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ENTER THE MANSION
Layton, you’ve done it again.
Professor Layton is one of those unique titles that’s really hard to explain. The game isn’t just a puzzle/brain teaser compilation, it’s not entirely an old school adventure, nor is it a complete role playing game… its all of these combined into one of the most intriguing packages available on the DS and DSi. Developed by the fine folks at Level 5, who are responsible for some serious gems in gaming, the North American sequel should be on store shelves as we speak and it’s a title that’s not to be missed out on.
Now this was my first press preview, I arrived at The Charles Rundle Mansion, in downtown Toronto, a quaint little part with many old English styled houses. Walking by the front gate I was greeted by a big lazy cat that was perched up on the porch and watched me and my friend walk into the mansion. I must say Nintendo does know how to set the appropriate mood for each of their games, I felt almost as if I had stepped into the old country village (Saint Mystere) from the Professor Layton series. I was greeted by our Nintendo reps and sent coin hunting amongst the antique lower level. They actually hid gold chocolate coins in the furniture!! We found a couple around the picture frame and then proceeded to the dinning room where actual puzzles from the game were on display and we had to solve them. While trying to solve these large puzzles (mostly posted on to cardboard) we were told to have some refreshments should things get too difficult and ask the Professor for any hints we might need. ‘The Professor?’ I asked
‘Yes, he should be on his way down.’
Low and behold we saw a tall gentleman dressed as Layton himself. He actually had a pretty spot on British accent to boot. This was pretty cool.
The professor helped me and my buddy through a very trying puzzle that was akin to Sudoku- in a sense where we had to group and divide a gathering of trees by including one of each type in every grouping.
Tired by my buddy Roy’s lack of organization I parted to try out the real game itself. We were then taken to the living room where a copy of the game was running on a couple of DS and DSi. My play session was for about 40 minutes to an hour, in which I only managed to solve 5 puzzles and take in the opening of the game, I must say in that amount of time I was amazed at how appropriate the setting and mood was to try out this title. The game feels like a true homage to old school adventure titles but with tons of more interesting game play mechanics put in and connected to an intriguing main story line.
I gotta set my house the same way
Now I did play the original and was taken completely by its high presentation and creative story telling, not to mention how insanely cool some of these puzzles were. Fast forward a couple of years and we have the Sequel (Japan is on its 4th already!!).
The thing they kept in tack for the sequel among others is its high presentation and art direction. I just adored the hand drawn back drops that screamed old school adventure games. Combine that with some really flashy animations snippets and you have a DS title unlike any other. But its not all about the flash factor, this game is a serious step up and a natural pick for those who grew tired of brain age and other
“mind minigames”.
I’m always charmed by the accessibility DS games provide, it’s something that rarely lends itself to gimmicky controls or game play and with Layton and the Diabolical box it’s fairly evident. The controls and mechanics weren’t broken so there was no need to fix anything. All that was added was an original tale and some pretty hard puzzles.
For our preview we sat in and played the train ride section and with more than half a dozen puzzles we had our hands full with some unique challenges that bring forth the old charm of accomplishment! It’s hard these days playing games where the sheer challenge of it relies not on quick reaction and mastery of controls but actual thinking.
Me and my buddy Roy with the professor himself!..im on the left
A tremendous difference I noticed this time around was that the puzzles in the main adventure actually had something to do with the setting and people around it. In the previous title my main complaint was how some puzzles seemed highly irrelevant to the setting and quest at hand, a guy talking to me about a murder suddenly presented me a puzzle to do with tooth picks. This time around things make a ton of sense and thus never break any immersive experience you are having. For example in the train compartment Luke’s suitcase is on the bed and since you’re almost ready to depart you are left with the task to cram your suitcase with some items whilst not overlapping any item. A good improvement over the last title and with brain teasers that will leave you wanting more the main adventure promises more of the same good old game play
Believe me when I say it’s not frustrating nor is it boring, as if they know how and which puzzles to select things are kept on a steady learning curve. Things getting a little too hard? Well just like the original coins provide you with Professor Layton’s hints. You’ll rely solely on the Professor himself as you embark on an epic adventure.
Just how I want to get every game from now on... with chocolate coins
Oh and this time around it is quite an adventure, you see the professor’s mentor has been mysteriously murdered and the only clue is a ticket to an express train where you’ll find the true nature of the adventure. During the story you discover that the Elysian box has something to do with this murder and countless other problems and it’s up to you and the professor to solve this “Diabolical mystery”.
The title has about 150 puzzles and the story mode is said to stretch about 12 hours with the option to play some of the puzzles again and a couple of side mini games for good measure. Returning again is the awesome download puzzles of the week and from the last time I heard it will run for a good long while-I think it was 32 weeks but let me confirm that for the review. So far like the original my only reservations are the opening animations set such a high bar that later on you’re begging to see some more but all your ever treated to is some dialog boxes. The only other complaint I had was any sort of co-op style adventure that could be incorporated to the main quest, granted the title isn’t broke but we should see something more added besides the stellar story update but then again that’s me being very picky and otherwise this seems to be one amazing title!
The title is out now so watch for our review very very very soon!
