Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy Reviews

Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy is ranked in the 83rd percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
Mar 10, 2014

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.

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Nov 8, 2013

Azran Legacy adds the right amount of variety to make this final entry feel as fresh as when the series was first introduced, cementing Professor Layton as one of the finest adventure franchises to grace a Nintendo handheld.

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8 / 10.0
Nov 8, 2013

Despite some excellent puzzle design and classic Layton aesthetics, it doesn't always feel like the game takes advantage of what the 3DS can do. Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy is a fantastic addition to the franchise. A must have for any puzzle lover.

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Twinfinite
Twinfinite Staff
Top Critic
4 / 5.0
Mar 7, 2014

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.

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Mar 3, 2014

With an impressive scope, increased challenge, and satisfying story, Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy is a terrific end to the long-running series.

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8 / 10.0
Mar 6, 2014

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.

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4 / 5.0
Mar 6, 2014

Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy doesn’t stray too far from the formula, but that’s a good thing for the most part.

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8 / 10.0
Apr 8, 2014

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.

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Impulsegamer
Top Critic
4 / 5.0
Mar 31, 2014

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

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4 / 5.0
Feb 26, 2014

Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy is the apt way to finish the trilogy, tidying up all the loose ends of the prequel series, and leaving a fresh start as Layton and Luke drive towards a "Curious Village". The puzzles may have a slight lack of originality, but they are superbly crafted yet not overbearing. I would have enjoyed some more engaging minigames, but there are still plenty of other diversions to lose dozens of hours in. It's bittersweet to envision this as the final game for Hershel Layton. I feel like the series has run its proper course, but still find it hard to swallow a future without a game as unique as Professor Layton.

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7 / 10
Nov 6, 2013

Not the best entry in the series, but it does have some of the best puzzles. As well as a bombastic, if slightly confused, story that will leave both new and old fans wanting more.

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GameSpot
Lucy Ingram
Top Critic
7 / 10
Oct 28, 2013

Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy has some neat puzzles and some great new minigames, but fails to step outside its comfort zone.

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7 / 10.0
Mar 10, 2014

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.

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7 / 10
Feb 25, 2014

Azran Legacy comes full circle, with this trilogy leading neatly into the other. It feels like this is meant to be a stopping point for the series, at least in this exact format. The series of short stories served as a reminder of my affection for these characters, and the puzzles ran the gamut from tried-and-true to truly clever. This is a fine send-off, and if that's what Level-5 intends, it will be a perfectly timed one. As Layton would inform Luke, a proper gentleman knows not to overstay his welcome.

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7 / 10.0
Feb 28, 2014

Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy is bursting with conundrums, but the series' puzzling allure is beginning to wane.

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7 / 10.0
Mar 19, 2014

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.

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Ray Carsillo
Top Critic
7 / 10.0
Feb 28, 2014

With the most puzzles in series history, Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy will force players to rack their brains, and the Professor and his crew are as lovable as ever. Unfortunately, the prequel limitations really put a crimp on the overall narrative.

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GamingBolt
Top Critic
7 / 10.0
Mar 10, 2014

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.

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Yes
Mar 10, 2014

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.

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No Recommendation / Blank
Nov 6, 2013

Elementary.

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