Professor Layton and the Curious Village

 DS
User Score
8.4

Generally favorable reviews- based on 231 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 192 out of 231
  2. Mixed: 32 out of 231
  3. Negative: 7 out of 231
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  1. grandpajoe6191
    Nov 8, 2011
    8
    "Professor Layton and the Curious Village" is a engrossing adult and child DS game that will hold your attention for a long period of time with its brilliant puzzles and questions.
  2. gboukensha
    Jan 23, 2012
    9
    This adventure-puzzle game really surprised me and was in fact the reason why I bought a DS console in the first place. The majority of the puzzles are really fun and well-balanced, with only a couple of instances where the puzzle explanation is not very clear. The nice story, marvelous setting and fun characters (all of which supported by gorgeous graphics and nicely fitting music) doThis adventure-puzzle game really surprised me and was in fact the reason why I bought a DS console in the first place. The majority of the puzzles are really fun and well-balanced, with only a couple of instances where the puzzle explanation is not very clear. The nice story, marvelous setting and fun characters (all of which supported by gorgeous graphics and nicely fitting music) do their work also. What's incredible about this title is that it can attract people of all kinds and of all ages, and each of these categories will find their share of fun and challenge. If had to find a flaw in this game is the fact that most of the puzzles are completely unlinked to the plot, and above all the graphic styles used in the puzzles differ too much between them. It would have been nice to have a little more graphical coherence in this game, but apart this, the game should be played and finished by anyone possessing a DS.… Expand
  3. ChimC.
    Apr 6, 2008
    10
    This represents a very good game for all ages. Lots of puzzles. Great artwork. An enjoyable concept all around.
  4. sparriskrigaren
    Oct 23, 2011
    4
    I really can not understand how this game can get so good reviews. First of all, the story is very uninteresting so I found myself clicking it away just to get to the puzzles. Some of the puzzles are fun and creative, but it's not enough. Many puzzles are boring and uninventive and while some of them are very logical, some are not. But that's just a matter of taste and logic I guess, theI really can not understand how this game can get so good reviews. First of all, the story is very uninteresting so I found myself clicking it away just to get to the puzzles. Some of the puzzles are fun and creative, but it's not enough. Many puzzles are boring and uninventive and while some of them are very logical, some are not. But that's just a matter of taste and logic I guess, the biggest problem is that none of the puzzles are related to the story! This makes the gameplay very lame, it's basically a graphics novel with some random puzzles crammed into it without any kind of connection.

    Since the graphic novel isn't interesting or fun, it's utterly pointless so the only real fun in the game is the puzzles.. which isn't enough to keep me interested. Also, there is nothing that makes it worth playing this game on the DS, it would fit much better on a PC where you can click with your mouse. Pointless, boring.    … Expand
  5. Kozz
    Jul 23, 2015
    10
    一番おもしろくしたDSゲーム。子供も大人もみんな楽しめる良いゲームだと思います。後続作が続い出たらと思います。
  6. skads7
    Nov 8, 2019
    4
    De acuerdo que es el primer juego pero es malísimo y los puzles no son ni los mejores.

    Ah y bueno, este juego marca tendencia de la sida de guion que tienen estos juegos.
  7. NaytoE
    Jul 27, 2009
    2
    Half the questions aren't in correct english and don't make grammatical sense. It's impossible to solve a riddle when the a specific, valuble word have been replaced by a simular word that doesn't actually have the same definition. maybe if they'd checked to see if half the text made sense it would be good, as it stands, it's just a poor excuse of a puzzle Half the questions aren't in correct english and don't make grammatical sense. It's impossible to solve a riddle when the a specific, valuble word have been replaced by a simular word that doesn't actually have the same definition. maybe if they'd checked to see if half the text made sense it would be good, as it stands, it's just a poor excuse of a puzzle game. Also the art sucks if you're above 14 and not Female, I don't like looking like a kiddie fiddler in public thanks.… Expand
  8. AnonymousMC
    Sep 21, 2008
    0
    This game frickin sux i got it as a gift from a freind who told me it was fun and so i naturlly assumed it was a shooter, and i didnt even get to shoot anyone for like the first 15 minutes but their might be shootin but i got bored and sold it after the third 2nd puzzle. youd b better of with a good game, like the halo series
  9. MrSonicFan
    Aug 15, 2014
    4
    I really don't understand the love that this game gets whatsoever. The story is not interesting in the slightest. Which is one of the most important parts about the game. First off, it takes forever to start the quest that the main characters came to the village for. As the game drags it out with things such as finding cats. It's bothersome. I don't find the characters in the villageI really don't understand the love that this game gets whatsoever. The story is not interesting in the slightest. Which is one of the most important parts about the game. First off, it takes forever to start the quest that the main characters came to the village for. As the game drags it out with things such as finding cats. It's bothersome. I don't find the characters in the village memorable in the slightest, I find them very boring.

