Surprised to see Professor Layton And The Mask Of Miracle beat Nintendo favourites such as Luigi's Mansion 2, Animal Crossing 3DS and Paper Mario 3DS to number one? You shouldn't be. After all, anyone who keeps a close eye on the charts will know that Professor Layton And The Spectre's Call beat the likes of Legend Of Zelda: Skyward Sword, Mario Kart 7 and Super Mario 3D Land in the build up to Christmas.
Professor Layton is a Level 5 creation but in the absence of new stars, he has been welcomed into the fold as a Nintendo hero. Yet it's not just Nintendo fans who love Layton - we all love the bonkers stories but the tricky puzzles entice the Brain Training crowd who want something new to play on DS after finishing Dr Kawashima's mind games.
Indeed, if any game could make 3DS appeal to a wider audience it's Professor Layton And The Mask Of Miracle. Also, seeing as it's only available on 3DS, it will encourage Layton fans all over the world to buy the new handheld.
Of course, by the time Mask Of Miracle is released over here, Japanese fans will have been enjoying it for more than a year. It was a 3DS launch game in Japan and as we wait for this, the second game in the prequel trilogy, Japanese Layton fans will be anticipating for the sixth game in the series, the name of which has yet to be announced.
Mask Of Miracle is set one year after the Professor Layton And The Eternal Diva film. Not that the timeframe really matters. Although this is the second game in a prequel trilogy, it's not like Star Wars. The Professor Layton games don't really follow on from each other in that you don't need to have played all four games to understand what is going on.
This time Layton is in the fictional European city of Montdol, also known as the city of miracles. According to legend, the town was created with the power of the Mask of Miracle, an artifact which grants wishes to anyone who wears it. It has got into the hands of the Miracle Gentleman who has used the mask's power to transform people into statues and horses. We can only presume that there is a logical explanation behind this and so Layton is recruited by Sharon Leidle, an old university friend, to help solve the mystery of the Mask of Miracle.
Layton games often start slowly but Mask Of Miracle begins with a bang as an inflatable clown falls from the sky and some of the town's people are turned into statues. Then the Miracle Gentleman is seen laughing on a roof before he grows wings and flies off, leaving Layton and crew riding after him on horseback. What follows is totally new for a Layton game as you use the stylus to chase the masked man through the town's narrow streets on horseback.
However, he escapes leaving Layton to do the usual stuff: exploring the town, chatting to its residents and solving puzzles plus completing the usual side-quests.
What makes this stand out for Layton fans is not the puzzles but the flashbacks that take the player back to Layton's college days before he use a top hat to hide his crazy hair.
The 3D visuals enhance the experience and, according to Level 5 chief Akihiro Hino, helped make this is the best Professor Layton game yet. We're not going to argue with him.
Stachenscarfen says: I actually though it looked better in normal 2D, though I'm sure the story will still be astonishing and the music... WOW!
YAY! Like I said yesterday, Prof Layton definitely deserves a place on the list...and more than deserves the number 1 place! SOOOO Looking forward to this game. Everytime I finish a Layton game, I'm always left wanting more!!
There are a lot of good games in this list which I have been eagerly anticipating for quite some time now. I think Nintendo might make me bankrupt...better get the summer internship I applied for.
P.S. FIRST!
So the prof bags the coveted No.1 slot..!! That's a surprise, but one I won't argue with. My 2012 wishlist of 3DS games is already as long as my arm, and going by the above write-up, Layton is yet another must-have addition. I'm a long-time Nintendo fan (going all the way back to the SNES), but I'm ashamed to say that I've yet to sample the delights of a Professor Layton title. Looks like No.5 will more than likely be my No.1! And I can't wait.
Just knew that this will be the number one game as if it isn't in 10 - 2 then it must be one and so it was, also cant wait
I`m pleased to hear that there is a wide range of layton fans, as I am one myself!
I seriously can`t wait until this game comes out! I`m still enjoying the spectre`s call in fact.
Whoop! imma mini kid-version of layton! xD
I know It's not official yet but no Zelda 3DS in the list?
very happy to hear that this game is number one!
It certainly is on my list!
I have loved all of the layton games and have 100% completed every puzzle, hidden puzzle, extra puzzle and downloaded puzzle, and every time i do so i want another game!
So here it is and in magnificent 3D!
This was the game i got the 3DS for
of cource
not what i would of had at number one but in still looking forward to it
i just realised, the first layton prequal game was about an ocarina and the second is about a mask. seems to be a pattern forming there. but yes, very much looking forward to this game.
Same here. As it definitely deserved a place in the top 10. It's on mine.
HAHA! I noticed that too. XD
Same here. Completed all the games 100%. And yet, after I'm done I'm always left wanting more. So I can't wait for this game.
Yet another Day 1 purchase for me. This is one of those games I have to have in my library of 3DS games.
Wow I'm a big Layton fan and this looks great.
hmmmm.....
is anyone else kinda annoyed about how the series is going?
i mean i loved the animateion of all the other games but now.....
like why do they feel like they need to make them all.....3d
i just kinda find it creepy.i much prefare the old ds games.
same with phoniex wright and other games like that.
i am still going to be getting it when i get my 3ds,but its defianlty my most favourited game of the year.
weird seeing as all the professor layton games in the past were number one on my lists.
"Layton link"like why do they feel like they need to make them all.....3d
Duh its new console and Layton has always been on DS, by the time they'd finish this, DS would have no new games so movin on to 3DS! Besides I saw one the puzzles in the trailer....Awesome!
Also I hace a hunch the kid in the glasses is Descole, in movies the bad guy usually was a good friend of the good guy, but its just a hunch