Professor Layton

[Nephlabobo]

Anyone else looking forward to this?

It's like a Studio Ghibli game for the DS.

Not been a huge DS fan so far, but games like Hotel Dusk and this are winning me over.

http://www.gametrailers.com/player/19831.html

[boyward]

That video was too choppy and slow downloading for me to really enjoy it (all the Gametrailers videos do that to me), but yes, just based on the fact that it's a graphic adventure I'm interested in Professor Layton.

[Aberforth]

Heck yeah I am, Level 5 is fricken awesome!

[banpeikun]

oh i thought maybe it was a professor from pokemon

[Cream]

I heard about this game a while back and I'm MEGA EXCITED! :D

[Rocko]

Bump. It's almost upon us. Anyone picking this one up?

[laaj]

That video was too choppy and slow downloading for me to really enjoy it (all the Gametrailers videos do that to me), but yes, just based on the fact that it's a graphic adventure I'm interested in Professor Layton.

It could be your slow computer. My 5 year old PC does that for me while newer one has no problems.

[laaj]

Bump. It's almost upon us. Anyone picking this one up?

Is on my watchlist. Waiting to read some reviews on it before deciding...

[DarkKnightCecil]

I'll definately be picking it up, the art style is AMAZING and it looks like a very fun adventure.

Hopefully, it sells well enough for Nintendo to localize Pandora's Box and the third one (I can't remember it's name, it's something to do with time traveling)

[rynomite]

I'm for sure getting this one on release day. Looks like a ton of fun.

[pete5883]

Bump. It's almost upon us. Anyone picking this one up?
Most definitely.

[botticus]

Yep, debated a little while between this and Advance Wars, just wishing there were some kind of deal on it release week.

[Tricky]

I am getting this with one of the gift cards that I got for christmas.

[meerkatgamer]

This and the Apollo Justice game are games on my want to buy list I can't wait.

[Rocko]

I didn't know what this game was (and for the longest time thought it was that professor with the green head and mustache), but once I found out I was very interested. Sadly, I can't justify a $35 purchase if it isn't Pokemon, so I'm going to wait for some sort of deal.

[pete5883]

Only Gamestop is jacking it up to $35, AFAIK. More reasonable (read: every other) retailers have it for $30. I will probably use my free $10 from walmart.com to get it.

[Strell]

Only Gamestop is jacking it up to $35, AFAIK. More reasonable (read: every other) retailers have it for $30. I will probably use my free $10 from walmart.com to get it.

A sound plan.

The master list of DS adventure games thread needs to be bumped up in preparation for this, as I did to it a few weeks ago.

Can't get enough of this genre, and the DS is an excellent place for them to be.

[keithp]

Is on my watchlist. Waiting to read some reviews on it before deciding...

Same here. I'm glad there's no deal on it yet, makes it easier to wait.

[rodeojones903]

I will be buying it, but its not my most anticipated atm. I wish FFIV would get an official announcement and date. :D

[botticus]

Only Gamestop is jacking it up to $35, AFAIK. More reasonable (read: every other) retailers have it for $30. I will probably use my free $10 from walmart.com to get it.Good call, might as well use that $10. Hopefully it's available for site-to-store once it's released.

[Rocko]

Ah, I see. I may consider it then if that's only Gamestop's price.

[defiance_17]

Unless the reviews are terrible (which is very doubtful), I'll be grabbing this as soon as possible. Games like this are perfect to play for a half an hour before I go to sleep.

[Strell]

I saw this advertised in a Walmart.

I laughed. Oh how I laughed.

[mkg12]

Just watched a couple of trailers and concluded that this game just might be-hopefully- awesome.

[SpottedNigel]

The music sounds incredible

[keithp]

Woo-hoo! New RZ certificates came in the mail today. I think I'll use them and get this on the 10th.

[Over easy]

Stumble upon an early review of the game.

http://videogames.yahoo.com/ds/professor-layton-and-the-curious-village/review-1184143

The game is looking good.

[Warner1281]

This is the first I hear of it, but it's definitely peaked my interest. Might have to pick this one up.

[SpazX]

Looks good, I'll probably get it, but not anytime soon, way too many damn games to play...

[botticus]

Walmart apparently has this already (available online, but I'm waiting for site-to-store to pop up) - RMC at GoNintendo bought it yesterday in store.

[chair_home]

I'm buying it at Best Buy today, my friend who works there confirmed its in stock.

[deekayex]

Already pre-ordered this along with Apollo Justice.

[xeno]

gona check my bestbuy to see if this game is instock after class..which end in 40 mintues...

[Lawyers Guns N Money]

It got like 8.5's and 9.0's in the (free) EGM I just got in the mail today....

[chair_home]

It got like 8.5's and 9.0's in the (free) EGM I just got in the mail today....

I have the same issue and they didn't review it (its in the section in the back of games that they didn't have time to review). Either you're lying or you're thinking of another mag.

In purchasing news, it is available at some Best Buys, you just have to call or check it out. Despite my Best Buy having copies in the back, they wouldn't sell it to me because they think it has a hard street date of Sunday. I might check back when another employee is working, or check another location, but people have been buying this game at other Best Buys since Wednesday.

[Lawyers Guns N Money]

I have the same issue and they didn't review it (its in the section in the back of games that they didn't have time to review). Either you're lying or you're thinking of another mag.

In purchasing news, it is available at some Best Buys, you just have to call or check it out. Despite my Best Buy having copies in the back, they wouldn't sell it to me because they think it has a hard street date of Sunday. I might check back when another employee is working, or check another location, but people have been buying this game at other Best Buys since Wednesday.
I got this crossed up with Patapon (another game I want). I just glanced at it during my lunch, and got my wires crossed. :oops:

Anyhow, they had them in the case at my local Wal-Mart last night, along with the new Cobalt/Black DS, I tried to buy them but they wouldn't even ring up....

[chair_home]

I got this crossed up with Patapon (another game I want). I just glanced at it during my lunch, and got my wires crossed. :oops:

Anyhow, they had them in the case at my local Wal-Mart last night, along with the new Cobalt/Black DS, I tried to buy them but they wouldn't even ring up....

Its cool, no big deal. I'm sure it'll score pretty high, too.

So, I called two other best buys, both said they had it in stock. Went to one, said they'd check in the back, but came back saying they couldn't sell till sunday. I guess its really ymmv if you'll be able to get this before sunday.

[mickeyp]

Woo-hoo! New RZ certificates came in the mail today. I think I'll use them and get this on the 10th.
Email or snail mail. I got mine on website and they printed funny.

[keithp]

Email or snail mail. I got mine on website and they printed funny.

Snail. I keep meaning to sign up online but haven't yet.

SO, first impressions from anyone that got the game early? Anyone??

[munch]

I thought this game was out? I've yet to see it in a store. When is the official release date?

[meerkatgamer]

The release date is the 10th, but I guess some people found stores who put it out early.

[botticus]

Best Buys and Walmarts have it (not necessarily on the shelf for sale). I'm going to head out to a couple stores today to see if I can get it - want to PM CC's 20% off.

[Sockey]

I saw this on the shelf when I went to CC today to get DMC4. I tried to buy it, but they said that they couldn't sell it to me until the release date. And I was so excited when I saw that lone copy... oh well.

[botticus]

Depressing time trying to get the game early and 20% off. Both Best Buys I went to didn't seem to have it, while Walmart did have it, but their POS blocks games before their streetdate.

[gizmo29]

Picked up my copy yesterday from blockbuster, its actually quite fun + challenging. As usual Level 5 always puts high quality into their production and visuals (e.g. Jeanne D'arc)

[botticus]

Picked up my copy yesterday from blockbuster, its actually quite fun + challenging. As usual Level 5 always puts high quality into their production and visuals (e.g. Jeanne D'arc)
Blockbuster is selling this?

[pete5883]

I ordered it online from Walmart.com on Thursday, got it in the mail today. With $2 shipping.

[laaj]

Picked up my copy yesterday from blockbuster, its actually quite fun + challenging. As usual Level 5 always puts high quality into their production and visuals (e.g. Jeanne D'arc)

How is the story? Level 5 games have never been known for good stories. Is it just a collection of puzzles with very thin story?

[gizmo29]

Yeah, you definitely nailed it. It's just a bunch of puzzles that are carried through by a thin story. I have only played an hour, but so far the story is secondary to the puzzles. I actually remember some of the puzzles in the game from high school math text books, lol


How is the story? Level 5 games have never been known for good stories. Is it just a collection of puzzles with very thin story?

[lawlflip]

I'm in love with this game.

The story is definitely passable though.

[Doomed]

Played only four puzzles and it's exactly my kind of game. It looks like Phoenix Wright beat out this in character development and probably story, but I'm loving the atmosphere and anime cutscenes that don't make me want to barf. It looks like the game is focused on the puzzles rather than story because I've encountered four on the way to the first location you need to go to. Never played hotel dusk beyond the demo on the DS download station, but this looks better.

So far the puzzles are like brain teasers, but I'd imagine they get more complex. Wifi emblem on the box, what is it for?