    To be honest the only reason I sat through was becuase I enjoyed the Phoenix Wright Vs. Layton game that released earlier this year. I enjoyed the puzzles in that game. But in this game I cannot stand the puzzles. Some of them are really tedious and bothersome.

    Graphicly the game is alright. The characters are decently animated and drawn and the backgrounds look nice. The animated cutscenes by japanese animation studio P.A Works, look decent enough. Though they have some very obvious and distracting looking 3D CGI in them.

    The games soundtrack is for the most part, in my opinion. Quite forgetable. With the only track I personally liked being the games main theme. The voice acting, on the other hand is pretty well done. Though I will say I can't stand Luke's actress in the american release of the game. Thankfully, I have the british release. in which Luke has pretty well done voice work.

    Overall, I don't understand how people like this game. With a uninteresting story with forgetable characters, some very tedious puzzles and for the most part a forgetable sountrack. I did not enjoy this game.

    OVERALL - 4/10    … Expand
  10. curzon_dax
    Jan 14, 2021
    8
    The game is fine with many good puzzles so it can not disappoint if you're looking for a puzzle game though it has 2 flaws that should be mentioned. First: some of the bonus puzzles can not be solved by a human without brute forcing or backtracking (e.g. the eight-queens puzzle which according to chess literature itself is in need of a computer program or heavy backtracking) which canThe game is fine with many good puzzles so it can not disappoint if you're looking for a puzzle game though it has 2 flaws that should be mentioned. First: some of the bonus puzzles can not be solved by a human without brute forcing or backtracking (e.g. the eight-queens puzzle which according to chess literature itself is in need of a computer program or heavy backtracking) which can become obnoxious though luckily the issue was minimal on the main questline so it doesn't take away much from the game. Second: the developer that wrote the text commenting on the puzzles after their correct solutions and sometimes even when giving hints was obviously not the one that created the puzzles and didn't understand many of the puzzles themselves because in several cases the text wasn't on-point at all (which is pretty obvious to players that have already solved the puzzles and understood them).… Expand
  11. ChristopherR
    Feb 27, 2008
    10
    Despite having obvious problems with the grander story (see: Game Informer), namely that the large mysteries are solved for you in a series of explanations as you near the end, the story-based mysteries seemed obvious to me and not at all intriguing. BUT I still enjoyed the game immensely and I look forward to its future iterations. I used to purchase puzzle books filled with exactly the Despite having obvious problems with the grander story (see: Game Informer), namely that the large mysteries are solved for you in a series of explanations as you near the end, the story-based mysteries seemed obvious to me and not at all intriguing. BUT I still enjoyed the game immensely and I look forward to its future iterations. I used to purchase puzzle books filled with exactly the same types of riddles and this felt so much more natural rather than ruining a puzzle you got wrong because when you read the answer in the back of the book you couldn't try to correct your mistake and re-solve it. Placing it into a video game format is simple and far better. The artwork and occasional cutscenes are what sold it for me, and turned what would have been a great game into a memorable game.… Expand
  12. Gina
    Aug 18, 2008
    10
    Great!!! I'm really sad that the weekly downloads have finished. Monday won't be the same. Can't wait for next release.
  13. Lev
    Aug 20, 2008
    9
    Very enjoyable, very fun game. I wish more games had this kind of more creative imagery instead of the generic anime look or the wanna be realistic fantasy stuff. And the thing I liked most were the animated cartoon cutscenes. God, how I wish that games would have hand/computer drawn 2d animation instead of most of the lame 3d cutscenes. I'm still not finished with this game since I Very enjoyable, very fun game. I wish more games had this kind of more creative imagery instead of the generic anime look or the wanna be realistic fantasy stuff. And the thing I liked most were the animated cartoon cutscenes. God, how I wish that games would have hand/computer drawn 2d animation instead of most of the lame 3d cutscenes. I'm still not finished with this game since I picked it up only recently, but it was really refreshing for me. The puzzles are challenging, yet not impossibly annoying, and there are many kinds of them. The music could be better but, hey, nothing is perfect. Already looking forward to the other two Professor Layton games.… Expand
  14. Level5IsAwesome
    Feb 12, 2008
    9
    Level 5 strikes gold again with a truly original and highly addictive title!
  15. [Anonymous]
    Mar 20, 2008
    10
    Wonderful adventure with great graphics(considering its a handheld) and a beautiful story. The puzzles can get a bit frustrating at times, but they kept me on my toes! I would definately recommend this to anyone that likes cute storylines with challenging puzzles along the way.
  16. ShawnF.
    Jun 5, 2008
    8
    Great puzzle game! Quite a few puzzles weren't that difficult or should have had multiple working answers. The story was lackluster (which was too bad since that was what originally got me interested in the game) but the overall experience was a nice change from other puzzle games.
  17. BlaineC.
    Feb 11, 2008
    9
    I've been looking forward to this game since I first heard about it, mostly because I like the DS's mystery offerings, sans one (I'm looking in your general direction, Touch Detective 1 and 2 1/2). I also grew up on a lot of the brain teasers in this game, so it was nice to see some classics and even some variations on classic teasers (like the "get the chickens and wolves I've been looking forward to this game since I first heard about it, mostly because I like the DS's mystery offerings, sans one (I'm looking in your general direction, Touch Detective 1 and 2 1/2). I also grew up on a lot of the brain teasers in this game, so it was nice to see some classics and even some variations on classic teasers (like the "get the chickens and wolves across the river" puzzle). I think my only complaint is that I've now solved about 70 puzzles and I'd like to get more into the story (and more of the great cutscenes), but it's now becoming a little tedious to talk to villagefolk for information, only to be offered a response of "If you solve my puzzle, I'll give you something juicy!" How about spacing out the puzzles a little more? But otherwise, after about 5 hours of gameplay, that's my only complaint, and it's not even a really big one. I hope to see more of Sherlock...er, I mean, Professor Layton.… Expand
  18. MiZuNo
    Feb 14, 2008
    10
