My kids and I love this game! It is top-notch in all areas. The graphics and videos are excellent. Professor Layton is a "gentleman" and he regularly reminds his young apprentice, Luke, how gentlemen are to behave. The story is well-written and engaging. The puzzles are plentiful, fun, and very challenging. Younger children may become frustrated by their difficulty, but you can use hint coins to get clues. The music is beautiful. In fact, my son was motivated to learn to play the violin by this game! We just bought the sequel and will share my review of that one when I've had a chance to play it.
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Professor Layton and the Curious Village
(2008, Video Games - Puzzle, Rated E, Play it on: Nintendo DS)
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Is it age appropriate?
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Not age appropriate for kids under 7, age appropriate for kids over 12; suggested age 12. -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
Solve brainteasers to get clues to crack mystery.
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 12 and Up
The good stuff
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Educational value:
What to watch out for
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Violence:
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Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
What Parents Need to Know
This review of Professor Layton and the Curious Village was written by Jinny Gudmundsen
Parents need to know that while there's a mysterious death during the game, it's not shown. This is a mystery game chock full of logic puzzles. The puzzles range in difficulty, but some require mathematical concepts usually introduced in about 7th grade, so we have set the age appropriateness at 12 and up. Precocious kids may be able to tackle these puzzles at a younger age. Additional puzzles can be downloaded using the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. This is a game that makes using your mind fun.
Families Can Talk About
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- Families can talk about whether having a good mystery to solve helped to motivate you to tackle the tricky puzzles. How many of these puzzles had you seen before? Were you glad you could get hints?
More on Professor Layton and the Curious Village
What’s the Story?
PROFESSOR LAYTON AND THE CURIOUS VILLAGE combines a good mystery story with a series of challenging brainteasers. To crack the case, you have to solve the logic puzzles. The game takes place in St. Mystere, a strange little village where all the inhabitants love puzzles. Professor Layton, a renowned puzzle-solver, and his apprentice arrive at the town to help the family of the late Baron Reinhold. The Baron's will reveals that before he died, he hid a great treasure somewhere in St. Mystere. While interviewing the inhabitants for clues, one of the family members dies mysteriously. Now there are two mysteries to solve. The villagers are very willing to help you if you will solve their favorite puzzle first. In all, there are over 130 puzzles including such classics as the one where you have three wolves and three chickens that need to cross over a river on a raft. You have to figure out how to ferry them across so that at no time do the wolves outnumber the chickens.
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Is It Any Good?
While solving brainteasers may seem like a lot of work, it doesn't feel that way in this context. The professor encourages you and even lets you buy three hints per puzzle using coins you can find while hunting around the village. And since you are rewarded with a clue or other important information for solving puzzles, the mystery angle motivates you to keep tackling the puzzles.
Fascinating characters and outstanding graphics also contribute to this game's excellence. Professor Layton is a British chap who reminds you of Sherlock Holmes and his wide-eyed apprentice provides some comic relief because of his naiveté. The characters you meet in the village are all eccentric and fascinating. The game uses hand-drawn watercolor graphics and occasional fully voiced animations to create a whimsical style reminiscent of the animated film The Triplets of Belleville.
ClosePublisher’s Details
Released on 02/10/2008, price $30, not online enabled
ESRB rating: E (for Mild Violence)
ESRB rating: E (for Mild Violence)
Our Members Say
See all 7 member reviews
Most Recent Reviews
- I rate this title on for age 10 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Educational
- Good role models
- Safety isn't an issue
Educational, high-quality, and FUN
- I rate this title on for age 12 and give it
- My highlights are:
Great game, for 12+
I loved this game!! Can't wait to play the second!!
- I rate this title on for age 6 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Educational
- Easy to play
The best brainteasers in any video game
This game is very well-made with tons of puzzles and an interesting story of mystery and intrigue that just about anyone can enjoy. A lot of puzzles are the types that you either see it or you don't and/or where thinking outside the box is rewarded. Odds are, if you are using a paper and pencil to keep track of things, you're doing it wrong. Once you find the solution, the puzzle seems easy and you wonder how it took you 15 minutes to figure out and during those 15 minutes you will probably be tempted to look for the answers online, but if you manage to figure it out yourself, you feel a nice sense of accomplishment. Some of the puzzles may be too difficult for some ages, but most of it can be handled all right (those 15 minute ones aren't too common). Also, those with a wi-fi connection can download puzzles that are added weekly. You get a lot of mileage for the cash with more than 130 puzzles and the prospect of downloading more, so if you want to give your brain a challenge, but don't want any more sudoku or crossword games, this is the game for you.
- I rate this title on for age 12 and give it
AWsome
I loved this game. It might be a little hard for soem of the younger kids or those that don't think analitically all the time, but if you need any help they have the answers online.
- I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
Great game, Lots of fun
I love how cute the animation is on this game, just like Miyazaki's Spirited Away, and the puzzles are really fun. adults, you say the murder is to intense? Well, for some kids it would be. But overall, great game, terrific time spent playing it. I was sad when I was done. P.S there is a code in the manual that lets you see what happened after Flora was saved.
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Ratings at a Glance
| 100% | of parents feel the site is safe |
| 100% | of parents say there are good role models |
| 100% | of parents say it gives kids positive messages |
| 100% | of parents say it's educational |
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