Gameplay impressions
What do we like?Though it’s the puzzles and not the storyline that really captures the imagination, the colourful artwork and roster of characters gives Pandora's Box real charm and personality. The voice-over work is excellent and having a storyline gives what is essentially a standard puzzle game a unique feel.
There's nothing like the challenge of a good puzzle to get the brain ticking and Pandora’s Box has dozens of well-thought out and enjoyable puzzles. The added memo pad is a welcome inclusion and comes in extremely handy for taking down notes. There’s a lot of variety too and plenty of puzzles for your money’s worth. We’ve put in approximately 8 hours so far and haven’t even solved 50% of the puzzles. The addition of weekly downloadable content adds further replay value.
You’re given further incentive to try and solve the puzzles at the first time of asking by earning items that allow you to play and complete the mini-games on offer, which includes assembling parts of a broken camera, and collecting different tea ingredients to make different brews to serve to various characters. Though you're essentially just being given even more puzzles to solve, the mini games are an enjoyable side task away from the some of the standard puzzles.
What don't we like?
Where there's a puzzle to be solved, inevitably there's frustration to deal with and Pandora's Box throws in the occasional head-scratching, stinker of a puzzle that seems near impossible to solve. Still, if it's a challenge you're after you'll find it here. Pandora's Box is all about puzzles and though the inclusion of a storyline is welcome, it's totally overshadowed by the puzzles because you're brain is in overdrive to solve them. We spent little time caring about Professor Layton and his exploits.
Final Thoughts
If puzzles turn you on, you won’t find a hand-held game more addictive than Professor Layton & Pandora’s Box. This is puzzling at its very best, the ideal companion on a quiet Sunday afternoon.
Final Score: 9/10