    Not only a SUPERB compilation of puzzles with some equally stunning graphics and music, but a very original masterpiece of a storyline full of entertainment and elegance. It even gives you the chance to update the puzzle list weekly via WIFI. A must have.
  19. JustinB.
    Feb 27, 2008
    8
    This is a great puzzle game with a decent story attached to give it it's own, unique feel. The graphics are very stylish and creative, including both the in-game graphics and interwoven animated cut-scenes. The music tends to get a bit annoying as the same music seems to play through the majority of the game. I found myself turning the volume down on some puzzles because it was This is a great puzzle game with a decent story attached to give it it's own, unique feel. The graphics are very stylish and creative, including both the in-game graphics and interwoven animated cut-scenes. The music tends to get a bit annoying as the same music seems to play through the majority of the game. I found myself turning the volume down on some puzzles because it was affecting my ability to concentrate on the problem. The main part of the game--the puzzles--are challenging enough to keep you interested throughout and some are downright hard. Overall, I would recommend playing this game and I look forward to seeing the next game in the series released on this side of the Pacific as well.… Expand
  20. seungp
    Oct 11, 2009
    8
    Puzzle games with a full scale story like this game are a rarity in today's video game industry, however, for a handheld system it works well, and Layton is one of the best in its genre. Many people argue that there is little replay value to Layton because once you solve the puzzle, you know the answer, but I don't agree with this view because many of puzzles are intuitive and a Puzzle games with a full scale story like this game are a rarity in today's video game industry, however, for a handheld system it works well, and Layton is one of the best in its genre. Many people argue that there is little replay value to Layton because once you solve the puzzle, you know the answer, but I don't agree with this view because many of puzzles are intuitive and a month or two later you will have a hard time solving them again. The main problem is that there are too many puzzles that are plain bad and not worth my time to try to solve. I thought maybe 1/4 of the puzzles are total garbage. Maybe half were decent and the remainders were really great. Story is charming I suppose, but it's not anything remarkable, nor is the game design anything to clap for. You basically go around the village and touch every part of the screen with stylus repeatedly in hopes of finding more puzzles to solve. Then you solve the puzzle, and story progresses until you have solved something like 150 puzzles. (i forget exactly however) When you beat the game, you can access the bonus features, including more puzzles which is great because puzzles are the reason I bought the game. As far as the story goes, it tries to add elements of surprise and suspense, but I really couldn't care less because dialogues were so silly. Overall, however, I enjoyed playing this game, but I would have enjoyed it almost the same even if there was no story and just had a list of puzzles to solve.… Expand
  21. JasperP.
    Feb 13, 2008
    9
    Early days, but loving it so far. Very addictive and so charming!
  22. KrishanuR.
    Feb 16, 2008
    7
    This is quite a captivating game that makes going through and solving the the puzzles quite interesting. A major short comming however, is the difficulty of the puzzles. Whiles some of them are quite clever and will really make you think, others border on the absurdly infantile (not just difficulty, but the questions themselves), and while they might be suitable for an individual in This is quite a captivating game that makes going through and solving the the puzzles quite interesting. A major short comming however, is the difficulty of the puzzles. Whiles some of them are quite clever and will really make you think, others border on the absurdly infantile (not just difficulty, but the questions themselves), and while they might be suitable for an individual in Elementary school or below, they really do detract from the overall experience for anyone above that level.… Expand
  23. TobyO.
    Mar 12, 2008
    9
    A very charming, clever little game. Nice story ties together already-engaging puzzles. About 15 hours to beat, but plenty of extras. Note: This is no kiddie game, and not for the easily frustrated! If you're fine with that, then you'll have a ball.
  24. DonaldO.
    Mar 14, 2008
    10
    Good fun, clever puzzles at moderate difficulty range. A good story to boot.
  25. theshonen8899
    Jun 4, 2011
    8
    While it might not be the most well written or original story, the characters are charming and the puzzles are quite fun. The problem is that the puzzles are presented with generally no context to the story, so instead of playing a game where you are solving puzzles to advance a plot you mainly feel like you are answered SAT questions every two minutes with a short tidbit of story inWhile it might not be the most well written or original story, the characters are charming and the puzzles are quite fun. The problem is that the puzzles are presented with generally no context to the story, so instead of playing a game where you are solving puzzles to advance a plot you mainly feel like you are answered SAT questions every two minutes with a short tidbit of story in between. The game lasted a good ten hours but again most of that was puzzles, the story itself is incredibly short with it neat little twist towards the end. If you are a fan of puzzle games definitely check it out but Ghost Trick and 999 remain the dominant games in the genre.… Expand
  26. Bathmat
    Jan 22, 2011
    7
    This is a really good game, I'm just a tough marker. The story is really good, the cutscenes are great, the puzzles are fun, the story is good and the characters are good, but to retry a puzzle you have to go through a million menus, it sucks that you're confined to a small space repetitively running from point A to B and the puzzles don't really mix together with the story. It's also aThis is a really good game, I'm just a tough marker. The story is really good, the cutscenes are great, the puzzles are fun, the story is good and the characters are good, but to retry a puzzle you have to go through a million menus, it sucks that you're confined to a small space repetitively running from point A to B and the puzzles don't really mix together with the story. It's also a bit short. Other than that, it's good but I prefer you to buy the far superior Pandora's Box or the even better Lost Fututre.… Expand
  27. Daavpuke
    Jan 31, 2011
    9
    Let's get this straight: Level-5 is one of my favorite developers, ever since I discovered their masterpiece Dark Chronicle on PS2. Does that make me biased? Perhaps, though they've always brought quality titles to the game world, such as Dragon Quest and Rogue Galaxy. Furthermore, Professor Layton And The Curious Village bears little resemblance to any of those games.

