Game Review: Professor Layton VS Gyakuten Saiban

This is my first ever game for my new 3DS LL console.

This is the first game that ever captured my heart because it is the collaboration of my two favorite series!

Many DS players should have known the games that have been big hits in Japan:
Professor Layton and Gyakuten Saiban! These two games are famous not as a typical RPG, but as text adventure games!

Professor Layton, Level 5

I cannot remember how I first encounter this game. What this game interest me were the Anime cutscenes, the voice overs and the intriguing storyline. The main point of the game was to solve puzzles to understand and progress the story bit by bit. Most stories are basically investigating the mystery covering the cities featured in the different games. So far the game series has released a total of 6 games, with the sixth installment as the final one. The first game started from NDS and the final 2 games in 3DS.

Gyakuten Saiban, CAPCOM

The first 3 games were originally produced for GBA in Japan, while the English Localisation was in NDS. And that was how I first met this game after I bought my NDS. A friend I met in Navy introduced this game to me. I was totally attracted because of the detective nature of the game. This game, however, is not about how a detective runs around to solve crime, but a lawyer who does not know the full story to help his client to prove their innocence. With the evidences he gathered, the lawyer, Naruhodo Ryuuichi, will uncover the truth behind each crime.

When the Two Meet Together

This project was initially proposed by the maker of Professor Layton, Level 5. They approached CAPCOM to create this wonder. Since Level 5 was the one who created the project, the gameplay is still heavily influenced by Layton style. People who have played Professor Layton would have already used to the typical story: Having Professor Layton investigating a mystery of a city.

The city featured in this game is Labyrinth City. The city where each event in the city is happening according to the story written by StoryTeller. The city where there are witches and magic. The city where Layton and Ryuuichi met for the first time. Together, they uncovered the truth behind the mysterious Labyrinth City.

Finally, just today I finished the story. Probably this was the first time I attempted to play the whole game in Japanese, or probably the far-fetched nature of Layton Story, I feel that there are many minor stuff left unexplained even though I understand the main secret behind the city. I tried to find many spoilers information online, but there is nothing and no fan translation anywhere! But still, the cutscenes, voice overs, soundtrack, puzzles and the court trials are really freakingly awesome!

I wonder if I can be the first one who offered the spoilers...

JENESYS2.0

For my first trip to Japan, it was special. Because it was not confirmed until near my final examination as a student. It is because this trip is ABSOLUTELY FREE.

If you are guessing that I was lucky to win some lucky draw, then better drop the idea, because a person like me is super hard to get chosen in a lucky draw. This free trip to Japan was a sponsored programme by the Japanese Government. The purpose is to foster the ties with ASEAN countries and let the member countries know more about Japan. Those who wish to participate will have to answer a few questions like why would you like to participate? What would you like to achieve? Those kind of typical questions. And I  was chosen! So damn happy! And the most exciting thing was the time when I came back to Singapore, was the day I need to depart to Taiwan! Totally like a boss!

It was like a dream. Totally. For once, I never thought I could go Japan at this age.

Japan, one of my dream destinations.
And immediately right after that,
Taiwan, another dream destination.
All at once.
It was really like a dream.

The Japan Trip is only for 8 days. However, it was really an enjoyable trip. Well, I found it surprising myself.

Let me brief you first. All 10 ASEAN countries are sending 36 representatives from each respective countries, and these 36 representatives are going to be split into 12 groups of 3, and these groups of 3 peoples are going to be formed with the other groups of 3 from each country, making up a group of 30 people. Confusing? In other words, after splitting up and formed into 12 different groups, each group will have 3 representatives from each of the 10 countries.

So the back to the surprising part. It was enjoyable, is because never would I expect myself to get along so well with my friends from other countries. It is like a sudden wide expansion of my social circle. During the last day of the trip, seeing so many people crying and bidding bitter goodbyes, I felt a raging feeling to cry, but I still suppressed it. Quite well I would say. It was really a good memory. I thank the Japanese Government for that.

And thank Japanese Government for allowing me to take my first non-budget airlines at this age. Haha.

The Period when Motivation became Apathy

I still remember how I was so looking forward to University Life during my NS Stage of Life. The life of Secondary School and JC were full of fond memories that I'm sure that I will live my Uni Life to the fullest too.

I was foolish.

I was still foolishly clinging to this belief till Year 3, thinking all the hardwork and stress are necessary for us to break our limit and become a better person. As I reached Year 4, my sight was lost. Into the deep maze of a dense forest.

Then I realised, school life will only be sweet in sec and JC ONLY. University is the real National Service. The training of putting you into a slightly less harsh battlefield. The only difference is that it is not about the battle of firepower, but is the battle of wits. Is not about the fittest survives, is about the smartest survives. This is because they the ones who can be the top of the bellcurve, while putting down all the less smart people, who happened to be me.

I not sure if my depression hit me a little, but suddenly I realised in Year 4, I was surrounded by many smart people. And they happened to be my close friends or probably-more-than-an-acquaintance friends in uni. I not even sure why I was surrounded by these people and yet my intelligence level still stayed the same, or worse, was being plunged down. I not even sure if it was my fault for not exploiting their mind, or they were actually devil in disguise, trying to understand on the general market around them and find somewhere to spoil the whole market in the end. I was this close to think that they were not my friends anymore.

