Professor Layton and the Curious Village

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a game by Level-5 Inc.
Platform: DS (2007)
Editor Rating: 8/10, based on 1 review
User Rating: 8.7/10 - 3 votes
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See also: Puzzle Games, Point-and-Click Quests, Professor Layton Games
Professor Layton and the Curious Village
Professor Layton and the Curious Village
Professor Layton and the Curious Village
Professor Layton and the Curious Village

Professor Layton and the Curious Village is a narrative-driven puzzle game, reminiscent of classic point 'n click adventure games like Myst. However, the game also contains a lot of text and is akin to a visual novel, similar to the Nintendo DS franchise, Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney. The game revolves around the exploits of Hershel Layton and his sidekick Luke, a pair of mystery-solving investigators who use their logical abilities to solve every Puzzle they encounter. On this adventure, the two heroes travel to the town of St. Mystere to solve a dastardly case involving a hidden treasure known as the Golden Apple.

Main Game Features

  • Over 100 logic puzzles and brainteasers
  • Bonus mini-games
  • Collectible hint coins

Story

Professor Layton and the Mysterious Village starts with our pair of heroes, Hershel Layton and his apprentice Luke, traveling by car to a quaint town in the countryside. After receiving a letter from the widow Lady Dahlia, Layton learns of an intriguing issue surrounding the death of her husband, Augustus.

In his last will and testament, the wealthy Augustus has left his entire fortune and estate to the person who can locate the fabled Golden Apple. After other townsfolk have tried to find the apple and have failed, Professor Layton must use his quick wit and intelligence to discover the truth. Throughout the adventure, Layton and Luke meet a large cast of characters, slowly revealing that St. Mystere is not what it seems.

Gameplay

First and foremost, Professor Layton and the Mysterious Village is a puzzle game. Players don't actively control Professor Layton or Luke, but instead travel around a map, viewing various scenes around the town. In order to progress to other screens and areas in the village, you must locate the hidden puzzles and solve them. Puzzles are usually found by talking to important characters, but secret puzzles can also be located by checking out suspicious areas on the screen. As you look around for puzzles, you'll also come across handy hint coins, which can be used when you're especially stumped. There are over 100 puzzles to solve in the game, ranging from simple to extremely difficult. Don't let the cute graphics and playful mood fool you, as this game can be pretty tough at points.

When you complete puzzles you have a chance at earning bonus items, which can be used in a variety of mini-games. You can earn pieces of furniture to customize Layton and Luke's hotel rooms, collect portrait pieces to form a jigsaw puzzle, and assemble a robotic puzzle-sniffing dog out of accumulated gizmos. These small mini-games provide a place to relax and not worry about puzzles, giving you some time to rest your brain.

Conclusion

For fans of puzzle games, Professor Layton and the Curious Village is an absolute hit. Aside from some particularly tough puzzles, the game offers a great balance of difficulty, providing puzzles that ramp up in complexity as you progress through the story. The narrative itself is engaging and interesting, presenting a perplexing mystery that is satisfying to see to the end. The helpful hint feature ensures you're never stuck for too long, while the abundance of extra puzzles gives players tons of brainteasers to enjoy.

6

As long as you don't mind a bit of reading, Professor Layton and Curious Village is a must-play game.

Pros

  • Interesting and unpredictable mystery
  • Satisfying puzzles
  • Likable and charming characters

Cons

  • Some puzzle solutions are unfair
  • Lots of text to read

Download Professor Layton and the Curious Village

DS

System requirements:

  • PC compatible
  • Operating systems: Windows 10/Windows 8/Windows 7/2000/Vista/WinXP

Snapshots and Media

DS Screenshots