    This game tells the    Let's get this straight: Level-5 is one of my favorite developers, ever since I discovered their masterpiece Dark Chronicle on PS2. Does that make me biased? Perhaps, though they've always brought quality titles to the game world, such as Dragon Quest and Rogue Galaxy. Furthermore, Professor Layton And The Curious Village bears little resemblance to any of those games.

    This game tells the tale of a puzzle master and his apprentice that travel around to solve mysteries for people in need. Gentlemanlike as they are, they hop in their deux chevaux to aid a family with a peculiar inheritance issue they're having. These aristocrats have been asked to seek out a mysterious Golden Apple in order to claim the vast fortune of their befallen kin. In doing so, they'll have to solve a series of intricate enigmas. So queue the good Professor into the town of Saint Mystère. Yes, they're masters of puzzles, yet can't come up with a decent town name. I guess you can't win them all.

    The cheesiness doesn't stop there though. Although the story is nicely written and brews along casually, most of the actual mysteries become so transparent so fast. Not only that, but in most cases there's little to no creativity in presenting you puzzles. In fact, the gratuitous one-liners, such as "Hey, there's a hidden puzzle in this piece of meat!" will grace your screen more than often. If they've gone out of their way to concoct a complex story with mysteries, one may wonder why they stopped caring halfway through. I suppose it would've made things unnecessarily complicated.

    And complicated is the word you'll think of when playing this game, because this game is hard! Supervised by real-life puzzle master Akira Tago, he has done all he can to torture your brain goo. With well over 100 puzzles, you'll get completely stumped at a good quarter of all riddles and will most likely fail at some as well. However, winning some puzzles after some hard thought, will leave you with an immense sense of self-satisfaction. Many times you'll feel like the smartest and smuggest person on this planet, after finding out that the matchstick had to go to that place. But that will be short-lived, for the villagers will soon enough present you with some other stunning problem.

    There is however the double-edged side of the fluent gameplay that allows you to enter your inventory and save effortlessly. This will result in you cheating yourself out of some experiences and randomly guessing and restarting, if you're really at a loss. They should've implemented a system where failures are permanent; this would've improved the game a lot.

    Other than that the game is a beautiful experience to go through. There is no end to the creativity of the puzzles, even if some are recurring or revolve around the same subject. Finding squares in dotted fields or placing pawns on a chessboard will require you to go all out. You'll tabulate all possible outcomes over and over, in the name of the good Professor.

