Professor Layton

The Professor Layton series of video games, developed by the video game product team at Level 5, offers puzzle mystery and fun for participants of all ages. Part RPG and part puzzle, the series, which was likely somewhat inspired by Sherlock Holmes, has been the premise of multiple Nintendo DS and Nintendo 3DS games since the first release in 2007. In addition to the games, there has also been one full-length animated film based on the series of video games. The film, which is a type of Japanese Manga, was released in Asia in 2009. It did not come to Europe and America until a few years later, though loyal fans greeted the movie, Professor Layton and the Eternal Diva with a warm welcome. Unlike many puzzle games, the Layton series follows a plot. The storyline revolves around Hershel Layton, professor of archaeology and his self-appointed 11 year old sidekick and apprentice Luke Triton, as they travel about London finding clues and solving a variety of intriguing mysteries. Ever year since 2007, the franchise has released a new edition of the series for the portable Nintendo console system.  The releases in order are as follows: Professor Layton and the Curious Village, Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box, Professor Layton and the Unwound Future, Professor Layton and the Last Specter, Professor Layton and the Miracle Mask and Professor Layton and the Azran Legacies. So far there are no television console versions of the Professor Layton series, nor does it appear on any non-Nintendo system. A smartphone game is expected to be released in the near future and at this point, several future storylines are in the works for portable systems.