Review for Layton's Mystery Journey: Katrielle and the Millionaires Plot - Deluxe Edition. Game for Nintendo Switch, the video game was released on 09/08/2018
Solving puzzles has always been a way to keep the mind active and the combination with the videogame medium is certainly a great idea. Solving puzzles is indeed fun, but it is not just a simple matter of intelligence or logic: the ability to think outside the box in a so-called "lateral" way also comes into play. With lateral thinking we mean a way of solving logical problems that involves an indirect approach, that is the observation of the question from different perspectives. Combining reasoning skills, lateral thinking and video games, the now famous Level 5 has long since introduced a series of titles capable of stimulating the mind and entertaining at the same time: the Professor Layton series.
Today we go together to discover Layton's Mystery Journey: Katrielle and the Millionaires Plot - Deluxe Edition, the porting of the 2017 title of the same name already available on iOS, Android, 3DS and now finally landed in an improved and complete version on Nintendo Switch.
The protagonist of Layton's Mystery Journey: Katrielle and the conspiracy of millionaires - Deluxe Edition is precisely the young, intelligent and enterprising Katrielle, daughter of art and owner of the ALayton Investigation Agency. On her first day at work and after being abruptly awakened from the nightmare about her father who has mysteriously disappeared, our investigator is preparing to officially open the doors of her new detective agency, ready to face any mystery that is proposed to her.
Needless to say, a few seconds after the opening, his first, intriguing and mysterious case appears, which for the occasion takes on the appearance of Sherl, a talking dog. Yes, you understood correctly, it is a dog with the ability to speak and this thing upsets both the viewer and Ben Greegy - unsolicited volunteer assistant of the Layton Detective Agency - leaving our protagonist indifferent who on the contrary was anxious to solve fabulous mysteries, and who is almost disappointed to have to start her business with a simple talking dog.
Sadly Sherl has lost her memory and can't say much that she can help Katrielle shed light on her past or her bizarre nature. All that remains is to follow the few clues and solve the puzzles encountered during the investigations to go and reconstruct that gigantic puzzle that will lead to the resolution of the case and to shed light on the disappearance of her father - the famous Professor Layton - through unexpected twists and worthy intrigues. of a yellow by Agata Christie. Of course, along our articulated and colorful adventure we will have to deal with a huge amount of NPCs who will try to help or hinder us in the resolution of our investigation.
Precisely the characterization of the settings and characters is one of the greatest strengths of Layton's Mystery Journey: Katrielle and the millionaires' conspiracy - Deluxe Edition, with an attention to detail and a mastery in graphic representation capable of thrilling and involving the player of any age. Each character has its own story and expressions that give depth and depth to each dialogue, masterfully translated, providing the player with a complete experience, which in some ways reminds us of an anime able to excite thanks to the numerous cutscenes and the upgrade. graphic of this version for Nintendo Switch. Already the incipit conquers by recalling in some ways the dreamlike initials of the Japanese animation masterpieces by Hayao Miyazaki.
But let's get to the heart of Layton's Mystery Journey: Katrielle and the Millionaires' Plot - Deluxe Edition: the puzzles. In this transposition of Layton's Mystery Journey: Katrielle and the Millionaires Conspiracy Level 5 has in store for the player over 550 puzzles plus others 40 exclusive to the Deluxe Edition, all readjusted to be enjoyed at their best on the latest Nintendo console, giving way to solve puzzles both in portable mode using the Touch, and on the big screen with the use of the Joy-Con buttons. Each enigma requires a good dose of reasoning and it becomes imperative, in order not to waste time unnecessarily, a careful reading of the initial statement that explains the enigma itself. Often, in fact, the solution must be sought in the words of the explanation, which thanks to an excellent translation work leave implicit clues on how to solve the problem.
There also remains the typical aid system and the consequent evaluation in Picarati. Each puzzle is in fact evaluated on the basis of its difficulty in a value of Picarati: to each solution given incorrectly or to each help requested, the evaluation drops down to a minimum of Picarati below which one cannot go. To get the best evaluation at the end of our adventure (which can be finished in about twenty hours) it is necessary to think before answering.
Today, however, the version for Nintendo Switch offers an added value: Layton's Mystery Journey: Katrielle and the plot of millionaires - Deluxe Edition for the first time can be viewed on the big screen thus giving the opportunity to face the adventure and the puzzles together with the whole family. An intelligent feature capable of involving all the players in the story and that allows you to confront each other to get the best result.
We will also have the opportunity, as in previous chapters, to indulge ourselves with the furniture of our office by changing the wallpaper, rugs, knick-knacks and much more. In addition we will have to discover collectibles in our investigations for London, and we will also have the opportunity to interact in the Layton Museum where we will be able to use the museum points - obtainable by solving the puzzles of the day - which will give the right to various kinds of gadgets. We will also be able to indulge our fashion side by unlocking and purchasing outfits for our heroine, always bearing in mind that each outfit corresponds to a new enigma. Finally, there are three mini games to distract us from the classic riddle: we can create delicious dinners for snooty guests, run a shop or take Sherl for a walk and lead him out of his enclosure using the fewest possible moves.
The port for Nintendo Switch in its Deluxe Edition also offers a number of interesting innovations. First of all we will have access to all the puzzles of the original title in a version also adapted to the big TV screen as well as to the Joy-Con commands; there will also be 40 new and never seen puzzles in previous editions; finally there will be the possibility to download, starting from November 8, a new puzzle every day even if these puzzles are only for fun and do not add or subtract Picarati to the final score (this service is guaranteed for at least one year from launch of Layton's Mystery Journey: Katrielle and the Millionaires Plot - Deluxe Edition). Finally, let's not forget that you can access each previously solved riddle, giving you the opportunity to challenge friends and relatives in the puzzles that you have most passionate about or with which you have had more difficulty.
The graphic upgrade and the remastering of the soundtrack are perfect and give - as already mentioned above - a masterful transposition, raising the ability to involve, thanks also to a well-structured plot, to the nth degree.
It is not possible to highlight serious sore points even if perhaps enjoying Layton's Mystery Journey on the move: Katrielle and the conspiracy of millionaires - Deluxe Edition in this particular case is not a particularly considerable added value, given that all the titles of the Professor Layton series are born mainly for portable consoles: it seemed only right to be able to use it also on Nintendo Switch. Perhaps, having to necessarily find a flaw - more in the work of Level 5 than in the title itself - we could have expected a brand new title, even if we can happily say that the transposition work has been masterfully carried out. One could complain about the fragmented plot compared to previous episodes, but according to those who review the title this choice is not only not a defect, but it lightens the context making it suitable for all ages without losing maturity.
Layton's Mystery Journey: Katrielle and the Millionaires Conspiracy - Deluxe Edition is the port of one of the most successful Professor Layton series titles that today also lands on Nintendo Switch. Thanks to magical atmospheres, a solid storyline, a soundtrack to the height and clever, difficult and engaging puzzles, Level 5 manages not to miss too much of a brand new title and offers the player an experience to try. You will hardly be disappointed in the adventure of Katrielle, Ben and Sherl!
► Layton's Mystery Journey: Katrielle and the Millionaires Conspiracy - Deluxe Edition is a Puzzle type game developed by Level 5 and published by Nintendo for Nintendo Switch, the video game was released on 09/08/2018
