Akihiro Hino y su manía por intentar convertir todas las obras de Level-5 en un producto multimedia (con anime, versiones para smartphones, baratijas coleccionables, etc.) ha hecho muchísimo daño a la compañía, y este juego es un claro ejemplo de ello. 'Layton 7' trata de resetear la franquicia con un nuevo casting de personajes sin parentesco alguno a las aventuras del Profesor y Luke, pero su formato episódico está muy enfocado a aportar el mínimo setting para hacer el juego posible, sin que los personajes evolucionen una pizca o ganen en complejidad. Cada uno de los doce casos son autocontenidos y tediosos a más no poder, sin puntos de unión ni respuestas a los misterios iniciales que propone el juego (¿ande está Layton? ¿Y quién es ese chucho que no se calla ni bajo el agua?).

Peor aún, aunque el juego trata de revolucionar la franquicia, se juega exactamente igual que los anteriores y sin hacer nada mejor que ellos. Los casos son muy simples y tienen resoluciones mayormente estúpidas como para apreciar el proceso deductivo empleado, suelen recorren las mismas zonas de Londres sin apenas variación entre ellas (se les agotaron los sitios donde esconder los Picarats), y poseen una estructura que siguen a rajatabla y que se hace muy cansina. Como si fueran episodios independientes de una sitcom, principal motivación que ha llevado a Hino a crear tal descalabro inconexo. Las +20h que lleva completar el juego son una larga y tediosa rutina que te hace perder neuronas con cada resolución absurda que presenta Katrielle, rogando que en algún momento haya cierta redención que explique por qué todo resulta tan estéril y aburrido. No lo hay, y encima te encomienda a seguir el anime asociado (¡de 50 episodios!) para ver si así te enteras de algo. Akihiro Hino señoras y señores, especialista en explotar sus IPs de mayor éxito hasta destruirlas desde tiempos inmemoriales.

Las bazas a favor del juego son, como de costumbre, la excelente presentación visual que gozan las obras de Level-5 (tienen un sello inconfundible) y que la fórmula jugable se mantiene inalterada, con tropecientos puzles y acertijos para retar tu ingenio, muy variados como de costumbre. 'Layton 7' es comúnmente criticado por tener puzles muy inferiores a lo habitual en la saga, principalmente porque el principal responsable de ellos (Akira Tago) murió durante el desarrollo del juego... en parte se nota, porque muchos siguen empleando argucias sucias e ideadas para pillar a la gente, sin que la lógica empleada tenga algún sentido. A veces presentando soluciones muy cuestionables sin explicar cómo han llegado a tal razonamiento. Pero personalmente, diría que no resultan muy diferentes a las anteriores entregas de Layton en 3DS ('La máscara de los prodigios' y 'El legado de los ashalanti'), y ya entonces podían apreciarse la acumulación de errores y falta de ideas que adolece la saga, aunque quizá no en tanta cuantía como en este juego. En 'Katrielle y la conspiración de los millonarios', la dificultad es muy inconsistente (difícilmente equiparable al número de Picarats que reparten los puzles) y existe también una menor integración con la narrativa del juego. Los puzles están principalmente para hacer bulto en el trayecto, aunque funcionalmente deban ser una parte vital de la jugabilidad. Los minijuegos especiales también son especialmente aburridos en esta entrega.

Level-5 está intentando revivir de sus cenizas (está por ver que lo consigan) con un nuevo Layton en el horizonte, pero las señales no son muy halagüeñas como para pensar que Hino & cía puedan insuflar nueva vida a la hastiada fórmula de la franquicia. No se pasa mal rato jugándolos, pero es evidente que este cuento ya lo has visto unas cuantas veces. Y en este sentido, 'Katrielle y la conspiración de los millonarios' es el peor de todos: una aventura absolutamente prescindible de la que no se acordará nadie con el tiempo. Ni siquiera Level-5, que ya se ha alejado de su espíritu revolucionario apostando de nuevo por la clásica dupla que forman Hershel y Luke. Probablemente sea mejor así.

I've been wanting to play a game like Professor Layton for a long time and only recently noticed that Katrielle and the Millionaires' Conspiracy was available on Switch. I am aware that this is a spin off series and will not fully represent Layton in any way, but I was still curious. I actually liked the Mystery Rooms mobile game, and was curious to know more about the story of Layton's daughter, Katrielle.

Story: The plot is divided by several cases since Katrielle is a part of a detective agency and tries to solve various mysteries as she goes about in London. This is already a massive difference compared to Layton since that focusses on one plot to guide you and this having several unrelated plot points. This could be something people won't like about the game, but I rather enjoyed seeing these short cases of maybe 2-3 hours. There were a great variety of mysteries, fun people to interact with, and more importantly a great protagonist to get to know.
Katrielle inherits her father's intellect and passion for manners in the form of being a gentlewoman. However, she isn't afraid to show a more fun side to her as well. She does not feel like a carbon copy of Layton, and I love that. She loves her father and despite being a detective situated in London, she aspires to go on adventures just like our top hat archeologist, making this a fun origin story if they ever want to pass the gauntlet to her. She tends to joke around or get easily distracted at first glance, but paying attention to the plot you can see that she always like to think ahead and find a way to give everyone a happy ending while still have a good time. This personality works perfectly well with her partner, Sherl the dog, who plays a straight man in most of her comedic stories.
Gameplay: I've already mentioned that this game consists of several cases, but it's mechanics are still very similar to her father's series. Puzzles are placed all around the area and plot, and you have to use your own reading or intellectual skills to figure it out (or use a hint coin for some extra help). The best part as well is that all the puzzles are very different to one another. So you never have to worry about coming across the same puzzle all the time.

