PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT:
when you are approaching the final area of the game, DO NOT LOOK AT THE MYSTERIES MENU
one of the mysteries (when marked as solved) has a spoiler for the end of the game in it's description
IF YOU DON'T WANT TO BE SPOILED DO NOT VIEW SOLVED MYSTERIES UNTIL AFTER YOU BEAT THE GAME

i actually played the layton x ace attorney spin off game way before this and i realized how fun the layton puzzles were
and so for a while i was talking about how fun it was to the point my friends thought i was like a layton super fan
but actually i was super FAKE
it took me like 5 years after the fact to actually play this

anyways this is a puzzle games
it has puzzles in it
thankfully it's actually a variety of different puzzles of varying difficulty
some were really fun! some were not
also apparently the game is directly tied to the sequel which is cool (as in theres a secret code in the sequel that you enter into the first game)
and theres FMVs which to me are just funny in principle
i actually predicted the main mystery well before it was revealed (though i didnt predict the final mystery until i got spoiled for it by the game ITSELF, see the PSA)
i did almost all the puzzles EXCEPT FOR the weekly puzzles (because u have to like do action replay codes to unlock them now and thats annoying) and the last two bonus puzzles (because they're BULLSHIT)
i don't know what compelled them to use an accordion in literally every song in the game but power to the composers ig

i can see why this game got mobile ports, its very much a "i'm not doing anything rn but im in the line at the DMV, guess i'll play this game" sort of game
actually made the game very playable since i could just play it wherever and not have to worry about being in the middle of a level or a battle or a cutscene or something (u can rewatch the FMVs)
pretty short too only like 12-13 hours
probably would play again in like 4 years when i forget everything about this game

There's something quite charming to the original Professor Layton, knowing it's an adaptation of a long-running series of Japanese brain teasers first and foremost, and all the stuff that would come to define the series (the characters, the adventure mystery plots full of over-the-top moments, etc) exists here purely as a framing device. At the same time, there was such confidence in the game that not only were sequels already in the works, but code functionality was implemented that would only be paid off when the sequel rolled around, like a mini Stop 'n' Swop. None of this confidence feels misplaced; Atama no Taisou makes for a great template, and the characters and world are immediately charming, the latter's bombast offset by Layton's quiet modesty.

This isn't a fair-play mystery, to be sure, which seems a contrast to the general nature of the puzzles being solvable with careful critical thinking. But maybe that's all right? Luke's there to play the Watson, so the player isn't alone when things start going off the wall in the endgame.

I can't tell for sure how many times I've played (and completed) this game (series), but it still gets me every time. It puzzles (even though I can solve most of tham at a glance), moves, and immerses me. This is without any doubt my favourite gaming series of all time. Now, let's play the rest!
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Ranked: My All-Time Favourites
Added: Games that (almost) made me cry

this game helped soothe and relax me during an absolutely horrible and scarring breakup, so I will forever love its beautiful world, delightful characters and dreamlike atmosphere. for a few weeks I was embroiled in pretty traumatic arguments and manipulation, and being able to play this before bed really helped me relax, and reminded me what home was supposed to feel like. bc there's something in this game that harkens back to novels from childhood, or hot cocoa, or the music my grandparents would put on. and I really needed that kind of care during that horrible month. So I'm forever grateful to the Curious Village. Love you Layton.

Professor Layton and the Curious Village is, first and foremost, a point and click visual novel. Despite the gameplay not suggesting it, it also happens to have some of the best atmosphere in any game, ever. It's a focused, melancholic story of a town first and foremost, and that village is one of the best parts of the entire game. It's not so much "quirky" as it is, well, curious, or strange. Everything is carefully tuned to just be a little off beat, just a little eccentric. You could nitpick a lot about the game -- the slow pace, the lack of relevant puzzles, and the occasional groan-worthy "logic" puzzle -- but does that really matter when it's presented as well as this?

Narrative: 5 - Gameplay: 4.5 - Visuals: 4.5 - Soundtrack: 4 - Time: 3.5
Stars: 4.5
Ese es el primer juego de la famosa franquía de rompecabezas japonés que tuve la oportunidad de jugar. Siempre he gustado de la categoría de juegos rompecabezas, algo en seguir pensando sobre la solución verdadera, empleando las informaciones disponibles para crear un camino lógico es muy divertido. Si él ha sido solamente un buen rompecabezas, ya sería digno de nota, pero es mucho más que eso. Tiene una historia envolvente y cautivante, con personajes que, a pesar de sencillos, tienen una presencia marcante.
Por otro lado, los rompecabezas serían más interesantes si han sido conectados de alguna manera. No tienen más que una vinculación puntual.