[pygmy carnotaur]

Wifi is for downloadable content, just like the extra downloadable puzzles Nintendo's been doing for Picross DS. It says right on the back of the box for Layton that they'll be adding new downloadable puzzles through wifi every week.

[pete5883]

I <3 <3 <3 this game. There's already a downloadable puzzle up but I have no idea how to solve it.

[chair_home]

It took me forever to figure out that downloadable puzzle. I'm kind of mad at myself, because that's an old problem my dad gave us a long time ago to figure out, and my younger brother remembered it and finished it right away. I accidentally saw his answer and ruined it for myself. But, yeah, it was hard... just remember you can rotate the matches.

[DarkKnightCecil]

Just beat the game, LOVED IT!

[Khalid]

Just beat the game, LOVED IT!

That was fast! I did a couple of puzzle and I really enjoy the game so far.

[62t]

Just beat the game, LOVED IT!

how long did that took you

[Lawyers Guns N Money]

Ok, so...

My local Wal-Mart had them out on Thursday (the 7th) and the computer wouldn't let them sell them. I went in at Midnight on Sunday to get the Cobalt DS and this game, and now they can't seem to find what they did with the games after they pulled them out of the case... :roll: :applause:

[DarkKnightCecil]

how long did that took you
About 11 and a half hours to beat the game with 95(?) puzzles.

I'm going back to beat all 120 puzzles right now.

[Fragonard]

Man, I REALLY want this game, wish I had the money right now to buy it .

[DarkKnightCecil]

Just beat all 120 puzzles in the main game (haven't done the rooms yet), finished the Gizmo, made the rooms perfect, and put the painting together.

If anyone has any questions, feel free to ask.

[keithp]

According to IGN the follow-up is already on the way to North America for release, and there's some sort of 'link" in the Curious Village to the future sequel.

http://ds.ign.com/articles/851/851314p1.html

Professor Layton Sequel Forthcoming?
This week's game release is wide-open for a follow-up.
by Craig Harris


February 11, 2008 - Professor Layton and the Curious Village, as of this writing, has just been released to stores, and there's already buzz on a sequel on the way.

Keen-eye Chris Kohler of the Gamelife blog notes that, in the final retail build sent out to reviewers late last week, it's mentioned in the instruction manual that there will be some sort of link from Curious Village to a future sequel.

According to the manual:

"There's even a surprise feature that involves the sequel to Professor Layton and the Curious Village!"

Professor Layton is already in three volumes in Japan. The follow-up to Curious Village in Japan is Professor Layton and the Devil's Box, and this mention in the Curious Village manual all but confirms the next game is on the way in the US.

[DarkKnightCecil]

In the game, in the "Bonus" section there is a thing that says Hidden Door. You have to type in a password into it. The game says the password comes from the sequel.

[Lawyers Guns N Money]

I found an online demo (one puzzle) of the game:

http://professorlaytonds.com/

[DarkKnightCecil]

Just beat the last of the extra 15 puzzles.
So this game is complete for me now(the secret door and WFC don't count).

[Snake2715]

I cant buy this until I beat some of the games I have.... thats motivation for sure. I think the only game I am going to break that rule for is SSMB.

[RollingSkull]

Just about every puzzle I beat now causes me to facepalm because they all revolve around some stupid trick.

[Jayayess1190]

Just bought this, can't wait to play it.

[pygmy carnotaur]

I just beat the game, took me just over 10 hours. I'm not done though as I only finished 100/120 puzzles(and some of those ones that are left are going to have me thinking for awhile).

Anyone else having trouble downloading puzzles with this? I can't get it to work. The connection tests just fine, and I've never had problems downloading puzzles on Picross.

[DarkKnightCecil]

It seems quite an amount of Prof. layton's are doing that.
However, mine is doing fine.

Also, in total there are 135 puzzles, you get an additional 12 from completeing the game, completing the Gizmo, making the rooms completely suitable to both heroes, and recreating the painting. After you solve those 12, you get 3 more.

[pete5883]

I'm in Chapter 4 or so and I'm starting to use hint coins a lot more readily than I used to. Maybe I should stop.

[Keiotic]

Just about every puzzle I beat now causes me to facepalm because they all revolve around some stupid trick.

They really are. I'm having to break out the Hori DS stand for this, since some of the puzzles take so long for me to solve that both my arms would get tired from holding the DS, before I even get the right answer.

[soonersfan60]

I really want to get this game. (I'd love to trade for a used copy if someone is done with it or tired of it. Please PM me.)

[eugaet]

Anyone having problems downloading the weekly bonus puzzles? I can connect, but the download progress bar gets to 75% or so and then dumps me back to the bonus menu. I don't have a problem connecting to WFC on other DS (or Wii) games.

[bjkrautk]

Anyone having problems downloading the weekly bonus puzzles? I can connect, but the download progress bar gets to 75% or so and then dumps me back to the bonus menu. I don't have a problem connecting to WFC on other DS (or Wii) games.


Same problem. (FWIW, I know there are a number of threads on the gamefaqs boards complaining about this issue as well.)

[Jayayess1190]

I am bad at this game. I am already stuck at puzzle #6! :cry::shock:

Looked on gamefaqs and got the answer.

[StinkyCheese]

I'm stuck between liking and not-liking this game. I want to like it- but it just doesent seem interesting

[pete5883]

I am bad at this game. I am already stuck at puzzle #6! :cry::shock:

Looked on gamefaqs and got the answer.

You don't use the in-game hints?

[eugaet]

Same problem. (FWIW, I know there are a number of threads on the gamefaqs boards complaining about this issue as well.)Glad to know I'm not the only one. I checked the threads on GameFAQs...someone said a Nintendo CSR told them it was a problem w/ the puzzle and are working to get it fixed.

[SpottedNigel]

Do you get to keep the downloaded puzzles on the cart, or are they like demo station content?

[banpeikun]

I checked the threads on GameFAQs...someone said a Nintendo CSR told them it was a problem w/ the puzzle and are working to get it fixed.there are so many red flags signalling questionable veracity going up when i read this.

[Lawyers Guns N Money]

Check out the Penny Arcade comic today.... :D

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

[keithp]

Picking this up today. Can't wait to get my brain busted!

Check out the Penny Arcade comic today.... :D

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

:rofl:

[judyjudyjudy]

I think I'm picking this up today as well. I was going to wait for a deal, but I've been desperately looking for something to pull me away from NY Times Crosswords (that game makes me feel so dumb and unproductive).

[rodeojones903]

Still waiting on mine to get here from estarland, but its a shame to hear the DLC is broken. I hope they get it fixed quick.

[keithp]

I think I'm picking this up today as well. I was going to wait for a deal, but I've been desperately looking for something to pull me away from NY Times Crosswords (that game makes me feel so dumb and unproductive).

If you get it from Best Buy don't forget the 10% off coupon!

[Jayayess1190]

You don't use the in-game hints?

I did, now I have completed 22 puzzles.

[guinaevere]

Check out the Penny Arcade comic today.... :D

http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2008/02/13That was hilarious, thanks for the link (haven't been to PA in years).

I'm enjoying it so far (a friend at noa sent me a copy) and the puzzles are good. The intro reminded me of My Neighor Totoro (only the style and the fact that the old car was driving along through the fields) and that put me in a happy mood right off the bat.

I was hoping for the puzzles having a more direct corrolation to the story, but it is what it is.


What's everyone's favorite/least favorite puzzle so far?

I forget which puzzle I really enjoyed, but I did not like the 8-pointed black dot/red dot puzzle. I made a little 8-pointed with a red dot on one side and the black dot on the other and it didn't give me the answer the game wanted.

[pete5883]

Do you get to keep the downloaded puzzles on the cart, or are they like demo station content?
They stay on the cart.

Finished this last night. I cheated like crazy on the last puzzle, and some of the bonus puzzles.

[eugaet]

I'm taking my time. I believe I'm on chapter 3 w/ about 40 puzzles solved so far (no hints...trying to see how far I get w/o hints...either I complete the game w/o hints...or I don't finish it...yeah, I'm hella stubborn).

Still no access to the DLC, though. :(

[Strell]

Started this....roughly 2 hours ago.

Oh mein gott.

This is one of the most charming games I have ever played in my entire life. And coming from an increasingly jaded gamer, that's something to revel in. I just have this huge smile on my face the entire time.

Let me put it this way. I'd understand if someone didn't like the game.

But I'd challenge the existence of their soul.

Edit: Yes, Miss Gwen. I like games with nice protagonists, too. Since you probably thought I didn't. Jerk.

[bjkrautk]

Somehow, the stars aligned properly for me last night, and I was actually able to get the DLC. I had been trying every day since Sunday.

(It took me longer to get the puzzle than to complete it.)

Still really enjoying the game, but I'm afraid I'm going to finish it inside of a week.

[eugaet]

I was able to download the weekly puzzle last night as well, first try. Maybe they got the issue resolved? Anyway, yeah...spent 5 days trying to download it, 15 minutes to solve. In my defense, I've only been playing this game at the end of the day after 8+ hours of work and then another 6-7 hours of whatever else the day throws at me, so my brain is pretty dead at that point...otherwise, I probably would have solved it faster. ;)

[SpottedNigel]

The more I play, the funnier that PA comic gets.
2 Hours in and loving it... the music is great.