    More so, the world he lives in is presented in a way unique to any other puzzle game. And this is what separates Professor Layton from the pack of brain teasers on DS. Saint Mystère is a visual wonder, even in its simplicity. A charming French looking village (vil-aaj) that brims with small details, pictured in a unique cartoon fashion. Everything lives and breathes quirky country town and, to a point, St Mystère is perfectly drawn. It makes it such a pleasure to rummage through and it will leave you with a smirk on your face for hours.

    Add to that the perfect soundtrack to amplify French country life. Think of those cheesy, old Parisian tunes with accordions and beret mustaches, waving baguettes around. In short, it will whisk you away to a magical experience. But that will only be in between the suspense moments, which ring in with immaculate sound effects. With the use of the dual screen, you'll get hints of dark touches popping up whenever something's amiss, accompanied by a single grim tone.

    This makes Professor Layton truly stand out and make it the best puzzle game yet created. Much in the line of older Broken Sword games, it combines charming cartoon graphics with mind-crippling puzzles to both charm and infuriate you at the same time. And it's hard to hate on a game that tries so hard to appeal to you. It's almost as hard as its hard puzzles!

    So, forget other flaunters of thinking exercises. Sure, this might not be a perfect game in terms of story, but what it lacks there it makes up with simplicity. It enhances perfectly the core gameplay of any puzzle game, with its alluring appearance and absolute logic. Professor Layton And The Curious Village is like Brain Academy on an acid trip! It's an unforgettable experience with a puzzle game, if you'll ever have one. Kick your mother in the face if she ever dares to touch another brain teaser, other than a Professor Layton game, for that's what she should play!    … Expand
  28. ghorahn
    Jan 6, 2012
    6
    I like a good puzzle-adventure game, and I'd played through the first Puzzle Agent just before I picked up Professor Layton and the Curious Village. Before long, I was missing the charm of Puzzle Agent; I don't find stuffy brit characters particularly interesting, and the story was too slow and predictable (though it did liven up before the end) to be a big motivator to keep playing. AndI like a good puzzle-adventure game, and I'd played through the first Puzzle Agent just before I picked up Professor Layton and the Curious Village. Before long, I was missing the charm of Puzzle Agent; I don't find stuffy brit characters particularly interesting, and the story was too slow and predictable (though it did liven up before the end) to be a big motivator to keep playing. And while many of the puzzles were fun (and plenty were familiar), some were...well, annoying. Or tedious. Or, in a few cases, frustrating. In a game like this, where I expect each puzzle to shine, those are big strikes against the game.… Expand
  29. namDa65
    Mar 10, 2012
    9
    This game is awesome. The FMVs are great and enjoyable to watch. The voice acting is better than a lot of triple a console releases. The puzzles are fun and engaging. Some puzzles are difficult but w.e, I love layton!
  30. maxxy3000
    Mar 6, 2012
    9
    I really enjoyed playing this game. Not only were the puzzles very clever and appealing, but the overall atmosphere and story were both well made and portrayed.
    The story rounded itself up quite nicely, and left it wide open of a sequel.
    There was some difficult questions, and some hard to understand places; but these weren't too troubling, and I was able to really enjoy every second of this game
  31. timeparadox
    Mar 16, 2012
    8
    The definitive puzzle/riddle game for the DS. A must-play. I would recommend this game to anyone. Not the best for story, but wonderful puzzles/riddles for all ages.
  32. wesker2012
    May 28, 2012
    6
    This game is overated, the puzzles are boring as hell. I feel like im back in school.
  33. MrHayden4495
    Mar 11, 2013
    9
    This game is arguably the best puzzle video game on the DS. Complete with challenging puzzles and a well written story, the game forces the player to think in new ways, and as a matter of fact, the game greatly increases cognitive ability. All puzzles are done with the stylus, and this seems logical because when you see people completing puzzles like a crossword or a cryptogram, thereThis game is arguably the best puzzle video game on the DS. Complete with challenging puzzles and a well written story, the game forces the player to think in new ways, and as a matter of fact, the game greatly increases cognitive ability. All puzzles are done with the stylus, and this seems logical because when you see people completing puzzles like a crossword or a cryptogram, there are no buttons. But enough about gameplay, how is the story? The game has a marvelous cast, including my new favorite video game character Professor Layton, who was actually based off of Phoenix Wright with the "bad qualities" removed. The lush anglomaniac environment and lovely cutscenes and charming side characters emanate the game's most prominent quality: character. This game is its own, isolated from other puzzle games like Momento Mori or Brain Age.… Expand
  34. sJagstang
    May 6, 2013
    8
    Professor Layton & the Curious Village is a great little puzzle game with a interesting story and great characters, the story follows Professor Layton and his apprentice Luke as they go to the village of St. Mystere to solve the mystery of the Golden Apple. I'm not going to say much more than that since I don't want to spoil the characters or story.

