Take a visit to ruins overlooking the sacred mountain
Making your way through the white trees that cover the mountain, climbers will be able to see many small animals. It used to be off-limits as a sacred site, but having been granted permission by the town, you can ascend. As you approach the summit, an impressive sluice gate will appear in view. If you cast your eyes from the green-blue sluice gate adorned with a giant bird, to the foot of the mountain, you’ll see the image of a phoenix, and the way it lives with the land.
The blue room pictured here are ruins that rest within a spherical mound. Once open, anyone can see the ancient marvels inside. The other three photos show the sluice gate and overhead view of the town, which are not usually seen, but permission has been granted to photograph them.
The supposed place where judgement is made on whether a person is worthy of recieving the Azran’s power. Many stone tablets and monuments are placed at the structure at the centre.
The Azran people constructed a civilization much more advanced than the present day.
Outside the Azran Sanctuary
Beyond the judgement chamber is an opening full of greenery. The many pillars are arranged in a magnificent fashion, which is said to have had a large influence upon later architecture.
At the innermost part, a majestic crystal of wisdom awaits
In the judgement chamber in the centre of the sanctuary has a dome ceiling, covered with a colourful stone mosaic. Through small gaps in the ceiling, sunlight pours in, illuminating the monument in the centre. Distributed around the monument are stone tablets, in which the wisdom of the Azran Civilization has been inscribed.
The chairs in the lobby are a secluded resting spot. You can relax, watching the street outside through the window.
The sign pointing to the reception desk, which has continued to welcome in visitors since the place was built.
Inspector Grosky
The runaway train of Scotland Yard. He is always running all across London.
“A case is calling me! I can’t sit tight!”
Waiting Lobby
Not just for people in trouble, but also a place for relaxation. Furnished with bookshelves, you can find books here that are difficult to find in bookshops.
Hint Coins:
The leftmost poster on the left wall
The clock on at the back
Notice board on the wall on the right
Emmy’s Snapshot: Waiting room seat
Investigation Quarterly
20XX WINTER
CONTENTS
Feature article on gourmet food for an investigation … 010
The 10 best gourmet foods to eat during a stakeout … 058
Hotels to stay at with a criminal … 096
Airship - Cargo Hold >> Examine the door at the back
Airship - Midship >> Solve Rook’s puzzle and examine the control room door
Airship - Control Room
The airship battle as described afterwards by the people of Kodh. (larger view of art here)
Targent’s Precious Battleship
The airship belonging to the mysterious organisation Targent, who stole away Aurora. This huge ship can fly at unbelievably high speeds, and is armed with unmanned jets and missiles. It is an impressive airship for an organisation, but what purpose does Targent have with a battleship and this equipment? Let’s uncover this puzzle with Layton!
Hint Coins
Crane on the ceiling
Potrusion on left wall
Light on the right wall
Airship - Cargo Hold
The cargo hold is dirtied with machine oil from the floor to the doors. The loading crane has become rusty. You probably shouldn’t look at the contents of the crates, if you value your life.
Top Secret: The Bostonius’ Great Transformation Gimmick!
The Bostonius’ transformation gimmick is seen during the airship chase with Targent. Ordinarily, it can fly long distances in airship form, however, in case of an emergency, the hull (the balloon part) and cabin can be detached, and it is possible to fly the cabin alone. Its estimated speed is 500 km/h. Once detached, Layton and co. continue their journey, with the cabin alone, which can fly continuously for a reasonable length of time. The detached hull can be positioned above the cabin remotely, but the rest must be manually gathered up. Even with multiple adults, this process takes at least half a day.
Engine And Propeller
It is equipped with two large reciprocating engines. It has a large engine and propeller for an airship (even without Sycamore’s improvements), so it has a good propulsion.
Screenshot:
I was entirely at fault for having gone against Raymond’s wishes.
Piloted by the butler, Raymond
The Bostonius is piloted by Sycamore’s butler, Raymond. He may not look it, but he is rather agile, and is proficient at driving not only airships, but also horse-drawn carriages. He has saved the Bostonius from crashing on two occations, and apparently even used such as a smokescreen to quickly rescue his master from a predicament. He is a butler with many mysteries.
