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Topic: Playing Professor Layton series for first time

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yokokazuo

After the latest Nintendo Direct, I've become interested in purchasing Proffesor Layton and the Azran Legacy soon, but I've heard that it is important to play the previous games. However I think it would be difficult to find the older games and expensive. (I also just bought Rhythm Thief and DKC:TF) Is it necessary for me to play the previous games or would I be able to understand the story without knowing much about the previous games?

yokokazuo

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Ralizah

The series is divided into two trilogies. The second trilogy, of which Azran Legacy is the last entry, is a prequel to the original. To appreciate this game fully, you'll want to play Professor Layton and the Last Specter and Professor Layton and the Miracle Mask., the previous two games in the prequel trilogy, in that order.

To be honest, though, while I have yet to play this entry, I've played the last five games, and while there are some connections between the different games, the stories are largely independent of one-another. There might be a few confusing aspects to the story in this final entry, but the vast majority of your playtime will be spent solving puzzles and exploring anyhow.

So, get the previous two games in this trilogy if you afford to and play those first. If that's out of the question, you'll probably still find plenty to enjoy in this game.

Edited on by Ralizah

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Socar

As Ralizah mentioned, getting this game without the previous ones won't really affect the story much. That said, you will appreciate the series more if you get the previous ones although I think getting the original ones will be quite difficult right now so you might as well wait for Nintendo to release DS games via Virtual Console.

As a fan of the series, I got all five of them and I will say that the original trilogy is my favorite compared to the second. Miracle Mask is still a great game with its great story and I suggest you get that instead of Last Specter because the story gap there isn't much.

I'm planning to make a video about what this series is all about because I love these series as a whole and I don't care if the second trilogy isn't as great as the original.

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yokokazuo

Ok, thanks. If I see one of those, I will get it first and then the other ones if I like the series.

yokokazuo

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Prof_Clayton

yokokazuo wrote:

Ok, thanks. If I see one of those, I will get it first and then the other ones if I like the series.

I would reccomend them in this order, however many you choose:
First, before you play Azran Legacies, play Miracle Mask. It's readily available and should be a fun game, as well as set the tone for Legacies.
Next, if you decide to buy them all, buy in this priority order:
1) Unwound Future
2/3) Curious Village / Diabolical Box
4) Last Specter
...and this ranking is just in order of how much you might enjoy them, or how much I did anyway.
If you don't buy them all, at least grab Unwound Future if you can, it's a great game. :3

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Socar

Prof_Clayton wrote:

yokokazuo wrote:

Ok, thanks. If I see one of those, I will get it first and then the other ones if I like the series.

I would reccomend them in this order, however many you choose:
First, before you play Azran Legacies, play Miracle Mask. It's readily available and should be a fun game, as well as set the tone for Legacies.
Next, if you decide to buy them all, buy in this priority order:
1) Unwound Future
2/3) Curious Village / Diabolical Box
4) Last Specter
...and this ranking is just in order of how much you might enjoy them, or how much I did anyway.
If you don't buy them all, at least grab Unwound Future if you can, it's a great game. :3

In order to fully appreciate Unwound Future, you need to get atleast Diabolical Box first an then go into it. Although the whole trilogy takes elements from each game so you might as well get Curious Village first, Diabolical Box second and then Unwound Future last.

That said, if you can, get Unwound Future which is my all time favorite game for the DS library. Love that game so much!!!!!!!!!

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alexqte

I was in the same spot as you, I wanted to try out this game and see what all the hype is about. I ended up purchasing The Last Specter to start off with, and afterwards if I enjoy it I will get Miracle Mask and Azran Legacy!

alexqte

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Ralizah

alexqte wrote:

I was in the same spot as you, I wanted to try out this game and see what all the hype is about. I ended up purchasing The Last Specter to start off with, and afterwards if I enjoy it I will get Miracle Mask and Azran Legacy!

This is probably the best strategy. Doesn't matter which trilogy you start out with, but they should probably be played in order by trilogy.

Glad I played all the games in order, though, because otherwise three games without Emmy might have been a little disappointing.

Although, as others have said, Unwound Future is by far the best game in the series. Totally epic.

One thing I've noticed that's a little weird: in both the Professor Layton series and the original Phoenix Wright trilogy, the first game is strong, the second is almost universally regarded as the worst in the series, and the third almost universally regarded as the strongest in the series. Also, the third game in both series is quite dark.

