I was pretty sure I’d posted on my diary about this already, back in November when I started playing it, but it seems not. Back then, I got to around half-way into the story, and aside from occasionally popping back on to do the latest downloadable puzzles, I hadn’t touched it once my Wii U arrived.
After completing (and boy, did I complete it) New Super Mario Bros 2, I went back to Layton. It took me a few minutes to recall exactly what I was supposed to be doing, but as soon as I triggered the next bit of story I was into it again. So much so, that for a few days it was the main thing I played, completing it today.
It’s certainly the biggest Layton so far – all the others I’ve 100%ed in under 15 hours, and this one I’ve only done 102 puzzles (of 160, I think) but I’ve clocked 19 hours so far. There are also way more downloadable puzzles too – 360-odd instead of 50-odd.
I really enjoyed it, but the exploration of the ruins chapter was too much of a departure for me and I didn’t like it that much. Also, despite the utterly ridiculous “epic final battles” of the previous games, the lack of one for this left it feeling unfinished. Even after the credits, and the cut scene following it, I was still expecting another chapter or something. Sure, it’s the second part of a trilogy, but that hasn’t stopped them in the past.
Anyway, overall, it was great. Having the tap-to-examine stuff on the top screen was a bit jarring, but I got used to it. Even the 3D models I complained about earlier have grown on me – not least because they’re not as bad as they were when I played this at Eurogamer. Not sure why – was that an old build?