Charming
There is no shortage of mini-game collections these days, and while Professor Layton's core game mechanic is solving puzzles, it is far from just another puzzle game.
The game takes place in a little village called St. Mystere, where the town's patriarch has passed away and the famous Professor Layton, along with his side-kick, Luke, must help the townspeople solve the mystery of the man's inheritance. Things aren't what they seem, though, and in no time Layton and Luke are up to their ears in drama and intrigue.
As you search the town for clues, you must solve a myriad of puzzles ranging from simple number games to logic tests that will have your grey matter crying uncle. In addition to the main "campaign" there are several side quests. Completing the side missions grants you rewards like a mechanical puppy that sniffs out hidden treasures.
Although you might expect the puzzles to take centre stage here, the story and its characters have so much charm that you will likely find yourself working out "one more puzzle" just to get to the next leg of the adventure. On the other hand, the game also works well when you just need to kill five or six minutes.
The game also does a great job of using a variety of touch controls to keep things fresh. You will point and click your way through St. Mystere, spell out answers, and draw solutions.
Unfortunately, I can't go into too much more detail without either spoiling the plot or the puzzles but suffice it to say that Professor Layton is a must-have for both puzzle and mystery lovers.
