Professor Layton and Video Game Series
Enjoying great popularity among users of Nintendo DS and Nintendo 3DS consoles is a series of puzzle and adventure games. The series is developed by the Level-5 development studio in cooperation with the Nintendo corporation.
The creator of the series Professor Layton is Akihiro Hino, who as a child was fascinated by the Head Gymnastics series of logic puzzle books. The first installment of the series - Professor Layton and the Curious Village was released in 2007 and quickly gained recognition among users of the Nintendo DS console. Encouraged by its success, Level-5 developers later that year prepared a sequel - Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box. The classic trilogy about the adventures of Professor Layton was crowned by the game Professor Layton and the Unwound Future (2008). In 2009, a new series was initiated, referred to as the Second Trilogy (Second Trilogy). It includes the games: Professor Layton and the Last Specter (2009), Professor Layton and the Miracle Mask (2011) i Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy (2013). In addition, the macros also received spin-offs Layton Brothers: Mystery Room (2012) and Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney (2012).
The action of the games in the series Professor Layton takes place in London. The main characters are Hershel Layton, a professor of archaeology at the fictional Gressenheller University, and his self-appointed assistant, 12-year-old Luke Triton. The duo specialize in solving puzzles, often of a criminal nature.
The first three games in the series are not plot-related. Only the second trilogy has a more compact plot with intertwining threads. Most often, the characters are asked to unravel a case that in some way involves their friends or acquaintances. In doing so, events have a predetermined course.
The gameplay is based on solving tasks in the form of logical mini-games. There are from 130 to 170 in each installment of the series, and not all of them have to be solved. The condition for progress in the storyline can be solving a certain number of puzzles, gaining the required number of picarats (a special currency, which is a reward for completing a task) or dealing with specific puzzles. Following the example of traditional adventures with a point & click interface, between successive logical challenges players visit locations and talk to NPCs.
On the popularity of the series Professor Layton is evidenced by sales results. Data from Level-5 shows that in August 2013, the games in the series were purchased by 15 million players.
Professor Layton and Series Evolution
2020
Professor Layton and the Lost Future HD
2019
Layton's Mystery Journey: Katrielle and the Millionaires' Conspiracy - Deluxe Edition
2018
Layton: Curious Village in HD
2017
Layton's Mystery Journey: Katrielle and the Millionaires' Conspiracy
2013
Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy
2011
Professor Layton and the Miracle Mask
2009
Professor Layton and the Spectre's Call
2008
Professor Layton and the Lost Future
2007
Professor Layton and Pandora’s Box
2007
Professor Layton and the Curious Village
Professor Layton and the New World of Steam
Adventure
2025
A detective adventure game and a new installment in the iconic series originating from 2007. Professor Layton and The New World of Steam tells the tale of yet another mystery solved by the titular character and his apprentice, Luke Triton.
Professor Layton and the Lost Future HD
Adventure
July 13, 2020
Professor Layton and the Lost Future HD is an adventure game which is a re-mastered version of the production originally released on Nintendo DS. It is distinguished by its graphic design, and various kinds of puzzles, which play a significant role in its gameplay.
Layton's Mystery Journey: Katrielle and the Millionaires' Conspiracy - Deluxe Edition
Adventure
November 8, 2019
An adventure game that is a new entry in the Professor Layton series. The players assume the role of a young female detective who lives in Londyn. She is looking for her father and solving various cases for her clients.
Layton: Curious Village in HD
Adventure
September 25, 2018
A refreshed version of the adventure game released in 2007 on the Nintendo DS console, this time prepared for mobile platforms and produced by a well-known Japanese studio Level 5 (authors of, among others, the popular jRPG series Dragon Quest.
Layton's Mystery Journey: Katrielle and the Millionaires' Conspiracy
Adventure
July 20, 2017
A detective adventure game which is the next full-fledged installment in the Professor Layton series developed by Level 5 for Nintendo portable consoles. Lady Layton: The Millionaire Ariadone’s Conspiracy features a new main protagonist - Hershell Layton was replaced by in this role his daughter, Katrielle. The game takes place in London where Kat is trying to find her missing father. She quickly proves to be an unconventional yet very effective detective. The player spends most of the time in the game on exploration, conversations and solving riddles. However, the mechanics of the game were slightly changed and the gameplay is more focused on typical detective activities. The female protagonist must lead many cases simultaneously and she must help the inhabitants of London in various situations. She is accompanied by a talking dog named Sharo who gives her useful advice.
Layton Brothers Mystery Room
Adventure
June 27, 2013
Layton Brothers Mystery Room is a mobile adventure game available for Android. It tells the story of Scotland Yard detectives dealing with the strangest cases. While playing, we look for evidence and circumstantial evidence, collect testimonies and question suspects.
Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy
Adventure
February 28, 2013
Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy is a puzzle game created by the Level 5 team. The game consists mainly in solving puzzles, exploring the location and searching for objects and hints using a stylus. All this is shown in attractive cartoon graphics.
Professor Layton vs. Ace Attorney
Adventure
November 29, 2012
An adventure game in which the protagonists of the Professor Layton and Phoenix Wright series play: Ace Attorney. The title characters are transferred to another world, where they must discover the secrets of the mysterious city and lead to the acquittal of a girl accused of being a witch. The game is about taking part in a virtual process and solving puzzles.
Professor Layton and the Miracle Mask
Adventure
February 26, 2011
The fifth installment of Professor Layton's adventures and, at the same time, the first release on the Nintendo 3DS portable console. The plot revolves around the adventures of the title professor and his helper, a young man named Luke. The mechanics of the game has not changed much. Play is still about searching locations, collecting objects and, above all, solving riddles.
Professor Layton and the Spectre's Call
Adventure
November 26, 2009
The next installment of the well-known series of adventure-logical games about the title character. Professor Layton and the Spectre's Call, despite the fact that released as one of the parts, is actually chronologically part one, being an introduction to the cycle.
Professor Layton and the Lost Future
Adventure
November 27, 2008
The third part of the popular adventure game, in which, in addition to conversations with the characters and typical adventure elements, we will also find dozens of puzzles that need to be solved in order to learn more about the rest of the story.
Professor Layton and Pandora’s Box
Adventure
November 29, 2007
A game addressed mainly to young audiences, combining elements of adventure with logical riddles. Professor Layton and his assistant set off on the trail of a thief who stole the mythical Pandora's Box.
Professor Layton and the Curious Village
Adventure
February 15, 2007
A very interesting adventure game, in which we deal with solving various logical puzzles, prepared by a specialist. Noteworthy is also the untypical graphic design.