Though motion sensing controls have still yet to become a widespread success on Nintendo’s Wii (aside from Nintendo licensed games), the DS has seen different results from its innovation in controls. Not only has the addition of a second screen given companies a multitude of new viewing angles (maps, inventories, more on-screen gameplay) but the touch screen has succeeded in creating an abundance of new genres due to its limitless control options. Games such as Brain Age, Nintendogs, and Meteos have seen similar titles in the past but really seem to come to life on the DS due to its unique control scheme; games such as Elite Beat Agents (as well as Ouendan), Brain Age, Drawn to Life could not be possible without touch screen controls; and games such as The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass, Kirby: Canvas Curse, and Metroid Prime: Hunters are tried and true series that have thrived off of their unique control schemes.
Professor Layton and the Curious Village is one of the more peculiar games on the Nintendo DS, featuring an entire puzzle solving title embedded into a unique, mysterious story about treasure, murder, and a truly curious village. Players will be able to experience unique puzzles (similar to those in Brain Age) but will be given an unlimited amount of time and much more difficult of puzzles to solve as the game carries on. So are you ready to test your mind at some interesting puzzles and attempt to crack the mystery of the village?
Strange Setting
Professor Layton takes place in a little town called St. Mystere where the townsfolk absolutely love puzzles. Players follow two brave problem solvers, Professor Layton and his young apprentice, Luke, as they come to the town seeking to solve the mystery behind a man’s inheritance. The late Baron Reinhold left only one clue to finding his treasure: “The Reinhold family treasure, the Golden Apple, is hidden somewhere within this village. To whomever successfully locates this treasure, I offer the whole of my estate.” And thus, the mystery is set and the adventure begins.
At the start of the game, you get to experience one of the many beautiful cut scenes with beautifully hand drawn art, smooth animation, and excellent voice acting. These cut scenes make you feel like you’re watching an actual cartoon or movie as they rival the production quality of many current cartoon movies. As you progress through the game, you’ll notice that everything in the game is actually hand drawn as well and thus it’s easy to become captivated in the game’s story. My only beef with the presentation is that the music is a little bland at times (it’s fitting for the game but there isn’t a large variety of songs and the song for every puzzle is the same repetitious one).
Gameplay is divided into several different chapters. As you play through each chapter, new events occur, leading you to the next mysteries and ultimately your goal of solving the inheritance puzzle. In order to find clues to the mystery, players move through the town in a Myst style of movement where you tap a direction to move and the screen changes to a different picture. In each part of town, you can tap any of your surroundings to search for “hint coins” as well as secret puzzles and interesting commentary from Luke and Layton. You’ll encounter many people on your adventure in St. Mystere so talking to anyone you see multiple times will help you to unravel clues to the mystery.
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