When I first played Professor Layton and the Curious Village (7.5/10) for Nintendo DS in 2008, I didn't exactly 'get' it: the puzzles weren't well intergrated in the exploration-based game-play; the plot was average at best and there wasn't enough voice acting to make it substantial enough to stand out from the crowd on the handheld. Two years on, and my, things have changed. The aformentioned crowd that once consisted of hits like Mario Kart DS, New Super Mario Bros and Zelda: Spirit Tracks is long behind the console, and the DS is fledging for final titles now as its successor the Nintendo 3DS (out in March) looms over it. Never mind that, however, as even if there were some excellent DS games out this year I have full confidence that Professor Layton and the Lost Future would have trumped the lot. It's rare that I come close to tears at a video game plot, but The Lost Future's storyline is utterly compelling, shocking and most of all moving to the very last, a heavy departure from the bog-standard tales of the original. This time, Layton and his apprentice Luke find themselves on the trail of a letter sent from ten years in the future in the midst of the disappearance of several scientists in London- but not all is as it seems, and though I won't spoil some of the final twists, sufficed to say that they remain some of the best I have witnessed alongside those in books and films! It would all mean nothing if the puzzles were once again jarring with the main narrative, yet Nintendo have managed to intricately craft flowing dilemmas that stop Layton and Luke from moving forward in the story until they have solved them. This approach feels far more satisfying, less at odds than before and so making The Lost Future the single best DS game I have ever played. Seemingly minor areas like the soundtrack and visuals are also handled beautifully, the latter presented through amazing hand drawn cut-scenes which wouldn't feel out of place in a Japanese animé flick (that's a true compliment), such that this sequel is a massive advancement on its predecessors, bringing all its elements together to form a must-have game that's challenging, emotional and thrilling at every moment!
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Tuesday, 4 January 2011
Professor Layton & The Lost Future Review (10/10)
When I first played Professor Layton and the Curious Village (7.5/10) for Nintendo DS in 2008, I didn't exactly 'get' it: the puzzles weren't well intergrated in the exploration-based game-play; the plot was average at best and there wasn't enough voice acting to make it substantial enough to stand out from the crowd on the handheld. Two years on, and my, things have changed. The aformentioned crowd that once consisted of hits like Mario Kart DS, New Super Mario Bros and Zelda: Spirit Tracks is long behind the console, and the DS is fledging for final titles now as its successor the Nintendo 3DS (out in March) looms over it. Never mind that, however, as even if there were some excellent DS games out this year I have full confidence that Professor Layton and the Lost Future would have trumped the lot. It's rare that I come close to tears at a video game plot, but The Lost Future's storyline is utterly compelling, shocking and most of all moving to the very last, a heavy departure from the bog-standard tales of the original. This time, Layton and his apprentice Luke find themselves on the trail of a letter sent from ten years in the future in the midst of the disappearance of several scientists in London- but not all is as it seems, and though I won't spoil some of the final twists, sufficed to say that they remain some of the best I have witnessed alongside those in books and films! It would all mean nothing if the puzzles were once again jarring with the main narrative, yet Nintendo have managed to intricately craft flowing dilemmas that stop Layton and Luke from moving forward in the story until they have solved them. This approach feels far more satisfying, less at odds than before and so making The Lost Future the single best DS game I have ever played. Seemingly minor areas like the soundtrack and visuals are also handled beautifully, the latter presented through amazing hand drawn cut-scenes which wouldn't feel out of place in a Japanese animé flick (that's a true compliment), such that this sequel is a massive advancement on its predecessors, bringing all its elements together to form a must-have game that's challenging, emotional and thrilling at every moment!
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