Few things satisfy like a puzzle solved
I really enjoyed the previous Professor Layton titles- there’s something about the Layton formula that just works in a way that most games could only hope for. Professor Layton and the Unwound Future is an equally fantastic entry to the series, once again combining great characters and storytelling with clever puzzles to produce a charming adventure well worth taking.
Perhaps the defining characteristic of the Professor Layton series thus far is that aforementioned charm, and The Unwound Future is no different. Every aspect of the game is incredibly pleasant, be it the lovely art, the relaxing music, or the wonderful cast of endearing characters. The titular Professor Layton is easily the star of the show, with his ability to remain one step ahead of everyone matched only by his unflinching dedication to being the perfect gentleman. He’s the kind of guy you want to be when you grow up, and The Unwound Future manages to show off a little bit more of his personal side to boot. It proves that there’s some real depth to the series’ recurring cast of characters, making it that much easier to come back for each new entry. The overarching plot of The Unwound Future sees this cast through a fairly touching tale that’s perfectly in line with what you’d expect from the series, while throwing in just enough meaningful twists to give it some lasting impact.
In addition to their unrelenting charm, the Professor Layton games are all about fantastic pacing and a wide variety of satisfying brain teasers. The Unwound Future excels in these departments as well, which goes to show just how strong the overall formula really is. The puzzles are very well designed on the whole, and are inserted at just the right moments to keep things moving at a brisk pace. This produces a game that’s equally enjoyable to play for any amount of time, and the entire package feels super airtight- the quality is there throughout. In fact, if there’s one complaint to be leveled against The Unwound Future, it’s the simple fact that it’s now the third game to follow the same formula. While that formula is very solid, I would personally like to see them experiment a little, and try to take some steps forward. I’m not exactly sure what those steps would be, but the series is starting to lose a little bit of its freshness.
Professor Layton is a series that knows exactly what it is, which is a charming, puzzle-fueled adventure series that refuses to make any compromises on quality. It may not be doing a whole lot more than following its well defined formula at this point, but its a darn good formula that’s easily worth multiple entries, and Professor Layton and the The Unwound Future is as good as any of them.
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