Professor Layton for the DS Review
A Puzzle Solving Adventure Game in the Curious Village
Adventure games are not common on consoles, and even rarer on portables, but this DS title takes a break from the standard action gaming offered in most console games.
Tetris made the puzzle game popular, but most puzzle games that have come onto the video game console have been variations on the Tetris theme. A new video game for the Nintendo DS, Professor Layton and the Curious village redefines the meaning of hte phrase puzzle game..
Professor Layton and the Curious village is an adventure game in the traditions of Full Throttle, Sam and Max, and The Adventures of Grim Fandango and the new Sherlock Holmes: the Awakened, rather than a true puzzle game. Moving about the village of St. Mystere uses the Nintendo DS stylus and is not difficult. As Professor Latyon moves throughout the video game world, the inhabitants of the village will challenge him with puzzles before providing the information the professor needs tol further the game's plot and help the player solve the mysteries of St. Mystere.
The Storyline of Professor Layton and the Curious Village
Before Baron Reinhold passed away, he used his last hours to create a final puzzle that will lead the citizens of St. Mystere to a golden apple Whoever finds the golden apple will find the key to his treasures. The late Baron's wife, Dahlia Reinhold, has called in the renowned puzzle expert, Professor Layton, to help find the missing golden apple. Accompanying Professor Layton is his self-proclaimed apprentice, a young man named Luke.
Puzzle or Adventure Game?
Professor Layton and the Curious Village is not designed to appeal the hardcore gamer. The game is reminiscent of the educational Carmen San Diego games of the 1980s and 1990s. The puzzles in Professor Layton and the Curious Village can range from the simple to the complex and a number of trick questions can trip up a player of this new video game for the Nintendo DS.
Professor Layton and the Curious Village targets younger playerss and people who enjoy puzzles. The games E rating makes it family friendly, so parents need not worry too much about children experiencing the adventures of the famous puzzle solving sleuth as he unravels the mystery surrounding the curious village. The lack of violence in the game is a refreshing change of pace for parents and other people concerned about the prevalence of video game violence.
Will Professor Layton Be Seen Again?
Professor Layton and the Curious Village was designed by an recognized expert on puzzles The DS cartridge seems primed for a series of non-traditional video games that take advantage of the unique capabilities of the Nintendo Wii and the Nintendo DS. The user needs to press none of the buttons on the the DS to complete the game, and the answers as well as movement in the game are done by stylus. The game seems reminiscent of something that might have been made in Powerpoint or Hypercard.
Professor Layton and the Curious Villige is a good game for kids and puzzle fanatics of all age, but there are a few areas where this unique video game falls shot. The graphics for not terrible but the artists could have done a slightly better job on the characters, especially Luke and Lady Dahlia Reinhold. The music sets a mood of mystery well, but it does not vary as the character heads to different locations in Saint Mystere.
One surprising point in favor of this unique puzzle adventure video game includes voice acting. Voice acting is standard on the home console video games, but voice acting is not usually a part of games for portable systems, although this may change as the storage capabilities on the smaller systems increase.
Professor Layton and the Curious Village is a good game for people who enjoy puzzles and want a break from the traditional video game, but those who prefer more action-oriented games might want to pick up The Phantom Hourglass.
Resources:
Professor Layton and the Curious Village Manual, 2008. Nintendo
