Love Sunday Nintendo release dates. :)   Anyone picked up Professor Layton today?  I got a few puzzles into it (Puzzle #11), and so far, I'm enjoying it.  The art direction is Level 5 caliber beautiful, and the addition of cutscenes and voice acting -- the latter of which is something I understand wasn't even featured in the Japanese version -- gives the world and its characters a more personable edge.  The music is fairly low-key, but effective; the dreary accordian/vibraphone melodies are quite befitting for the old-fashioned European setting.  The progression of puzzles has been moving along at a brisk pace, and the puzzles themselves are challenging in a nice, lateral thinking way.  The "Hint" system feels reminiscent to Zack & Wiki's, where you use your earned coins to get a little 'outside' help; I admit to having to use all three hints on Puzzle #9's "One Poor Pooch" -- I simply couldn't do it myself. >_<

If the puzzles continue to be as fresh and innovative as they've been, and if the plot keeps up its level of intrigue, then Layton will be an easy recommendation for anyone who digs these brainteaser type of games.

99% sure that the Japanese version is voice acted.

Haven't gotten it, but it's definitely on my list! Looks awesome

cheers,

-avatar!

edit: My list
http://altpop.com/stc/forums/viewtopic. … 654#p29654

You're likely right.  At least the video cutscenes should've had them, otherwise it'd look silly with just their mouths moving without sound.  I'd heard they added voice to certain dialogue sequences, like the opening drive to the village.  Any confirmation on that?

I picked it up and am currently in Chapter 2.  The puzzles are much harder than in Zack & Wiki, especially since they penalize you for trial error in some of them (though, I suppose you could always cheat by resetting).  That said, the only one that's completely stumped me so far is the first downloadable WiFi puzzle.  I like the art, music, story, and voice acting so far, and am looking forward to playing more of it.

Also, I solved the poor pooch puzzle on the first try. ;-)

@Angela: The Japanese version has voice acting during all FMV scenes AND during certain dialogue sequences. It's possible that they added even more for the English version, I dunno cos I haven't played it, but the original had plenty of voice acting in it.

And yes, the Poor Poochy one had me stumped too, but then I friggin HATE matchstick-puzzles. The other ones are much easier though.

Forget Brain Age; this is the new "You're a !@#$ing moron" game. Nothing is more satisfying/frustrating than completing a puzzle and realizing how easy the answer was. Really loving the art, music, and mystery as well.

Exactly what I'm doing ^_^  I'll try a puzzle for 10-20 minutes, but if I don't get it I'll look at the hints and reset to save my hint coints. After all, it's not cheating if they neglected to make the game save after using a hint.

I christened my new wireless router by downloading the puzzle, and so far it's the only one I've had to get the answer for online. Once I saw the answer, of course, I told myself, "I'm a moron."

Some of the puzzles are morbid, aren't they?

I hadn't heard of this game until I got the Sunday paper ads, and I had ignored it until I saw it was bundled with the new Cobalt-n-black DS. From what I've read, the game is a brain-teaser'n game with a mystery story backdrop? Or is it more of a mystery story with brain-teaser elements?

You move through the story, but the brain teasers are definitely the focus since you can't really move more than a few steps without finding the next one.

Not reading anyone else's posts for now ANTI-SPOILER LA LA LA (yes, I know ^_~ )

Anyway...picked up Layton yesterday, but after my success with finishing Phantom Hourglass without hurling my DS to the ground, I had been once again reminded of the wonders of portable gaming and of Zelda. (Nope, haven't started Twilight Princess yet...my non-handheld gaming record is getting more atrocious by the day. ^_~ ) So I'm currently trying my darnedest to finish Oracle of Ages on that damn SP. Since I totally forgot what I was doing my original game, I started a new one. Five essences in, and I'm wondering just HOW I managed to get so far in my first game...

ANYway...I was rather excited about another Hotel Dusk-style game, until I realized only a couple of days ago that Layton comprises mini games that you need to solve to unlock the village's mystery. All I have to say is that if they're ANYTHING as dumb as the mini games in Ages, I'm selling Layton IMMEDIATELY.

Penny Arcade's take on the game:

http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2008/02/13

Pretty predictable joke, but still lol'd at the off-characterisation of the prof and the slang. Calling the puzzles "f---ing math homework" doesn't do it justice though.

I have no experience with the game outside of this thread, but "I haff tvelve metchsteek" had me in stitches.

Damn, that's good stuff.  So accurate, too.

I just barely dipped my feet into the 5th puzzle...and so far, so good. These are the types of games that I had in mind when the DS came out...fun, brain teaser adventure games. The old world aesthetics are pleasant, too.

Anyone know how long the game is?

I've heard the range is about 120 to 130 puzzles.  Depending on your deductive and reasoning skills, of course (and if you choose to go the 'reset to save hint coins' route), the in-game clock can vary greatly.

Myself, I've tried my best to not reset, though I am guilty of doing it a couple of times.  I've got 53 puzzles found, 41 of them solved, and the in-game clock is stating three hours and forty seven minutes.

Okay, is puzzle 5 the clock one?  I have a bone to pick with it.  If the clock is as such:  00:00, then you have way more than 34 answers. At least, it was the way I saw it.

01:00
01:11
02:00
02:22
03:00
03:33
04:00
04:44
05:00
05:55
06:00
07:00
08:00
09:00
10:00
10:11
11:01
11:10
11:11
11:12
11:13
11:14
11:15
11:16
11:17
11:18
11:19

So the total would be 54.  Not 34.  Right?