He has enjoyed insect collecting since he was a child. He also enjoys yodelling, amongst other hobbies.
Landing Station
The landing station besides the Thames river, London. Usually, the Bostonius is moored here. The building at the front is the tower that keeps the Bostonius anchored.
Hull/Exterior
The hull of the ship is filled with helium gas, the buoyancy of which enables it to fly.
The engine is directly attached to the hull, so it seems that the airship is rigid, with supports inside the exterior shell.
Cabin
The main part of the ship. Immediately behind the cockpit is the reception room, behind that are the guest rooms, and on the second floor is Sycamore’s room (the captain’s room). Past the lower hull, at the rear are the engine room and cargo hold.
Tail Fin (Rudder)
Used to steer the ship. There is no horizontal fin, which may enable higher cruising speeds. However, this requires a high level of piloting skill.
Spec
Length: ~64 m
Height: ~48 m
Top Speed: 95 km/h
Cruising Speed: 65 km/h
Continuous Flight Time: 60 hr
Crew (capacity): 9
The Bostonius is the central hub for Layton and co. on their journey. This ship is a little different to others airships, and it’s secret will be revealed. Targent don’t know about it!
Wall of the Gods
The glowing wall’s pattern tells the tale of the sky-riders.
The wall was given this name to honour the wisdom of the ancients carved into it.
Hint Coins
Left side where there are three circles in a triangle
The surface of the water on the left side, where water is splashing down
Known as one of the best museums in the world, it boasts a collection of more than 800 artefacts, from paintings and relics to meteorites. The entrance displays a dinosaur specimen discovered by Layton’s team. (Note: it doesn’t explicitly say team, but it does say that he wasn't alone)
Hint Coins
The sign next to the fossil
The guide with the arrows on it on the right side wall
The second floor handrail
Emmy’s Snapshot: Model plane
Hint Coins
Statue on left
Statue on right
If you climb the stairs, you can appreciate the skeleton from above.
In the exhibition halls at the back, special exhibits may be held at different points throughout the year.
“Murals for All Exhibition” held
In response to the “World Murals Exhibition” held several days ago, many people felt inspired to create their own paintings, so a “Murals for All Exhibition” was held. Drawing paper was provided on the walls and floors of the museum for people to draw on. Many satisfied smiles were seen.
Gresenheller’s dean. Apparently, his hair often changes colour.
“I worry about Layton, but I worry more about my granddaughter. The puzzles she comes up with are tricky…”
(Note: he doesn’t specify granddaughter, he just says grandchild)
You can see students studying all throughout the university.
Clark
Other than being known for his geological surveys, he also has skills in the trade business. He is the mayor of Misthallery and a strict father.
(Note: yes, the bit about being Misthallery’s mayor is present tense)
“The new instruments can be difficult. It’s a lot of work each time they break.”
The loud hum of the instrument is strangely captivating.
WORLD TIMES
Research delay due to equipment fault
There are concerns regarding the delay of research after a newly installed analytical instrument was broken at Gressenheller University. “Even Professor Layton, who has a stockpile of unsubmitted work, is falling behind on his research, isn’t he?” said one person on the campus. It appears that Professor Layton was also caught completely unawares.
Research Lab B
A lab built for the purpose of archaeological research, lined with state-of-the-art analytical equipment. There is also a large collection of research material, so academics across the world long to visit here.
Hint Coins:
Dark brown cardboard box atop the shelf on the left
The machine running on the left hand side of the instrument
The rolls of paper on the lower right
Emmy’s Snapshots:
Fossils for research
Yellow box
Retro Flying Saucer.
Found in the box under the skeleton. A toy that used to make a make a large “boom”.
WORLD TIMES
装置故障の影響で研究に遅れも
グレッセンヘラ ー カレッジに導入された解析装置が壊れ、研究の遅れが懸念されている。ただ、学内からは「レイトン教授だっていろいろ提出物を溜め込んでいるし、研究は遅れてるんじゃない?」との声も。レイトン教授は思わぬとばっちりを受けることになってしまったようだ。
Gressenheller University is the place the intellectuals of London gather. It was built with a neo-Baroque-style exterior, which over the past 20 years, has only become more distinguished-looking.
