Professor Layton (series)
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| Professor Layton series | |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | Level-5 |
| Publisher(s) | JP Level-5 NA Nintendo KR Nintendo |
| Platform(s) | Nintendo DS |
| Release date(s) | The Curious Village JP February 15, 2007 |
| Genre(s) | Puzzle, adventure, interactive novel |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
| Rating(s) | CERO: A ESRB: E (Curious Viilage) ESRB: E10+ (Diabolical Box) PEGI: 3+ |
The Professor Layton series ("Reiton-kyōju series" (レイトン教授シリーズ) is a puzzle video game series for the Nintendo DS, currently consisting of four games. at least two more are due for 2010/2011. The games are developed by Nintendo and Level 5.
Each title is based in a series of puzzles and mysteries given by the citizens of towns that the main characters visit. It is not necessary to solve all the puzzles to progress, but some are mandatory and at certain points in the game a minimum number of puzzles must be solved before the story will continue.
Contents |
[edit] History
Professor Layton was a direct result of Akihiro Hino's childhood love of Akira Tago's popular Mental Gymnastics series of puzzle books, which have sold more than 12 million copies to date in Japan.
[edit] Games
- "Professor Layton and the Curious Village" (レイトン教授と不思議な町) [1] (Episode 4) [2]
- "Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box" (レイトン教授と悪魔の箱) [3] (Episode 5) [2]
- "Professor Layton and the Last Time Travel" (レイトン教授と最後の時間旅行) (Episode 6) [2]
- "Professor Layton and the Spectre's Flute" (レイトン教授と魔神の笛) (Episode 1) [2]
- "Professor Layton and the Mask of Miracles" (レイトン教授と奇跡の仮面)(Episode 2)
There was also a "Friendly Version" for The Curious Village, from which all weekly puzzles are unlocked, as well as the game being slightly easier for those who were troubled previously. For Diabolical Box, the Japan-only "Level-5 Premium Silver/Gold" collections on Nintendo DS included an exclusive side-story, "Professor Layton and the London Holiday" (レイトン教授とロンドンの休日) in addition to the actual game and another Level-5 game, Inazuma Eleven. The Holiday in London includes ten puzzles, some of which are from the first game, and a short storyline, set in Professor Layton's London office, in which he reminisces about his previous adventures around the world.
A new mobile phone Professor Layton game is intended for release around the same time as the fifth game. However it is unknown when the game will be released in North America.
[edit] Gameplay
The game is essentially a collection of puzzles with exploration sections between them. The puzzles take the form of brain teasers and are only loosely tied to the plot, although the player must solve a certain number to progress. A hint system is included, which requires the use of "hint coins", found hidden in the landscape of the game and in limited quantity, to reveal each hint. The player is given ten hint coins at the start of the game.
All puzzles were created for this series by Akira Tago, who is famous for his best-selling Mental Gymnastics series. Curious Village contains 135 puzzles, and Diabolical Box contains 153 puzzles (Plus a special puzzle obtained via the use of codes found in Curious Village).
[edit] Wi-Fi compatibility
All games in this series are compatible with Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, allowing players to connect to the internet and unlock new puzzles every Thursday at noon (UTC-9). In the unlockable puzzles, the player cannot earn any additional picarats, and rather than use the hint coin system, a new hint is provided weekly.
With the use of an appropriate cheat device the extra puzzles can be unlocked early without connecting to Nintendo Wi-Fi.
[edit] Plot
[edit] The Curious Village
[edit] The Diabolical Box
The main story revolves around Professor Layton and his young apprentice Luke travelling to meet Layton's mentor, who has sent them a letter about a mysterious box (this is an allusion to Pandora's Box). Layton's mentor writes that he wishes to have Layton take care of his information if anything were to happen to him. Professor Layton and Luke rush to the mentor's home to find him dead under mysterious circumstances. From there the pair travel to discover the secrets of the "diabolical box". Their only clue is a train ticket with no destination. The game contains 138 puzzles in the main story. However, there are a complete total of 153 puzzles to be unlocked.
[edit] The Last Time Travel
[edit] The Specter's Flute
Announced on March 11, 2009 by Famitsu, it appears to be the first installment in a new trilogy of prequels, set when Luke first became Layton's apprentice. The story starts when the Professor stumbles upon a mysterious fog-enshrouded town, home of the legend of a great giant who menaces the countryside whenever the so-called Specter's Flute is played. The young Luke plays a key role in this legend, and so does Remi Altava—a female colleague of Layton's and a new main character introduced in the game. The game's release is set to be in fall 2009.
[edit] The Mask of Miracles
Announced on November 25, 2009 by Level-5, this will be the fifth game in the Professor Layton series but take place after The Specter's Flute. Professor Layton and Luke follow Jean de Squall to the mysterious Casino City in search of the mask he wears. Casino City was created by the powers of the Mask of Miracles. Layton and Luke must uncover the truth about the Mask of Miracles. The Truth is hidden deep within the Mask.
[edit] Feature film
An animation film, called Professor Layton and the Eternal Diva, is going to be produced by Masakazu Kubo, who is mainly known for producing the Pokémon films. It will be an original story, separate from the game series.[3] It takes place after the events of The Specter's Flute.[2]
On March 2, 2009, Level-5 opened the official Professor Layton and the Eternal Diva website. It contains four commercials about Layton and Luke, in the form of puzzles.
[edit] Manga
Manga intended for child audiences has been serialized since the February 2008 special edition of Bessatsu CoroCoro Comic. The title of this manga is Professor Layton and the Cheerful Mystery (レイトン教授とユカイな事件 Reiton-kyōju to yukai na jiken), covering many mysteries in the story.
[edit] References
- ^ "Level 5's new game's genre is unknown? New style game to train your brain" (in Japanese). Famitsu. http://www.famitsu.com/game/news/1185257_1124.html. Retrieved 2008-01-02.
- ^ a b c d e "レイトン教授映画公式サイト『レイトン教授と永遠の歌姫』" (in Japanese). http://layton-movie.jp/about.html. Retrieved 2008-08-31.
- ^ a b "Layton Kyoju and the Devil's Box becomes a movie quality" (in Japanese). Famitsu. http://www.famitsu.com/game/news/1209751_1124.html. Retrieved 2008-01-02.
[edit] External links
- Professor Layton series official website
- Professor Layton and the Eternal Diva official website (Japanese)
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