"Tap away and let us be bound by our love of puzzles," a man tells you during your adventures through Misthallery -- the latest haunted, puzzle-infested English town that investigator Layton and his pint-size sidekick Luke must plod through.

Like past Layton titles, the appeal of Professor Layton and the Last Specter lies in its challenging puzzles, eccentric characters, and the narrative's surrounding mysteries. More so than past titles, the mysteries of Misthallery are so well threaded together that you'll want to finish the game, not for the sake of completion, but for the sake of putting your curiosity at ease.

Professor Layton and the Last Specter (Nintendo DS)
Developer: Level-5, Brownie Brown (London Life only)
Publisher: Nintendo
Released: October 17, 2011
MSRP: $29.99

Whereas last year's Layton entry, The Unwound Future, gave us a glimpse at future Luke and Layton, Last Specter takes us back to the beginning of their friendship. Professor Layton is the same charming, famous, and brainy man he's always been. Luke, on the other hand, is a social misfit in search of his true calling.

After receiving a mysterious letter from the mayor of the sleepy, comfy town of Misthallery, Layton and his attractive and confident assistant Emmy go to investigate. The mayor happens to be an old friend of Layton, though they haven't kept in touch over the years. Nevertheless, Layton feels sympathy for the mayor's son Luke (yes, that Luke), who is troubled by the strange disappearance of his mother and even more so by apocalyptic visions that he's been having lately.

An ominous, lumbering mystical creature has been attacking the town every night, and Luke seems to be the only one with a clue. On the mayor's order, Emmy and Layton investigate the situation. Unbeknownst to the mayor, they take Luke out of the house for the investigation as well, though Luke's reluctant father doesn't seem to mind or even notice.

The story and cast of The Last Specter are the best yet in the series, which alone makes the game worth picking up. You'll be happy to hear than that the puzzles are also just as worthwhile. The variety of puzzles and increasing challenges will entertain both returning fans and newbies. Sliding blocks, riddles, mazes, math puzzles -- man, I hate math puzzles -- they're all here! Well, all except matchstick puzzles, which should make most sane people happy.

Being the fourth entry in a yearly series, it shouldn't come as a surprise that some puzzles are recycled from past entries. The graphics and wording are redone, but the tricks and solution at the puzzles' core remain the same. This doesn't happen as nearly as much as you would think, though, given the numerous amount of puzzles (150+). If nothing else, it's a collection of greatest hits for newbies and a welcome break in challenge for veterans.

The biggest problem with Last Specter, which has plagued all series entries, is the over-arching design of the game. A Professor Layton game is two things: a visual mystery novel and a collection of interactive Akira Tago puzzles. The series has always struggled to find ways to seamlessly blend the two. The transitions from character introduction to puzzle are less awkward in Last Specter -- largely thanks to a referential, humorous script -- but I still find much to complain about here.

I absolutely hate tollways in games. Like, when an RPG won't let you enter an area until you are at a certain level, or when you can't progress to the next mission in a game until you have completed enough side-missions. As with past titles, Last Specter has moments where it will tell you that you can't continue until you do 25, 50, or 80 puzzles. It really kills the momentum and flow of the narrative.

As a result, these games make me feel like I'm rubbing my stomach and patting my head at the same time. When I want to just enjoy the narrative and the main, plot-based puzzles, it stops me and sends me packing in the other direction. When I want to just relax and play some puzzles, the game inconveniences me with plot and poorly organized systems. For example, why must I search for the location of a previous puzzle I chose to leave undone? What does that add to anything? Why not just let me enjoy that puzzle from anywhere? I already discovered it, right?

Although exploration is still time-consuming, Last Specter has a warp system (via Bucky's boat rides on the city's canals) that makes things easier. You'll enjoy your first couple of trips through areas on foot, since Misthallery is full of early-1900s decor and zany citizens that makes the world of Layton such a romantic and comfortable one.