Excite your curiosity by visiting this centre for learning
Universities are places for students to study, however Gressenheller University is also open to everyday citizens and tourists. Tours can be taken in some of the laboratories, giving you the chance to see the world’s most cutting-edge archaeological research up close. Keen professors and students from all places visit so that they can see the results of this research.
It is also possible to visit the office of the esteemed archeologist Professor Layton. But take care not to trip over the books on the floor.
Hint Coins:
At the end of the chimney on the left, where the two chimneys are
In the plants at the centre of the courtyard
At the circular part of the bus stop notice board
Brenda:
Layton’s old university friend, and Luke’s mother. She’s very close to her husband, Clark.
“My husband also works at the university, so he comes here often. It seems like Layton is the same as ever.”
Emmy’s Snapshot: Green Apple
Layton’s Office
The archaeology professor’s office is lined with archaeological artefacts and rare items. It is rumoured that if you look in his mirror on the wall, you will see an image of your ideal self.
Hint Coins:
Teapot on the stove
The books on the floor
The coral on the highest shelf on the righthand side
The right drawer of the green cupboard
Miniature Laytonmobile
(Note: The japanese is more like ‘a particular beloved car’. But the game's English translation kept it more literal.)
Located in the cardboard box atop the central bookcase in Layton’s office. A miniature of Layton’s beloved car, which supposedly appeals to an English gentleman.
II: The Three Legacies and their Connection to the Sanctuary
Sticky notes at the top of the page:
3 legacies
Misthallery’s Garden of Healing, Ambrosa’s City of Harmony, The Infinite Vault of Akbadain
All of them are in their control!
Having existed for at least 1 million years prior to modern society, the Azran were a vast, world-wide civilization, and many of the mysteries surrounding this civilization remain unsolved. How and why did such an advanced civilization built by the Azran vanish so abruptly from the forefront of of history? The key to unlocking the proof of this civilization lies in the Azran ruins mentioned by Donald Rutledge in “Ancient Histories”. Namely, three sites known as the known as the “legacies”.
These three legacies are of importance, as they are thought to embody the values of the Azran Civilization. During his worldwide search for Azran ruins, Dr Rutledge found three reoccurring words amongst the artefacts: “healing”, “harmony” and “infinity”, and identified the three sites – the “legacies” – which were constructed to be embodiments of these three concepts. In addition to these “legacies”, exists a “sanctuary” which could be called the centre of Azran society, indicating that… (page cuts off).. these three… Azran Civilization…
Figure B: Mishallery’s Garden of…
Figure C:…
Sticky note:
Should I refrain from mentioning Aurora’s existence in my paper?
Lined page:
At the dawn Of time. the world was one big continent, and the Celestial King sheltered all the lands beneath his ample wings. All living things served him.
The king had five children, the Great Riders of the Sky, but they were proud and coveted their father’s throne.
The constant warring Of the Riders exhausted the people and tainted the land.
Roused at last to anger, the king drew his sword and made four strokes, slicing the land into ten continents.
His children.. He banished them to live on Earth
Unable to sit back and watch, the King used his sword and made four slices, dividing the land into ten continents and banished his sons to the earth. The king sealed the sacred gates to the skies and scattered the five keys on earth, that his children might one day find them. -> Eggs?
Ever since that day. the king’s children have gazed up at the skies, longing to fly again one day.
On corner of lined page:
Inscription on the wall of the gods
III: The Scattered Ruins as Azran Systems
The excavated ruins show that the concepts of “healing” “harmony” and “infinity” were highly revered by the ancient Azran people. According to “Ancient Histories”, each of these concepts encapsulates the knowledge and technology of the Azran Civilization. “Healing” controls the life of living organisms, and “harmony” controls the environment in which they live. The third, “infinity”, though difficult to believe, involves a device that supposedly generates infinite amounts of energy. By use of these technologies, the Azran are said to have built a civilization unparalleled by any other in human history. My own fieldwork, appears to support this. We have found, for example, sluices and wind-controlling devices which may have served as systems to regulate the “harmony” of the surrounding environment.
