Truely amazing! Studio Ghibli and Level 5 have teamed up and are creating a game to b released on the PS3 (Ni no Kuni: Shiroki Seihai no Joou) and the DS (Ni no Kuni: Shikkoku no Madoushi). Above is the E3 preview video for the PS3 version of the game. The visuals resemble the anime style of Studio Ghibli incredibly closely. Now, if only I owned a Ps3…
Posts Tagged ‘nintendo DS’
24th Mar 2009
Platform: Nintendo DS
That reminds me of a puzzle…
What do you get when you put a professor and an insanely responsible child in a small town full of strange characters? Professor Layton and the Curious Village. Professor Layton and the Curious Village is a point and click puzzle adventure game set in the small fictional village of St. Mystere. It comes with a humorous yet slightly bizarre storyline and is packed with unique characters wanting to solve puzzles at the strangest of times.
The whole game consists of finding and solving puzzles to help you progress through the twisting storyline that is set out before you. The puzzles have a range of themes and topics, some of which continue in a series of different puzzles throughout the game; for example the match stick puzzles. As well as progression in the story, there are other motivations to solving the puzzles. As you successfully complete certain puzzles you will be rewarded with scraps of a painting and gizmos which will unlock some extra objects to help you on your quest.
The game relies on a point and click control mechanic for both puzzle hunting and moving around the village. There are many subtle visual aids to help you find the next puzzle and collect hint coins, though eventually you will be clicking everywhere possible to find them. Within the puzzle screens there is more interactivity involved as you are often asked to write in your answer, draw or drag an object via the stylus of the DS.
The game follows a hand drawn cartoon style and boasts a strong colourful two dimensional environment to explore. The hand drawn visuals give the game a unique look and feel but suit the gameplay very well. You are also presented with fully animated cartoon cut scenes that help tell the story of St. Mystere and show the latest developments in your current objectives.
The soundtrack that is present throughout most of the game sends out a cheerful French vibe that dramatically helps add a peaceful village based atmosphere. The audio is well designed, especially during the puzzle scenes, not distracting you as you work out the answer. This is vital for a successful puzzle solving game.
As I worked my way through the game I found a couple of things that in my opinion could have done with some improvements. My main suggestion is to explain the method of how to work out the answers fully on every puzzle. I vividly remember being stuck on one question in particular, when I finally inserted the correct answer it didn’t explain how to work it out properly. For 90% of the puzzles it does show a meaningful explanation but this should definitely be the case for every puzzle in the game.
The hint system should be more helpful too. You are expected to buy a hint using the hint coins your find around the village. If you are paying for a hint you at least expect it to be of some help to you, not just a message saying “Think about it, you can do it!” Some of the hints are worded in a way that makes them seem like puzzles themselves, not ideal when you are seeking for help.
I can safely guarantee that there will be times that this game will drive you crazy with puzzles that seem impossible to solve. Though if you are anything like me, you will soon become addicted no matter how frustrated you get. Professor Layton and the Curious Village gives the player a fun experience that will have you hooked to keep on puzzling and discover the truth about St. Mystere.
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My first review/article for this site 
Hopefully the first of many. Any comments and feedback are welcome, I need to try and improve my writing skills 
