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Posts with tag Layton

Miyamoto, DS take home some Famitsu awards

Hey, who doesn't know how awesome Shigeru Miyamoto is? Your grandmother? Shove her to the ground. Seriously, the man is a legend and your grandmother's frail, aged bones need to recognize that.

Speaking of recognition, Miyamoto and select titles on the DS recently got themselves some, as Famitsu dished out awards to the gaming icon and some titles available on his company's handheld system. The games that got the nod were Mario Party DS, Phantom Hourglass, Pokemon Mystery Dungeon Explorers of Time and Darkness and Dragon Quest IV. All of these games received an Award for Excellence, where newcomer Professor Layton and the Curious Village got itself a Rookie award.

Miyamoto himself received top honors, as he accepted his time in the spotlight and thanked everyone by stating that he was happy to "get an honor like this, it makes me glad to have worked so hard over the past thirty years. This is going to sound a bit like a lie, but it's like a dream. That said, I didn't think five years ago that I'd be making Wii Fit. I thought I'd be making more Mario and Zelda."

Well, if there's someone who should be used to accepting awards, it's him.

WRUP: Australia gets Layton and everyone else gets nothing edition


Looking over this week's releases, we're feeling a lot like last week: empty and cold inside. Unless you're in Australia, there pretty much isn't anything worth checking out. We're in kind of a GBA mood, though (after reading JC's Virtually Overlooked last night), so this weekend will probably have us dusting off our copy of Metroid Fusion or something.

What about you all? Have any good GBA games that you could play while waiting for some new DS games to enjoy? Or do you have something else in mind? What are you playing?

Gallery: Professor Layton and the Curious Village

DS releases for the week of April 7

Two weeks in a row without much coming out? This is simply unacceptable! What happened to the weeks of five or six games? Wait a minute ... those weeks are hell on the wallet. Maybe these light weeks are better. If nothing else, we can start squirreling money away in nooks and crannies all over the house for those weeks in the latter part of the year, when there are more games than we can afford. Of course, then we'll forget where the money is, and be back at square one.

Maybe we should just give up and pick up Plushees.
  • Fab 5 Soccer
  • Plushees

Continue reading DS releases for the week of April 7

Professor Layton and the Unlocked Content [update]

Stop all the downloadin'! It turns out that Nintendo had those "downloadable" Professor Layton puzzles on the cartridge all along! When you download a puzzle, all you're downloading is an unlock code. Which isn't a big deal -- it's not like you're paying for the extra content or anything.

One user figured out how to find that content in the game data, and has compiled all 162(!) bonus puzzles, with screenshots, on a single web page. The solutions are also provided, but hidden behind links so you can actually play these puzzles if you want. Or you can spoil a friend's good time every week as you wait patiently for him or her to complete the download and then blurt out the solution.

[Update: this is actually all the puzzles!]

[Via GayGamer]

Buy two games, save ten bucks at Toys R Us


We'll take almost any encouragement to buy a bunch of games, and there's little better incentive than a package deal, through which we "save" money by buying more stuff. Retailer Toys R Us knows this, and has dangled the carrot of reduced-price DS games at us with a "buy one, get $10 off" sale. The ad says "all DS games," but the sale is actually restricted to a selection of TRU's offerings.

That's fine, though, because there's enough here for just about anyone to be driven into an impulse purchase! Standouts include Flash Focus, Professor Layton, WordJong, Cooking Mama 2, and even some pre-release stuff like Rondo of Swords! Or you could finally pick up the whole Imagine collection.

Another Week in Japan: Hardware and software numbers 2/25-3/2

The DS dropped to third in last week's hardware sales, as the PSP inched its way to first. (In case you haven't been keeping track, Wii sales have been above those of the DS for quite some time, but the PSP and DS keep flip-flopping for the week's best selling portable.)

Hardware:
  • PSP: 73,706
  • Wii: 64,535
  • Nintendo DS: 51,922
  • PlayStation 3: 13,520
  • PlayStation 2: 10,986
  • Xbox 360: 2,282
In the software chart, though, Nintendo's portable dominated once again. There were fourteen DS games to hit the top thirty last week, three of which made the top ten. Most of note is the new release Soma Bringer, a game that many of us outside of Japan have been coveting. It debuted in fourth, and was the top seller for the dual-screened handheld last week.

Meanwhile, Professor Layton 2 and Animal Crossing slipped back into the top thirty, while Harvest Moon and Etrian Odyssey II managed to remain in the top ten. Check after the break to see a whole lot of DS games in boldface.

Continue reading Another Week in Japan: Hardware and software numbers 2/25-3/2

DS Fanboy Review: Professor Layton and the Curious Village



When you think about puzzle games, titles that involve abstract geometrical shapes (like Tetris) are probably the first things that come to mind. Professor Layton, though, is a different breed of puzzle game, one that you might not be used to. This charming title makes you solve actual brainteasers -- the kind that make you want to laugh and cry at the same time.

It's hard to imagine a game being completely devoted to puzzle solving. Usually, games will include puzzle-solving elements, but they won't revolve around the whole concept. Yet, Professor Layton manages to do this in a way that's enticing, entertaining, and addicting, showing us that even the simplest ideas can become the best of games if handled properly.

Gallery: Professor Layton and the Curious Village

Continue reading DS Fanboy Review: Professor Layton and the Curious Village

DS Daily: Finding time

This blogger has spent the last few days boring the rest of the staff rigid about the wonders of Professor Layton and the Curious Village. The game has rapidly flown up my list of DS favorites, thanks in no small part to its charming, Miyazaki-esque art style, engaging story, and (of course) wonderful puzzles.

