Looking for a fun game that’s appropriate for all ages and challenging? The sequal to Professor Layton and the Curious Village lives up to all the hype of its reviews. Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box features the same wonderful art and charming characters of its predecessor. It doesn’t really break new gameplay ground, but you’re buying this game because you want and, dare I say, crave more of the same. A few puzzles will seem familiar to you but there are plenty new varieties to keep you satisfied, especially with the unlockable and downloadable content.
The story follows the death of Layton’s mentor soon after receiving a mysterious antique known as the Elysium Box. The Box carries a terrible curse that it said to kill anyone who dares open it. The game leads you through no less then 4 distinct locations with plenty to explore, a fair bit more then Curious Village game did. Ambience and music are of course sublimely done, and a big credit to the fantastic voice acting. The ending leaves much to be desired but hopefully you’ll enjoy the journey up until.
Present in Diabolical box, as with before, the player is given a few mini games to complete throughout the game. They’re both fun and add real value to the game without seeming out of place. Once you hit the train you’re able to start collecting pieces of a camera that when fixed will allow you to take pictures of specified locations and unveil additional hidden puzzles. Also on the train you pick up a chubby hamster you need to exercise back to health using hamster toys you get as puzzle rewards. I got a lot of enjoyment out of constructing obstacle courses for my hamster, and here’s a tip: If you get him fit enough, he can sniff out hint coins for you. The final mini game the Tea Set doesn’t quite delight near as much. The first few recipes are given to you, but it’s up to the player to randomly mix ingredients together to find preset recipes. I must admit I consulted a guide on those. Each resident of the final town will, at RANDOM times, indicate that they are thirsty and require a specific tea recipe. Get them all and you unlock the Tea Master’s House. It ends up being more annoying then feels worth it.
All that aside, I was driven to keep progressing through the game and loving all of the challenges along the way. Of course you’re going to run into frustrations, but there should be plenty of hint coins along the way to help you out. Don’t rush through it too quick like I did, and appreciate one of the true gems of the Nintendo DS.
Nintendo DS Games
