I somehow lost track of the fact that the third Professor Layton game, The Unwound Future, had finally arrived stateside a few weeks ago. Before long, I’d not just plowed through to the finish, but solved all the leftover puzzles and unlocked all the bonus content. So from that perspective, it’s another success, a wonderfully addictive blend of puzzles and story.
But I can understand anyone who feels it’s a retread: it is. There’s a new mystery, but there’s nothing new about the format: you talk to oddball characters who keep challenging you with 150 brain teasers that you feel like you’ve solved before. And unlike the first game, which often felt like it was paying homage to classic puzzles like the Tower of Hanoi, the puzzles don’t always feel as inspired this time through. So this one gets a B+.
That said, there’s a bit more to be said about the story, which makes some interesting, unconventional choices. That’ll be left for a spoiler-laden post later this week.
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