Layton's 3DS debut marked the fifth entry in the series, with a new look that made good use of the system's graphical prowess.
Continuing on from the events in Professor Layton and the Last Specter and its movie sequel Professor Layton and the Eternal Diva, the story of Professor Layton and the Miracle Mask delves more into Hershel Layton's past, revealing secrets about his past, his childhood friends, and the very reason he took an interest in archaeology.
If you have played one (or all) of the previous entries in the series, then you know what to expect. You guide Layton and his little band of puzzle-seeking adventurers around a map, talking to the quirky denizens of the picturesque desert oasis town of Monte d'Or while uncovering puzzles to solve. Along the way, you investigate a series of mysteries entwined together in a deliciously convoluted plot. It's the way Layton has always played, and likely always will.
Drastically changing things around in a series such as this wouldn't like benefit the player, because after all, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. It's instead the way that Miracle Mask evolves the way things are done while still retaining the look and feel that are part and parcel with the whole Layton experience. You still travel around the game's world, one stationary camera screen at a time, but where the games previously required you to endlessly tap every pixel on the screen in search of people, puzzles, and Hint Coins, you're now treated to a layered 3D diorama, allowing you to smoothly slide the camera angle about as you twist and tilt your vision. Hidden items and objects of interest cause your cursor to light up, allowing you to tap on that spot to perform a quick search. It integrates into the old Layton style perfectly.
The character artwork is now presented in 3D models with beautiful cel-shaded textures and polygon outlines, and the game's cast look identical to their 2D counterparts, maintaining the charm and personality surging through the past games. Similarly, the game's cutscenes are beautifully animated as always, and the addition of 3D layering and depth really make the movies pop on the 3DS screen in a bold manner.
Throughout the adventure, the game alternates back and forth between “present time” (which is an odd concept considering Miracle Mask is set in a prequel series that takes place before the first three games) and Layton's college days, as you piece together plot elements and clues before everything comes together in the final revelation. If I had one complaint to make, is that the obligatory “twist ending” is blatantly evident right from the beginning of the game and leaves little to be pondered as the story continually points to the truth from all angles. It is easily the most easily solved mystery plot the series has presented to us and, at times, even makes Layton himself appear uncharacteristically daft for not deducing the facts earlier. However, much like the most memorable of Colombo episodes, it's not who the culprit is or what his motive, but rather the interesting detective work involved in solving the crime that makes the conclusion all the more rewarding.
Finally, we're left with a major cliffhanger for the next game in the series, which is set to complete the prequel story arc and wrap up the series as a whole. The style of storytelling and the way the individual plots are connected in episodic fashion has remained strong up until this point, and I'm stoked to see how the grand finale for “season two” of the Layton legacy will play out.
With plenty of puzzle-solving action, engrossing character development, and a trove of post-game content to unlock – as well as the best set of free DLC the series has yet offered - there's no reason this game shouldn't be on our top ten 3DS games list.