In short, Katrielle's game presents a fun puzzle adventure for all audiences that may differ from her predecessor's series, but still have other qualities (protagonist, funny writing, short burst story) that will let you have a smile across your face.

🚫 ONLY A SUMMARY OF THE REVIEW IS AVAILABLE. READ MISC SECTION ON WHY 🚫

Layton's Mystery Journey: Katrielle and The Millionaires' Conspiracy – Deluxe Edition brings less to the Nintendo Switch than the length of its name might suggest. As a remaster of a previously released game, the biggest differences lie in the audiovisual element, but there are new puzzles featured in this version. It's not a very demanding game and doesn't overtake the most significant games in the Layton series but this is a charming and welcoming introduction for those who have never explored the world of these adventure & detective games.
👉opencritic SUMMARY

Layton's Mystery Journey: Katrielle and The Millionaires' Conspiracy – Deluxe Edition, a very long name for a game that may not be the most ambitious in the Professor Layton series, or even an entirely new game as this is a remaster of a previous game with some additional content but that's not an obstacle for delivering fun and creative puzzles and a charming overall atmosphere. Its relative lack of enough new content makes this a more difficult purchase for those already familiar with the original game but those just starting in the Layton series will have a good, enjoyable and welcoming introduction.
👉 metacritic SUMMARY

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◻️ ⚠️ Review originally written for FNintendo (defunct website) and published on November 10th, 2019. Full review is currently unavailable. Expect restored written piece translated into English.
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◻️ ✍️ in European Portuguese (Main body of text translated into English with A.I.)
◻️ 📜 Review Number 7

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Layton's Mystery Journey is the newest, and final (at the time of writing this) game in the Professor Layton series, and what else can I say other than what a bad way to end the series. I must make it clear from the start, this game's biggest issue is it's complete and utter lack of focus. The game is about the daughter of Professor Layton, one Katrielle Layton as she starts her own private detective business in London. The game, much like the previous entry, Layton Brothers, is split up into cases for you to piece together and solve, but unlike Layton Brothers, this game just lacks a central focus and plot line to follow. Instead we just get little slice of life chapters with very simple and predictable mysteries that struggled to keep my attention in fact my main enjoyment from the game was the very minor call backs to the previous games in the series. I don't necessarily think the characters or the set up of the game is bad, in fact it's far from it, the problem stems from the fact the game completely ignores all the interesting plot points it sets up for the complete opposite. For instance the set up shows Professor Layton leaving Katrielle on a foggy night setting up for an interesting premise.This plot point is never brought up again until the post credit scene, but more on that later. Next we have Sherl who is allegedly a human trapped in the body of a dog introduced in the first case who tags along with the main team for the complete length of the game. Sherl, and Katrielle's fates intertwine when Sherl reaches out to Katrielle's detective agency to help find out how he turned into a dog, but guess what, that plot point is completely waved away, and is NEVER brought up again for the remainder of the game. In stead we spend around 15 hours lolly gagging with Katrielle and crew as they solve, quite frankly, very boring cases that you can probably guess the answers to before you even start them. The only case that really was interesting to me was the 12th and final case 'Diamonds Aren't Forever.' The mystery is compelling enough, and the big reveal was genuinely surprising to me, but too bad it felt like one of the shortest cases in the game. The gameplay overall is the best part, as the typical layton formula is translated well enough to the nintendo switch system. Map navigation, interaction and puzzle solving feels true to the series and or that I honestly cannot complain. Some of the puzzles were a little too simple, but with the passing of the original puzzle master for the main series, I feel like they picked up the pieces as best as they could, and I can't fault them for that. All that said, this brings us back to what's up with the """"central"""" mystery of the game, what happened to Professor Layton? Well instead of making a sequel game, they decided to make a follow up anime that is 50 episodes long and is only officially released into japan that answers that exact question. And seeing as how Level5 USA is no longer existent it feels surreal that us in the western audience will potentially never get a conclusion to this question. Sure there is fan subs out there, but this is honestly less than ideal. I genuinely hope this is not the end of the Layton Series but seeing as the sales and reception for this game aren't particularly great, this might actually end up being the lasting legacy of the series which is actually incredibly depressing. I feel like the better route for the series was to perhaps continue the Layton Brothers story, but instead we got this (which does reference characters to Layton Brothers.) I didn't mind Katrielle as the one to continue the torch of the series, but she really needed to be in a better overall game. Sad to see it end like this, honestly.

It's a Layton game without Professor Layton. It still has some good puzzles but the cases were kinda boring in my opinion. I liked the Batman parody case though.

Also.
Spoiler Alert
I did not see that coming, the twist with Ernest apparently he is the eighth grandchild of Maxililian Richmond. And he wanted to take revenge on the seven dragons.