    Obviously the meat of the game is in    Professor Layton & the Curious Village is a great little puzzle game with a interesting story and great characters, the story follows Professor Layton and his apprentice Luke as they go to the village of St. Mystere to solve the mystery of the Golden Apple. I'm not going to say much more than that since I don't want to spoil the characters or story.

    Obviously the meat of the game is in it's Puzzles, There is about 130 puzzles in the game, Most of the them are good but some can be a bit so-so in there logic and sometimes they don't give you any indication of how to solve a particular puzzle since they sometimes leave out key information but this happens rarely and may be a localization issue.

    The game has a nice art style with characters that really stand out, It's fun to explore St. Mystere to find some of it's hidden puzzles. The town is fairly small so there isn't really an issue of getting lost in the town or anything like that.

    Sometimes the puzzles can feel like they are not really relating to what's happening in the story and can be somewhat random but they do a fairly good job of trying to make them cohesive, Not that it really matters since the puzzles are still good for the most part.

    In the end if you like puzzle games or at least want to try one then Professor Layton is a great game to play on Nintendo DS or 3DS, If you generally turn away from puzzle games because you want an interesting story to keep you going then you won't have the problem here since the characters are a big standout, especially Layton and Luke. Go pick this one up.    … Expand
  35. carlosgtardon
    Jun 10, 2014
    8
    Consiguió mantener jugando a las personas mayores que fueron atraídas por la DS con el Brain Training, lo cual supone todo un mérito y es merecedor de estar dentro de la historia del videojuego, además hace de las tareas de rehabilitación cognitiva algo entretenido y motivante. Sin duda debería estar en todos los centros de mejora del aprendizaje.
  36. BucksMacFan
    Jul 2, 2014
    8
    Really liked this game, not my normal choice (it was a gift) but quickly got hooked by the story and the puzzles. Often my girlfriend and I would sit up nights working through the puzzle together. It also highlighted that we are both better at different puzzles - very useful teamwork for this one.
  37. WheelzFourReelz
    Dec 30, 2014
    8
    The game gets repetitive and there's not much of a consequence for getting a puzzle wrong, but Professor Layton and the Curious Village is a very charming and fun puzzle game with a great story, beautiful art direction, and some really creative puzzles.
  38. TheJoseph
    Dec 22, 2017
    6
    Curious Village is great if you just want some challenging puzzles, but if your looking for anything else your likely not to find it here. It's hard to be critical of a game when it's key gameplay aspect is done well, but CV really suffers from being bland. To see what I mean, let's look at the story and characters.
    The story line is that our two heroes are brought to a strange town to    Curious Village is great if you just want some challenging puzzles, but if your looking for anything else your likely not to find it here. It's hard to be critical of a game when it's key gameplay aspect is done well, but CV really suffers from being bland. To see what I mean, let's look at the story and characters.
    The story line is that our two heroes are brought to a strange town to work out some property rights or something on the surface, but are really interested in finding out the secret of the golden apple, a super cool treasure, or something. When they get to the town someone dies and now the plot is a murder mystery, or at least it is once you solve the pressing issue of some important persons cat running off. If you can't tell, I find the story to be pretty forgettable and overall uninteresting. While this may be fine for most games, CV spends a good amount of time focusing on the story considering it has a visual novel-esque format. This causes a good chunk of the game besides a very small amount of the end to be superbly forgettable. There are some twists at the end that I can't say I saw coming, but were just... stupid. This is something that's in almost all the Layton games, unfortunately, but when the overall plot is so boring it just makes it stand out more as bland and dumb.
    Next we have the characters. First off, I'll say Layton and Luke are cool. I like them as protags, their fun characters, they're good. Everyone else... about as bland as the story. CV really suffers from going for quantity over quality with it's cast. There's a whole bunch of people with personalities that can be boiled down to "this person does X". This wouldn't be too bad if the game had some characters other than the protags who were more than this but there just aren't. Design wise, again Layton and Luke are good but I just don't find anyone else's design memorable at all. They're just that look cartoony and that's it. So yeah, this isn't really a strong suit for CV as well.
    The graphics overall do have some nice aspects to them, the hand-drawn style works very well and the art on the top screen looks very nice. My biggest problem graphically is the sprites in this game just look ugly. Very inexpressive and really basic. I think this is also a problem that boils down to quantity over quality. So yeah, good style, but not utilized that well. The town you're in also gets kinda old. You're there the entire game and it loses it's charm pretty quickly and just becomes really boring.
    The music in this game is great. The instruments used work well, all the songs fit when they play, and it just sounds lovely. Another highlight are the sound effects, from the text bleeps to walking down an echoing hallway, these are some of the best sound effects on the DS I've heard. The audio design of CV is plain and simply great.
    Gameplay-wise, it's almost all good. To start with the negatives, moving around on the map is pretty time consuming and finding your next location can feel like wondering around until you find the thing. My only other problems is that the puzzles go from 0 to 100 WAY too quick. You'll be going from baby's first puzzle to rage-inducing puzzles really quickly and it can be pretty jarring. Other than that, all the puzzles are good. They are a fun time, and almost always have a clever concept and solvable answer. While I wish I had more of a reason to be doing said puzzles, that's really just a personal preference and they are very good.
    So yeah, if you want to play this game for some really good puzzles and some nice music to go with it, this is the game for you. If you're looking for anything more than this, CV might be better to skip.    … Expand
  39. pdxl
    Mar 15, 2015
    9
    An exciting and original story, interesting mysteries and a cute animation. A good game for those who enjoyed of RPG or strategy games.

