Professor Layton and the Last Specter

by Nintendo

• Classic Professor Layton puzzle gameplay featuring brain teasers, riddles and conundrums, a built-in help system, an in-game inventory
• Free downloadable puzzles will be available weekly after the game's launch
• Prequel to the existing game series and the Professor Layton movie
• In the bonus role-playing game, Professor Layton and characters from the series live in 'Little London'
• Professor Layton and the Last Specter serves is the first in a new trilogy of Professor Layton games

Product Details

• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B0050SVOHA
• Item Weight: 4 ounces
• Media: Video Game
• Release Date: October 17, 2011
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (79 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,465 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games)
  • #9 in Video Games > Nintendo DS > Games > Action
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Product Description

Amazon.com

Professor Layton and the Last Specter is a single player puzzle/brain teaser game for the Nintendo DS hardware family and the fourth game in the Professor Layton series to be released in North America. The Last Specter is a prequel to Professor Layton and the Curious Village and the entire series. The events of the game also immediately precede those of the animated feature Professor Layton and the Eternal Diva. The game serves as the first in a trilogy of new Professor Layton games and contains a separate Professor Layton RPG entitled Professor Layton's London Life. Features include: puzzle types such as brain teasers, riddles and conundrums; a built-in help system; an in-game inventory; engrossing animations, characters and music; and additional free weekly puzzle downloads following game launch.

A puzzling prequel that is also the first in a new trilogy of games.
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Professor Layton is Back with a Puzzling Prequel

This fourth installment of the Professor Layton puzzle adventure series begins a new trilogy that is a prequel to the original games. Three years before the events in the Professor Layton and the Curious Village game, Professor Layton receives a letter from his old schoolmate Clark Triton, telling him that a "mysterious giant" is destroying his town." The professor heads to the town of Misthallery to investigate, and is joined by Emmy, his new assistant. What is the meaning of all the destruction, and is it related to the village's folklore legend of a "specter?" The unfolding story also details how Professor Layton and his apprentice, Luke Triton, met.

Bonus RPG: Professor Layton's London Life

In the bonus 8-bit role-playing game Professor Layton's London Life, the player's character lives in "Little London" with Professor Layton and a number of characters from the series. Players can customize their character with special clothing and collect items and furniture. Some of these help the player's character to enter certain areas of the city or perform tasks that help out the townspeople.

Key Game Features

• Classic Professor Layton puzzle gameplay featuring a multitude of brain teasers, riddles and conundrums, a built-in help system, an in-game inventory, and engrossing animations, characters and music
• Prequel to the existing game series and the Professor Layton movie, Professor Layton and the Eternal Diva, The Last Specter relates the origins of the puzzling-solving Professor Hershel Layton and how he met his current assistant, Luke Triton
• Professor Layton and the Last Specter serves is the first in a new trilogy of Professor Layton games
• The Last Specter contains more puzzles than any game in the series to date
• Free downloadable puzzles will be available weekly after the game's launch (broadband Internet connection required)
• Players also get the bonus role-playing game, Professor Layton's London Life that contains 100 hours of additional content

Additional Screenshots

A mysterious series prequel. View larger.

More puzzles than ever before. View larger.

Vivid environments & music. View larger.

Challenging yet accessible play. View larger.

Product Description

Professor Layton is back with a puzzling prequel. The start of a second trilogy the the adventures of Professor Layton, the story for this fourth DS Layton game kicks off three years prior to the events of the original Professor Layton and the Curious Village. Professor Layton, visiting the mysterious "city of mist," comes into the acquaintance of a young Luke for the first time. He also meets Remi Altiwa, a new heroine. The three embark on a quest surrounding the legend of a giant that threatens to destroy the city. Professor Layton and the Last Specter connects directly to the Layton movie, so fans of the series get the complete story first in the game and then continued in the events of the movie.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

41 of 43 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A true gentleman.... October 19, 2011

