This entry starts the Whiteboard Review series, where I play a video game, draw a picture of it on my whiteboard and then write a review on it. This all started when my friends kept talking about games I had never played and I was trying to learn how to draw different art styles, so I made it a goal to try and play a new game every week and then draw the art style in it.

This week I cheated - I've definitely played these games before. Professor Layton is one of my favorite game series of all time so I really wanted to draw it. The games revolve around solving puzzles in order to uncover secrets and solve mysteries. The whole game (asides from the two newest ones for the 3DS) is hand-illustrated, voice acted and with an orchestral soundtrack, plus the puzzles are really fun. I'd highly recommend these games, but if you can only play one get Professor Layton and the Unwound Future - it's by far the best due to its setpieces and story.

--Verdict--

Art: The illustrations are gorgeous and sometimes outlandish. They're lots of fun.

Gameplay: If you like puzzles, it's great. If not, well, not so much

Replayability: Very low. The content however lasts about 14-18hrs per game with approximately 500 or so puzzles, and for the year after the game comes out a new puzzle is added every day. Walking around the game once in a while is fun too.

Would I recommend? If you’re a person who enjoys a game you can put down, walk away from and then pick up again without worry, if you like to solve puzzles and explore for the sake of it, then most definitely. This game always puts a smile on my face.