Sure, the Direct teaser (under) didn’t give us so much to go on, so this will likely be somewhat difficult — however aren’t all the very best puzzles this manner? We now have no Trace Cash to money in on this one, so we have opened up the Memo tab and began jotting down our theories.
Oh, and simply to be clear, we do focus on the endings to quite a lot of Layton video games on this one, so be careful for spoilers forward in the event you do nonetheless need to keep at the hours of darkness.
Let the speculayton start…
All the things we all know concerning the new Layton sport to this point
What do we all know to this point? Nicely, Professor Layton and the New World of Steam is unquestionably occurring, however what precisely it’ll entail is one other thriller completely.
Fortuitously, we’ve got the above teaser to go on — hardly probably the most revealing piece of proof, is it? — however sufficient room to spin some theories all the identical. Beginning with…
That title
Professor Layton and the New World of Steam, huh? What precisely is happening there?
Nicely, for starters, we love how the phrase “New” has managed to worm its method into this one. Look, it is even emphasised in a distinct shade of purple when the title seems on display screen! It is as if Stage-5 is saying “keep in mind that Katrielle sport from a couple of years again? No you do not! That is nothing to do with that one!” and we respect that. There will likely be loads of Katrielle chat to return, however from the title, a minimum of, it appears like this entry will likely be benefiting from its standing away from the occasions of The Millionaire’s Conspiracy.
As for the “World of Steam”, we instantly went again to the ending of The Misplaced Future and the emotional harm that induced us. These spinning cogs within the lead-up to the title reveal should communicate to one thing, and which sport within the sequence is extra cog-based than all the time-travelling shenanigans within the third entry?
So not a prequel then? Hmm, time for a timeline deep dive we predict.
When on this planet?
For those who have been to take a look at a Venn diagram of Professor Layton and Star Wars fandoms, one of many few factors that you’d discover within the center part (alongside a good quantity of pop denial) is an obsession with non-linear timelines. In any case, the place’s the enjoyable in making episode 4 observe the narrative of episode three?
For Professor Layton (like Star Wars) there’s the unique trilogy, then the prequel trilogy, then a sequence of stragglers that slot in wherever they’ll (the Rogue Ones and Solos of the puzzler world, since we’re insisting on pushing this analogy additional). By the appears of all these cogs and the emphasis on new, we might assume that the subsequent entry is ready to observe the unique trilogy, however this is not the one choice by any means.
Do you see the animation on ol’ Hershel’s again there? That is actually nearer to the 3D visible type of the ultimate two mainline video games, so would possibly we be one other in-between story crammed betwixt The Azran Legacy and The Curious Village?
Primarily based on how the previous ends with the detective duo pulling up on the web site of the latter, we might be tempted to say no. However then once more, highway diversions exist, proper? There is a world of potentialities to be discovered by following the ‘Diverted Visitors’ indicators round a hoop highway simply East of St. Mystere…
Who’s the helper?
So we reckon that the New World of Steam is happening in a post-Misplaced Future world, then, so who will likely be serving to Hershel out this time round? Emmy took her depart in shame on the finish of Azran Legacy with the potential to sooner or later return, Luke units sail together with his mother and father following the occasions of The Misplaced Future, and Flora is not usually held up because the sort of character to do, we do not know, something, so who will it’s?
Fortuitously, we’ve got an precise clue for this one (we all know, it is about time)! The official @LaytonSeries Twitter account posted the teaser trailer on Direct day and we could not assist however discover the caption describe the sport as “a model new journey for Layton and Luke”.
In fact, The Misplaced Future does end with Hershel on their lonesome (straightforward now, you will set us off once more), although an epilogue cutscene reveals the Professor receiving a letter from Luke inviting him to analyze one other thriller. For 15 years now that promise of “To Be Continued” has hung over us all. Now that we all know Luke’s on board, may The New World of Steam be that very thriller?