Misthallery sets a new bar for amusing, eccentric Layton inhabitants. It's hard to say why exactly they are crazier than usual, but it definitely keeps things interesting. My favorite character is a toss-up between a boy who thinks he is a bird, a homeless maniac who laughs at everyone's misfortune (including his own), and Goosey, a fat, mentally-stunted teenager who hides -- despite being too fat to hide anywhere -- and exclaims "That's Goosey!" when he's found. It's kind of creepy yet adorable.

In nearly every aspect, Last Specter feels most faithful to the original in its design, story, and structure. It improves on the format in subtle ways but fails to evolve the series in others. Instead of chasing more ambitious ideas (how about a Professor Layton where players can create/share puzzles?), implementing full voice acting (still limited to animated scenes and specific events, though this may just be a limitation of the DS), or tying puzzles and story closer together, Level-5 have churned out just another series entry. Mind you, it's the best one yet, but it still comes short of reaching the concept's full potential.

Still, it's difficult to damn the game's shortcomings, since no other developer has come close to achieving what Level-5 have done. Professor Layton is the only game I can get my mom to play, yet I can still enjoy it. Last Specter may not have any big twist on the format, but it's the most well designed entry yet. Perhaps there is comfort to be found in repeating a winning formula.

In short, Last Specter is the best Layton yet. The inclusion of a warp system, lack of matchstick puzzles, and memorable cast makes it just a notch better than the Curious Village. However, the series still inconveniences players who play primarily for the story or those, like me, who want to enjoy the story first and puzzles later. There are many players who feel a need to complete every puzzle as they progress. These players won't run into the problem of puzzle tollways or losing track of a previous puzzle's location. However, until the series finds a way to accommodate both types of players, I can't say the game is a must-have for all.

Professor Layton's London Life

"From the team behind Mother 3! One hundred hours of gameplay! RPG! RPG! YAY! OH GOD YES!!! FUUUUUuuu... just give it to me! That's it! I'm taking off my pants! I'm dancing! I'm dancing! Look at me, ma! I'm dancing!"

That's me regurgitating PR sheets and blind enthusiasm for what I thought London Life may be before its release. Here's what it actually is: Shit. It's free shit that comes attached to a worthwhile game, but it's still a bummer that it's a worthless and dull bonus.

Let's dispel some of this PR hogwash. First of all, the game is not really the team behind Mother 3 -- Brownie Brown primarily (only?) did that game's art. As a result, London Life looks a lot like Mother 3, which is to say that it's gorgeous.

One hundred hours of gameplay? I doubt it, but we'll probably never know since most sane players will give up on it after two hours or less. I certainly wasn't going to put myself through playing the entire thing for review purposes -- it's a bonus, after all, and one that is not fun at all to play, at that.

RPG? Hardly. The game is like Animal Crossing or The Sims stripped down to its bare components. You go buy things, talk to townsfolk, and decorate your minuscule apartment. The problem is that there is little else to do, and the jobs you must take, in order to acquire wealth, are as mind-numbing as they come. The entire game is based around talking to a character on one side of the map, walking to a character on the other side of the map, and repeating until you are a rich dude with a beret and large sofa. In case you want something equally dull, you can hunt for trash on the street.

You'll probably end up spending less time on London Life than the puzzles within Last Specter, except those are actually worthwhile and fun. London Life may not indicate the quality of the forthcoming Fantasy Life project between Brownie Brown and Level-5, but it definitely hasn't increased my confidence. If London Life's goal was to present what it's like to be a boring, senseless peasant in the world of Layton ... well, mission accomplished!

Legacy Comments (will be imported soon)

TheLupineOne

Maybe it's no big deal that Europe isn't getting London Life. Maybe it's something Japan would enjoy more.

Oh, 7/10 for TE readers.

32BitSin

CENSORED DUE TO ITS GRAPHIC NATURE.

In other news, meh to this game.