[judyjudyjudy]

If you get it from Best Buy don't forget the 10% off coupon!I didn't, but my fiance did. Since he was free for the day, I sent him to go get it with a Best Buy gift card I had, and even though I sent him the link, he was too lazy to print it out. (He's clearly not a cheap ass like me.) That boy drives me insane; I made sure to nag him about it for 10 minutes :P


The intro reminded me of My Neighor Totoro (only the style and the fact that the old car was driving along through the fields) and that put me in a happy mood right off the bat. The style does remind me a bit of Studio Ghibli. It's very... quaint. I'm impressed with the presentation, and the voice acting is great.

I'm around 13 puzzles in, but I'm playing with my fiance (not by choice). It's a good bedtime play-until-I-pass-out game so far. We got all the puzzles correct so far, but we messed around a lot with the one with the weights (puzzle 6?) so I think I lost a bunch of points with that one. I'm surprised it doesn't change the lightest weight with each reset.

[deekayex]

What a great game this is. Ranks up there with Hotel Dusk.

[eugaet]

It's a good bedtime play-until-I-pass-out game so far.Heh, that's exactly how I'm playing it. :)

[Zero3]

I've been breathing Professor Layton and the Curious Village for the whole week. I'm about 102 puzzles in and I'm itching to get off work to play.

I do wonder about the secret door, as noted on the last page of the instruction book.

[Over easy]

Argh. I went to Walmart today looking to pick it up, but they're selling it for $35. It's probably only that store.

[Tybee]

Was going to make myself finish Trials & Tribulations first, but caved and got this at Best Buy today with a (well-timed) $5 Reward Zone cert. and (well-timed) 10% off coupon for $23 out the door. All of the great word of mouth has me so excited to play this. Somehow it's exactly what I'm looking for at this moment.

[keithp]

Bah, been way too busy from work to go get it yet.. :cry:

It's a good bedtime play-until-I-pass-out game so far.

Exactly how I plan to play, if I can get my non-gaming S.O. interested.

Was going to make myself finish Trials & Tribulations first, but caved and got this at Best Buy today with a (well-timed) $5 Reward Zone cert. and (well-timed) 10% off coupon for $23 out the door. All of the great word of mouth has me so excited to play this. Somehow it's exactly what I'm looking for at this moment.

Yep, that's what I plan on doing.

[vgossain]

Does the game support multiple saves? I want to get this game and I think my wife will like it as well, but I'll probably play more than she does. It would be great if she had her own save game so she could still see the story play out as she plays the game.

[mkg12]

Does the game support multiple saves? I want to get this game and I think my wife will like it as well, but I'll probably play more than she does. It would be great if she had her own save game so she could still see the story play out as she plays the game.

Yes, the game allows for 3 save files.

[terpkristin]

I bought this game last Sunday (when it came out) and today I finished it, more or less. I found all the puzzles in the main game (not including Layton's challenges under the bonus section). I solved all but 1 of them (i.e. 119 of 120 finished). I think I had something like 108 solved of 110 by the time I got to the end of the game, then went back and found the others and solved them. The only one I didn't finish was 107, a sliding picture puzzle. Those are the bane of my puzzle solving, really.

I really enjoyed the story in this game. Some of the puzzles really did feel more tedious than fun, but all in all, it wasn't bad. I imagine that at some point I'll try to figure out that last puzzle and finish all the bonus puzzles, but for now, I feel pretty done with Layton until the 2nd one comes out...

/tk

[Backlash]

Got this for Valentine's Day (yes my wife rocks) and started playing it Friday night. I can't put it down. I love it. So far I'm about 60-odd puzzles in, plus 7 or 8 hidden puzzles that I've found.

The puzzles aren't too too easy (mostly) but they're also not so hard that they're frustrating. There's only been one so far I haven't solved, and that's just cause I don't want to do the math (the multiplying mice puzzle).

[keithp]

Finally picked this up today. Cost $23 after coupons. So far it's working great to get my girlfriend into some gaming! :D

[eugaet]

There's only been one so far I haven't solved, and that's just cause I don't want to do the math (the multiplying mice puzzle).If it's the puzzle I'm thinking of (surely there's only one multiplying mice puzzle?...I'm only 50 puzzles in so far)...boy, won't you feel silly.

[Sockey]

If it's the puzzle I'm thinking of (surely there's only one multiplying mice puzzle?...I'm only 50 puzzles in so far)...boy, won't you feel silly.

ugh... I got out scratch paper and did that entire thing before I realized what the answer was.

[botticus]

Picked it up yesterday and I'm enjoying it so far, about 20 puzzles in on the second chapter.

[terpkristin]

ugh... I got out scratch paper and did that entire thing before I realized what the answer was.

Don't feel bad, this is what I did... I wondered how I could figure out how many girl mice and boy mice there were in each litter....until I realized that with 1, it was a moot point. Damn did I feel stupid

/tk

[Snake2715]

Finally picked this up today. Cost $23 after coupons. So far it's working great to get my girlfriend into some gaming! :D

Like reward zone or some other coupons?

[guessed]

Finally picked this up today. Cost $23 after coupons. So far it's working great to get my girlfriend into some gaming! :D

Where did you get it, and what coupons did you use? I'm planning to pick it up today from Best Buy with a 10% off coupon, but I'd like to get it cheaper if possible.

Edit: NVM, just saw your previous post. 10% off coupon and $5 reward zone cert. Oh well.

[botticus]

Like reward zone or some other coupons?
10% email coupon floating around. I used that with $10 in RZ certs and $13.31 in store credit for a balance of exactly $5.00.

[Strell]

I <3 this game so much.

Sadly it looks like I am almost to the end. :(

[bjkrautk]

I <3 this game so much.

Sadly it looks like I am almost to the end. :(

Same here. My only real gripe had been the number of algebra word problems disguised as puzzles, but those have really dropped off over the second half of the game.

(Not sure how I really feel about saying 'half' for a game that I'll beat in less than 20 hours, but you get the idea.)


Now, I'm most curious about how the downloadable puzzles are going to work. If I go 3 months without touching the game....will I be able to d/l 3 months worth of puzzles, or can it only store something like 5-6 at a time?

[Vegan]

Now, I'm most curious about how the downloadable puzzles are going to work. If I go 3 months without touching the game....will I be able to d/l 3 months worth of puzzles, or can it only store something like 5-6 at a time?

I'm not sure how many you can store or how long they'll keep puzzles available, but the manual states that the first time you connect you'll download all available puzzles. Yes, it states "the first time you connect" so I don't know if that applies to EVERY time you connect.

[Strell]

Question/slight annoyance:

When you're climbing the tower and going through all the doors, the ...oh I guess it's the seventh one. It shows a pegboard and asks you to make seven squares, but can only use each peg once.

DO NOT GIVE ME HINTS.

All I wanted to complain about was that the square-detection/conditions for victory sort of annoy me. Cuz I found a way to make seven using overlap. I.e., I had these two big squares, and their corners overlapped each other, forming a third square. In my mind, that counts, but the game didn't count it. So now I've got to look for a way to do it where I'm making all the squares, but I think that shows more creativity on my own part than the game's.

There's been a few other puzzles where my thinking leads me to believe that I've got the correct solution (and I'm not talking about the trick questions or anything), but the game isn't seeing something the way I am. This isn't one of those situations where I thought I was right, it's one where I could easily prove something satisfies the conditions of the puzzle, but the game just isn't built to recognize it.

Dunno if anyone else agrees. Game is still fantastic. This is one of the best games for the DS, easily.

[VanillaGorilla]

Not surprised this game rocks, Level 5 is now one of the premiere Japanese developers in gaming right now.

[meerkatgamer]

I bought this on sunday and I've been having alot of fun with this game and the puzzles are very good so far only the mouse one gave me a bit of trouble till I read it better.. :lol:

The animation and voices are very nice I really like the feel of the game the tower reminds me of spirited away or something.

[pete5883]

There's been a few other puzzles where my thinking leads me to believe that I've got the correct solution (and I'm not talking about the trick questions or anything), but the game isn't seeing something the way I am. This isn't one of those situations where I thought I was right, it's one where I could easily prove something satisfies the conditions of the puzzle, but the game just isn't built to recognize it.
Examples?

[fart_bubble]

don't know if this is a glitch or something but I found a way that if you happen to fail a puzzle the first time, it doesn't subtract points from how much the puzzle is worth. In the screen where it subtracts points from the total worth, tap the button really quick and it skips it.

Puzzle 6 (the one with the clock) kicked my ass so many times :bomb:

[Strell]

Examples?

Can't think of 'em off hand. After you do 100+, you start to forget. I'll try to cycle through and see what I was referring to.

[sayHey]

this game is pretty awesome, i'm an hour in and i've solved 12 puzzles.

the one with the dog that gets run over kicked my ass really hard though.. i had to cheat on it hardcore :X

[judyjudyjudy]

Well, so much for making this game my next bedtime game. I got addicted and stormed through the entire game this weekend. I got sloppy and even made a few mistakes (btw, reading the problem is apparently very important :P). As throwaway as it kinda is, I think the story made me keep going. I can't think of a better word, but as Strell said, it's just so charming. I'm still missing one stinking hidden puzzle, so I hope the search for that, along with the downloadable stuff, can put me to sleep. At least now my fiance can stop harassing me and play his own game.

