A true gentleman leaves no puzzle unsolved
It's no secret that Professor Layton and the Curious Village was one of my favorite games released last year, so it's only natural that I was excited to see what the good professor would bring to the table this time around. Fortunately, Layton's second outing is just as seamlessly charming as his first, making Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box a solid choice for fans of the original.
Everything that made The Curious Village so fun is present and accounted for in The Diabolical Box. The same brand of charm that was such a defining quality in The Curious Village rears its head once more, and is perhaps the stand-out feature this time as well. I don't think I'll ever get tired of watching Layton do what he does best- he frequently outwits literally everyone, yet remains a true gentleman all the while. He's quickly becoming one of modern gaming's most endearing characters, and the rest of the cast, the setting, and the story all back him up nicely. The game's large variety of puzzles remain devilishly clever, and the formula's pitch perfect pacing is just as addictive as always. In fact, this is perhaps the most impressive quality about the franchise thus far. It simply nails the balance between story and gameplay better than most games- just as you start getting a little tired of the plot, the game throws a good brain teaser at you, and vice versa. The result is a streamlined experience that's easy to pick up and play for any length of time.
That all being said, the formula has lost the slightest bit of steam in the past year and a half. The best qualities of The Diabolical Box are things that were also present in The Curious Village, and as a result they don't have quite the same impact this time around. I also found the story to be not quite as intriguing as last year's game- nothing in The Diabolical Box could really compare to the heartwarming finale of The Curious Village. Finally, the few frustrating puzzle types from The Curious Village seem to have multiplied themselves for the sequel. Nobody liked the "Save the Princess" puzzles before, and they won't be happy to see that type of puzzle return in greater force.
But really, all of these gripes are simply nit picking. Anyone who liked anything about Layton's first adventure will surely find it here, and should enjoy The Diabolical Box as a result. At the same time, if you somehow resisted Layton's charms before, then his return probably won't do anything to change your mind. The whole affair is a fairly standard blueprint sequel- it just happens to be a really good blueprint. I'd recommend that newcomers start with The Curious Village, but for everyone else, you should already know whether or not you'll like The Diabolical Box. And chances are you will.
For additional information on my review style and scoring system, click here.