I always think ideally and not facing the reality. Perhaps I was still trying to find the good thing about the life in such a competitive society. By the time, I typed till this stage, I actually conceded defeat in this kind of life. In my mind, I keep thinking of escaping and living in a rural area, where there is no competition. In other words, I have already lost the competition by raising the white flag first.

I really do not understand why the university system has to be in this way. Especially the exam, when most of the lecturers have to keep their exam papers and questions enclosed so that they can use it for the next examination. In the end, students have less questions to practise on. COME ON! I mean practice makes perfect! How can you expect students to excel with the lack of sufficient practise? Keep reading the theories isn't going to help without trying the problems on their own!!! That is how I also realised only the smartest survive. Because there ARE people who can just understand the lecture or the reading materials in just a click without having to really practise it. Those are the people the society is looking for. Unfortunately, I am a slow learner, who can only understand most of the stuff by having practising and to have the concepts deep rooted in my mind.

I not even sure if it was too late to realise this in my Final Year in Uni. Nevertheless, I am still thankful that I still have some of my true friends standing beside me to help me along the way.

Now facing the next cruelty, the main problem I need to face upon graduation: The root of all evil. Money. The issue that has been haunting me since the day I was born. Having to be able to escape for the past 20 years or so, now I have to face the music. Wishing myself luck.

The Series of Unfortunate Events

The Final Semester has gone behind me, and that is only true if I passed my exams!

I must say, this was my most depressing semester. Ever. Never had I vowed to myself to work hard in the beginning of the semester and I really did it. However, there was this invisible force trying to stop me from driving myself to the path of academic excellence. The more I tried to resist it the more I see it more optimistically, the harder and the deeper I fell... As a result, I became a person producing half-f*** standard work. Or maybe even worse.

Hindrance 1 - The Chicken Pox (Week 2 - 4)
I was diagnosed with chicken pox during the second week of the semester. Yes, I have never caught chicken pox when I was young. Well, I'm still young actually. HAHA! But luckily I discovered early and was able to recover in less than 2 weeks. I was really proud of myself back then.

Hindrance 2 - IPPT Remedial Training (Week 5- 8)
I had already mentioned this in the previous few posts. The final day for me to clock one attempt was one day after my MC for chicken pox. I had no choice but to take it with a weak body. And as expected, I failed. With just a mere 20 seconds. And so I had to go through a series of 20 sessions of RT. So I vowed to myself to pass within the first 8 sessions of RT. And so, I passed. Luckily. Because my 2.4km was 12:20 on the dot.

Hindrance 3 - The CMI Laptop (Week 8 - 10)
Shortly right after I passed my IPPT-RT, my old Lenovo laptop decided to give in again and the screen problem occurred AGAIN. The 4th time ever since I bought the laptop. I was handicapped. Luckily, again, the school computer lab had just upgraded their computer and I was do some of my work with those computers. I had to wait for the IT Show to get a new laptop.

Hindrance 4 - The CMI New Laptop (Week 11 - 12)
I was so happy to get a new laptop. Ok, not really... as I really thought I can survive this semester with my old one. I was struggling whether to get a Macbook. But with the budget constraint, I got myself a "fake" Macbook Air. Don't get me wrong. Is not an unknown China stuff. Is ASUS Zenbook that designed mostly like a Macbook Air. However, in just one week, the screen gradually flickering like mad (since Day 1 when I bought it). YES, IS ANOTHER SCREEN PROBLEM. I had to bloody hell send it to servicing.

And so, my series of unfortunate events occurred throughout my semester. Literally towards the end. By the time after the 3rd hindrance, I was very tired. Really tired from feeling optimistic anymore and really have no mood and the drive to push myself further. The 4th Hindrance don't even have the word "luckily"...

But I am still glad that I have my friends to support me throughout my hard times. I want to apologise and thank them for compromising. But I don't have the courage to speak in front of them. Without them, I really cannot make it through. Thank you.

5th Anniversary!

Loyal Blog Readers would have realised the posts of "3rd Anniversary" and "4th Anniversary" are nowhere to be found in this blog! Mainly because I don't really feel the need (or even remember) to post anything during those times. Haha.

Since I have remembered now, so just decided to write something!

The happy news that goes along with this anniversary is that I have managed to pass my IPPT during my 8th RT session! And I have no need to go back to do anymore training and have more time to concentrate on my work in my last semester in NUS!

My result of IPPT as follows:
Sit Up - 31
SBJ - 230cm
Pull-ups - 8
Shuttle Run - 10.0secs
2.4km - 12.20mins

Yes! What a close shave! If you have noticed the timing for my 2.4km run. One additional second on the clock would cost my failure! I should totally buy lottery right? But I have decided not to buy any of those things in my life, so I should stick with my principle.

And it was also my first time pulling 8 reps for pull-up in my history of life! However, I have to pay for the extra effort I have put in for pull-up and caused my performance for sit-ups to have such a poor result. I should just blame the machine for not counting 3 reps I have done and also my velcro got unstrapped after my 3rd rep. Haha.

Talking about concentrating on my work for my final semester in NUS, I may not really have the drive to put in extra effort most of the time, but once I have the momentum I will definitely spur ahead! But really the time I will use for this final semester is to really socialise with my friends here as much as possible.  We may forget or become acquaintances once we leave this place, so I better make more pleasant memories so that I will not regret coming to this school.

That's all I have to write for this post.
Happy Birthday to my Blog!