"Professor Layton and the Curious Village" is the latest puzzle game for the DS. Man playing Professor Layton, an archaeologist and amateur detective and his assistant Luke.
Because of inheritance dispute, the two of Lady Dahlia, of the late Baron Reinhold widow, called in the village of St. Mystere. The Baron has hidden a golden apple in the village before his death. Whoever finds him will inherit everything! What exactly is in this apple but is not yet known. This is the main puzzle that you must solve. But then also still happens a murder ....
The controls are very simple and limited to working with the stylus. People we speak to it by tapping on just this way objects are examined. Through the village you move by tapping the "Run" icon on the upper screen and the map of the city appears.
The game is beautifully designed and is reminiscent with its character type to the films of Studio Ghibli. Everything is very detail and especially the video sequences act as a high-profile animated film.
The voice acting is also in the German version in English (videos and important dialogues are spoken!), But the dialogs are displayed in small bubbles in German.
Once you start the game to start the puzzle. At every turn there is a new to discover, and nearly every person you talk to is only information if you previously redeemed a asked of her task. In many objects hide hidden mystery.
For completed puzzle is obtained Pikarat. When you have collected enough done "a wonderful thing", so you can expect lots of surprises in the game. Each puzzle is different value many of these Pikarat and for every miss some points are settled.
But no worries, you should not know what to do once, there is still the opportunity to buy Up to 3 notes. For this you have the hint coins are hidden throughout the village and the true track it.
This assistance is also necessary because, despite the unrestricted age rating of the game, many puzzles are so heavy that I can play only limited recommended for children. Often geometric understanding, spatial awareness and around-the-corner-think is needed. I would (approximately from 14) and adults recommend who enjoy such puzzles have it more suited for older children who sometimes take more than a few minutes to complete.
What surprised me in the game very well, the numerous ancillary functions in addition to the puzzles. In the game menu, which can be reached by a suitcase icon, you can call in addition to saving also a diary with notes, open the mystery Index and already play completed puzzle again and set up the rooms for Professor Layton and Luke himself.
In addition, you can still solve 2 additional puzzles. The first consists of a mysterious machine that can be assembled gradually, if one has gained the components.
The second is a puzzle in which you have to reconstruct a picture.
A special treat to the makers of the game have also come up leave. Via the wifi connection to download a new puzzle every week, so the game never ends completely.
My conclusion for the game: After I started again with the play, I could hardly put the DS out of hand. The puzzles are so numerous and varied that no boredom arises. The story and the drawings are made absolutely loving and all additional functions provide plenty of variety.
From my game gets full marks. Despite my high expectations it has disappointed me in any way, but even exceeded expectations!
