Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy Reviews
Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy has some neat puzzles and some great new minigames, but fails to step outside its comfort zone.
On the flipside, for those that are completists, who want to eke every drop out of their Layton, there is a staggering amount of depth here, not just from the multiple puzzles,but from the way all of the mini-games are directly tied into the main adventure, and the Treasure Hunt mode can actually provide a beneficial reason to keep your idling 3DS in your pocket, lest you have a cheeky StreetPass encounter that will unlock a juicy reward. The 3DS has certainly come of age this year, and this is another sterling effort that combines expert design with frankly gorgeous looks and sounds.
While the power of the 3DS can occasionally be seen working to bring about the delightful art styles and adding some lovely depth to the animations, this is essentially the same substance as every Layton game so far. That is by no means a bad thing. The puzzles offer plenty of variety and there is a lot of content to get you started, even without venturing into the mini-games and the daily puzzle downloads.
If Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy really is the end of an era, it's a fitting sign-off. Hershel Layton and his companions have been wonderful additions to the DS and 3DS systems, bringing gracious simplicity and charm with each release. This concluding entry captures the best of the new and old, and is indispensable to fans of the franchise. Farewell Professor, you truly have been a gentleman and a scholar.
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.
Elementary.
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.
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.
Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy brings a great series to a close in fine style. It doesn't take many risks with the established formula, but its story is engaging, intelligently written and compelling to the end.
In Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy, the puzzles are solid, enjoyable and very varied with only a few repeat patterns, even if some are a little more mathsy than my brain would like. The narrative has mystery and whimsy aplenty, there's lots of small twists, cute animations behind which collectibles hide, and there are cameos to please the long-running fans. The world comes off more sprawling, with more choice and more ability to explore environments with your trusty stylus.
All in all, Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy shows there is still plenty of mileage in the series, but as time has been called on this particular line of Hershel Layton adventures, it proves to be a fitting closure with some great twists at the story's conclusion, along with clever plot elements that tie this precursor trilogy back into the first ever game, The Curious Village. Whilst not as gripping as the finale to the original trilogy - the truly sublime and epic Professor Layton and the Lost Future - this is still one that fans should not be without.
Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy follows a grand tradition of puzzle-adventures. Filled to the brim with brain teasers of all shapes and sizes, The Azran Legacy is a relatively non-linear exploration of the series' last mysteries. Will you like it? It depends. How much do you enjoy having your mental processes challenged?
Azran Legacy doesn’t change much about the Layton formula, but the series stays true to its strengths to the very end.
If you’re already a fan of the series, or if any of this niche game sounds appealing to you, I urge you to give Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy a try. Certainly, those who played the previous two (or five) games will want to know how the trilogy ends. For the others who are not into super English puzzle games or are barely into that section of the newspaper, there are more creatively-engaging games on the market. However, consider putting the gun down now and again. Puzzles can bring great peace, but puzzles also inspire unnerving chaos.
Layton is all about puzzles and story. The former stays true to the formula, and the latter is entertaining, even if some reveals are cringe-worthy
Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy is an amazing conclusion to the beloved puzzle series. Its variety and clever storytelling make it the most interesting and well-executed installment of the franchise, and it’s nice to see that after six games, Level-5 can keep surprising players with intriguing, surprisingly moving plots and hundreds of clever puzzles. I’m sorry to see the main series end, but if it must, this is exactly how to do it.
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.
[I]t is an intelligent and engaging addition to the series, bringing together the best of the new and old. With the most puzzles and extras of all the Layton games, there is no shortage of things to keep you occupied,and the charming music and fun quirks will balance out even the most vexing of brain teasers. In a series known for its quiet allure and charismatic appeal, Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy is exactly what it should be: a gracious farewell.
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.
My one recommendation: take your time...enjoy a little bit of the tale and keep it in the background as a great break from real life.