All I wanted to complain about was that the square-detection/conditions for victory sort of annoy me. Cuz I found a way to make seven using overlap. I.e., I had these two big squares, and their corners overlapped each other, forming a third square. In my mind, that counts, but the game didn't count it. So now I've got to look for a way to do it where I'm making all the squares, but I think that shows more creativity on my own part than the game's.I don't know if it was my incompetent reading, but I totally didn't understand the directions for this one. At first I thought we could only use each peg once, like, only one line can start from it. Using hints, I realized I interpreted that wrong. I thought I had a viable solution (mine also involved overlapping squares), but apparently it didn't like that either. Eventually I used all the hints, and the last hint pretty much tells you how to draw two of the squares. When I got the solution, I think there was one aspect of the directions that was unclear, and IIRC that was (maybe read this after you beat it) every peg had to be used once. Ugh, I was so annoyed.


There's been a few other puzzles where my thinking leads me to believe that I've got the correct solution (and I'm not talking about the trick questions or anything), but the game isn't seeing something the way I am. This isn't one of those situations where I thought I was right, it's one where I could easily prove something satisfies the conditions of the puzzle, but the game just isn't built to recognize it.No, I definitely had this issue. I don't remember all the cases, but one I do remember. I think it was about 4 guys and somebody eating fish. You're supposed to find out which guys are lying. B says something like "I saw A eat it!" I thought he could have lied about seeing it (like, he didn't see anything, but A could have still eaten it). His statement should be interpreted as "A ate it.", which would change my answer. Anyway, that's probably a silly example.

Edited to add: My fiance just got the exact same problem wrong for the exact same reason. And apparently, it's about 3 guys, not 4.

Ending comment:
I like how the ridiculousness of everybody shoving puzzles in Professor Layton's face is somewhat explained, even if explanation is totally out there. I don't know how it's going to fly in the next game. I also liked how Professor Layton went all-out MacGuyver at the end. Very sexy.

Luke is a little snot though.

[Vegan]

I get what you're saying, Strell. The most annoying puzzle for me so far is the matchsticks arranged in the shape of a dog. I had it right, I knew exactly what it wanted me to do, but you have to arrange it EXACTLY the way IT wants you to, even if your arrangement makes just as much sense.

Phoenix Wright has the same issue.

[Strell]

CoD4 and Catan kept me from my now 4-5 night routine, but I think I'm going to try a few more before I hit the sack (as I love the game that much).

JJJ - Definitely. I've always been bad at those types of puzzles (the "liar" ones), but after the second or third, I sort of learned the trick to doing them. But it's like you said - originally I was reading the comments and thinking "Well is he lying because of X or because of Y?" and then I'd collapse into a fetal ball because part of my universe was torn asunder. It's like...you have to take the comments completely at face value, and understand that what they say is what they say. I.e., there's an element of truth to them, so much so that you have to just assume very simple if->then relationships. It's like...there's arbitrary boundaries to all the statements. You just have to sort them out according to those rules, and then set up a bunch of theoretical outcomes, and determine which ones ends up satisfying the conditions of the answer ("X number of people are lying" for example).

Which reminds me of a few of the ones I thought were ambiguous on the answer (#113, 88, and 55 in case you don't want them spoiled). Pete, these were some of the ones I was talking about.


#113 - "The Pet Hotel" (DON'T READ BELOW IF YOU DON'T WANT THE ANSWER)

You have to move matchsticks and spell out "cat." You start with OA|, and the idea is that you move the two right-most vertical matchsticks over the farther letter. See below:
._...._.._
|..|..|.|..|
|_|...-|..|

which becomes (you remove two from the O, put one in the middle to make an A, and then the other above on the right to make a T)

._...._..__
|.....|.|..|
|_...|-|..|

But I kept making it

._....._..__
|......|.|..|
|_|...|-|..|

See, you could move two matches. So what I kept doing was moving one from the O into the A, and then I moved the already-existing top part of the T. I kept thinking "Well, will the game recognize the C?" After that failed, I tried it again by using the bottom part of it, but that didn't work either.

#55 - "The Odd Sandwich"

I solved this one completely by accident. You're supposed to make a horizontal cut, which makes a shape like a house with a pointy top, and then a side with an indention, which ends up making a full rectangle. But I reasoned that you could make a vertical cut on the right side. This would chop off the tips, forming small triangles. Then you could put them in the bottom right corner of the sandwich and in the top indention, which would also form a rectangle. The bottom tip ends up being a right triangle, so it fits neatly in the corner. The top part does the same. I don't actually know if it would work, but the answer was only the number of cuts, not how they were oriented. Besides, it was hard to visualize since you can't get a real feel for how large the sandwich is versus the box it's going in.

#88 - "In a Hole"

This is a simple one about how to get a ball out of a hole. The answer is a word - you type out "water." The idea is that you flood the hole, forcing the ball upward, as it will float.

But see, the condition for the answer is "a five letter word for something that's all around you and very common." I don't know if anyone has ever heard of Mindtrap, but it's a boardgame full of these kinds of question (some of them probably overlap between Layton). Anyway, there is a variation of this problem about a ping-pong ball in a PVC pipe, and it says "A six year old figured out how to retrieve it. What did he do?" The answer is that he pees into the pipe, which causes the ball to float.

Which means I wanted to write in "urine" for the answer for that puzzle. I didn't, but I tried it just now while writing this post, and it didn't work. Besides, I guess they didn't have artwork to depict that. :P


I have trouble with the probability ones the most (which I'm dreading sitting down to answer). For all the age questions, I resorted to algebraic equations. I remember doing those questions on tests in middle/high school and failing them EVERY time. I finally had to force myself to sit down and just stare at practice problems until they clicked (kind of like the "liar" problems in here).

Game is still amazing. I wish I could give the developers more money for how much I've enjoyed it.

And I need to finish it! Apollo Justice is on the way! And I need to finish both Touch Detectives!

I'm so happy the adventure genre is somewhat alive thanks to the DS. It makes me so happeeeee.

[Strell]

Bah, didn't get past the seven squares puzzle.

After a while, I just started fooling around with it to see if I could trick it. That didn't work, so then I started to see how many squares I could make counting overlapping lines, but safely avoiding any X'd out pegs (meaning that, in all reality, I was solving the puzzle completely according to the rules set in place).

It's late and I'm tired, so I probably miscounted, but I got up to 37 squares or so at some point. There might be a way to eke out a few more, or maybe I missed a few, etc.

I laugh at seven, except that those seven have to be done in such a specific way that I haven't gotten around the puzzle yet.

Oh well.

[sqyxzylyx]

The most annoying puzzle so far is the cake with GECY NW. I used all the hints and still unable to decode the message. I had to use google to figure this one out.

[kainzero]

I kinda found an error with the birthday puzzle about the 19 last year and 22 this year or whatever.

Since I'm so used to filling out forms on the internet, I put the month as 01 and the day as 02 and the game didn't register it. So I had a hell of a time trying to figure out what it really was 'till I figured out you had to put just 1 and 2.

The most annoying puzzle so far is the cake with GECY NW. I used all the hints and still unable to decode the message. I had to use google to figure this one out.
That second hint made it even more confusing, since I started looking at my phone after that. I solved it by putting the NW together, then somehow I solved the CY part and everything fell into place.

[Tybee]

I get what you're saying, Strell. The most annoying puzzle for me so far is the matchsticks arranged in the shape of a dog. I had it right, I knew exactly what it wanted me to do, but you have to arrange it EXACTLY the way IT wants you to, even if your arrangement makes just as much sense.

Phoenix Wright has the same issue.

I got that the first time with no hints. Seemed really easy, actually. In general, the matchstick puzzles are some of my favorites. But there are probably others that kicked my ass that you have had no problem with, I'm sure.

For instance, I hate, hate, HATE slider puzzles.

About 55 puzzles in at this point. Such love for this game.

[judyjudyjudy]

That second hint made it even more confusing, since I started looking at my phone after that. I solved it by putting the NW together, then somehow I solved the CY part and everything fell into place.Yeah, the second hint threw me off too! It wasn't until the third hint that I had any clue what they were talking about.

I also found the Puzzled Aliens one really obscure.

[botticus]

I got that the first time with no hints. Seemed really easy, actually. In general, the matchstick puzzles are some of my favorites. But there are probably others that kicked my ass that you have had no problem with, I'm sure.

For instance, I hate, hate, HATE slider puzzles.

About 55 puzzles in at this point. Such love for this game.
Yes.

This game has actually allowed me to solve some puzzles that usually cause me trouble, but sliders destroy me.

[rscaramelo]

Not my usual type of game but I am loving it. Some of these puzzles are making me feel stupid :) .

RC

[Backlash]

Which reminds me of a few of the ones I thought were ambiguous on the answer (#113, 88, and 55 in case you don't want them spoiled). Pete, these were some of the ones I was talking about.