Voxeril

dat face....

santiagodelossantos

...7? :/ It's an okay score, but that game is amazing. But, i guess it's not for everyone.

Excel-2011

I totally called it.

Wrath and Pride

Hmmm yeah no

Darren Nakamura

I'd take matchstick puzzles over sliding block puzzles.

Bummer about Layton's London Life, but I'm not too bummed, considering the main game is what I want.

Discarded Couch Sandwich

I'' probably end up importing this one just to say I have the bonus London Life, even if it is a load of crap. But then I have to deal with the American voice actors i'm not familiar with and localized puzzles that only people native to the States will understand.

NFreak1

I don't get it. Is the score indicative of the whole package including London Life or just the main game (serious question). It seems as though you enjoyed it but found faults in some of the features that have not been fixed in the main game over the years. If the score is due to London Life, then I don't think it's totally fair to fault the entire game when LL is just a bonus mode added to the game.

Allistair Pinsof

Allistair Pinsof

London Life didn't factor into the review which is why I gave it it's own section..

NFreak1

Alright, fair enough.

Manthai

Hmm, 7.

It's tough to not be that guy that complains about the best in their favourite series being "good" rather than "great" or more.

A shame about London life being crappy though, not that I had a spare 100 hours for it anyway.

knutaf

Cool, may get this eventually. Played all the layton games so far; why stop now? Good review. I don't think I'll be surprised if I get it.

Monetep

Nice review.
Layton is probably not for everyone, but for those who is targeted, will love this game, from the deep intriguing, the great 2D artwork, the gameplay (puzzles), to the, as usual, great and hooking plot.

I'm 4 hours in right now (with half an hour lost solving the map-dice puzzle), and i think this game is fantastic.

Scissors

I'm one of those people who complete every puzzle so I never was frustrated by the puzzle tollways. As for the lack of voice acting I'm fairly sure that's due to the DS limitations from my understanding Mask of Miracle has significantly more voice acting. It is a shame though ,the voice acting is so top notch yet we only hear a little off it.

I'll definitely pick this up, but right now their are way too many other games that have my attention in the upcoming months.

Gwendolyn

NO 10!?!? WHY YOU LITTLE--

Hahahahahha just kidding XD I haven't finished it yet (hell I barely started it) but I think this is more for people who are well into the series, but I do agree that having to complete a certain number of puzzles to advance pisses me off too lol

I have had nerdgasms ever since it came out, and am going crazy because I'm too busy to play it right now @_@

phantomile

Wow I really disagree. I've spent at least six hours on London Life at this point, and I've barely touched the main game.

Kylehyde

I played every Professor Layton game and something that has been true from the beginning is that these titles are mainly puzzles games, the story is only an very nice complement, but the heart of the series are always the puzzles and the challenge that this can bring, so if you play these games for the story then you have played the wrong titles all this time.

jasondm300

This kind of falls, at least to me, in the same category as the baconing review. You know what you are getting into. there are no gameplay surprises, and if you like the first, which I do adore, then you will like this game. If you don't like the old ones, then you more than likely can pass on this one. I will be getting this once I finish my haul from the past couple of weeks

McDoug8

I cant wait to play it.
I have it sitting here still in its wrapper.
But I need to finish up Diabolical Box first.

DinnertimeNinja

I wouldn't usually bat an eyelash at a 7 out of 10 on D-Toid, but I just had to point out how ridiculous that score is when this quote is taken into consideration:

"In short, Last Specter is the best Layton yet"

7 totally makes sense.

Allistair Pinsof

Keep in mind that Destructoid uses the full score system as it's meant to be, so a 7 is pretty damn positive. In fact, I think Last Specter is one of the best DS games of the year.

In case you are curious, I'd say Layton 1 is also a 7.0 and Layton 2 a 6.0.

Retrozoa

@Pinsoff

And Layton 3?

