It’s never too late to change. Even if your dead. Well, at least if you’re Sissel, the lead protagonist of Capcom’s Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective for the Nintendo DS (and recently released for the iOS). A puzzle game at its core but a crime story in its heart, Ghost Trick is unlike anything else out there. If you’ve been yearning for a fantastic story and creative gameplay,Ghost Trick is set to please.
I’ve always considered myself a fan of Mega Man. Ever since I was a kid I remember playing the Blue Bomber’s games on the NES and thinking they were the epitome of what a great game should be. While my tastes in games has undoubtedly changed since then my love for Mega Man has never waned. So you can imagine my exuberance upon seeing the Mega Man manga sitting on the shelf of Barnes & Noble (along with it’s two subsequent volumes). Though I himmed and hawed, I ended up caving in on my love of all things Mega Man and bought the entire series. Not being the biggest fan of manga (surprising, considering I have a Japanese degree) I was a bit hesitant to the content of this one, but I was extremely happy with Hitoshi Ariga’s art, story, and overall awesomeness conveyed in the pages of the series’ first volume. Let me explain further, so you’ll want to go out and get your own copy!
Top hats, English accents, and a plentiful amount of puzzles make up the excitement that is Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box, the second title in the venerable handheld series. Taking place after the events that unfolded during The Curious Village, this new adventure has Layton, Luke, and Flora uncovering the mysteries surrounding the Elysian Box, which is said to kill anyone who opens it. The suspense is high, the puzzles challenging, and the story surprising for Layton and crew, and I was absolutely absorbed in the game in no time. Put your thinking caps on ladies and gents: you’ll need them.
Puzzle games are so great. They’re perfect for the handheld market, giving just enough entertainment for short bursts of gameplay, and enough longevity to play for extended periods of time. It goes without saying (though I guess I’ll be saying it) that puzzle games don’t often have stories, or coherent ones at that. What’s the story in Tetris? Stop the world from falling apart by guiding falling blocks into appropriate spaces? Well the Professor Layton series has remedied this problem with a handful of great puzzle games for the Nintendo DS. I’ve recently started playing the second title in the series, Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box, and I must say, the game has already pulled me in.