Edited on by Ralizah

Currently Playing: Advance Wars 1 + 2: Re- Boot Camp (NS)

Warruz

I also got interested in this series with one of the previous recent directs and just went about ebay snagging them for cheap. Since they are puzzle games that are story focused graphics are not a top priority(i have done the same with the phoenix wright series). I was able to grab all the original DS ones for something between 10-15 a pop(check amazon also).

Currently I am working on Diabolical Box and Justice for All in Professor Layton and Phoenix Wright respectivly.

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devinias

I am glad I saw this thread, I was wondering the same thing about the series...

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sevex

Definitely go back and play Unwound Future. I'd almost recommend playing it last since it's the best game in the series, so you could even do the modern trilogy, and then go back and finish up with the original trilogy. (Man you'd be tired of puzzles after all that.)

sevex

sinalefa

I got the first trilogy, but so far I have only played Curious Village. Beat the game but I haven't opened any of the other two. Last Specter seems hard to find at a decent price nowadays.

I will comment in this thread, never being able to find it again.

Offolsense

@yokokazuo I actually recommend playing Unwound future first. Go backwards from there, and then move on to Last specter. You really won't spoil anything. However, you really shouldn't start with Azran Legacy. I just finished it a week ago (a week after it was released) and I have to say, it would be a great starting point, as it is very nice looking ans improves on almost everything from the previous games, but the story is very much continued from Miracle Mask. At the very least, play Miracle Mask first. You should also watch the movie. It also connects to the prequel trilogy.
You can't go wrong with:
Unwound Future> Diabolical Box> Curious Village> Specter's flute> Eternal Diva (movie)> Miracle mask> Azran Legacy

Offolsense

yokokazuo

Thanks for all your input everyone! If I do get into this series, it's going to take awhile to get through all of it...

yokokazuo

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Warruz

sevex wrote:

Definitely go back and play Unwound Future. I'd almost recommend playing it last since it's the best game in the series, so you could even do the modern trilogy, and then go back and finish up with the original trilogy. (Man you'd be tired of puzzles after all that.)

Yeah its a lot of puzzles, So thats why I am working my way through both Phoenix Wright and Professor Layton at the same time going back and forth between them.

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devinias

Well I snagged diabolical and unwound future for $7. Woohoo...also picked up legacies with some credit. Going to grab curious village today to start the original trilogy.

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devinias

Of_Folsense wrote:

@yokokazuo I actually recommend playing Unwound future first. Go backwards from there, and then move on to Last specter. You really won't spoil anything. However, you really shouldn't start with Azran Legacy. I just finished it a week ago (a week after it was released) and I have to say, it would be a great starting point, as it is very nice looking ans improves on almost everything from the previous games, but the story is very much continued from Miracle Mask. At the very least, play Miracle Mask first. You should also watch the movie. It also connects to the prequel trilogy.
You can't go wrong with:
Unwound Future> Diabolical Box> Curious Village> Specter's flute> Eternal Diva (movie)> Miracle mask> Azran Legacy

Would you ya this is a good order to the game story ?

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ClockworkMario

I'd play them in this order:
Original trilogy=>Last Specter=>Eternal Diva (movie)=>Miracle Mask=>Azran Legacies

Best story-wise and you get to experience the thrill of the series developing, when new features are added.

Also don't forget the Layton&Ace Attorney crossover coming this month!

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Ralizah

devinias wrote:

Of_Folsense wrote:

@yokokazuo I actually recommend playing Unwound future first. Go backwards from there, and then move on to Last specter. You really won't spoil anything. However, you really shouldn't start with Azran Legacy. I just finished it a week ago (a week after it was released) and I have to say, it would be a great starting point, as it is very nice looking ans improves on almost everything from the previous games, but the story is very much continued from Miracle Mask. At the very least, play Miracle Mask first. You should also watch the movie. It also connects to the prequel trilogy.
You can't go wrong with:
Unwound Future> Diabolical Box> Curious Village> Specter's flute> Eternal Diva (movie)> Miracle mask> Azran Legacy

Would you ya this is a good order to the game story ?

No, playing it backwards makes no sense at all. Firstly, Unwound Future won't have the same amount of emotional resonance to it. Secondly, characters introduced in earlier games show up in later games, and it is assumed you already know who they are. Thirdly, the gameplay progressively gets better as the series goes on. Why would you want to start with the most polished one first and end with the last polished one?

Edited on by Ralizah

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