Review: Professor Layton & the Curious Village (DS)

Professor Layton and the Curious Village (the title is reason enough to import this, you hear) is all about puzzles. In fact, you’re constantly bombarded with them for each step you take in this point-and-click adventure, and there’s well over a hundred puzzles for you to solve, with more coming every week as downloadable content. Even though there’s not as much investigating as the title might imply, and even though you might recognize most mechanics of the puzzles presented (if only in that slight familiar way), you need not worry, as there’s plenty to go around before you’re done with this. Now take a look at the character art. Looks like a Studio Ghibli production, right? Damn right. Add some splendid music, wonderfully animated cutscenes and the occasional spoken dialogue, and this Level-5 release is exactly what your heart and soul needs. If not easily swayed by cuteness, you might need to brush up that intellect of yours. Simply adorable.
(Try the demo at the official website.)

4/5