#113 - "The Pet Hotel" (DON'T READ BELOW IF YOU DON'T WANT THE ANSWER)

You have to move matchsticks and spell out "cat." You start with OA|, and the idea is that you move the two right-most vertical matchsticks over the farther letter. See below:
._...._.._
|..|..|.|..|
|_|...-|..|

which becomes (you remove two from the O, put one in the middle to make an A, and then the other above on the right to make a T)

._...._..__
|.....|.|..|
|_...|-|..|

But I kept making it

._....._..__
|......|.|..|
|_|...|-|..|

See, you could move two matches. So what I kept doing was moving one from the O into the A, and then I moved the already-existing top part of the T. I kept thinking "Well, will the game recognize the C?" After that failed, I tried it again by using the bottom part of it, but that didn't work either.

#55 - "The Odd Sandwich"

I solved this one completely by accident. You're supposed to make a horizontal cut, which makes a shape like a house with a pointy top, and then a side with an indention, which ends up making a full rectangle. But I reasoned that you could make a vertical cut on the right side. This would chop off the tips, forming small triangles. Then you could put them in the bottom right corner of the sandwich and in the top indention, which would also form a rectangle. The bottom tip ends up being a right triangle, so it fits neatly in the corner. The top part does the same. I don't actually know if it would work, but the answer was only the number of cuts, not how they were oriented. Besides, it was hard to visualize since you can't get a real feel for how large the sandwich is versus the box it's going in.





113: But it's not really a C if it was a vertical part at the bottom. It's almost a G. You could argue that a C is kind of curved around on the right side, but then it would need a vertical part at the top and bottom both, making it an O.

55: I thought of your method, too. But really that's 2 cuts, not 1 (even though you only move the knife once, you are cutting two distinct parts of the sandwich). In fact, I first put 2 before I put 1. you are totally right though: it was way too hard to figure out the relative width of the sandwich vs the box.

[Strell]

To Backlash:

This is going to sound like splitting hairs.

#113: Your point is taken, but since there's no curved matches, it's really all about visual representation. It's not really a C if all the parts are vertical/horizontal at 90 degree right angles either. And if you put the match at the top (like I said I did) then it stops looking like a G, which was my line of thinking. C's are curved up somewhat on both the top and bottom ends - just look at this font I'm using. And I still think that it was smarter thinking on my part to just move the top mark of the T over in order to turn it into a T. But again, no big deal. I knew what the answer was, it just took 3 tries since the game is looking for one specific answer.

#55: We're kind of looking at "cut" differently. To me, it's not cuts in noun form, such as "two cuts of beef." It's cut in verb form - "make one cut." Assuming the knife is big enough, it could have stretched the entire length of the sandwich (think of one of those giant blades on a paper cutter, or just a large butcher's knife), and then you just make one motion and end up cutting off the tips.

Now, I guess what I'm supposed to assume is that the knife has a short blade and thus couldn't stretch the entire vertical length of the sandwich. In which case, I think you're closer to being right. Even if I took a short knife and made one swift motion (and thus, one cut), you could argue that the knife would leave the bread entirely, drag across the plate/cutting board, and then slice off the second tip, which is indeed two different cuts. (But again, if the blade is big enough and you hold it entirely level, then you're making one cut all at once, but it ends up with two pieces.)

The game's logic is sort of pitting a noun versus verb thing and how you interpret it, as well as the length of the knife. If I had been shown a small little simple butter knife or something, then maybe I'd have come to the game's conclusion. And this is all pretty much due to the face that there wasn't a valid size representation.

I guess in the end I still solved it and I don't really care that my method of thought differed with the game's internal logic for both of these puzzles.

[keithp]

The most annoying puzzle for me so far is the matchsticks arranged in the shape of a dog. I had it right, I knew exactly what it wanted me to do, but you have to arrange it EXACTLY the way IT wants you to, even if your arrangement makes just as much sense.


Didn't have any trouble with that one. Wish I could say the same about the weekly download! I've stared at that thing for ages and it still hasn't clicked with me. :bomb:

I'm loving this game though! I'm really FORCING myself to only play it before bedtime so my girlfriend can solve some puzzles too. Such a great game...want...to...play...more...puzzles...

[Strell]

Beat the game.

Absolutely exquisite.

Layton is a badass. A total badass. JJJ was right. I am thinking he could take Guybrush Threepwood, Phoenix Wright, and Bernard Bernoulli all at once.

But he can not take on Kyle Hyde. Because no one can take on Kyle Hyde. But I'd wager they'd come to a draw.

As for that blasted seven-square puzzle:
You know it would have HELPED to clarify that you have to use all the pegs. I wouldn't have needed to use any hints if they'd just clarified that. I know all about tilting the squares, so I was already attempting that.

Had the pegs thing been clarified, I probably would have solved it quicker. The thing I know about these kinds of puzzles is that there's always a rule you can bend. So what I was doing was making "figure 8s" as I called them, where you could draw 45 degree tilted squares (as diamonds). But what you'd do is extend one set of the lines beyond the corner/intersection. Then, you'd make a square with the other half. So it was kind of like combo-ing the lines.

It'll be hard to reprsent here, but like this:
/\
\/
/\
\/

But imagine the two middle sections (the X) as two giant lines instead of four small ones. That way, you can use the essentially skip using the peg, which doesn't violate the rules of the puzzle.

But I've railed against this puzzle for a while now, so no use saying much more about it.

I think I've solved 107/8 or so puzzles, and found 115. So I need to go hunt down the remaining five, solve them, fix the painting, create the mechanical dog, and finally fix up their rooms. And then work on any bonus/downloadable content.

This is an extraordinary game. I know twitch hounds and big manly men who think every game needs guns won't like it, and that makes me happy, because I don't want to hear their useless, wrong whining about it.

So again I say that if you don't enjoy this game, I question you having a soul, lest it have been ripped to the abyss by ethereally-clawed monsters from before the universe was born.

[Vegan]

Yeah, it really takes me back to my days of reading brain teaser books on the playground during recess. That's a warm and fuzzy feeling.

I can't wait for the other two installments.

[pete5883]

You know it would have HELPED to clarify that you have to use all the pegs.
There were 28 pegs. A square uses 4 pegs. You need to make 7 squares. 7 x 4 is 28. I think you were supposed to figure that part out for yourself.

[chair_home]

So, I think we're not getting new DLC until next week. Just noticed that the first puzzle we got was dated 08.02.17 :-(. So I shall wait till the 24th with high hopes.

[guyjr]

Dunno if anybody else pointed this out or not - but I really really like the story recap when you resume the game from save. That's a first for me - and definitely enough to launch this game into instant GotY consideration IMO.

[bjkrautk]

There were 28 pegs. A square uses 4 pegs. You need to make 7 squares. 7 x 4 is 28. I think you were supposed to figure that part out for yourself.

That's how I figured it out. Start by making squares with the oddly-placed pegs, then work with whatever was left over.

And now for something completely different:

I really disliked the story pages....but mainly because I finished the game in a little over a week....and because they weren't skippable (that I could tell). If I had set the game down for two months, and then tried to remember what I was supposed to be doing next, it might have mattered more to me (but I kinda thought that was the whole point of the journal entries). IMO, the story pages at startup just served to hold up the gameplay.

[Strell]

There were 28 pegs. A square uses 4 pegs. You need to make 7 squares. 7 x 4 is 28. I think you were supposed to figure that part out for yourself.


Like I said earlier in the thread, I found ways that - according to the rules - were completely viable squares that didn't use all the pegs. There wouldn't be an X on the peg, the square didn't have incorrect angles, etc. I got up to 37 on the board at some point.

You can be an ass about it if you want, but that would have clarified it a lot, especially when no previous peg question had that as a requirement.

[fart_bubble]

the puzzle on the 4th level of the tower is kicking my ass. No matter what I try, I just can't get the up and down piece to the right of the red piece to the opposite side

[eugaet]

Dunno if anybody else pointed this out or not - but I really really like the story recap when you resume the game from save. That's a first for me - and definitely enough to launch this game into instant GotY consideration IMO.Think the recap has been done before in other games. I distinctly remember it in one of the GBA Pokemon games and Minish Cap, I think.

So maybe not GotY for that one feature alone but, yes, it is very nice.

[62t]

one of the gba pokemon also has the recap function

[Vegan]

I'm finding the recap annoying. If I need my memory refreshed, there's a menu for that.

[Warner1281]

I'm loving this game even though I've only played for about 1.5 hours. Thank you for this thread. I cleverly disguised buying this game for myself by claiming it was my wife's b-day present (which I immediately snatched away from her after she opened it). Too bad she's several states away with the DS right now :cry:

[judyjudyjudy]

Did you all see this? It was mentioned on GoNintendo:
http://www.2pstart.com/2008/02/20/professor-layton-and-the-permanent-top-hat/

[clockworkgreen]

I bought it, too, and it arrived on the same day as Apollo Justice. How to get that one by the wife? "Honey, this one has brainteasers and puzzles, I think you'll like it. Why don't you take it first?" (while I play my way through Apollo.) he he he. Sucker!

[botticus]

So... I'm glad they decided not to include many impossible puzzles in the story chapters. #133 and the first downloadable puzzle have stumped me thoroughly.

