professor Layton is without doubt one of the greatest if not THE greatest game ever released on the NDS. We have been drowned by puzzle solving games in recent months, but non have really had a good storyline element to them, they have all been training type games.
Well Professor Layton is different, set in a Victorian village, Professor Layton and his apprentice Luke are summoned to help find a missing treasure, however they also find themselves right in the middle of a murder inquiry.
All of this gives us a nice backdrop to the puzzle element, as you search for clues you meet people and end up solving puzzles for them. Some of the puzzles are easy and can be won simply by a process of elimination, however some are downright difficult and truly require you to rack you brain for a solution.
Professor Layton is a great game for kids, but also a great game for adults who fancy themselves as a bit of a problem solver.
The graphics are very nice, the sound is cool, and the gameplay is almost perfect.
I would give this game a truly awesome 9.5/10
Sypnosis
Nominated as one of the top handheld games of the year by the 2007 Japanese Game Awards, Professor Layton and the Curious Village sets players loose in a Victorian dream world as you and your guide, Professor Layton, explore a quirky Victorian village where everything is a puzzle.
Something is Odd in St. Mystere
In the curious village of St. Mystere, townsfolk speak to each other in riddles, lock their doors with sliding puzzles and hide their secrets within brainteasers. When the wealthy Baron Augustus Reinhold passes away, his will reveals a hidden treasure in the village of St. Mystere. Unable to locate the treasure themselves, the baron's family calls upon renowned puzzle expert Professor Layton and his apprentice, Luke, for help. Upon the pair's arrival, their search for the treasure is interrupted by the suspicious death of another member of the Reinhold family. Now with two mysteries on their hands, Professor Layton and Luke must work their way through the village's many puzzles, riddles and brainteasers to find the truth.
The storyline and puzzles are tightly integrated, so that as you explore the world and progress through the adventure, you will encounter more and more puzzles. Many of the puzzles are new to the North American release.
As Professor Layton, players tackle more than 130 puzzles as they unravel the mysteries of the village. Challenges range from mazes and riddles to logic and sliding puzzles, many of which are new for the North American release. Touch-screen controls make working through puzzles a snap for players of all skill levels, and as a special bonus new puzzles are available weekly for download for the first six months following game release via Nintendo® Wi-Fi Connection.
Unlike other puzzle-driven titles, Professor Layton is the first to offer a story, cast of characters and style that are just as strong as the game play. Fully voiced animated scenes bring the story to life, while the funny and eccentric villagers and the classic, hand-drawn art provide a stylish charm that will appeal to gamers and non-gamers alike.