Gwendolyn

@Kylehyde: "if you play these games for the story then you have played the wrong titles all this time"

I have been doing it wrong?!?!?! D:

lololo just kidding, I actually like the puzzles a lot, but I admit I wouldn't buy a bare stripped puzzle game collection. The story and characters are definitely a very important factor, at least for me ^^

@Retrozoa: I'd give it a 100 OVER 10 AAAJGHAGHJDAGHAKHGHS! (jk, I just really, REALLY liked it. My favourite PL game followed very closely by the second one)

Kylehyde

@Gwendolyn

lol don't worry

Actually I was trying to say that if somebody play the game for the story and not (or not too much) for the puzzles then something is wrong, however, Is good to see that this is not your case as you enjoy both elements (which is awesome) and I agree that the story in layton's games is important (I actually cried a little at the end of pandora's box which is my favorite game of the series) and certainly is an important element of this series, but still the essence of this series is from the puzzle genre. I enjoyed a lot your reply.

Sorrows Neptune

If it weren't for the fact that I've barely even started to play Persona 2: Innocent Sin, I would be playing this game RIGHT NOW.

ElReminator

I'm actually having a whole lot of fun with London life...

Spent around 20 hours on it already, got a golden top hat, a prince coat, a bigger room, a toy robot, a roommate, and there IS a story line to follow, you just have to get there. But maybe that's just me... I do enjoy senseless item collections and having a ton of in game money! And yes, the sprites are gorgeous. :)

There is an audience for London Life, but it is not a typical battle based RPG affair.

As for the main course, Last Specter, it is Layton as we know Layton, so for me it's all good! I'd rate the overall package 8.5 on 10 , but I understand why it got a 7 here, which still is a good enough score for me! :)

But really, am I wrong to enjoy London Life this much? I spent more time on this than the main game already! It's a perfect little ... erhh , toilet game if I may say so?

Mutaharu

No, you're not wrong on enjoying London Life. He just didn't like it. That doesn't mean EVERYONE has to dislike it.

I mean, look at Solatorobo. A LOT of people love that game despite his score of 4.

ElReminator

Yeah, but to read that a game I enjoy is "Shit"...

That's a bit harsh haha!

Zaheer

"For example, why must I search for the location of a previous puzzle I chose to leave undone? What does that add to anything? Why not just let me enjoy that puzzle from anywhere? I already discovered it, right?"

Just FYI, this isn't entirely correct. While playing the game I discovered there is a specific location from where you can go back to any unsolved puzzle, without having to find it again. I won't give away where it is, but it does in fact exist. I know, it would've been better if you could just open up your trunk and have access to them, but this is certainly a heck of a lot better than hunting down each puzzle individually. They're all kept together neatly in a single place.

Allistair Pinsof

Are you talking about the cat? Because the cat only has puzzles that you missed, which gives the player incentive to ignore all puzzles -- another dumb design decision. If it's not that then ... please, for the love of God, tell me!

Zaheer

Zaheer

"Are you talking about the cat? Because the cat only has puzzles that you missed, which gives the player incentive to ignore all puzzles -- another dumb design decision. If it's not that then ... please, for the love of God, tell me!"

Oh geez, I guess you're right. I suppose I misunderstood... probably because the way it actually works is so bizarre.

Having said that though, it sounds as if it does allay your concerns to some extent. I'm assuming that puzzles you 'miss' include any ones which you failed to solve during their period of availability to find, right? So really, shouldn't most puzzles you skip past eventually be relegated to the cat?

Or maybe that's not true. Bah! This is my first Layton game!

Monkey News

Can we just get rid of review scores please, bitch bitch bitch. If you dont think its a fair review, go buy the game, and do your own little write up. Because according to alot of users on this here blogging site, anything below an 8 is considered shit.

Karimbus

I'm relieved that London life sucks. I live in England so I wouldn't be getting it anyway, now I'm glad I don't have to import it.