Charming and immersive, Professor Layton is a great game for anyone who enjoys puzzles and logic.
Could it be anything other than tea? So there I was, at the St. Mystere Tea Shop, searching for a mysterious stranger. My uncertainty was soon answered with a delightful chuckle. "Oho! You solved my riddle!" exclaimed an old man sitting in the corner of the cozy room. "Come, let's share some tea!" He gestured emphatically at my cup; it had already been filled. Steam rose off it's dark surface in slow tendrils, and when I took my seat at the table I could smell a hint of ginger.
"So," he said, "you've got a brain that needs sharpening, eh? I know a man who will do the trick! My colleague, Professor Layton, is a brilliant sleuth. There's no puzzle he can't solve!" The man dropped his voice to a low whisper and leaned in. "He's on a new case right now, and I hear he's looking for an associate. You could join him, you know."
My eyes widened.
"He's coming here, to St. Mystere. There's been a death, haven't you heard? Some sort of balderdash about inheritance that Layton's got to sort out. If you're asking me, the whole story is sort of silly and doesn't matter much. It's the puzzles that are the interesting part, and all the rest is just auxillary."
"Puzzles?" I questioned, confused. "What do puzzles have to do with detective work?"
"Well, you got my riddle, didn't you?" He raised his eyebrows. "Inhabitants of this town are a truly curious sort. Before we'll tell you anything, you must solve a riddle for us. It's the only way to get us to trust you!"
'How strange!' thought I. "What if I can't figure the puzzles out? Are they going to be too difficult?"
The man smiled a kind smile, eyes crinkling at the corners. "Ah, to be sure, some are true trials, others are not. But you will have help along the way. Hint coins are scattered about town-find them, and they will assist you on your journey. You can use up to three a puzzle, making it easier every time! Hint coins are abundant, so you shouldn't have to my difficult, dear fellow. On the whole, that is. There is the occasional puzzle that seem to obtuse for words. I'm sure they'd be old hat for one as clever as Layton, but for a villager like myself I couldn't solve them. There was one about mobile phones and chocolate-it set me all a tither! I'm quite sure no one would be able to solve that without outside help! For the most part, though, they are just right."
I was heartened. This sounded like something I could do! "How many puzzles are there?"
"Over a hundred! This is a long investigation, friend-it should last you at least ten hours, perhaps a little more. Puzzles of all sorts, too: riddles, maths, visual tricks, and others. One must be thorough, you know!" He laughed softly. "If you're up to the challenge, it will be great for you. St. Mystere is a lovely little village. As long as I have lived here, I've never grown tired of seeing it. It's simply a beautifully made little place. It seems to have been put together by a true artist, if you can believe! And Layton, of course. You'll love him, he's the greatest gentleman you'll ever meet. Such a nice chap, and a dear commerade. There's no better person to undertake this journey with, you have my word! You'll make fast friends, I do think."
I smiled. This all sounded wonderful, and I couldn't wait for the challenge. "I'm ready to meet Layton!" I told the him.
"Splendid! He's a man everyone should meet, and I can offer no higher praise than that!"