Kai Arcos Jiménez

#Thoughts

There are few franchises that come close to Professor Layton’s nostalgia factor for me. This was the first series that motivated me to buy video game magazines so that I could follow their release, and save up my allowance to buy each new entry as soon as I could. While I’ve tried to look at these games through a more objective lens during my second playthrough… the thoughts below are definitely blinded by my love for the franchise. You’ve been warned!

The Curious Village does a great job of setting the tone for the series. You’re introduced to a cast of mysterious characters that live in a beautifully illustrated world, where the line between reality and magic is somewhat blurry.

The mystery to be solved is compelling enough on its own, but there is one other thing that makes this game special. Puzzles! The game offers a very diverse collection, and the two screens of the Nintendo DS are the perfect format for many of them. They sit at the core of the gameplay and even facilitate your interactions with the villagers of St. Mystere, who seem to be crazy about them. I always found it endearing that puzzles were written to be a core aspect of the non-playable characters’ lives too, not just Prof. Layton’s. On a more personal note, I felt a great sense of achievement when overcoming the ones that I found particularly difficult as a child, and even managed to complete all of them this time around.

I’m always in awe at the works of art produced in the video game industry, but this might just be one of my favourites. The music perfectly sets the atmosphere and feels crafted to match the style of the illustrations. It’s such a beautiful pairing, and together with an endearing story and a charming cast of characters, they make for a magical experience.