    unfortunately once you finish the game there are no reasons to play it again, poor replay value.
  40. ZaikoDrox
    May 4, 2016
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Un juego fresco, ademas de ser el debut de una de mis sagas favoritas, a pesar de algunos fallos que pueda tener, es un muy buen inicio, que la verdad tan solo jugarlo 5 minutos me hizo sentir que este juego tiene mucho por ofrecer, dandole mas importancia a los puzzles, los cuales la mayoria son muy ingeniosos, a pesar de estar basados en los libros de Akira Tago creador de los Head Gymnastics, una serie de puzzles japoneses exitosos que en El Profesor Layton son muy bien aprovechados. Dejando de lado todo lo anterior, LEVEL-5, nos ofrece una muy buena historia que para mi es un enorme puzzle que se ira resolviendo con el avance del juego. En resumen, El Profesor Layton nos presenta un concepto poco explorado, teniendo como enfoque principal una serie de muy buenos puzzles que parten desde lo sencillo hasta lo complejo, con una historia inteligente que llamara la atencion del jugador estableciendo el tipo de atmosfera que se presentara, es muy ingenioso y "Laytonesco" los que hallan jugado "La llamada del espectro" reconoceran la refeencia.… Expand
  41. LeeFoo
    Apr 14, 2017
    9
    Adventure, puzzles. What more could you ask for? it's like being in a small movie as a detective searching for mysteries and unsolved clues to connect the plot together. Big surprises at the end. Fun, addictive and a brilliant story made. Don't miss out.
  42. D484
    May 28, 2017
    8
    Una de las sagas más infravalorada de la historia. Es muy divertida para cualquiera que le guste los puzles. Además me gusta el estilo artísitco aunque sea muy sencillo. Le pongo un 84/100
  43. Anxo
    Jul 18, 2017
    9
    El primer juego de una saga increible, con sus puntos flacos pero de los mejores para su época. No me cabe ninguna duda de que es un juego excelente que dio el pistoletazo de salida a una saga que es insuperable.
  44. Dreonas
    Nov 10, 2017
    8
    You'll need a notebook to play this game.

    Pros: - The music is amazing. - Lovely characters. - The puzzles are difficult and tricky, which is good. - There's a lot to do in the game: find puzzles, build the gizmo, order the painting, etc. - That feeling of solving a complicated puzzle is so satisfying. Cons - The main story is bland - The cutscenes did not aged so well - The    You'll need a notebook to play this game.

    Pros:
    - The music is amazing.
    - Lovely characters.
    - The puzzles are difficult and tricky, which is good.
    - There's a lot to do in the game: find puzzles, build the gizmo, order the painting, etc.
    - That feeling of solving a complicated puzzle is so satisfying.

