Professor Layton and the Lost Future (Nintendo DS)

Another year, another mystery to solve. Thankfully Professor Layton and his apprentice Luke are still as eager as ever, and haven't lost their appetite for puzzles. And thanks to the engaging characters and ambitious storyline, neither have I.

The formula for The Lost Future doesn't deviate from the previous instalments. As usual, it's a point-and-click adventure stuffed full of individual puzzles. Or alternatively, it's a puzzle book in videogame format, with a storyline built around it. Take your pick.

As usual, the storyline is far-fetched, but not quite to the point that it requires a 'deus ex machina' type ending as Pandora's Box did. While the storyline takes place entirely in London - rather than a fictional village - all the usual Layton hallmarks remain in the town design and its wacky characters. A generous helping of returning characters keep The Lost Future firmly attached to the roots of the series, and we actually delve more deeply into the characters and their pasts with this outing. While this won't be the final Layton game, it adds to the previous games well and makes for a fitting end to the trilogy.

Now... the puzzles: the meat of the game. For the most part they're of a high quality: not too many recycled puzzles, not too many trick questions. In terms of difficulty they're similar to previous games, but more consistent. There are fewer here where the answer is blindingly obvious, but also not so many where you might get completely stuck. While I would've preferred a higher difficulty, on the whole it's a more accessible game. Since it's supposed to appeal to all age groups, there's really no other choice. You can't make puzzles for everyone.

Should you get stuck, there's always the option to buy hints. New to this outing are "super hints", which cost double. I only used one (and I still maintain the puzzle makes no sense), and it essentially gave me the answer. In any case, there's enough hint coins scattered throughout the game that no-one should have any difficulty finishing all the puzzles.

Minigames are provided to break up the action: a toy car puzzle game, a sticker-book in which you have to collect the items and complete the story (more fun than it sounds), and an infuriating game in which you have to draw platforms for a parrot to fly to. The less said about that, the better: 160 puzzles solved, but I can't do even a third of the parrot challenges.

In short, The Lost Future maintains the high quality of the series, both in terms of puzzles and storytelling. The flaws of the formula are still present, and for me it's still a little too easy. But if you enjoyed the previous games, The Lost Future is a must-buy conclusion to the series... for now.

I've done the previous two Prof. Layton games and loved them too, so couldn't wait to pre order this.

I'm not a "big" gamer but do love these puzzle games, my daughter and I fight over who's turn it is to play it.

The puzzle mix I'd say was just right, some taxing ones, some near impossible ones and some easy ones, although i have to confess to getting my daughter to do the sliding puzzles for me - not to great with them lol. Liking the story line so far too - I'm about half way through it at the moment.

Bring on the next one :)

This is the third game in the Professor Layton series, and The Lost Future could quite easily be the best of the lot.

For those who don't know, Professor Layton is a point and click game, where the story is advanced by solving a series of brain-twisting puzzles. This game tells the story of Layton and his apprentice, Luke, who receive a letter dated from Luke 10 years in the future. This Future Luke requests their help in saving London from "absolute chaos", and it is up to the puzzle-solving duo to work out what is going on.

The set of puzzles included in this game is the best so far, with fewer puzzles that were poorly worded or hard to understand. The hint system is improved, with the ability to spend 3 hint coins on one hint each, and then a further 2 for a "super hint" for those times when you are really stumped. For when the game is finished, there are bonus puzzles to solve for completing the story 100%, plus weekly puzzles available for download from Nintendo WiFi Connection, giving the game that little bit more longevity.

The mini-game set is vastly improved from Pandora's Box as well. This time round you get a picture book (where you have to arrange stickers to complete the story), a parrot (where you have to use ropes to guide him to the finish) and a toy car (where you must use arrows to direct it around a course). These offer a fun distraction from the main game, and finishing all of them unlocks extra puzzles.

The story is fantastically woven, and is conveyed beautifully through the use of animated cutscenes, voice acting, beautiful hand drawn environments, and a witty script. There are some unbelievable twists and revelations, and you will be left hanging off of every word. The ending will almost have you in tears; if not, you have a heart of stone.

Professor Layton and The Lost Future is a fantastic end for the trilogy. Any Layton fans should not hesitate in picking this up, and anyone who is yet to try out Layton will find this game the most friendly towards newcomers. This is a must have DS game, and I applaud Nintendo and Level-5 for scoring a hat-trick with this game.

10/10