I've played every Professor Layton game to date, which makes a total of four, although Japanese series enthusiasts have been enjoying The Mask of Miracle (Nintendo 3DS) for a while, which is number five. But... that's one game we'll have to wait for. Anyway, there's a reason why Level 5 has been able to get so many installments of their Professor Layton game series published: because they're great, and best of all, they sell well. In fact, the Nintendo DS and the Professor Layton series are a powerful mix, and the latest game, Professor Layton and the Last Specter, doesn't disappoint one bit. It's a fond farewell for the system that gave life to this series, and we can only hope the 3DS titles will be as masterfully done as this one.

Despite offering the same gameplay style and presentation as previous games, Professor Layton and the Last Specter comes with a few surprises of its own. I guess I hadn't done my research beforehand, but this game is a prequel of what we've seen before. That was a pleasing surprise, considering you get to learn more about the characters we've come to love over the years. Layton is called to research certain strange happenings in the mysterious town of Misthallery, and that's where he meets Luke, a reserved child that will soon learn the ways of a gentleman by putting his wits to good use. Surprisingly, there's more in store this time around, as Ms. Emmy Altava, a young and determined photographer, joins the duo as they investigate the mishaps taking place. Something about a giant that's terrorizing the town... but I prefer if you play the game to find out what exactly is going on.

Like the previous games, Professor Layton and the Last Specter comes with puzzles galore. As you explore the town, you must tap the screen in search for hidden coins, secret objects, and puzzles, as well as more info about each location, characters, and events. Talking to characters will lead to interesting conversations and oftentimes puzzles to solve too. You'll find that insisting is often the key; tapping an object or talking to a character a couple of times often rewards you with something unexpected. You never know when you're going to run into one of those challenging puzzles, so that makes the gameplay that much more enigmatic.

As always, the more difficult a puzzle is, the more Picarats it's worth. You have the chance to solve it by yourself and earn a gold statue next to it in the Puzzle Index, or you may use coins to unlock hints and even the super hint of the puzzle. Then again, solving them by yourself is more entertaining and rewarding, and there's a limited amount of coins throughout the game, so it's best to be frugal. Of course, the puzzles get tough quickly, even more so than in previous games, so they come in handy.

As you advance, you'll run into more characters and situations, intertwining the story in interesting ways. This maintains players engaged, and although the gameplay can result somewhat slow, the mystery surrounding the giant monster, the character development, and of course the puzzles will keep anyone going. It's something the Professor Layton series does remarkably well, and The Last Specter is no less than its previous games.

Still, you'll find there's even more to enjoy here. There are three mini-games you'll unlock as you play the main story, and they offer a nice change of pace. In one of them you'll lay down train tracks to direct a train to the goal while avoiding obstacles. In another one you place bubbles on the stage so the fish can collect all the coins, and the last one is a cute puppet theater where you must guess the actions for each character to complete the play. Each mini-game has multiple stages, so you'll be playing them for a while, whenever you choose to do so.

Other surprises included in Professor Layton and the Last Specter are Layton's Challenges, which you only get access to by accomplishing certain things during the game, and the Top Secret content section, only available to those who earn lots and lots of Picarats. And if you'd like even more puzzles, you'll also be able to download weekly puzzles from Nintendo WFC for quite a while, provided your Nintendo DS system is connected to the Internet.

So you see, Professor Layton and the Last Specter comes with 170+ puzzles to solve, a great story, hidden secrets, extra challenges, and mini-games. What else could you ask for? Well, nothing. But... it's the gift that keeps on giving, at least in the case of the American, Japanese, and Australian version of the game (sorry Europeans, for some reason you were left out!). The game cartridge offers yet another game. Yes, it's a full game called Professor Layton's London Life, and man, is it cool! 

Using the same quirky humor of the series, presenting a wealth of awesome characters (new and old), and offering over 100 hours of gameplay (for those who love customizing), London Life is an 8-bit RPG that'll leave a good taste in your mouth. I have only put a couple of hours into it and am already in love, so if you have any love for this ever-charming series of the fine gentleman and his puzzle-solving pal, you must cash in the reward. Professor Layton's London Life is a cheerful pocket-sized romp that will remind you of games like Animal Crossing and Harvest Moon, but with its own twist. You'll have to help others, pursue happiness, and make a living, all the while enjoying the numerous customization options it has to offer.

All in all, Professor Layton and the Last Specter is the most complete package I've seen in a while. If you don't like to be put to the test with challenging riddles and enigmas, steer away from it, but if you enjoy a good portable adventure once in a while with stylish hand-drawn visuals, tricky puzzles, and extra goodies, you can't go wrong. This is the best Professor Layton game there is.

GameDynamo's Score for Professor Layton and the Last Specter (DS/DSi)

	Score	Description
Graphics	100	Always a perfect example of what a good DS game should look like. Stylish, hand-drawn visuals with lots of charm.
Sound	95	A great violin and piano-based soundtrack. It reminds me of those cheerful tunes you hear in some indie movies, very appropriate for the charming setting and characters, not to mention the mysterious gameplay style at hand.
Gameplay	92	The task of solving puzzles couldn't be any more accessible thanks to the stylus and the memo pad. Exploring feels slow at times, which in turn gives you more time to savor the game. No need to play it all at once!
Play Value	98	Another great Professor Layton adventure, goodies to unlock, and a whole new game to enjoy, Professor Layton's London Life, a delightful 8-bit RPG with the characters you love.
Final Score	97	A treat for puzzle fans. It's a joy to discover the roots of the puzzle-solving duo... while solving even more puzzles.

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