Playing a Professor Layton game is a very different kind of adventure compared to the hyperactive fun of other Nintendo titles, such as the Super Mario games, for example.
As well as the sheer satisfaction of solving mind-bendingly difficult puzzles, a big part of the fun when playing Professor Layton games is allowing yourself to be pulled along with the story and interacting with a host of interesting characters.
Professor Layton and the Miracle Mask, the newest in the hit series of puzzle games, sees the return of favourite characters such as the Professor himself, his apprentice Luke and his assistant Emmy.
You may also spot other familiar faces such as Inspector Grosky, his admirer Hanna, Aldus, your friendly and informative hint coin demonstrator, and Jean Descole, the cold-hearted scientist you may remember from previous Professor Layton games.
Along with these recurring characters, there are a whole new set of faces to watch out for. Here’s a rundown of the essentials you need to know about the newest additions to the Professor Layton games series:
The Laytons
A unique part of the newest Professor Layton and the Miracle Mask is the chance to go back in time to see the inimitable Professor’s younger self, and it is here that we meet his kindly and wise parents, Roland and Lucille Layton.
The Ascots
Whilst delving into the Professor’s past through a series of fascinating flashback scenes, you will also encounter the Ascots, Randall Ascot and his mother, Mrs Ascot. Randall is one of Professor Layton’s friends from his teenage years.
Alphonse Dalston
A major character in the new Professor Layton adventure, Alphonse Dalston is another of the Professor’s high school acquaintances, who is now a Monte d’Or tycoon and lives in a giant Chateau.
Leonard Bloom
Detective Leonard Bloom is a determined and tenacious young prodigy sent by Scotland Yard with Inspector Grosky to Monte d’Or in order to investigate the case of the Masked Gentleman. He seems unwavering in his dedication to solving the case, but can he really be trusted?
The Masked Gentleman
The most mysterious and illusive figure in Professor Layton and the Miracle Mask, you will recognise the Masked Gentleman by his gleaming white suit and top hat and of course, his masked face. If you want to know more about the Masked Gentleman though, you will have to play the game!