[Celticfan106]

I just finished the game. I really enjoyed getting away from violence, and just solving puzzles for a while. I thought all the puzzles were very entertaining, and I really enjoyed it, more than any other DS game. The only close DS game that was nearly as good was Phantom Hourglass in my opinion. It took me about 8 hours to finish, and I loved it the whole way through.

[eugaet]

Totally disappointed w/ the weekly puzzle today. Way too easy. Was hoping for more matchsticks...I like the matchstick puzzles.

[sfriedlander]

this game is awesome, perfect for the airplane. very well done, the art style is great. ( i heard its by that guy who did that one oscar nominated animated movie.) its a pretty good story too, im not that far though. Better keep playing!

[sfriedlander]

Got this for Valentine's Day (yes my wife rocks) and started playing it Friday night. I can't put it down. I love it. So far I'm about 60-odd puzzles in, plus 7 or 8 hidden puzzles that I've found.

The puzzles aren't too too easy (mostly) but they're also not so hard that they're frustrating. There's only been one so far I haven't solved, and that's just cause I don't want to do the math (the multiplying mice puzzle).



LOLOLOLOLOLOLOL that one is so easy... think about it.... you take ((((ONE))))) mouse home. if you don't figure that one out your lamo.

[guinaevere]

Edit: Yes, Miss Gwen. I like games with nice protagonists, too. Since you probably thought I didn't. Jerk.:sitting here looking the picture of innocence and virtue: Jerk? I? Sir, you offend me, I don't know of what you speak.




...so I said, "pretentious?! Moi?!!"

The more I play, the funnier that PA comic gets.
2 Hours in and loving it... the music is great.Agreed and agreed. Lately, some of my favorite music to have playing is from adventure types. Gotta check to see if Galbadia has it yet.

Question/slight annoyance:

When you're climbing the tower and going through all the doors, the ...oh I guess it's the seventh one. It shows a pegboard and asks you to make seven squares, but can only use each peg once.

DO NOT GIVE ME HINTS.

All I wanted to complain about was that the square-detection/conditions for victory sort of annoy me. Cuz I found a way to make seven using overlap. I.e., I had these two big squares, and their corners overlapped each other, forming a third square. In my mind, that counts, but the game didn't count it. So now I've got to look for a way to do it where I'm making all the squares, but I think that shows more creativity on my own part than the game's.

There's been a few other puzzles where my thinking leads me to believe that I've got the correct solution (and I'm not talking about the trick questions or anything), but the game isn't seeing something the way I am. This isn't one of those situations where I thought I was right, it's one where I could easily prove something satisfies the conditions of the puzzle, but the game just isn't built to recognize it.

Dunno if anyone else agrees. Game is still fantastic. This is one of the best games for the DS, easily. There have been at least a couple where the game logic is not equal to all possible answers. The peg/7 square puzzle is one of them. I too, found a completely legitimate answer to that puzzle and it was rejected. Then I got mind-tunnel-vision and had a hard time seeing the "correct" solution.

The most annoying puzzle so far is the cake with GECY NW. I used all the hints and still unable to decode the message. I had to use google to figure this one out.The only clue I needed was the "text thumb" clue. Soon as I heard that, I knew the secret message because I use my phones a lot, but I rarely ever speak into them.



I'm finished, solved every puzzle I found (still missing one, but I don't remember what the puzzle number is) some at first try, some took a clue or more work. But all in all some good brain teasers. I did wish the mystery was more involved. As in, less pixel-hunting for puzzles. But it is what it is; a cute way to present some lateral thinking challanges.

[Strell]

Some other random thoughts I've had since beating the game and slowly working through the remaining puzzles/bonus puzzles. For the record, I am somewhat OCD about such things, and like to consider the world/universe of the game itself. So if you want to be a jerk and say that I over-analyze and whatnot, then yes, I do, but you're still a jerk.



#117 asks you to paint a cube with three colors - red, blue, and yellow - in "as many possible ways as you can without repeating patterns such that no two faces that touch use the same color." The answer is that there's only one way to do this, which requires two opposite faces to be one color (think the top and bottom of the cube) and the remaining four faces to alternate the other two colors.

But...we're given primary colors. Which makes me immediately think that you could always mix them and make other colors easily (orange, green, and purple at the least), which would increase the number. I didn't try to guess the number of combinations using mixing, but I did consider it heavily before I just put in the correct answer of 1. Since the only caveat the puzzles gives is "don't leave anything blank," I could see someone struggling with this.

It doesn't say anything about what you can/cannot do with the paint, nor does it give you any guidelines on how much paint you have. I guess if it did give you restrictions, it would be a little more clear. No big deal I suppose, but it's still something to consider. Would have been nice if they'd given us a guideline about no mixing OR gave us something other than primary colors.

Re: Recap - I agree there should be both a skip option you can set somewhere AND a button should allow you to skip. I like the recaps, but one of the big rules of all gaming should be that you can skip such things if you want.

Re: Residents of Mystere - So we learn that they are robots maintained by Bruno (I think that's his name), who is doing it to fulfill the dying wish of the late baron Reinhold. St. Mystere is basically one gigantic gift to his daughter such that she can grow up in a living environment that is very loving toward her, and anyone who can solve all the puzzles becomes her guardian.

But this raises some interesting things to think about. For example, it doesn't look like Bruno has any apprentice. So what happens when he dies? I guess the robots eventually keel over and everyone treats them as dead? And if so, do they bury them? Obvoiusly the idea of a grave has to be in their memories (given the grave of ...Violet? The late mom), and I imagine that the robots have AI sophisticated enough to learn/adapt. Since Bruno always kidnaps them, I wonder what they'd do when he's not around.

Also, does Flora interact with them much? If she does, then wouldn't they wonder why only she ages/grows older? I can't imagine the robots being so advanced that they age, so wouldn't one of them notice this? Even if they didn't interact with her, would they come to that conclusion on their own? This invites a rather interesting question of whether or not one of them might come to understand what they truly are.

Did anyone else get a small chuckle out of Luke's apparent hatred of any women hitting on Layton? I found this amusing. I guess in the world of the game, no one really questions a grown man running around with a young boy (I'd understand immediately if Luke were an orphan, but I guess there's no real reason for the game to go into the backstory of the two characters outside of the bare minimum, even with Don Paolo apparently really having it out for Layton).

Which reminds me - I got a really strong Inspector Gadget feeling toward the end of the game, with Don's funny flying machine and Layton's (as JJJ put it) Macguyverosity. I guess I just yearn for that now-begone animation style. I know the game is compared to Triplets of Bellville a lot, which I enjoy since I watched the movie last weekend and found it endlessly charming, and the French themes overlap.

Level 5 really did do an astonishing job on this game. I kind of want to play through it again immediately.

I guess that's all for now. Like I said, I think about things like this a lot and none of my friends really play these types of games. The ones that do don't have it yet and probably won't for a while, so this is my only real outlet for talking about them. I guess that's kind of pathetic, aye? But eh. I'm writing to get my thoughts out in the hopes someone will respond. If no one does, no big deal.

[Celticfan106]

the puzzle on the 4th level of the tower is kicking my ass. No matter what I try, I just can't get the up and down piece to the right of the red piece to the opposite side

You need to move around the small green pieces first. I'm sure you cann find an answer key somewhere online, but it just takes alot of patience.

[soonersfan60]

I guess everyone loves this game so much that no one wants to trade it to me... :-( (I have sealed games available, so please PM me.) Thanks.

[fart_bubble]

You need to move around the small green pieces first. I'm sure you cann find an answer key somewhere online, but it just takes alot of patience.

Yeah, I finally beat that one (first thing to do is to get both blue blocks that are above and below the red block on top of each other and after that it becomes easy sailing).

And after that I've set it down for awhile. Wish I would have kept more hint tokens as I get the feeling that I'm gonna be needing those

[Tybee]

this game is awesome, perfect for the airplane. very well done, the art style is great. ( i heard its by that guy who did that one oscar nominated animated movie.) its a pretty good story too, im not that far though. Better keep playing!

Hayao Miyazaki (Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke, My Neighbor Totoro)? Sylvain Chomet (Triplets of Belleville)? Neither is true, and as far as I know, the people involved with the game have never made an animated movie, Oscar-nominated or otherwise. But many people have said the art style is reminiscent of the work of both of the aforementioned directors.

[Jayayess1190]

Just finished the game with a little help from Gamefaqs and the in game hints, and it was GREAT! Can't wait for the next one!

[sfriedlander]

one more question, where can i get an mp3 of the theme song?? ITS BEEN STUCK IN My HEAD ALL DAY.

[Vegan]

Hayao Miyazaki (Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke, My Neighbor Totoro)? Sylvain Chomet (Triplets of Belleville)? Neither is true, and as far as I know, the people involved with the game have never made an animated movie, Oscar-nominated or otherwise. But many people have said the art style is reminiscent of the work of both of the aforementioned directors.

I would kill for a Layton TV series or movie. I mean, I'm sure it couldn't just be them solving puzzles (or maybe it COULD), but they could figure something out.

[DarkKnightCecil]

Actually a lived-action Professor Layton movie is planned I believe...