    Cons
    - The main story is bland
    - The cutscenes did not aged so well
    - The color palette is not my cup of tea, but it leaves an ominous sense of mystery to the game.
    - The clicking mechanic to travel through the village is tiresome sometimes, but you'll get used to it.
    - The hints of some puzzles are useless.
    - That feeling of how your IQ goes down after realizing that the answer of a puzzle was obvious and easy is disgusting.    … Expand
  45. jjjj2367904
    Nov 25, 2017
    9
    Not my favorite out of the Layton series but it sure is one awesome game the dialogue,story,and etc are just very well made and my score for it is a 9.4
  46. brendo214
    Jul 31, 2019
    9
    For a game that essentially just boils down to a bunch of puzzles with a good mystery plot, Professor Layton and the Curious Village is a ton of fun.
  47. AKthaBeast
    Jun 4, 2018
    8
    I felt like this game had really great puzzles and some of them were challenging however the story was one dimensional and too obvious.
  48. Maarten95
    May 3, 2019
    8
    This is the first layton game I played and I can say its still a great game in 2019. The cutscenes and story are really good and beautiful for its time. The only bad thing I can say is that it lacks a good soundtrack. It was a great experience overal.
  49. Mutty99
    Feb 9, 2020
    9
    The beginning of a legacy which will never be forgotten. There are some limitations, like not being able to go back to the file selection screen without turning off the console, but the story is awesome and the characters too. Disappointment rate: 0% :D
  50. MarkDream35
    Feb 8, 2020
    9
    This game influenced who I am today, and holds a very special place in my heart. I own both the original DS version and the HD mobile re-release.
  51. DadoBaro
    Oct 4, 2020
    9
    A beautiful game... nothing more, nothing less. The sound, the storyline and the character take you into the game, you live the game.
  52. hector_bcn98
    Nov 7, 2022
    9
    El inicio de la saga más única de la plataforma. Pocas veces un juego de puzzles enganchó tanto con una trama tan interesante. Puede parecer para niños... hasta que juegues a algunos puzzles. De lo intrincados que son, estoy convencido de que un niño pequeño no lo completa. Y un adulto... tampoco, a salvo que le eche muchas horas.
  53. Reniachii
    Mar 4, 2022
    8
    Despite having a deep place in my heart for being my first Layton game, it dated quite a lot in the gameplay. Puzzles are mostly math and the game is very "green" compared to the other entries. One of the weakest, yet still in my top 3 Layton games in terms of story, despite its weakness compared to later titles.
  54. Doom_ak
    Jun 21, 2022
    8
    Some puzzles weren't logical enough for me but for a game with more than 100 puzzles that's acceptable. Plot is stupid but I assume this game was created more for kids than for adults so also fine
  55. ZangBang
    Feb 17, 2023
    5
    Charming the player with a whimsical art-style and an elegant, immersive soundtrack, Professor Layton blends puzzle and adventure elements to craft something distinctively original. Even if exploration boils down to shallow point-and-click gameplay framed by an endearing but forgettable plot, puzzles are stimulating and wonderfully diverse, challenging the player's observation, deductionCharming the player with a whimsical art-style and an elegant, immersive soundtrack, Professor Layton blends puzzle and adventure elements to craft something distinctively original. Even if exploration boils down to shallow point-and-click gameplay framed by an endearing but forgettable plot, puzzles are stimulating and wonderfully diverse, challenging the player's observation, deduction and logical skills in rewarding ways, besides a few tedious, uncreative math problems.… Expand
  56. Yojimbo2015
    Jun 2, 2023
    5
    Cartoon mystery punctuated by puzzles of the type you find in quiz books sold at the train station. The Professor Layton games are all virtually identical so if you like one of them, you'll like them all...and vice versa.
  57. Triblue
    May 25, 2023
    7
    Les énigmes sont très variés. L'histoire est sympathique malgré son non sens à certains moments. Le gameplay est un peu simple mais c'est aussi ce qui fait sa force.
  58. Albeirito
    Aug 10, 2023
    9
    Professor Layton is one of the best video game franchises in history and this game proves it.
    I love every single one of the clever and fun puzzles in this game.
    Some of them are not too complicated but others you will have to use all your brains to solve. Like all Leve 5 games, it has a noticeable focus on humour and the mystery that awaits you throughout the game is structured in a    Professor Layton is one of the best video game franchises in history and this game proves it.
    I love every single one of the clever and fun puzzles in this game.
    Some of them are not too complicated but others you will have to use all your brains to solve.
    Like all Leve 5 games, it has a noticeable focus on humour and the mystery that awaits you throughout the game is structured in a very good and clever way.
    This game can be enjoyed by everyone; old or young? it doesn't matter, even a person who initially didn't like puzzle games too much (like me) can enjoy it and even fall in love with the genre just by trying this title (like me again XD).
    A highly recommended game in my opinion.

    9.4/10    … Expand

Awards & Rankings

4
#4 Best DS Game of 2008
3
#3 Most Discussed DS Game of 2008
22
#22 Most Shared DS Game of 2008

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
85

Generally favorable reviews - based on 72 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 68 out of 72
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 72
  3. Negative: 0 out of 72
  1. games(TM)
    70
    Taken as a purely forward-looking puzzle game (with a well-told story, to boot), Layton provides DS entertainment in a unique fashion. [JPN Import; May 2007, p.112]
  2. Nintendo Gamer
    86
    Lots of variety, good use of the touch screen. [May 2008, p.73]
    Read full review
  3. Play Magazine
    80
    As good as the puzzles are, the presentation is almost better. [JPN Import; May 2007, p.77]
See all critic reviews »