Professor Layton VS. Phoenix Wright: New Plot Details, Teaser Trailer and Unlockable Bonus Content Revealed!

Nintendo has provided further information about the eagerly-awaited 3DS cross-franchise title Professor Layton VS. Phoenix Wright, which is due to be released in Europe on the 28th March 2014. 

So far, the exact plot details have been a little bit sketchy, but Mini Gamers can now reveal some more concrete facts about the game's storyline. The game first takes place in London, where both Phoenix Wright and Professor Layton - along with their trusty sidekicks - Maya Fey and Luke Triton, happen to mistakenly cross paths when they are both invited to meet a mysterious young woman called Espella Cantabella, whereby they suddenly find themselves transported to a strange, medieval world known as Labyrinthia.

Labyrinthia is ruled over by a shadowy figure called The Storyteller who has an apparent gift for prophecy, as every story penned by The Storyteller later seems to come true, sparking rumours about 'magic' and 'evil witches' amongst Labyrinthia's inhabitants.

It does not take long for the locals to point the finger of suspicion in the direction of Espella Cantabella, and a local witch hunt begins. Professor Layton and Phoenix Wright decide to combine their unique puzzle-solving and crime-fighting abilities to save Espella and clear her name of any wrongdoing.

Nintendo has now revealed exactly how these two giant franchises will combine together throughout the game. Firstly, Phoenix Wright, (best known from the Ace Attorney series of games), returns to the courtroom, determined to uncover the truth about the events happening in Labyrinthia and prove that Espella could not possibly be guilty of such crimes.

As in the traditional Ace Attorney games, Phoenix Wright will be required to examine evidence and question witnesses. However, Phoenix Wright will now be able to use Hint coins - a staple game mechanic of the Professor Layton series - in order to narrow down the options when presenting evidence, or as a way of gaining helpful information when cross-examining witnesses.

Furthermore, it has also been suggested that Professor Layton will occasionally be allowed to raise objections within the court room, not only for the defence, but also for the prosecution, where necessary.

Nintendo have also provided further details about the game's bonus unlockable content. This content such as twelve short new episodes for the game, as well as over sixty exclusive illustrations and all the main theme music from the game, will become available once players have completed the main story.

Nevertheless, how much of the content that players will be able to access will depend upon how many Picarats players have managed to accumulate throughout the puzzle-solving portions of the game. The faster a puzzle is solved, the more Picarats will be awarded, which is another staple of the Professor Layton series.

A new teaser trailer for the game has also been launched, showing some of the cutscene sequences from the game, along with the new pre-order information for the game. If you are having trouble viewing the trailer, then please CLICK HERE.

  

Level 5 inc. and Capcom have clearly put a lot of thought and hard work into producing a game that will appeal to fans of either franchise. Level 5 inc's involvement can clearly be seen in the inclusion of many Professor Layton game mechanics, whilst Capcom's essential Ace Attorney structure will be instantly recognisable to the game's many fans.

Mini Gamers looks forward to bringing you our own full-review when the game launches next month.

Professor Layton VS. Phoenix Wright TGS 2011 Trailer Revealed...

A new trailer for the 3DS Puzzle/Adventure collaboration, known simply as Professor Layton VS. Phoenix Wright, has recently surfaced on the Internet following its unveiling at the Tokyo Game Show 2011.

The game is the result a collaboration between Level 5 inc and Capcom and features characters from both game franchises. However, it had previously been suggested that the game might actually be a fabrication - hopefully this trailer will dispel any notions that this game might be a myth!

Japanese Official Trailer shown at TGS 2011

Very little is known about the game's main storyline so far, but from what we have seen, it would seem to centre around Witchcraft, Castles and Medieval Knights.  Phoenix Wright must defend his client (the blonde woman in the dock) against accusations that she is a practising witch.

No European release has been announced yet, but the game is scheduled for release in Japan some time in 2012. The game itself will be the first time that either franchise has appeared in 3D. As a result, the graphics will juxtapose the familiar 2D images with 3D ones.

Professor Layton VS. Phoenix Wright looks like a very interesting title. Mini Gamers hopes that a European release date will be confirmed some time in the next few months.

Is Professor Layton and The Specter's Flute Coming To Europe At Last?

*THIS POST HAS SINCE BEEN UPDATED* To read the update, including new trailer info, please click HERE.

Amongst all the excitement about Professor Layton and the Mask of Miracle appearing on the 3DS some time later this year, recent questions have emerged surrounding the possible European release of the fourth Professor Layton game - Professor Layton and the Specter's Flute.

Chronologically, Professor Layton and the Mask of Miracle is actually the fifth Professor Layton game, so it makes little sense that this title would debut in Europe BEFORE the fourth game in the series, prompting many fans to ask why nothing had been mentioned of Professor Layton and the Specter's Flute outside of Japan.

Now, it seems as though there might be a glimmer of hope for die-hard European Professor Layton fans, as the series developers Level 5 inc have recently filed some important paperwork, which requests an American Tradmark for a game called Professor Layton and the Last Spectre.

For those of you who don't know, Professor Layton and the Specter's Flute is the first of three 'prequel' games in the Professor Layton series, which shows how young Luke Triton becomes the Professor's apprentice.

According to gaming website, CVG.com the trademark request is for a Nintendo DS/DSi game only, which seems to answer the question of whether Professor Layton and the Specter's Flute would also make its debut on the 3DS system.

