Gaming to Go: Professor Layton and the Curious Village

by Matthew Madeiro { Nov 18th 2008 at 2:47PM }

A game revolving solely around time-consuming, tear-inducing brain teasers likely isn't anyone's first guess for the kind of quick gaming the DS so clearly excels at. Layton might be an unusual choice for this week's edition of Gaming to Go, but it's most certainly not a bad one, as the unique hybrid of puzzling and adventuring makes a number of concessions that'll help even someone who is pressed for time advance through the game unhindered.

Skipping freely through the game's myriad puzzles is hardly ideal, of course, but what can you do? Some of Layton's 135 brain-destroyers can make even a grown puzzle-solver cry, so it's a testament to the solid game design that you can still feel the satisfaction of completing the game even without experiencing all of the content it has to offer. In the mood for a fantastic puzzle game but not so keen on spending hours just to slog through every challenge? Click that big button down there and see why Professor Layton and the Curious Village might be exactly what you've been searching for.

Gallery: Professor Layton and the Curious Village

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Tags: joystiqfeatures, layton, professor-layton, puzzle

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

chibi_wings @ Nov 18th 2008 3:16PM

although, layton isn't my choice game to take on the go, i do take it if i know i'll have a bit of time to spare; because like you said, it can take some time to solve the puzzle(s).

Peter S @ Nov 18th 2008 5:08PM

And where is Prof Layton #2 for the US (or anywhere outside of Japan for that matter)? Fans want to know! :-D

And I generally enjoy the puzzles, but those escape type puzzles are definitely not my favorites. Also glad that the sliding tile puzzle doesn't have a time limit - it's pass/fail. :)

Matt @ Nov 18th 2008 8:18PM

This is the second one. The third one is coming out soon, there has been some info already on the pages about it.

chibi_wings @ Nov 19th 2008 7:50PM

@Matt: Professor Layton and the Curious Village is the first game

2nd: Professor Layton and the Devil's Box/ Pandora's Box (however you translate it)

3rd: Professor Layton and the Last time travel

so really we only have one game in the US right now, and the third game is due out in Japan soonish (i forget the exact date) Layton Fans have a right to be a little worried and anxious for the second game to make a NA release; Nintendo has a tendency to play with localizations and then drop them. I don't want to be constantly moaning about the second game, but I couldn't help but correct you =)