- July 20, 2017
- LEVEL-5
Layton's Mystery Journey: Katrielle and the Millionaire's Conspiracy
With better aesthetics, all DLC included, and new puzzles, this 3DS port has a lot going for it.
Platforms
About
SOLVE IT LIKE A LAYTON! Solving mysteries runs in the family! With Professor Layton’s whereabouts unknown, it’s time for his daughter Katrielle to take centre stage in LAYTON’S MYSTERY JOURNEY™: Katrielle and the Millionaires’ Conspiracy for Nintendo 3DS family systems! The story this time begins with Katrielle setting up the Layton Detective Agency on Chancer Lane, determined to prove her worth…
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- Katrielle is a charming protagonist with a delightful personality, making her a joy to follow throughout the game.
- The game features a vast array of puzzles, with over 300 available, providing plenty of content for puzzle enthusiasts.
- The art style, music, and voice acting are all well-executed, contributing to an enjoyable overall experience.
- The story is simplistic and lacks the depth and overarching narrative that previous Layton games are known for, leading to a less engaging experience.
- Many puzzles rely on trick answers rather than logical deduction, which can be frustrating and unsatisfying for players seeking a challenge.
- Character development is minimal, and the overall plot feels anticlimactic, leaving players wanting more from the narrative.
story
27 mentions Positive Neutral NegativeThe story in this game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting its shift to a series of interconnected but simplistic cases rather than a cohesive overarching narrative. While some appreciate the light-hearted and episodic nature, others find the plot clichéd and predictable, with flat characters and a lack of depth compared to previous entries in the series. Overall, the storytelling feels less engaging, leaving fans longing for the richer narratives of earlier titles.
“But I've been playing through with my daughters and they think the story is really cool and they also like the trick answer puzzles because they feel really smart knowing the answer even if it took some frustration getting there.”
“Loved the way this one has different mysteries to solve instead of one really long story.”
“I'm glad this game has a silly, light-hearted story.”
“The dumbed-down story is a letdown to fans.”
“The plot feels simplistic.”
“The fact that half of the game is as great as any fan would expect, however, only further highlights the fact that the story side just can’t hold a candle to the ones before it.”
Layton’s Mystery Journey: Katrielle and the Millionaires’ Conspiracy Review
Factor in the rather obtuse nature of the puzzling and the uninspiring cast and you’ll find that there’s a lot to be disappointed with in this return for the famed puzzle series.
60%Layton's Mystery Journey: Katrielle and the Millionaires' Conspiracy review
The Layton puzzle series' debut on Nintendo Switch brings the puzzles and charm fans should expect, though the move to game pads and an episodic story may feel strange.
80%Layton’s Mystery Journey: Katrielle and the Millionaires’ Conspiracy
Fortunately, a bunch of less annoying characters are befriended as the game goes on, each with their own unique quirks, personalities, and dialects. This, along with the core gameplay, paves the way for a run-of-the-mill Layton experience. Moving around a magnifying glass over just about everything and everyone in the environment to find puzzles, trinkets, discoveries to further the plot, and hint coins to help with those trickier riddles is pretty much the same as ever. Even the voice acting and animations that start up at important plot points are brilliant. The fact that that half of the game is as great as any fan would expect, however, only further highlights the fact that the story side just can’t hold a candle to the ones before it. So, why is it not on par with the older games? Firstly, there’s a clear lack of an end goal – a main mystery to solve that is built towards for the entire game. Nothing to keep the player excited as they get ever closer to solving the impossible and discovering the truth.
60%