[ZephyrTX]

I feel like such a ditz! I've wizzed through most of the other puzzles but am stuck in the tower at the draw 7 squares using the pegs puzzle. I see some of you have solved this one--any chance someone will post me the solution?
clearlaketexasgal@gmail.com
Thx!

[spydey]

I started playing this a couple of days ago and love it. The art and cut scenes really do it for me, and I love the brain puzzlers. I just finished chapter 3.

[eugaet]

Someone was asking about the soundtrack...

Silent_Hill_VGM over at Final Fantasy Shrine (http://forums.ffshrine.org/showthread.php?p=999826) made two rips, one of music during gameplay + website music and the other a rip of the sound test. I've downloaded them, but haven't listened to them yet. You'll have to register for a free account to get to the download links.

[Vegan]

Oh, and I do agree that the chocolate bar puzzle was messed up. I blame it on a bad artist rendering. It DOES NOT look like bites are taken out; I thought it was the wrapper overlapping the bar.

[Celticfan106]

So I just found a great site, AFTER I beat the game... I'll post it up, if you don't want spoilers, don't look at it. I'm using it for painting scraps and the Inn, just wish I knew about it for the puzzles, haha.

http://professorlaytonwalkthrough.blogspot.com/

Hope it helps the people who need it.

[Vegan]

So I just found a great site, AFTER I beat the game... I'll post it up, if you don't want spoilers, don't look at it. I'm using it for painting scraps and the Inn, just wish I knew about it for the puzzles, haha.

http://professorlaytonwalkthrough.blogspot.com/

Hope it helps the people who need it.

Are there still people who have never heard of Gamefaqs?

[Celticfan106]

Are there still people who have never heard of Gamefaqs?

I know gamefaq. But, this site was alot better in my opinion.

[Nephlabobo]

Thanks for the soundtrack link - that's cool.

[Sharp Katana]

just started playing this game over the weekend. My sister has it and I helped her beat the last block puzzle so I got into the game too. Awesome game.

[pete5883]

I finally solved the first downloaded puzzle. The hint helped, in an odd way. Though I don't remember there being a hint there the first couple times I tried it. Am I imagining things, or was it not always there?

[keithp]

I finally solved the first downloaded puzzle. The hint helped, in an odd way. Though I don't remember there being a hint there the first couple times I tried it. Am I imagining things, or was it not always there?

What hint? "Look harder at it" or something like that? LOL.. Does yours say something different? I still haven't solved that one.

[Survivor Charlie]

I am hopelessly stuck on Puzzle 132, "Princess 2" or whatever. It's a sliding block puzzle.

[leveskikesko]

Actually a lived-action Professor Layton movie is planned I believe...

Live action?

Eh that'd be lame, I want more of that good french/anime hybrid artstyle.

[pete5883]

What hint? "Look harder at it" or something like that? LOL.. Does yours say something different? I still haven't solved that one.

In the "hints" window:

However, you can make things easier by focusing on reducing the number of matches that serve as a side for multiple squares.

[botticus]

In the "hints" window:

However, you can make things easier by focusing on reducing the number of matches that serve as a side for multiple squares.
I certainly didn't see a hints window. And I still didn't figure that one out.

[spydey]

I'm on chapter 6 now, and I still love this game.

[pete5883]

I certainly didn't see a hints window. And I still didn't figure that one out.
I just remembered that the manual says that hints are available a week after the puzzle. So that explains it.

[Celticfan106]

I'm going through the game a second time, Hasn't gotten repetitive yet, I'm trying to finish the game without gamefaq.

[botticus]

I just remembered that the manual says that hints are available a week after the puzzle. So that explains it.And that's pretty awesome.

[keithp]

I just remembered that the manual says that hints are available a week after the puzzle. So that explains it.

Oh, cool-guess I should read the manual sometime! ;) Thanks for the hint--I figured that's what was involved, but I still haven't been able to figure it out! :cry:

[lanzarlaluna]

Just picked this game up. Level 5 does it again. (read: Level 5 is the shit.)

[spydey]

Just picked this game up. Level 5 does it again. (read: Level 5 is the shit.)

What else have they done that I should pick up?

[botticus]

What else have they done that I should pick up?
I haven't played DQVIII yet, but that's theirs. I highly recommend Rogue Galaxy. Nothing like this game, though.

[pete5883]

What else have they done that I should pick up?
Dark Cloud 2 is great, better than RG IMO.

[alison]

Finished the story portion of the game yesterday ("yay" for the flu sidelining me for the majority of the week, allowing me to actually play the game for a good period of time!). Now I just have to finish up the 20 or so puzzles that I missed.

[spydey]

Well I just finished it. It was pretty good even if it was predictable.

[Mr Durand Pierre]

I just beat all 135 puzzles. I feel both rewarded, yet very sad that there won't be any more Layton for several months at least. My DS doesn't get a signal from where I'm at either, so I can't get the downloadable puzzles (perhaps a venture to McDonalds would work?). Anyway, it was a great game. It seems like it'll have slightly better replay value than most adventure games too because there were so many puzzles that I'll likely forget the solutions to all but a few after a few months. The sliding puzzles are still giving me nightmares. I need more Layton!

[jedi_liz]

I finished the game, and I started a new one where I won't use hints at all unless I must. I can't wait for the sequel. I am assuming all the Professor Layton games will have / have the same type of puzzles? (Brainteasers I mean).

[maigoyume]

just got the game, gonna test it out tonight :)

[eugaet]

Gah! Just downloaded the third weekly puzzle...and solved it in under 1 min. Surely these'll get harder, right?

I want more matchsticks.

[spydey]

I thought this weeks download puzzle was easy.

[Chitown021]

http://www.penny-arcade.com/images/2008/20080213.jpg

[spydey]

Well, I just put in my hidden door code (3F3C4A2C). I'm kind of disappointed.

[Warner1281]

Well, I just put in my hidden door code (3F3C4A2C). I'm kind of disappointed.

where'd you get a hidden door code?!? I thought it was included in the manual for the upcomgin sequel.

In other news, I finished the game last night. Definitely a fun game and I look forward to a sequel. I had the "plot" figured out well before the end of the game, but it was fun nonetheless. The last few bonus puzzles were killer though. Ugh. Stupid red princess boxes and 8 queens were about to make me break the DS.

[Vegan]

where'd you get a hidden door code?!? I thought it was included in the manual for the upcomgin sequel.

In other news, I finished the game last night. Definitely a fun game and I look forward to a sequel. I had the "plot" figured out well before the end of the game, but it was fun nonetheless. The last few bonus puzzles were killer though. Ugh. Stupid red princess boxes and 8 queens were about to make me break the DS.


I'm going to have to cheat on the Grand Master Princess in a Box. I looked on Gamefaqs just to see what I was up again and the minimum number of moves is something like 89. Yeah, no thanks, count me out.

[maigoyume]

some of these puzzles are pretty sick, if i weren't such a puzzle nut i'd be using gamefaqs like mad

[spydey]

where'd you get a hidden door code?!? I thought it was included in the manual for the upcomgin sequel.

In other news, I finished the game last night. Definitely a fun game and I look forward to a sequel. I had the "plot" figured out well before the end of the game, but it was fun nonetheless. The last few bonus puzzles were killer though. Ugh. Stupid red princess boxes and 8 queens were about to make me break the DS.

There's an action replay code that will give it to you.

[Warner1281]

I'm going to have to cheat on the Grand Master Princess in a Box. I looked on Gamefaqs just to see what I was up again and the minimum number of moves is something like 89. Yeah, no thanks, count me out.

My final move count was in the 700's. I got her out, but I'll be damned if the guards weren't bloody and beaten as I shoved their fat asses in the tiny spaces.

[chair_home]

Princess in a Box will haunt my dreams forever. And if I ever really see a Princess in a Box... that's where she'll stay. She's on her own.

[spydey]

Princess in a Box will haunt my dreams forever. And if I ever really see a Princess in a Box... that's where she'll stay. She's on her own.

Agreed. That's the only puzzle I have left.

[pete5883]

This week's puzzle is up.

It's an easy one.

[spydey]

This week's puzzle is up.

It's an easy one.

This week was pretty easy, but I liked it.

[Tybee]

I've only downloaded the first weekly puzzle so far, because I'm still working my way through the main game (93 puzzles solved and about to head into the tower). When you download the weekly puzzles, does it erase the old one, or can you download and have them all on there at once? Do you have to download the puzzle the week it is available?

[alison]

This week was pretty easy, but I liked it.

Agreed! Once I figured out exactly what was being asked, I couldn't help but smile :D:applause:

[crunchewy]

I haven't bought this game because I tried the demo on the web and I couldn't see how this was any better than a book of puzzles. Plus the demo puzzle was a very old puzzle that I've done before. I can't remember the solution, mind you, but the idea of solving a puzzle I've done before doesn't exactly excite me. Is the game just a collection of old puzzles, or is there anything new in it?

[alison]

I've only downloaded the first weekly puzzle so far, because I'm still working my way through the main game (93 puzzles solved and about to head into the tower). When you download the weekly puzzles, does it erase the old one, or can you download and have them all on there at once? Do you have to download the puzzle the week it is available?

