Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy – 3DS

Platform: Nintendo 3DS

Release Date (NA):  February 28th, 2014

Developer: Level-5

Publisher: Level-5, Nintendo

Genre: Puzzle, Adventure

Rating: 9.5 out of 10

Reviewed by Lady Russell

Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy is the best of the series. I didn’t think it could get any better, especially since we’ve already seen a 3D Layton adventure before, but I was surprised by how much better it felt than that. By the end of the game, the sad fact that this will be the final game Level-5 will be releasing was only highlighted by how amazing this installment was. While I’m disappointed that I can’t look forward to move puzzle-solving adventures, I can think of no better way for the series to end: on a high note.

We start our adventure with Professor Layton, his assistant Emmy, and his young apprentice Luke traveling to a frigid hamlet where a most fascinating discovery has been made. Professor Sycamore (not to be confused with the Professor of the recent Pokemon X and Y) has found a woman frozen in ice. She seems to have been cyrogenically preserved, but for what purpose? Professor Sycamore believes she is connected to the Azran, an ancient and extinct civilization believed to be more advanced than we can imagine.

You’ll travel the world with Layton and friends, as they unlock the secrets of the Azran. The story is very extensive, with numerous side plots that tie into the overarching story. The airship Bostonius provides a convenient way to move between locations very quickly. Traveling makes this game seem far more expansive than any of the previous games. There are several places to explore and tons of people to meet. Each location has its own story and connection to the Azran. By solving problems in each, you’ll uncover more details of the Azran and how worldly their influence was.

The only problem I found with the traveling is that it made it easier for me to miss puzzles. When completing one chapter, I had tons of puzzles I missed that I had no clue about. You may have to go back and visit previous locations to find them. I’m not sure how I missed them, but it makes me mad when I do, so that was a little annoying.

With over 150 puzzles in the main storyline though, it is pretty easy to miss some. This game is going to take you awhile to complete (which is why my review is a week late). They range from simple riddles to complex moveable puzzles. Some of these brainteasers can be brutal, so make sure you’re up to the task, or you have a stash of hint coins to help you. But all the puzzles are fun, and I love the diversity in types.

As always, this adventure comes with a couple sidequests/minigames that offer a little more puzzle-solving fun. In one game, it’s up to you to collect pieces of clothing (through solving puzzles of course) and dress the women you meet throughout the world according to their personal tastes. In another, you’re tasked with rolling a nut to a particular location through a complex stage. These provide a much needed occasional break from the main storyline, and from what I refer to as “puzzle fatigue”.

If the main story still just isn’t enough or you want to prolong the fun, you also have a year of puzzles to look forward to! Each day from the game’s release (Feb 28th) you can download a new puzzle. As long as you have an internet connection, you can get them (and don’t worry if you missed a day or week getting your puzzles, they’ll keep a backlog of them). You also can create fun scavenger hunts for your friends who have the game and invite them to find hidden items throughout the game via Streetpass. I have yet to try this feature out, but it seems like a fun way to extend the fun a little more.

The graphics would have to be the thing I thought least changed but also what was most improved. Professor Layton games are infamous for their hand-drawn look and their epic animated cutscenes. This game is no different. The 3D that I thought was maybe a little clunky looking in Miracle Mask seemed smoother and more refined, and I actually enjoyed seeing the characters in 3D.

What really had me excited for both the graphics and 3D, however, was demonstrated by a fairly early scene in which the Bostonius chases after another airship. You take a first-person view from the ship, and must shoot down targets to get closer to your quarry. The 3D landscape was absolutely breathtaking. It reminded me of the air-borne parts of Kid Icarus: Uprising, in a very good way. It was something they haven’t done in a Layton game before this, but they pulled it off very well.

While all the Layton games, in my book, are amazing and definitely worth a play-through, I really loved Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy. The graphics were polished and at times extremely fantastic. The story was grand in both quality and proportions, and filled to the brim with puzzles. And of course, I got to see Layton and his wonderful hat one last time. This was an amazing game; definitely give it a go.

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Written by Nerd Bacon