Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy Reviews
A worthy finale to Professor Layton's adventures, whether you've played the previous games or not.
There’s a lot of adventure here, and some optional side challenges and story that will keep players coming back for more. You could even call it an open-world puzzle game because of its sheer variety.
I enjoyed this game from start to end. Who’d have thought that Archaeology would be the basis for such a captivating game! Professor Layton provides a wonderful role model for children, adults can enjoy the piece of art that the game is and the world within the series is charming and ever so whimsical. It is a shame that this game marks the end of the series because I really want to see more of these characters, and the puzzles weren’t bad either! One thing I did notice is that
Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy doesn’t take the series in any new directions, but that’s not a bad thing. With more environmental variety and a faster moving story, the game addresses the main complaints I had with Miracle Mask. The puzzle variety is excellent, and I enjoyed the mini-games more than the last few games. With a full year of puzzles on top of what’s already in the game, puzzle enthusiasts will find a lot of enjoyment here.
It certainly is a tough pill to swallow, knowing that Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy is quite possibly the last time we’ll experience an adventure with the top-hatted scholar. Nevertheless, Level 5 sends him off on a worthy adventure, fitting for his farewell.
Having played every Professor Layton game released, I have seen both the highs and the lows of the franchise and it saddens me that Azran Legacy marks the last title featuring the infamous and titular Professor Layton. With this in mind, I went in hopeful that Level 5 crafted a game suitable for Layton’s departure, a game which would allow him to go out with a bang. Unfortunately, although the presentation of the game and the finale to the game were grand, the rest of the game failed to be anywhere near as exciting as the rest of the Professor Layton franchise.
As the final instalment in the series' prequel trilogy, 'Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy' provides a puzzling experience that fans of the series will find familiar.
A mix of mostly-new puzzles, an engaging, globe-spanning story, characters worth caring about and a welcome change to the series' formula. It's the opposite of a lazy sequel.
Ultimately, it's just as well that this is the last Layton game- after all, a true gentlemen never outstays his welcome, and Professor Layton very nearly did.
What it does to differentiate itself from previous entries in the series is mostly superficial, but Layton fans and puzzle lovers do not really need or want a great departure for the series. All we want is a puzzle-solving adventure, and Azran Legacy delivers a good one.
Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy succeeds as a wonderful finale to the Layton series and the strongest title in the prequel trilogy. If you've enjoyed any of the previous games, this will certainly satisfy your puzzle solving needs. Though it's not necessary to play the previous titles in the trilogy, it's recommended as this game pulls together events from the previous two titles. All-in-all, the Layton series has been and will always be a wonderful break from some of the more established gaming formulas. Recommended.
Anyone who's a fan of Layton will find another great adventure. If you haven't had a chance to travel with the great Professor, this can be a great jumping off point to really get a good idea of what this series is all about.
Those coming into the game looking for more of the same Layton they’ve come to know and love certainly won’t be disappointed. The same gameplay is there, the same loveable characters are still loveable, and there’s plenty of puzzles to keep you scratching your scalp until the sun comes up. First time players would be best advised to start with one of the original DS games if they’re interested in getting into mysterious storylines, but for those looking for something to think about on the 3DS, you really can’t go wrong with Azran Legacy.
The game upholds the standard set by previous entries, my quibbles aside, and those who’ve been waiting for a series-long narrative payoff will certainly find it here, whether or not it completely sticks the landing. But if you’re new to the series, I’d urge you to start with either The Curious Village or The Last Specter; my erstwhile disappointment with this title was earned by Level-5 for setting such high standards for what could have been a pump-and-dump post-Brain Age budget title. Would that the failings of most videogames require such disclaimer and context.
This may or may not be Professor Layton’s last ride, no one has said anything definitively either way, (as of press time rumours are swirling about this being the last Layton game proper) but it’s a great one to go out on.
Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy doesn’t stray too far from the formula, but that’s a good thing for the most part.
With an impressive scope, increased challenge, and satisfying story, Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy is a terrific end to the long-running series.
The game is perfectly crafted to push you closer to the end, and with it the answer to a mystery that has been built up over the last three titles.
Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy, is a great, even perspective changing game that showed me that games don’t need endless action to be fun.
While Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy offers little innovation or surprise, it’s still just as charming and entertaining as ever, and it’s a fitting end to a legacy of perplexing brainteasers.