No, it doesn't erase the old one. The newly downloaded puzzle is added to a list of the previously downloaded ones. Also, you don't have to download it the week it's available - it'll automatically download any previous weeks' puzzles, as well.

[spydey]

I haven't bought this game because I tried the demo on the web and I couldn't see how this was any better than a book of puzzles. Plus the demo puzzle was a very old puzzle that I've done before. I can't remember the solution, mind you, but the idea of solving a puzzle I've done before doesn't exactly excite me. Is the game just a collection of old puzzles, or is there anything new in it?

It's pretty much old puzzles or puzzles you would find in a book with a story wrapped around it.

[spydey]

This weeks puzzle is a little harder than the past few.

[pete5883]

Yeah, I liked W-5.

[soonersfan60]

Can anyone suggest books that have these types of puzzles?

[Tybee]

Finished all 120 puzzles and the main game last night. You guys actually had me really apprehensive about the tower, but I actually did not find it all that challenging compared to what I expected. Princess in a Box was tricky, but not THAT bad (unless you were anal and wanted to do it in the least amount of moves).

I really liked the ending, even if it was a little vague. To wit: It's all well and good that they want the town to go on forever, but what happens after Bruno dies (which looks like it will be pretty soon)? Who will maintain the robots then? And now that the town has served its purpose, why would Bruno even want to keep things going? They really needed a scene with him at the end to tie things up a bit more.

But in general, the charming story and characters, great music and cutscenes, along with all the cool unlockables really made this game for me. That's why I love this game but was bored to tears by Brain Age and Big Brain Academy. Made it seem like there was a purpose to all of it...A goal.

Now to start making my way through all the bonus puzzles!

Oh, anyone know if it's possible to download the music from the game anywhere?

[Strell]

I really liked the ending, even if it was a little vague. To wit: It's all well and good that they want the town to go on forever, but what happens after Bruno dies (which looks like it will be pretty soon)? Who will maintain the robots then? And now that the town has served its purpose, why would Bruno even want to keep things going? They really needed a scene with him at the end to tie things up a bit more.


I speculated on this to a large degree, but no one really responded to it.

[spydey]

I still haven't figured out W-5. :(

*edit* I must have put it in wrong the first time. I started putting in answers I already tried, and I got it.

[eugaet]

Oh, anyone know if it's possible to download the music from the game anywhere?I posted a link back here: LINK (http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/showpost.php?p=4005407&postcount=168)

[Tybee]

Here are some direct links to a few tracks from the game:

Main Background
http://professorlaytonds.com/_audio/main_bg.mp3

Puzzle Background
http://professorlaytonds.com/_audio/puzzle_bg.mp3

Village at Night (Love this one, and it's probably a track you didn't hear much in the game.)
http://www.layton.jp/fushigi/bgm/002.mp3

[Tybee]

So apparently the "downloadable" puzzles aren't actually being downloaded. They're already on the cart and are just unlocked via an online key when you connect. Not a big deal, but interesting.

http://www.dsfanboy.com/2008/03/21/professor-layton-and-the-unlocked-content/

For those that are curious, there are a total of 162 puzzles all told.

[spydey]

So apparently the "downloadable" puzzles aren't actually being downloaded. They're already on the cart and are just unlocked via an online key when you connect. Not a big deal, but interesting.

http://www.dsfanboy.com/2008/03/21/professor-layton-and-the-unlocked-content/

For those that are curious, there are a total of 162 puzzles all told.


Yep, if you have an action replay you can unlock them. I think most people already knew this.

[spydey]

This week's puzzle is pretty good.

[ThatDamnDave]

Just got this game off of Goozex and I'm definitely impressed by the animation so far. Good to see a DS game do something a little more than static images and text (although they do some of that as well).

I'm only through 2 puzzles as I didn't have much time, but I dig the style so far.

[Snake2715]

I patiently await my copy from Goozex

*and I'm like 50th in line to boot.

[hero101]

Me too... waiting for this and Advance Wars: DoR...
I patiently await my copy from Goozex

[Wolfpup]

I had no interest in this game as I hate PC style adventure games and I hate Level 5...but I just read the Game Informer review, and I'm actually really intrigued now.

It sounds like these puzzles are more like things you might get in a puzzle game almost, versus a PC style adventure game? The two example puzzles they give at the top of the review were actually fun, but I don't know...does this get really hard?

Given that I hate PC style adventures, should I still try to pick this up for $21? I even got burnt out on the first Phoneix Wright before I beat it (had to fight to make it through the last couple of chapters)...so given that, should I even bother with this?

[Strell]

You won't like it. It's an excellent game and you have a history of not liking such things, and I'd rather not have you come back in here and complain about it later.

[Vegan]

It's not an adventure game, it's a collection of brain teasers.

PS You are the enemy of fun.

[Snake2715]

PS You are the enemy of fun.

Good one!

say its only $21, but I know you seem to voice your opinion about dislikes. I hardly ever come across them though so its no big deal to me. They are like brain teasers over standard adventure fair... the big complaint I hear is the puzzles are in no way related to the story... so with that being said maybe you will happily finish your first "adventure" game? Its worth more than the $21 on ebay even used, so its really no loss.

[dubbfoolio]

I finished this the other day from gamefly and it's probably my favorite game on the DS. I got through every puzzle but that last one (135) was ridiculous! I had to cheat on that one and the "GECY NW" one too. That puzzle drove me insane too. Lost some sleep on both of those.

[pete5883]

I had no interest in this game as I hate PC style adventure games and I hate Level 5...but I just read the Game Informer review, and I'm actually really intrigued now.

It sounds like these puzzles are more like things you might get in a puzzle game almost, versus a PC style adventure game? The two example puzzles they give at the top of the review were actually fun, but I don't know...does this get really hard?

Given that I hate PC style adventures, should I still try to pick this up for $21? I even got burnt out on the first Phoneix Wright before I beat it (had to fight to make it through the last couple of chapters)...so given that, should I even bother with this?

Get it. It's far from PC adventure games. The only puzzles I'd consider "really hard" are after you've already beaten the game.

[Wolfpup]

Get it. It's far from PC adventure games. The only puzzles I'd consider "really hard" are after you've already beaten the game.

Thanks! It does look interesting, and I adore the art style. Not sure if I can get Target to actually honor that coupon though. :D

[spydey]

This week's puzzle was another easy one.

[pete5883]

Not for me!

[Snake2715]

I like to play my DS a bit before going to bed. This habit just started recently,a nd its quite fun.

This game may break that habit as I just get pissed off, and or want to get out a notepad... cant do that in the dark. Damn you Layton!

[Wolfpup]

I like to play my DS a bit before going to bed. This habit just started recently,a nd its quite fun.

This game may break that habit as I just get pissed off, and or want to get out a notepad... cant do that in the dark. Damn you Layton!

I think I've done that too with portable games, but most of the time the game I'm currently playing is either too stressful or too involving. Can't remember what it was I did that with but it was a fun way to finish a day.

[spydey]

This weeks puzzle isn't very good.

[carpwrist]

this one is my favorite:
http://www.duelinganalogs.com/comics/2008-03-11.png

[jeremywoods]

i just finished the story last night

this game was fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuun :)

[ThatDamnDave]

Oddly enough, Professor Layton was one of the showcase showdown prizes on Price Is Right primetime last night. It was in a group of items like a Wii and some DSs.

[spydey]

This week's puzzle seems tough. I haven't gotten it yet.

[DrNo888]

Just finished it last night. Missed about 20 puzzles or so but I'll go back and do them. Good game!

[Strell]

This week's downloadable puzzle is kind of up to interpretation.


While I got the correct answer - mosquito - on my first try, I thought about the problem some more and decided that vampire might also be an acceptable answer. I haven't tried it, but something tells me that it won't be considered correct.

[eugaet]

Anyone still playing this? I put it down a while back for what was to be a short time because I was stymied on a couple puzzles...and it turned into a long time.

So I'm at 112 puzzles found, 107 puzzles solved, and no hint coins used (nor hints from anywhere/anyone else). Trying to finish it w/o using any hints at all...but I don't know how long that'll last.

[pitfallharry219]

Has there been any news on a release for the second game?

[eugaet]

Has there been any news on a release for the second game?Well, NA got the first one one year after the JP release. Hopefully we'll see the second around the end of November. No news, though, just conjecture.

[Zing]

Based on what appears to be the total number of puzzles, I am about 2/3 of the way through this game. A few days ago I remembered about the downloadable puzzles, so I snagged them and burned through them in about an hour while laying in bed.

I have had a very strict no spoiler no cheat no walkthrough policy on all of my games for the past 3 years. I have only had a few puzzles really give me pause and one was due to what was probably a bad translation (the instructions given used a word incorrectly, I forget which). I have no hesitation to use hint coins if I get stuck. I have probably used about 8 coins so far and I have about 40 in pocket.

This is a great game and one of my reasons for purchasing a DS. It's also the most expensive DS game I have ever bought ($30). I have a $25 or less policy on DS games, but this one was a must-buy.

[pete5883]

Good luck with the last couple puzzles :hot: