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Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box
| Price: | $63.99
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About this item
- No time limits on puzzles allows players to take their time before answering or using an in-game 'hint coin.'
- Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box features a riveting new mystery and more than 150 new brain teasers, riddles and logic puzzles to challenge and delight players.
- Additional puzzles available via Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection each week for 33 weeks after the game launches.
- New memo pad feature which allows players to work through puzzles more easily solved by sketching out possible scenarios.
- A variety of mini-games that although do not directly affect the outcome of the game, provide variety of gameplay and can help with the Professor and Luke's relations with NPCs.
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Product information
| ASIN | B002AU0HZQ |
|---|---|
| Release date | August 24, 2009 |
| Customer Reviews |
4.6 out of 5 stars |
| Best Sellers Rank | #25,967 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games) #142 in Nintendo DS Games |
| Pricing | The strikethrough price is the List Price. Savings represents a discount off the List Price. |
| Product Dimensions | 0.63 x 4.88 x 5.39 inches; 4.16 Ounces |
| Binding | Video Game |
| Rated | Everyone 10+ |
| Item model number | 74039 |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | Yes |
| Item Weight | 4.2 ounces |
| Manufacturer | Nintendo |
| Date First Available | May 22, 2009 |
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Product Description
Product Description
In the world of Professor Layton, puzzles hide in every corner. When the professor's mentor is mysteriously murdered, a cursed artifact called the Elysian Box appears to be behind it. With a ticket to the Molentary Express as their only lead, Professor Layton and Luke embark on an adventure that will test their wits and work their brains. Calling all brainteaser fans! With tons of in-game puzzles of different types and difficulties, there's something for everyone from kids to adults. As Professor Layton, you'll open doors with sliding puzzles, uncover clues with logic puzzles, and find answers by solving riddles. A cinematic experience! This large-scale sequel to Professor Layton and the Curious Village™ features three times the voiced dialogue and movies of its predecessor. The fully voiced movies, hand-drawn art style, and cast of eccentric characters bring the story to life and are sure to charm puzzle fans young and old.
Amazon.com
Follow-up game to 2008's runaway hit Professor Layton and the Curious Village, Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box is a unique puzzle game for Nintendo DS and DSi that mixes an engrossing storyline and entertaining characters spread throughout a variety of environments, with addictive and varied stylus-driven puzzle play. Join the famous Professor Layton and his sidekick Luke as you take on more than 150 puzzles included with the game, and more available via download, as you challenge your senses and logic to eventually solve a puzzling mystery. .caption { font-family: Verdana, Helvetica neue, Arial, serif; font-size: 10px; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; } ul.indent { list-style: inside disc; text-indent: -15px; } table.callout { font-family: verdana; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1. 3em; } td.vgoverview { height: 125px; background: #9DC4D8 url(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/G/01/electronics/detail-page/callout-bg.png) repeat-x; border-left: 1px solid #999999; border-right: 1px solid #999999; padding-left: 20px; padding-right: 20px; padding-bottom: 10px; width: 250px; font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px; }
Story
When Professor Layton's mentor, Dr. Schrader, turns up dead with no clear answer as to why, it's up to the renowned puzzle-solver and his apprentice, Luke, to unravel the mystery. The only clue thus far is a train ticket for the Molentary Express. What could it mean, and who — or what — might have caused Dr. Schrader's death? In order to find out, Professor Layton and Luke will embark on an odyssey filled with challenging puzzles which may lead them to an object known as the Elysian Box, rumored to kill all who open it.
Brainteasing fun with Professor Layton and Luke.
View larger. Gameplay
As with other games in the Professor Layton series, gameplay in Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box is linked to a richly illustrated storyline, in-game environments and non-player characters (NPCs). Diabolical Box takes this further than the original game, with more locations to explore, significantly more animated cutscenes and the deeper level of voice talent employed. As players move through the game with an aim towards solving the overarching mystery they will encounter characters who can forward their progress if they return the favor in advance by solving a puzzle. These brainteasers cover everything from mazes and riddles, to logic and sliding puzzles and everything in-between. There are no time limits on puzzles and 'hint coins' found and earned throughout the game can be used to purchase up to three hints per puzzle. The game cartridge contains 150 puzzles, but it is not necessary to solve every puzzle in order to finish the game. Those who do though and yearn for even more can access additional puzzles via a DS and/or DSi Wi-Fi connection. These will be released weekly for the first 33 weeks after game launch. In addition to standard brainteasing puzzle play the game also features a series of mini-games that although do not affect the outcome of the game directly, can help with players' interactions with NPCs, and thus have an impact on progress through the game, as well as serve to vary gameplay.
Key Game Features
- Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box features a riveting new mystery and more than 150 new brain teasers, riddles and logic puzzles to challenge and delight players.
- Beyond the puzzles found in the game cartridge, players with a broadband Internet connection who connect their Nintendo DS and Nintendo DSi systems to Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection will get access to downloadable bonus puzzles. A new puzzle will be available each week for 33 weeks after the game launches.
- The game includes a significantly greater amount of voice work and animated cutscenes compared to the original game.
- New memo pad feature which allows players to work through puzzles more easily solved by sketching out possible scenarios.
- A variety of mini-games that although do not directly affect the outcome of the game, provide variety of gameplay, and can help with the Professor and Luke's relations with NPCs.
- No time limits on puzzles allows players to take their time before answering or using an in-game 'hint coin.'
Additional Screenshots:
More than 150 puzzles.
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An engrossing mystery.
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More game locations.
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Additional mini-games.
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Customer reviews
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Speaking strictly about the differences with Diabolical Box, after the adventures in Curious Village, Layton receives a letter from an old friend who has made a startling discovery, but leaves an ominous message at the end. Worried for his friend, Layton and his apprentice arrive to find his apartment in shambles, and him on the floor unresponsive. The only evidence left behind are tickets on a train, but no clear information as to destination or why the tickets are there in the first place. They decide to take a trip to find more information about what happened.
I give Diabolical Box credit for one thing: the puzzles were often directly related to the basic story. You'll still encounter patrons of the city you arrive at who need help with a puzzle in exchange for information or clues to solve the mystery. However, the puzzles focused less on tripping you up with word trickery as seen in Curious Village. There were a lot more actual puzzles time around, still some brain teasers.
Where Diabolical Box broke down was with what I can only assume to be translation problems. Some puzzles were worded so poorly as to almost guarantee a wrong answer. There's one in particular - Google it - where it asks about the proper ratio of clouds to open sky. Well, I assume they meant proportion, not ratio, because the correct answer (which I won't give) is a proportion...meaning a certain number vs. a certain number. Mathematically, the ratio is the lowest possible, not the highest proportion.
So for example, if I had an 8 slice pizza and I asked you how many slices 4 people can eat at the most, the answer is 8, obviously, because that's all you have. In other words, 8:4...8 slices for four people. Notice I didn't ask "how many slices can EACH person eat", nor did I ask "how many slices are there for EACH person". I simply said, you have 8 slices and 4 people, so how much will those 4 people eat, which is 8.
Now, calculate base ratio by breaking it down by halves.
8:4 = 4:2 (four slices for every two people)
4:2 = 2:1 (2 slices for every person)
In that question - for an 8 slice pizza, how many slices 4 people can eat at the most - as asked, all three answers are essentially correct. 8:4, 4:2, or 2:1.
In the sky/cloud puzzle in Diabolical Box, it wants the highest propotion only but asks for a ratio. The way the question is asked, does not specify WHICH ratio. In fact, based on the true answer, ratio is not the proper term that should have been used...because when calculating ratio, you always use the lowest possible. In my pizza example, that's 2:1. In the sky/cloud puzzle, the lowest ratio is counted wrong.
I know I went on for a while with that example, but I wanted to adequately warn you about some of the wording of the puzzles this time around, and give you a specific example of the kinds of things to look out for. Such is the problem with puzzle-heavy games. The puzzle changes depending on how the writer words the question, and in some cases, you might give what is a right answer but be counted wrong if the game considers each puzzle to only have one right answer (which is another issue, but not nearly severe).
You might mistake my review for disliking Diabolical Box. In truth I didn't find it as compelling as Curious Village. But it was a fun game in its own right. I just felt that they got a little lazy on the puzzles and making sure that players could effectively answer them without having what are clearly iffy wording discrepancies. You still should play this if you enjoyed Curious Village, and again, if you didn't play Curious Village, you really should before diving into this.
