As this game finishes the first trilogy of Professor Layton games, it certainly does it with a bang. Packing even more fresh puzzles into this game, it never seems to lack in variety of skill for all players.
One of the more obvious new features not seen in Curious Village or Diabolical Box, is the extended hint system. In previous games, each puzzle allowed three hints for a cost of one hint coin each. Unwound Future allows a fourth hint for each puzzle, entitled ‘S. Hint’ at the cost of two hint coins. This is most likely based around the ‘Super Guide’ system Nintendo began implementing with New Super Mario Bros. Wii. The S. Hints tend to make the answer really obvious, sometimes even telling you the answer directly.
A great improvement was seen in the mini-game department. Three new concepts (storybook, parrot and laytonmobile) emerged and all are fun and intriguing. They all focus heavily on logic to finish the levels, and the difficulty rises at a fair rate. As for the future of mini-games; if Level 5 follows suit for NA/EU, Professor Layton and the Specter’s Flute on the 3DS will feature ‘Professor Layton’s London Life’, a 100 hour RPG made by popular developer ‘Brownie Brown’. This will no doubt bring the Professor Layton series to a whole new level.
Another new feature in the game is a puzzle ‘battle-of-wits’. These are on-the-spot, no saving, no hint puzzles that are crucial to the storyline, and can’t be avoided. Because of this, the difficulty is slightly lowered, but would still be considered difficult. These don’t occur too often, but often enough to make a fun challenge.
The story itself is spectacular. It especially pays off if you’ve gone through the first two games. Much like a good season finale of a TV show, the story here reveals major plot twists, and ties up loose ends to the ongoing mystery presented at the beginning. However, they did leave it open for a sequel of sorts. It will be interesting to see them tie the last of this trilogy to the beginning of the prequel trilogy.
This game is an absolute must for any Professor Layton fan. The perfect ending leading into a new beginning.
9/10
~~mario64mario