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Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Level-5
Genre: Puzzle
Release Date: August 25, 2009
Platform: Nintendo DS
Rating: E10+ - Everyone 10+
Reviewer: Eric
Nearly two years ago we got the first Professor Layton game. At first nobody
seemed to care about it but then that commercial came out earlier this year and
the game became a huge hit. Hoping to bank off the success of the first game (do
you remember the commercial) Nintendo is ready to give us another douse of
Professor Layton. The only problem I have is it is the same thing.
The first adventure Professor Layton went on he figured out puzzles and brain
teasers. Layton could solve it all and he got the job done. Instead of changing
the formula Nintendo is giving us another Professor Layton game that has you
figuring out puzzles and brain teasers. Level-5 (the publishers) had a good
thing before and they are making things just as good.
If you never played the first game that is fine. Level-5 won’t make fun of you
with in-game text or spam you with dirty pictures in your work email account.
Level-5 does a nice job adding in enough to make old fans happy while at the
same time making new comers feel right at home. That is a real treat since some
sequels rip you a new asshole if you just joined them for the quest.
It is the same game in ways, with the puzzles. Everything I liked about the
Curious Village was Grade A and most puzzle games have yet to mimic the magic
from this series. This time around the puzzles and brain teasers seem to be a
tad harder. The Curious Village was too easy at times so it is nice to find out
that I am using a hint even before I hit the double digits into the puzzles.
The story is about the mysterious Elysian Box. The Elysian Box has killed one of
the Professor’s friends. Of course Layton is curious on what happened so he is
off to Europe to figure out this mystery.
Level-5 has managed to outdo their work on the Curious Village when it comes to
the curscenes. These full-motion sequences help develop the mysterious story and
at the same time it pushes the Nintendo DS/DSi to the limits.
I was really surprised how good the story is in The Diabolical Box. Level-5
keeps up with the whole European aspects with the story, even to the minor
details. Even without knowing where the story takes place you can figure it out.
Level-5 didn’t skim anything with the development of this game.
Out of the 150 puzzles the game has to offer I didn’t find too many that were
repeats. Once you beat a puzzle or brain teaser you can play it again, but why
would you want to do that again? You can see if a friend or family member wants
to give a shot, that’s about it. Once you figure it out you’ll know how to beat
it for quite some time, unless you are as dumb as a big pile of donkey shit.
I was not sure if some puzzles had glitches but I was able to give multiple
answers and I never lost anything. Honestly I would grip more about the fact
that you can almost save the game after one or two puzzles. This gives players a
chance to be evil or good since you can get all the hints, shut the game off and
try it again so you get a perfect. Still the game does have harder puzzles and
brain teasers but you will always have that good and evil choice when playing
The Diabolical Box.
The Nintendo Wi-Fi feature is back, giving you the chance to unlock new puzzles
weekly. Professor Layton and the Curious Village proved that the updates kept on
coming so it is nice to see Nintendo is doing it again.
There is another interesting add-on in The Diabolical Box. You get a hamster
buddy early in the game. He is cool and all but he is really a puzzle (cue
mysterious music). By placing items on the ground for the hamster he gets to
walk. It sounds sort of lame in words but it is kind of cool.
Final Verdict
The second time around is always a tough one, that is if the developer is going
to try something new. Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box is more than less
the same game but with a new hamster game/puzzle and challenging puzzles and
brain teasers. The gameplay was great the first time around so I would say it is
safe to figure out this puzzle.
Rating Breakdown
Gameplay: 9 out of 10
+ It’s the same thing but it works so well.
- Wish Level-5 tried some more than just the damn hamster.
Graphics: 9 out of 10
+ Layton looks the same, but better during cutscenes.
- All-in-all it is just the same.
Audio: 8 out of 10
+ The spoken dialogue sounds great on this cartridge based
game.
- Seems to be less spoken dialogue than the Curious Village.
Replay Value: 7 out of 10
+ Nintendo Wi-Fi capabilities will have you coming back for
more.
- Once the downloadable puzzle is done you have to wait
another week.
Overall
8.25 out of 10
More reviews:
MetaCritic: 8.5/10
TestFreaks: 7.5/10
Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box Trailer
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