By Sarah & Adam

Fun: 5.0 out of 5 stars   

Professor Layton has become one of my all time favorite video games characters and franchises. The combination of addictive puzzle solving, finely crafted stories and gorgeous hand drawn, fully voiced cutscenes has set this series apart from it's competitors. Last Specter is the 4th game in the series, but 1st in a new prequel trilogy(think Star Wars Episode I), so even if you're new to Layton this is a fine place to start. Each game has added more puzzles and content than the last and Specter continues this trend. Just under 90 minutes into the game, and I've already had more cutscenes and story than any other game at this point. New charecters are being introduced and there's a lot of backstory to cover, which brings up one minor drawback. The story in Last Specter, while rich and full, can make the gameplay drag a bit, but in the end leaves you with a more complete experience. The puzzles in this game really fit the plot even more than before. They've even added little problems to solve right in the middle of the story without taking you to a seperate puzzle screen. One of the great features of this title is it includes a 100 hour bonus RPG, Professor Layton's London Life (Huge round of applause for Nintendo of America localizing this for us. The UK didn't even get it; ironic, huh?) I instantly fell in love with this bonus game! The graphics are crude, to be sure, but that doesn't take away from the joy of moving your avatar into Little London and interacting with characters from all the previous Layton games! The experience feels a little Animal Crossing-ish(moving to town, meeting people, running errands, decorating, etc.) and is a fun diversion when you're stuck on a 70 Picarat puzzle! You can load the RPG from the title screen or from the Professor's Trunk. So let's summarize: you get a new title from one of the DS's most successful and entertaining franchises, more puzzles than ever before, unlockable content, a new puzzle to download every week and a 100 hour RPG all for $30 bucks? Hmm.... A true gentleman never passes up a great deal. This is most likely the last great game for the Nintendo DS-- may it rest in peace. And if you enjoy Layton as much as you should, be sure to pick up the feature film, Professor Layton and the Eternal Diva which is released to DVD on November 8th. The movie takes place right after the events in Last Specter and has been reviewed as one of the best video game films ever made.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Impressive graphics, storyline and great puzzles with lots of little extras thrown in!! October 25, 2011

By Reviews on Amazon

Amazon Verified Purchase

Fun: 5.0 out of 5 stars   

I barely use my DS anymore but have to make an exception each year when the Layton DS games are released; and this new title: Professor Layton and the Last Specter did not meet, but rather exceeded my expectations!

I have always enjoyed the series, they contain some of the best and indeed trickiest puzzles for the DS systems but all woven into an interesting storyline which almost plays like a movie; exceptional graphics to boot. This game, though the 4th release from the Layton Franchise, is the first in a new prequel; but though it will appeal strongly to those already familiar with the series, it will also deliver a treat to those who have never played a Layton game before. The story is delivered well via graphics and audio; is compelling enough to draw you quickly into both the story and game, but quickly reviews key features of the game to help all become familiar on how to navigate through!

My favorite part about this particular game was the fact that the puzzles were a little more tricky - I found the last game had many puzzles that were too easy to solve or too familiar to previous titles within this franchise, but this time, they certainly threw in some real challenges which is the key to enjoying this series. There are a wide variety of puzzles of various levels of difficulty and for new players, it helps knowing there are hints available along the way. As another reviewer has mentioned, this time, many of the puzzles tie into the actual story which is a nice feature (for example, when the Professor needs to cross the bridge, figuring out which rope to cut, to allow access, is a mini puzzle within the game); this is a nice feature and keeps the game well connected with the story line.

Another huge bonus here is the addition of the bonus RPG, Professor Layton's London Life - 100 hours of additional game play which can be accessed at any time from the main menu!! I found this an excellent addition as once I have completed the Layton game, solved the main puzzle /storyline, I usually resell the game at that point but now I have another game to play which makes this exceptional value. Further more, you can also download a new puzzle each week and there are games / puzzles to unlock within the main game, which makes for hours of entertainment and game play!

I personally think that there is little that comes close to this franchise - we have the huge number of puzzles which vary widely in terms of type of puzzle and level of difficulty, a compelling storyline, great graphics and extra free content. Its a great deal and one of the best puzzle games (if not best game across all formats) for the DS

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The story of Layton Meets Luke. More excellent puzzles. October 21, 2011

By Ed Pegg TOP 100 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Amazon Verified Purchase

Fun: 5.0 out of 5 stars   

The story starts "in medias res" (in the middle of things), with a cut scene featuring the Spectre. Luke is acting oddly, for those familiar with the previous Layton games: Curious Village, Diabolical Box, and Unwound Future.

Turns out, this is a prequel, and Layton eventually meets Luke for the first time (since he was a baby), and soon after the scene at the beginning repeats again. Layton starts out to investigate, but a terrified Luke hugs him and stops him. Layton does stop, and addresses Luke gently. "Luke, I know you're scared, and so am I. But I need you to think calmly and rationally. Can you do that for me?" I thought this was a powerful moment. Lots of good voice acting throughout, along with the quirky art that often as hidden puzzles and hint coins (tap mailboxes, lamps, and chimneys).

The puzzles again are excellent and fresh. As a puzzle collector that has run a site called mathpuzzle for 13 years, I know fresh puzzles. The Big Book of Brainteasers is a recently released book with similar freshness. Most puzzle books are stale, with old puzzles that are fine for someone new to puzzles, but not that interesting to a puzzle fan. The Layton Series is excellent for puzzle fans due to the freshness. The puzzles are also approachable for anyone, young or old. In addition, many are interactive, and the hint system is excellent.

Highly recommended.