But here's another reason why I love this game: its length. It took me around ten or eleven hours to complete, which is just right. For me, Layton doesn't outstay its welcome, and it also happens to be the perfect fit for my schedule. Of course, now it's over, I'm clamoring for MOAR LAYTON, but I'll just have to be patient.

How about you? Are you the type of gamer who is happy to dedicate seventy or eighty hours to an RPG, or do you prefer games of Layton's size?

See also: 2008's Biggest Blips -- Professor Layton and the Curious Village

GDC08: Professor Layton watching over GDC

Nintendo's absolutely relentless promoting of Professor Layton and the Curious Village has shown no signs of letting up at the ongoing Game Developers Conference.

Siliconera's Spencer Yip spotted this giant rotating projector advert for the game looming over the North Hall of the Moscone Center (the GDC venue), and also reports that nearby bus stops are sporting their fair share of Layton ads. It's great to see Nintendo's American arm being so supportive of the game -- here's hoping all of this hard work reflects in the sales figures!

Another Week in Japan: Hardware and software numbers 2/11-2/17

The DS reclaimed second place for hardware, managing to inch past the PSP on this week's chart. A bunch of new releases helped the handheld's sales, as fifteen of the top thirty games last week were DS titles.

Hardware:
  • Wii: 78,583
  • Nintendo DS: 62,362
  • PSP: 59,645
  • PlayStation 3: 17,637
  • PlayStation 2: 11,266
  • Xbox 360: 2,198
The top contender for the dual-screened portable last week was the Japanese dating sim, Tokimeki Memorial: Girl's Side 2nd Season, which beat everything except Smash Bros. and Wii Fit. Meanwhile, After-School Boy and Doraemon Baseball were knocked out of the top thirty, but remained in the top fifty (along with Rune Factory 2). Overall, though, it was a great software week for the DS. If you want to see why, check out the numbers after the break.

Continue reading Another Week in Japan: Hardware and software numbers 2/11-2/17

More like Professor LOLton



Oh, how we adore you, Professor Layton and the Curious Village. Not only are you one of the most distinguished DS games of the year so far, but you're also proving a rich source of inspiration for webcomic artists everywhere.

Penny Arcade's take on the Professor's adventure set our ROFLcopter in motion the other day, and our giggling continued after seeing 2P Start's answer to the biggest puzzle of all. Hit the break for the full (totally-safe-for-work) comic!

See also: 2008's Biggest Blips -- Professor Layton and the Curious Village

Gallery: Professor Layton and the Curious Village

Continue reading More like Professor LOLton

Japan gets to rent rare Professor Layton freebie

Having recently wrapped up Professor Layton and the Curious Village, we've been left with nothing to do but curl up and gently rock ourselves in the corners of our bedrooms, pausing only to twitch or shake, and refusing to eat. We just can't hide it: we miss Professor Layton and its puzzley delights. In our less sane moments, we'd even tolerate more of Luke's inane simpering for just one more hit of puzzles about matchsticks, moving blocks, or sliding tiles.

So imagine how envious we felt when we learned that Japan is getting MOAR PROFESSOR LAYTON! No, not the sequels -- we already know about those, silly. Instead, Japanese gamers will soon be able to rent a compilation known as Level 5 Premium Gold from music rental specialists Tsutaya. This desirable collection contains demos of two Level 5 games -- football soccer RPG Inazuma Eleven and Professor Layton and the Devil's Box -- and, most thrillingly of all, a totally original Layton side story. Professor Layton and the Holiday in London features the good Professor in his London office, reflecting on his worldwide adventures with Luke, and solving a dozen new puzzles in the process.

More frustratingly still, this compendium was given away for free back at last September's Tokyo Game Show, under the name of Level 5 Premium Silver. This can only lead to one outcome: Professor Layton and the Ridiculously Pricey Ebay Auctions.

A spot of gentle persuasion for Professor Layton non-owners



If our incessant bleating about the greatness of Professor Layton and the Curious Village hasn't already caused you to crack and buy the game, then we're hoping these videos might be the final straw. Featuring the first four puzzles from the game (conundrums that range from easy to fairly testing), they do a pretty good job of representing how difficult the game is.* Needless to say, these contain spoilers.

After the break: another two puzzles, and a direct-feed version of the intro to this marvelous game. You're weakening! Admit it! Give in to Professor Layton's puzzley pleasures!

* So long as you don't count that accursed puzzle featuring the dog made from matchsticks which is then run over.

See also: 2008's Biggest Blips -- Professor Layton and the Curious Village

Gallery: Professor Layton and the Curious Village

Continue reading A spot of gentle persuasion for Professor Layton non-owners

WRUP: Curious Villages and Nocturnal Swine edition


This week's releases had some high-profile games on offer for those of us in North America, most notably Professor Layton and the Curious Village and Barnyard Blast: Swine of the Night. Now, we don't have to tell you the appeal of these games (actually, we already have), so we'll just get down to the nitty-gritty: any of these games on your weekend agenda? If not, what will you be playing?

Gallery: Barnyard Blast: Swine of the Night


Gallery: Professor Layton and the Curious Village

Level-5 working for a 2008 release of Dragon Quest IX

Square Enix and Level-5 have both previously been reticent about Dragon Quest IX, showing little and saying even less. In fact, the last we heard anything about a possible release period was back in August when it was delayed until 2008, except for Yoichi Wada's assurance of the game's progress. A delay like that won't happen again, according to Level-5 president Akihiro Hino. Hino told Famitsu that he set a goal for 2008 of finishing not only Dragon Quest IX, but the soccer RPG Inazuma Eleven, the third Professor Layton game, and White Knight Chronicles on the Playstation 3.

Hino also mentioned that Level-5 would announce a new RPG soon, also for release this year. It's the 10th anniversary of Level-5, and they're celebrating it with work.

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