I liked the extras, the tea game, the camera, and the hamster game, although I found the hamster game too easy. But once complete he sniffed out hint coins for me, so completing the hamster game early was tactically advantageous.
I'm still working through all the bonus material but fully intend to buy the remaining Professor Layton games once I've completed this one. An enjoyable and challenging game, well worth the price.
Like the first installment (Professor Layton and the Curious Village), this game is filled with puzzles that deal with logic and so is addictive if you like solving these problems however I personally feel that some are easier than before while there are others that have stumped me (and my friends).
But I love the minigames - there's one similar to the painting minigame where you now have to put together a camera; and one with a cute hamster; and another tea game. They encourage you to pick up more items within the game itself and keep you playing.
I'm looking forward to the ending of this game - the previous one had a pretty good storyline so I'm hoping that this will be the same. It's addictive fun and you ca convince yourself that you're doing brain-training at the same time.^_^"
Top reviews from other countries
Gamplay- The same as Curious village with a mixture of heavy dialogue to build up the story, short bits of footage and plenty of puzzles to entertain and fustrate. The only thing I would tweak with this is to put more footage in because reading all the dialogue does get slightly tiresome and repetitive but its not a huge problem.The main gameplay is the puzzle, most of the first puzzles are fairly easy to build your confidence with them gradually getting harder (Don't even mention the knight's puzzle I was at that for hours and still haven't completed it) I found some of the puzzles too difficult to do on my own and unfortunatly had to cheat a little which made me feel awful. However the majority of puzzles are just challenging enough to keep you entertained without causing too much of a headache. = 7/10
Visuals- Looks a lot brighter and crisp than Curious village and all the different characters and wonderful settings are varied and beautiful. The only problem with visuals is the cut scenes are on the bottom screen so isn't as visually good if it was on the top screen. = 7/10
Plot- I personally thought the start was a little slow and was worried that it was going to be boring but it picked up a lot during the second chapter. The story is of Layton's mentor finding the Elysian box (similar to the Greek myth of Pandora's box of whoever opens it dies) Layton worried for his mentor goes to see him to find he is dead and the box is missing. Layton along with Luke and the stand-offish Officer Chelmy are on the case which leads them to the glamorous Molentary Express which is full of intriguing and odd passangers (Sammy is my favourite :D). As their journey progresses they arrive in the creepy town of Folsense which has a strange connection with the Elysian box and is inhabited by a vampire lord. The plot keeps you on your toes always asking questions, is there really a vampire, does the box really kill people, why doesn't anything age in Folsense and more? Nothing will prepare you for the end, lets just say get the tissues ready! = 9/10
Characters- Right I'm just going to throw it out there- I hate, hate, hate Luke. He is the most annoying child in the world and his voice- grr. I also found Layton rather annoying always talking about what a gentlemen should do, god Layton let your hair down a little! Other than the two main characters the others are hilarious and bizzare especially the try hard rockstar Sammy. The quirky characters really make the game. = 8/10
Additions- The extras on the game are weekly puzzles which I haven't done yet and set of unlockable extra hard puzzles unlocked with special requirments. During the game there is a Hamster mini-game where you had to get a very chubby hamster fit, another is to build up a camara which took me ages fiddling with the little pieces! Once it is built you can take pictures of certain areas and do a spot the difference. = 7/10
Overal= 38/50 A fantastic game that is much better than the previous game, I couldn't put it down for the two weeks it took me to complete it.
A beautiful story with lots of twists and turns, packed with puzzles that will have you scratching your head and wishing you hadn't wasted your last hint coin, Professor Layton and Pandora's Box is an interesting sequel to the Curious Village tale. However, if you're not satisfied by throwaway explanations for bizarre phenomena and have difficulty suspending your disbelief, you might not enjoy this one so much. If you like action and swordfights, take a trip on the Molentary Express!
As before, there are extras once the game is completed, as well as little mini-games for play during the game itself.
Brand New Condition
No scratches
Game Card had accounts but after examining the card itself there was no damage and it plays perfectly well as if it was brand new
Came with all the inserts and the promotional codes were untouched
Came in typical Amazon packaging and was well protected
All in all I am a happy customer
About the Game itself
I love all the puzzles
The artwork is lovely
Musical sound tracks are gorgeous
Wonderful game and would recommend to everyone










