With the approach of Professor Layton and The Azran Legacy drawing near, an era is coming to an end. Soon, the prequels will meet up with the original three and the journey will be over. True, Layton may pop up in other ways. He’s already teamed up with his character’s inspiration, Phoenix Wright, and his future son is off solving grisly murders in Layton Brothers: Mystery Room, but Level 5 has made it clear that the titular Professor will never star in his own game again.

The good news is that we still get one more Layton game and it’s coming up quick on February 28! Typical of the previous puzzle-adventure titles in the series, Layton, his apprentice Luke, and the ever adventurous assistant Emmy set off to help an acquaintance the only way they know how: with brain teasers and gentlemanly manners.

Beginning with a trip to the icy land of Froenborg, Professor Hershel Layton sets off on a global trek through different parts of the world including the United States, South America, and Russia to solve the mystery of the Azran civilization. At the heart of the journey is a mysterious “living mummy”: a young girl encased in ice, an unlikely survivor of the ancient people. After the mysterious Targent Organization kidnaps her, it’s up to Layton’s troupe to save her before she is forced to unlock the secrets of the Azran’s technology for criminal intentions.

Expect to see more of the same mechanics from the previous games in the series as you explore scenes with the stylus, zoom in to special areas, and find puzzles and hint coins. The memo tool is always useful to work through puzzles, and has been perfectly expanded with multiple colors, pen sizes, etc, through the games to help players work through even the hardest of puzzles. The series has always been heavily story-based, with fully animated cutscenes and voice acting throughout. Luckily, Layton keeps copious notes of all story developments in an easily accessible journal, and even reviews the most important clues whenever players load the game.

Points are rewarded for solved puzzles in the form of picarats, which lessen in worth whenever an incorrect answer is submitted.  More picarats means more unlockables, such as character profiles, music, and artwork in the Top Secret section of the Bonus area accessible from the main menu. Players can expect a lot of content from the Bonus section, such as new, extremely difficult puzzles in Layton’s Challenges, and Daily Downloads, which release a new puzzle every day for one year. Players who own Professor Layton and the Miracle Mask will also be able to unlock the Hidden Door by using a code provided in the previous game.

Azran Legacy will also include the now customary mini-game trio. Nut Roller puts players in control of a squirrel determined to push her walnut through an obstacle course. The more courses are completed, the more inclined Ms. Squirrel will be to give hints about hidden coins and puzzles around town. In the Dress Me Up mini-game, players act as a fashion consultant to characters encountered throughout the game, finding the perfect outfit to meet their needs. The last mini-game, Blooms and Shrooms, creates a gardening puzzle for players to solve. Plants must be placed in specific areas in order to fill the garden properly while making sure nothing clashes with the other plants.

New to the series is the inclusion of StreetPass through Treasure Hunt Mode. Players can challenge others to locate any of the 100 hidden items throughout their game through a blend of memory and exploration. Completing these challenges will reward players with objects to decorate Layton’s Bostonius airship, hotel tickets that give access to dream sequences of past characters in the series, and more.

Azran Legacy has received high praise globally, selling well in Japan, Europe, and Australia – where it was released last year – and it’s no surprise why. With over 150 brand spankin’ new puzzles, plus an additional 365 daily downloadable puzzles, there’s a lot to do. As the most successful DS exclusive series ever, fans have followed the humble hero through clever and crazy adventures to the 3DS with Miracle Mask. A lot was set up for the final piece of the series, and revelations about the cryptic Professor’s past and future were promised.

Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy is set up to be one hell of a ride given the twists and turns of the previous games. This is a series that loves to find clever, if slightly insane, ways to top itself and surprise players. As Layton prepares to hang up his iconic hat for the last time, we can expect to see riddles around every corner, uniting players everywhere in frustration and lost picarats. Just remember, a true gentleman leaves no puzzle unsolved!