Professor Layton and the Miracle Mask makes for an astoundingly good game but I wouldn't exactly call it a must-have.

User Rating: 8.5 | Professor Layton and the Miracle Mask 3DS
Review for Professor Layton and the Miracle Mask (3DS)
Last Edit: Sunday, May 5th, 2013

Never have I ever played a game from the 'Professor Layton' franchise. But I must say it has utterly failed to disappoint me. I am really impressed with how the game turned out which fulfills my expectations on a high level considering that I had yet to experience a game from these series until recently. Very much was I longing to immerse myself in this game, but at times it feels very overwhelming having to solve puzzles in a very frequent manner.
Professor Layton and the Miracle Mask takes place in the city of Monte d'Or, a metropolis that was able to develop very quickly. Having received a letter from a childhood friend, Professor Hershel Layton sets out to this carnival city to investigate the mysterious villain that is known as the Masked Gentleman. When Layton, along with his assistant, Emmy Altava and his apprentice, Luke Triton, arrive into town they find themselves in a festival that is going at full sway – only to be crashed by the Masked Gentleman. The game's plot revolves around the mythical Mask of Chaos, a mask that is said to hold enough power to create miracles, but are these miracles really the work of the mask? The story is very well elaborated and not only does it have a setting in present time, but it also taps into the life of a young Hershel Layton.
Of course, the game's genre fits the game's main objective perfectly: solving puzzles. The game does not require you to be smart, although you need to be clever enough to think outside the box for solutions that are not exactly so simple. From time to time, I sort of felt like I was playing L.A. Noire (PS3) because you need to solve the in-game cases thoroughly, but without all the explicit things that make L.A. Noire (PS3) rated M. Sometimes it was hard for me to figure out the solution to some of the puzzles because at times it did not make sense. Little would I know how to solve them and that those were they're solutions, therefore I would find myself using many hint coins; quitting and reloading the save file so I wouldn't lose any Picarats (points received for solving puzzles – the more Picarats a puzzle is worth the harder the puzzle is).
There are also a handful of other puzzle-like minigames that can be played throughout the story, for example: 'Toy Robot' where you guide a toy robot – obviously – through a maze-like scenario to reach the goal; 'One-Stop Shop' which consists of organizing various items in a particular way so the customer is tempted to buy everything on display; and 'Rabbit Show' where you train a rabbit to perform in a circus. Along with the minigames and 150 puzzles the game has to offer, players are capable of connecting to the network to download extra puzzles that were made available daily for a year. Downloading these puzzles make 365 extra puzzles in all.
But puzzles aren't the only things that make this game good. The music and sound effects fit in excellently with the game's storyline and make the experience feel more bearable, but also more vivid. The voice-acting is truly remarkable as well and it greatly matches the characters in the story. Moreover, the 3D visuals fit in surprisingly well and are okay for a portable gaming system. But I would rather much prefer to see the story unfold in its default two-dimensional setting as the franchise – from what I've seen – is masterful with 2D visual design. Though, fair enough, this isn't a game to be played in 3D the whole entire time.
From what I have experienced, Professor Layton and the Miracle Mask doesn't contain any major flaws, let alone significant. And yes, it may have lots of puzzles to solve, which, at times, becomes quite annoying. But that shouldn't keep you from having an outstanding experience. In comparison with other games in the genre, this one fully excels to its corresponding potential and that's a point to its favor. Other than that, this game proves to be a rising star from the puzzle solving variety. Though not as impressive as I could've hoped for, there's no disagreeing that this game makes up for being an exceptional title with its undeniable charm.


Presentation: 7.7 – The title's main objective results in an underwhelming, repetitive slate.
Graphics: 8.6 – Great 3D visuals that make for a vivid experience, but not ultimately.
Sound: 9.4 – The music and sound effects go great with the story while appealing a more bearable environment.
Gameplay: 9.0 – An excellent storyline with a thoroughly genuine plot.
Lasting Appeal: 8.8 – The game has puzzles galore and additional content that will fulfill your desire for entertainment.

Overall Score: 8.7/10 – Great

By Roberto C. Santana