Professor Layton and the Unwound Future
How many of you have a significant other who hates a hobby that you have? Okay, and how many of you try to get them interested in that hobby despite the fact that it is a futile task? If you have answered yes to both of those questions then you are probably in a similar situation to me. My wife really isn’t interested in games…not even a little. In fact, whenever I talk about them, I can see her eyes glazing over and the, “I really don’t care” look become prominent on her face.
This is normally the case, with the exception of one series of games – Professor Layton. Since 2007, the good Professor has been entertaining the masses, and not just the gamers. Everyone wants a piece of the puzzle solving genius. Of course when it came time for the next installment of the series, “Professor Layton and the Unwound Future”, I nearly entered a state of shock when I was asked when we would be getting the game.
So what’s new I hear you ask? The honest answer is, nothing really. There are no major differences to be seen, even although this is the third game in the series. Minor adjustments such as increased number of hint coins (more coins make it easier to unlock the hints for the puzzles and to make the new super hint affordable), the introduction of a super hint (a new type of hint that practically gives you the answer, but this one costs two hint coins as opposed to the traditional one) and more mini games can be seen.
There is of course the inclusion of the “weekly downloadable puzzle”. This would be better of course if you were actually downloading anything, but from what I have read it seems as though you are just unlocking them by being online. Looks as though this is merely a method of checking on the legitimacy of your copy of the game as opposed to adding any genuinely new content.
In the newest adventure, Professor Layton and his sidekick Luke have been given a letter from an interesting source. The letter claims that it is from the future, and so the investigation begins. Factor in a missing Prime Minister and some other mysteries to unravel and you have yourself a new case. As usual in the world of Layton, puzzles seem to be the currency, the conversation and almost the air that they breathe. The familiar sound effects from the previous games make playing the game extra gratifying, and for new comers to the series, you will more than likely develop a Pavlovian response to the jingle played when getting a puzzle correct.
As usual, the story is told through a mixture of puzzles, conversations through text bubbles and the amazingly entertaining cut scenes that make Layton stand out against all competitors. The charming colours and designs, frame a perfectly whimsical story line leaving it difficult to do anything but love every second you are in this world. For those more familiar with the Professors exploits, you will be pleased to know that you get to hear more about Layton’s past; former loves, past tragedy and even the origins of his now iconic hat!
I know I said that there wasn’t much new in this game, but I feel that the new mini games warrant talking about. First of all there is the pet parrot you attain through unlocking it in the game. My wife and I called our parrot, “Percival”. Not really sure of the spelling though – I wasn’t the one to type it in. In this mini game you have to put out platforms for the parrot to jump between while he carries objects to people. The parrot’s jump path is shown via an arching set of circles and the number of jumps you get is shown on screen as well.
In it’s own way it is a puzzle too! Secondly there is a driving mini game that has the player dropping directional tiles onto a square grid. The aim is to have the car reach a destination using all of the tiles. Again adding yet another set of puzzles to the title!For the most part it seems to me that the inclusion of these mini games is more out of trying to increase the longevity of the game as opposed to adding anything extra to the game. Fortunately they are pretty good fun, and so they don’t stand out too much as being tacked on.
The one thing that eats at me while playing is that some of the puzzles just don’t seem to be logical. I am not the smartest person in the world, and I will confess to being delighted at the addition of the super hint, but I have common sense. And sometimes I feel that the puzzles answers lack this. It can be enormously infuriating to think you have the answer to a puzzle only to get it wrong, then unlock all of the hints and continue to answer it wrongly. In these situations the only option seems to be to input all possible answers until you get it right. At which point you are astounded at the outcome and despite having things explained to you in detail on why this is the answer you still don’t get it. This isn’t a new problem though; it seems to me that this is a reoccurring issue that still needs to be looked at. It is also easy to understand that it must be difficult to create all new puzzles and have them seem fresh, but you will find that some of the puzzle types are used ad nauseum.
I am a huge fan of Professor Layton, and as always after completing the latest game at least twice I can’t wait for the next installment. After three games, the series is showing no signs of slowing down and I am yet to feel any sense of fatigue from the game-play or the characters. As far as I am concerned they could release a new title every year with 150 new puzzles and a crazy new adventure for the Professor and Luke to solve, and I would be in line year after year, handing over my hard earned money for another 12 – 14 hours of fun.
It is hard to say exactly what it is that makes Professor Layton so satisfying to play. Is it the colourful characters? The delightfully clever and fun stories? Or is it the fiendish puzzles? My best guess is a mixture of all of the above. After all, what is Professor Layton if not a puzzle game collection wrapped in a creative world and charming characters. That in mind, I still think this game is wonderful fun and I have played through all of the games in the series with my significant other. This is a rare opportunity for us to play a video game together; an idea which is normally met with yawning, followed by the phrase, “Don’t you know me at all!?”
I would heartily recommend anyone to play this. It is a lot of fun for all ages, for gamers and non gamer alike. So go and get your puzzle on with Professor Layton in the mean streets of London, you won’t regret it.