The directions state three or more of the same number in a row.

There are 135 puzzles, not counting the WiFi ones. Out of the 120 main puzzles, only one (#67 I think) gave me a really hard time, even with the hints. I smacked myself in the forehead when I realized what the answer was.

There are 15 "bonus puzzles" that you can unlock. The first 12 ranged from easy to moderately difficult, but I fully admit to getting the answers for the last three online because, quite frankly, my brain hurt by that point. I spent at least an hour and a half trying to figure out the last puzzle alone >_< Spoiler: I swear there was a similar puzzle that I finished on my own in Lufia II, but I just couldn't get this one. End spoiler.

Must have missed that little tidbit of info.  I feel somewhat better, but worse because I apparently can not read directions clearly.  Thanks anyways.

Finally started it yesterday and now I'm something like 35 puzzles in, at least number-wise if not necessarily in terms of actual puzzles I've found (I saw in my list that I missed a few puzzles here and there). And I think I've already hit the point where I can fully appreciate the PA comic. Not because the townspeople have THAT strong accents, but because I'm already saying "SCREW YOU!!" to anyone who forces me to solve a puzzle before they'll give me any information. Aside from the fact that that's the whole premise of the game. ^_~

The PA comic was funny, but 2P Start's comic better represents the game:
http://www.2pstart.com/2008/02/20/profe … t-top-hat/

Has anyone tried the second Wi-Fi puzzle yet? It was disappointingly easy, but I guess it makes up for the impossibly hard first puzzle.

Yeah, it does.  I had to look up the answer for the first wifi one online (the only puzzle in the game I've had to do that with so far), but the second wifi one I did in no time.  It was refreshing.

As for the regular game, I'm in Chapter 3 with about 40 puzzles complete and I'm in total agreement with the Penny Arcade comic.  This game IS freaking math homework.  It's too bad the characters and music are so charming, because if they weren't, I would've tossed this game in the pile by now.

Okay, now THAT was just too cute.  ^_^

Are we talking about the same first puzzle? The matchstick-moving one for 2/17? I thought that one was easy, I solved that one in no time. Same for the "treasure chests" puzzle.

And I finished the game just last night. The story was....not really what I expected. Reminds me of FF10 when you hit that key point that explains what Tidus is. I wanted to slap my head in disgust. Aside from that, the game was pretty good, though there are a few puzzles I have yet to solve (darn "chocolate code"...).

Got a shot at my sister's copy and spent quite a bit of the day playing it. I've got 35 out-of-sequence puzzles under my belt, and I'm enjoying it pretty well, even though I don't think I'd enjoy it quite as much if I'd paid for a copy of my own.

Thing is, I'm in love with the puzzles (well, maybe not the slide puzzles), and the art style is lovely, but the rest of the package is...a bit irritating, actually. The story itself is a bit bland, everyone besides Layton comes off as a moron or a jerk, and the soundtrack gets old mighty fast. Still, the puzzles make up for a lot. Only what, 90 or so to go?

P.S. Does anybody else hear Layton's voice as Raiden faking a British accent?

Ya know what? I don't know about the English version, but in the Japanese version I actually couldn't stand Layton himself.
Cocky little prick.
His constant hammering on the fact that he's an English Gentleman got on my nerves REAL fast.

I just discovered this site and i don't know if i can ask for... HEEEELP!! I'm looking for puzzle #120... i've looking for it for hours. Once i've found it i'll be done with all the puzzles available in the game so far!

Try going to Gamefaqs:
http://www.gamefaqs.com/portable/ds/game/936050.html

Somebody posted a FAQ dedicated to puzzle solutions.

Thank goodness for the FAQ's, there was no way I was ever going to get all the solutions for the slide puzzle ones by myself, same for the one about separating up the properties with the houses and wells.  The weekly downloads have been rather weak though (except for the matchstick one - that one I had to look up.)

I picked this game recently and I must say this is my top 5 of favorite ds games of all time.
charming with its unique style, fantastic soundtrack(never gets on your nerves), I cannot wait for the sequel that has been already released in japan.
I solved all 135 puzzles and it took me bit over 23 hours so it's a definitely lengthy adventure.
even though it's not your regular point & click adventure games, it made me realize how much I miss those.
bring the monkey island/grim fandango games to the ds ^^ !

At last, confirmation that the Professor Layton sequels are on their way over:

http://blog.wired.com/games/2009/03/lay … ch-cl.html

Level-5's Akihiro Hino states that the second game in the series, "Professor Layton and the Pandora's Box" (now renamed "Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box"), is currently being worked on in localization, and is being targeted for a release in six months.  Huzzah!

I'm eagerly anticipating this one.  The first was great to pass the time when I was on vacation relaxing.  Although some of the puzzles really infuriated me heh, almost made me throw the DS across the room.  I haven't plugged the first in for quite some time - having the downloadable puzzles available to play after the game was finished kinda lost its flair as I moved on to other things because I knew I was finished and they weren't going to really contribute to anything.  But they better provide the answer to that one question where you'll need something from the second game's manual (I think that's how it went).

From what I understand, it's a set-random password, i.e. one that should theoretically only work on the first system its put into or somesuch, like how you redeem promotional codes for DLC.
Anyway, this news made my sister happy, as did the new DS Zelda (she loved Hourglass to bits) and Capcom's registering of Ace Attorney: Investigations recently (likely Gyakuten Kenji). She's a BIG fan of such games, and Time Hollow ain't quite cutting it for her.

Best news of the day! Took them a long time though... would've liked to get some Layton love this summer