Although there are no specifics for either an American or UK release date at this time, the trademark request definitely shows that a game is at least being considered for the Western gaming market, and is a major breakthough for Professor Layton enthusiasts, who were concerned that the fourth game in the series would never be released in Europe at all.

The subtitled teaser trailer below shows some of the major cutscenes from the fourth game. It is sure to be spectacular and is well worth a look:

Further details of the game are now expected at E3, which will take place in Los Angeles between the 7th and 9th of June 2011. Be sure to check in with the Mini Gamers blogsite for all the news from the annual E3 conference as it happens.

Legend Of Zelda and Professor Layton 3DS given June/July release dates...

Two of the most anticipated Nintendo 3DS games to date will now both receive Summer 2011 releases. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina Of Time and Professor Layton and the Mask of Miracle are now scheduled for UK release in June and July of this year.

Please note that the PROFESSOR LAYTON INFORMATION HAS BEEN AMMENDED. TO READ THE LATEST PROFFESSOR LAYTON 3DS POST, PLEASE CLICK HERE

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D will be the first one to hit the shop shelves. According to Online Retailers Amazon and Zavvi, the game will be released to the UK public on the 17th of June 2011 and will be released in North America two days later.

Ocarina of Time is the fifth game in The Legend of Zelda series, and it was the first game in the series to have characters that were rendered with 3D graphics. Now for the first time, gamers will also be able to enjoy the game with full 3D environments and objects.

There will be a few new features included in the 3DS version, such as the ability to quickly equip items using the touchscreen and using the in-built gyroscope to assist the accuracy of aim with weapons like the slingshot in first-person view.

Mini Gamers is very excited about The Legend of Zelda in 3D. Expect a full review when the game is released to the public in a few months time.

Another gaming favourite, Professor Layton, is also expected to make his 3DS debut this Summer.  Zavvi lists the UK release date for Professor Layton and the Mask of Miracle (3DS) as the 22nd of July 2011.

The game is actually a prequel, set after the events of Professor Layton and the Spectre's Flute (DS/DSi) game. Again, the 3DS game has several  new design features in order to take full advantage of the new 3D capabilities.

For example, the typical hand-drawn 2D imagery has been replaced by 3D models of the characters, meaning that players can now examine areas in a 3D perspective. Furthermore, some of the game's puzzles will also use other 3DS functions such as the motion sensor.

Professor Layton and the Mask of Miracle (3DS) has proven to be one of the best-selling 3DS launch games in Japan, and sold in excess of 117,589 copies on its first day alone. Mini Gamers suspects that it will be just as popular when it reaches the UK.

As with other games, release dates are often subject to change and there is an unfortunate possibility that one or both of these games may yet be delayed before the stated release date has occurred. Nevertheless, it certainly looks like 3DS gamers could be enjoying these fantastic titles before the end of the Summer.

Remember to check in with the Mini Gamers blogsite over the next few months for more news about these fantastic 3DS titles as it happens.

Professor Layton As You Have NEVER Seen Him Before...

 Hollywood movies and videogames have become almost synonomous with each other in recent years with games such as Tomb Raider, Resident Evil, and Doom (to name but a few) being turned into massive film blockbusters. Now another gaming series is to be given the Hollywood treatment.

Yes, that's right, the famous detective, Professor Layton - star of the Nintendo DS games series is set to make his first ever film debut in Professor Layton and the Eternal Diva, which comes to UK DVD and Blu-ray on the 18th October 2010.

In the film,  Professor Layton receives a letter from his old student, the famous opera diva Janice Quatlane who will soon perform at the legendary Crown Petone Opera House. She sends Layton two tickets and invites him to attend as her special guest.

Meanwhile, a rash of disappearances hits London. Two young school girls are the latest victims and the Professor suspects it's related to the strange things that are happening at the theatre. Layton and Luke travel to the Opera House to solve their toughest puzzle yet, the mystery of Eternal Life!

The film was first released in Singapore on the 18th of March this year and has so far been considered an overwhelming success by critics. It is also said that Professor Layton and the Eternal Diva is only one in a pre-planned series of Professor Layton films, which have been carefully developed by Level-5 Inc, who also produced the Professor Layton Video Games.

According to Level-5 Inc, the movie will stay true to the games - with music, puzzles, and characters that will be instantly recognisable to fans of the series. It is an interesting experiment to see whether the Professor can be just as enthralling on film as he can in the games.

For true hardcore Layton fans, the film will also be available as a three-disc DVD/Blu-ray Collector’s Edition Combi Pack, which will include the film on both DVD and Blu-ray, plus a bonus DVD featuring ‘Mystery of the Last Song’, ‘Professor Layton and the Mystery of the Production Company’, ‘Professor Layton and the Mystery of the 3D CG’ and a promo video for the Professor Layton games.

Additionally, there will be a two-disc DVD/Blu-ray Deluxe Collector’s Edition Combi Pack featuring all of the aforementioned items plus a super-collectable 630-page Storyboard Book and rigid art box outer packaging.

The news of a Professor Layton film may come as some surprise, but it will certainly help to fill in the gap before the release of the third video game Professor Layton and the Lost Future, which has sadly been delayed until the 22nd of October 2010.

We at Mini Gamers are delighted to hear that Professor Layton is going to be a film star, but if you have not quite made up your minds yet, and if you are still curious about the film, why not check out this UK "teaser trailer":