February 2023’s Nintendo Direct was a big showcase for fans of the Nintendo DS with the reveal of remasters of games like Etrian Odyssey and Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective for Nintendo Switch, and the return ofProfessor Laytonwith the new entry,Professor Layton and the New World of Steam. It’s clear that nostalgia for the revolutionary 2005 handheld system is in full swing, with many developers and publishersbeginning to capitalize on beloved titles from the system’s history.
Professor Layton and the New World of Steammarks the return ofLevel 5’s beloved puzzle adventure game series after a full ten-year break, reuniting Layton and Luke following the events of 2010’sProfessor Layton and the Unwound Future. The game is looking to be a new step forward for the series alongside a hefty dose of Nintendo DS nostalgia, but with it unlikely to launch this year due to comments previously made by Level 5, there is another game that might help hold fans over for Layton’s next adventure, Capcom’sGhost Trick: Phantom Detective.
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Why Layton Fans Should Check Out Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective
Like theProfessor Laytongames,Ghost Trick: Phantom Detectiveis one of the most beloved adventure games from the Nintendo DS generation. The game was written and directed byAce Attorneyseries creator Shu Takumi, a series that also served asthe inspiration for Level 5’s best-selling puzzle seriesbefore the two eventually crossed over on the Nintendo 3DS withProfessor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney.
Ghost Trickfollows a spirit named Sissel, who uses his new ghostly powers to solve the mystery of his own murder, along the way he meets a young detective named Lynne, who is also gathering information regarding his death, and the two work together to solve a series of mysteries. The game received critical praise at the time of its release for retaining writer Shu Takumi’s distinct brand of witty writing, which was favorably compared to classicLucasArts adventure games likeThe Secret of Monkey IslandandSam and Max: Hit the Road.
For fans ofProfessor Layton,Ghost Trickbeing lifted straight from the Nintendo DS generationwhile also seeing some new polish and a fully remastered soundtrack makes it a perfect time capsule of the late 2000s/early 2010s' wonderfully imaginative handheld games. Every part of the game’s charm and distinct style is being retained and preserved for its 2023 comeback, making it an exciting new release for those nostalgic for the Nintendo DS era that missed it.
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What Professor Layton Can Learn From Ghost Trick
With the 2023 remaster ofGhost Trick: Phantom Detective, not only is Capcom fully remastering the game’s distinct visuals, but it is painstakingly adapting the game’s touch-oriented control scheme to work on platforms such as the Nintendo Switch, PS4, Xbox One, and PC.With 2021’sThe Great Ace Attorney Chronicles, the studio was perfectly able to adapt the Nintendo 3DS games to controllers thanks to their reliance on the button interface of the system, as was the same with thePhoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy, thoughGhost Trickwas designed entirely to take advantage of the Nintendo DS’s touch screen.
This is somethingProfessor Layton and the New World of Steam’s developer, Level 5, can stand to learn from the game’s new HD remaster, as the original Layton series depended heavily on the DS and 3DS’s capabilities both for investigation and puzzle solving gameplay. Other Nintendo DS remasters for Nintendo Switch,likeThe World Ends With You: Final Remix, have drawn criticism for their failure to adapt the Nintendo DS control scheme to the Nintendo Switch’s single screen, hybrid system interface.
It’s because of this thatGhost Trick’s remaster offers a unique opportunity for fans of the Professor Layton series. While the Nintendo DS version ofLayton’s Mystery Journeyteased what aLaytongame ported from 3DS to Nintendo Switch could feel like, and there havebeen plenty of arguments regarding aProfessor Laytoncollection for the Switch,Ghost Trick’s remaster could showcase how to preserve the unique concepts presented in the Nintendo DS games even on a home console, handheld hybrid system like the Switch.
Professor Layton and the New World of Steamis now in development for Nintendo Switch.
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