If there’s one genre that can rightfully call Nintendo’s handheld portables home, it’s puzzle and logic-based games, like Capcom’s Ace Attorney series or Chunsoft’s Zero Escape series. Unique among these offerings is Level-5’s Professor Layton series. Professor Layton combines charming visuals with a Sir Arthur Conan Doyle bent to create an investigative undertaking unmatched by other story-driven puzzlers, and it’s no surprise that the series has garnered a large cult following over the past nine years. Excluding a non-canon crossover with the aforementioned Ace Attorney and an ill-received mobile phone game, though, Professor Hershel Layton hasn’t embarked on any new adventures since 2013.
But Level-5’s upcoming press conference, Level-5 Vision, holds many wonders in store for puzzle game fans. Level-5 CEO Akihiro Hino announced yesterday that, among other titles, a new Professor Layton game is in the works and will be discussed at Level-5 Vision on July 27. The news was shared last night via livestream on Niconico, though keep in mind that you will need a Niconico account to view archives and streams on the site.
Not much is known about this new entry in the Professor Layton saga, but what we do know is that it will star a brand new protagonist (which will not be Layton’s son, Alfendi), and that the game will feature an all-star Japanese voice cast.
Hino also revealed concept art of the new Layton game, which can be seen below:
It is unknown who will be designing the new Layton game’s trademark puzzles, as the series’ former “puzzle master” – the renowned psychologist Akira Tago – passed away earlier this year.
Hino also revealed a new game forLevel-5’s soccer-themed RPG series, Inazuma Eleven. According to Hino, the game will feature a rather “orthodox youth story,” which means no time-bending or saving the world. Hino also shared some concept art for this new Inazuma Eleven game, which is set to receive an accompanying anime release.
The release dates for both the new Layton game and the Inazuma game are unknown at this time, but we can expect to hear more about them from Level-5 Vision next month.
Screenshots of each game’s concept art are credited to Gamestalk and Inside.