Layton's Mystery Journey: Katrielle and the Millionaire's Conspiracy
- July 20, 2017
- LEVEL-5
With better aesthetics, all DLC included, and new puzzles, this 3DS port has a lot going for it.
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…
Reviews
- 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.
- story27 mentions
- 15 % positive mentions
- 74 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The 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.”
- graphics7 mentions
- 71 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are consistently praised for their gorgeous art style and vibrant visuals, which enhance the overall experience. Players appreciate the charming aesthetics and the delightful character designs, alongside the engaging puzzles that complement the beautiful artwork. Overall, the visuals contribute significantly to the game's appeal, making it a joy to explore.
“I love the art style as always.”
“Katrielle and the millionaires’ conspiracy may not have an interesting plot, but the game’s likeable characters, a plethora of puzzles, and beautiful artwork are enough to see it through to the end.”
“Charming as heck, gorgeous graphics, great music, witty writing, sharp puzzles, Katrielle is hugely likeable.”
- music5 mentions
- 80 % positive mentions
- -40 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally described as beautiful and relaxing, complementing the vibrant visuals and engaging gameplay. While some players find it familiar, others appreciate its charm and how it enhances the overall experience, particularly in relation to the well-designed puzzles and characters.
“If I had less patience, I probably would want to return the game, but the cut scenes are top-notch animation and the music is also relaxing.”
“Even though a bit harder to play compared to the original, the wonderfully designed puzzles, characters, and music make this game a wonderful experience.”
“[charming as heck, gorgeous graphics, great music, witty writing, sharp puzzles, Katrielle is hugely likeable].”
“The music was the usual.”
“The soundtrack felt repetitive and uninspired.”
“I found the music to be bland and forgettable.”
- gameplay5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 40 % negative mentions
The gameplay retains classic elements from the Professor Layton series, such as hidden picarats and puzzles, but shifts to a format of separate detective stories rather than a continuous narrative. While the puzzles remain engaging and the mechanics are streamlined, players may find the lack of deeper detective involvement and character progression disappointing compared to previous titles. Overall, it offers an entertaining experience with a vibrant cast and plenty of content, though it feels somewhat formulaic.
“The gameplay is as entertaining as ever, with a fun selection of characters and lots of content to uncover.”
“The vibrant cast, beautiful music and visuals, along with excellent streamlined gameplay mechanics, create an engaging experience.”
“This, along with the core gameplay, paves the way for a classic Layton experience.”
“If you buy this game with the idea of a game like the ones from Professor Layton, you are partly right. The game retains elements of the classic series, such as hidden picarats and puzzles, but in terms of story, it is very different. You don't play a single story that develops over your gaming session, but rather a series of separate stories. As this is a game about detectives, that makes sense, but it doesn't allow you to truly be a detective. The game automatically provides you with clues for the case, and you just need to click a button to solve it. You don't need to think about the case Katrielle is working on; instead, you focus on finding and solving puzzles using as few picarats as possible. While that is the focus of the Professor Layton games, this is a sequel where you control a new character who is a detective. Level-5 should have gone the extra mile in terms of gameplay. For example, in the previous Layton games, the number of picarats you had would change the avatar's appearance, but here, Katrielle's avatar remains the same. It may seem like a small detail, but in the previous games, those little changes made you feel really good.”
“This, along with the core gameplay, paves the way for a run-of-the-mill Layton experience.”
- character development1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is generally perceived as inadequate, with many users expressing disappointment in the depth and progression of the characters.
“The character development was definitely lacking as well.”
“The characters felt one-dimensional and lacked meaningful growth throughout the game.”
“I was disappointed by how little the characters evolved; their arcs were predictable and uninspired.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game lacks significant replay value, but it is still considered a worthwhile addition to any collection.
“There is no real replay value, but it's definitely one to add to your collection.”
“Once you've completed the game, there's little incentive to play it again.”
“The lack of meaningful choices means that replaying feels more like a chore than an enjoyable experience.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by clever puns and witty dialogue, which enhance the overall experience while engaging players with brain-teasing puzzles. Additionally, it serves as a charming introduction to the series, setting a lighthearted tone.
“The game is filled with funny puns that keep you laughing while solving brain-teasing puzzles.”
“I loved the humorous dialogue and clever jokes sprinkled throughout the game.”
“The witty writing and playful banter made the experience incredibly enjoyable.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is criticized for its lack of depth, with players finding the story unengaging and the characters, particularly Sherl and Ernest, to be annoying. Overall, the narrative fails to evoke strong feelings, leaving players feeling bored and disconnected.
“The story is boring and goes nowhere, making it hard to feel any emotional connection.”
“Sherl and Ernest are annoying characters that detract from the emotional experience.”
“The game is too easy most of the time, which diminishes the emotional stakes.”
Critic Reviews
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%