"Corran450's Review Series Vol. 11: Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box"

Second Verse, Same as the First.

But is that really such a bad thing? The "Professor Layton" series has taken the world by storm with its addictive brainteasers and compelling stories. So far, I've played the first two games in the series, and while the gameplay hasn't evolved much between the first two titles, the second game, "Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box," feels more like a continuation of the first, rather than a standalone title. But as I mentioned before, that's not necessarily a bad thing.

Gameplay:
The gameplay of "Professor Layton" hasn't changed much since the first entry: a point-and-click adventure bookending the true meat of the game, the puzzles. The main point of the game is to solve brain teasers, trick questions, and riddles (using the touch screen and stylus) posited to you by various characters in the game. These puzzles range from block sliding (get the ball from point A to point B in as few moves as possible) to complex math equations (if a train leaves Chicago going 40 m.p.h. heading towards another train leaving New York going 30 m.p.h. etc.).

I've spoken in my review for "Professor Layton and the Curious Village" about that little thrill of accomplishment you get when you discover the correct answer to a tricky question. This remains unchanged. I love feeling so smart when I finally nail that answer. As before, there are some major stumpers. Each puzzle also has three hints that you can purchase with "hint coins" found scattered in various hiding places. These coins are limited in number, adding to the difficulty of the game.

There are over 150 puzzles to be found in the game, all of varying degrees of difficulty, measured in the number of "picarats" you receive upon solving the puzzle. These picarats are used to unlock bonus materials, like character bios, sound bytes, even the ability to view the animated videos featured in the game. Returning from the first game is the collection of one of three items, a piece of a broken camera, a toy for Luke's pet hamster, or an ingredient for brewing various forms of tea. The camera allows you to take pictures of certain areas, opening a minigame where you search for differences between the photo and the real area, to find hint coins or hidden puzzles. The hamster, once leveled up to a certain point, will help find hint coins. The tea set allows you to brew special kinds of tea, that when given to NPCs, causes them to provide you with additional information to solve the overarching mystery of the Diabolical Box. Completing these collections unlocks additional bonus puzzles.

Story:
As our story begins, Professor Hershel Layton and his protege, Luke, are on their way to visit an old friend of the professor's, Dr. Schrader, to assist him in studying the notorious Elysian Box, an antique said to kill anyone who opens it. When they arrive, they find that their friend has been murdered, and the box stolen. Could his death be connected to the curse? The professor's investigation leads them to board the luxurious Molentary Express, a train with some mysterious connection to the box. What will they find? Where will the train lead them? Who killed Dr. Schrader and why? What is the secret behind the mysterious and deadly Elysian Box?

"The Diabolical Box" continues the legacy of the first game by providing a top quality mystery, filled with dynamic and memorable characters. Several characters return from the previous title, including the vitriolic Inspector Chelmey, and the enigmatic heir to the Reinhold fortune, Flora.

I found that the story of this title got off to a somewhat slower start than the first title, however, that just makes the final climax that much more exciting. I really enjoyed seeing where the story was taking me, and although I got inklings of the truth behind the Elysian Box, the ending managed to surprise me all the same. Where the first story was predictable and fast moving, this story was more deliberate, and ultimately, in my opinion, more satisfying.

Graphics:
As in the first game, the graphics of Professor Layton are highly nostalgic; they remind me of some of the cartoons I used to watch as a kid. The characters are all drawn very uniquely, and you'll have no trouble telling them apart. The scenery is colorful and interesting, and very well-detailed. Most of what you will be seeing, though, is the puzzles, and they are well developed. Any time there is a graphical element to the puzzle, the "pieces", so to speak, are clear and easy to evaluate. If the puzzle is just a verbal riddle, they are usually accompanied by an amusing drawing depicting the situation. Bottom line: the graphics are perfect for the intent of the game.

The game also includes some animated cut scenes featuring voice acting that are very well done. These videos are viewable from the main menu, if you win enough picarats from solving puzzles.

Sound:
The whimsical musical style of the first game returns, with mostly new tracks featuring the accordion and orchestra. As before, it is suitably mysterious and thought provoking, though sometimes distracting, especially the Jeopardy-theme-sounding music featured when trying to solve a puzzle. The main theme of the game is incorporated throughout. I was especially impressed with the lovely song "Iris" featured over the end credits.

Again, the best sounding parts of the game are the cut scenes, featuring very well-cast voice acting and superb sound effects. The incidental music in the cut scenes is also well-tailored and pleasant.

My only major beef with the sound is that whenever you solve a puzzle, either the professor or Luke will exclaim one of a limited number of phrases that basically mean "Good Job!" Normally I wouldn't mind, but after 150+ puzzles, it gets a little repetitive.

Play Time/Replayability:
I beat this game in about 10 hours. For a portable game, that's not bad, especially since the story is fun and solving puzzles is so satisfying. As I mentioned before, there are tons of puzzles to unlock, including over two dozen that are downloadable via a wireless access point. That's a lot of puzzles to solve.

Unfortunately, like the first game, I'd have to give this a low replayability rating. Sure the story was great, and yeah it was highly satisfying solving puzzles, but once you've solved a puzzle, it's done. You already know the answer, so solving it gives no more satisfaction. Sure some of the block-moving-style puzzles ask you to try to complete it in fewer moves, but I don't really know anyone that masochistic. Still, it can be fun to foist a tough one off on your friends and watch them sweat over the answer.

Final Recommendation:
Naturally, if you enjoyed the first game, you will enjoy "The Diabolical Box" as well. The puzzles are as addictive as ever, the production values, for a portable puzzle game (!) are second to none. I look forward to grabbing "Professor Layton and the Unwound Future", so I can conclude this magnificent trilogy. The storytelling and gameplay, as well as the ability to bring it with you wherever you go, make this a must-have title for any DS enthusiast.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 02/04/11

Game Release: Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box (US, 08/24/09)