Characterisation

The Professor Layton series of puzzle games are some of the best executed portable games of recent times. No-one, including the developer Level 5, expected such a warm reception from the gaming public. Indeed many of the games' players would not have before considered that they play games as a past time and there has been a wide demographic of new people.

I think partly the reason for the games popularity is the intricately detailed characters and their relationships with each other. There are other puzzle games on the market but none can claim to have had the success that Professor Layton has enjoyed over the last few years during his release. When playing the game a great sense of drama is conveyed which helps motivate the player to solve the puzzle. Granted at times the relevance of some circumstances are a little stretched but mainly the plot does a good job of putting each puzzle into context.

The Japanese art style, Anime has helped portray these characters with such aplomb that one forms a similar relationship with the on-screen authoritative figure and his trusty side-kick. Luke is there to give Hershel a human soul and this dynamic helps the player identify with the Professor through Luke.

I have touched on this before but I find it quite fascinating that such a simple game has taken the world by storm. Last year Professor Layton and the Curious Village was incredibly hard to get hold of due in no small part to the unexpected popularity of the game. I paid nearly £65.00 for my copy but many were left without during the holiday season.

I’m looking forward to the final game from Level 5; Professor Layton and the Last Time Travel. And I expect more of the same from the Professor and me as his side-kick. Well, I can dream can’t I?