Figure G: Egg
Figure H: Popoños
IV: Purpose of the Eggs
In “Ancient Histories” there are several references to mysterious egg relics, found scattered amongst Azran ruins. Based on Dr Rutledge’s research, it may be that that these Eggs function somehow as a key to the Azran’s central sanctuary.
…(cut off)… because of the attention on this relic, worldwide…
For example, Hoogland is famous for its belief in the dragonlord, the folklore of which has been the subject of much research. Interestingly, this village also has a tradition tied to “egg” relics, with a related shrine that contained a wind-control mechanism, believed to belong to the Azran.
In addition to being a famous tourist trap, San Grio…
(cut off) … objects called “popoños”…
The Existence of the Azran Civilization as Observed by the Distribution of Archaeological Sites
Doctor of Archaeology, Desmond Sycamore
The existence of a prehistoric civilization, the Azran, has long been the subject of debate. They remain one of the largest mysteries the field of archaeology, and may be the key to uncovering the origins of the human race. As an archaeologist, the Azran Civilisation has been a subject of fascination, and I have excavated numerous archaeological sites in the search for their remains. This work aims to provide a detailed examination and discussion of these remains, in order to establish new facts, and provide proof that the Azran Civilization possessed a high level of technological understanding, superior to that of our modern society.
I: Who are the Azran Civilization?
The existence of the Azran Civilization was first suggested by Dr Donald Rutledge in his book “Ancient Histories”. Since ancient times, the notion of such an ancient civilization has been the topic of ongoing debate. However, these debates were obscured by rumours and misinformation, leading to a persistent scepticism regarding the civilization’s veracity.
Despite this, Dr Rutledge excavated sites around the world in search of remains. He found that many of these sites shared a common writing system, and went on to become the first in the world to decipher a portion of this script. Furthermore, as a result of Dr. Rutledge’s discovery, it was identified that these sites belonged to to a civilisation named the “Azran”.
Study of the strata in the excavation site revealed the age of…. (the page cuts off here)…….
…remarkably, the age of the Azran Civilization was calculated to be, no less than 1, 000, 000 years old. These results of these studies were documented in “Ancient Histories”, which went on to present a new theory of the existence of an advanced prehistoric civilization: the Azran Civilization. At the time of its publication, this revelation was exceptional, and stood to rewrite what was believed to be established history. Thus, a long controversy ensued over the accuracy of the book’s claims.
Figure A: “Ancient Histories”
The Azran Civilization was first mentioned in Donald Rutledge’s “Ancient Histories”. This compilation details Dr Rutledge’s findings from his world-wide expedition investigating archaeological sites.
To obtain the final egg, Layton and co. have no choice but to face the danger and set foot into the enemy headquarters. What awaits is a confrontation with Bronev.
WANTED: Robin (Bishop)
Not particularly dangerous, but his actions are bothersome.
WANTED: Macaw (Rook)
Very capable, but is a good person at heart.
△ If you see any suspicious men, do not approach them and leave.
Once you step foot into The Nest, you are in a danger zone. As you move away from Targent’s headquarters, the Obsidian Tower, the security becomes lighter, but black-suited men all over town keep a close eye on intruders. If you carelessly get too close, a dangerous puzzle might be thrown your way.
Emmy’s Snapshots:
- Plastic container
- Discarded tyre
Waste Disposal Plant >> Proceed after hearing gunshots
Wylie Street >> Help Mackintosh, who is being driven out
Waste Disposal Plant >> Find Mackintosh
Big Airship, Cargo Hold >> Solve puzzle and proceed
Big Airship, Midship >> Proceed after solving Macaw’s puzzle
Big Airship, Control Room >> Take Mackintosh to the Bostonius
Bostonius >> Leave Mackintosh
Wylie Street >> Solve Robin’s puzzle and proceed
Obsidian Tower >> Enter and proceed
Obsidian Tower, Mid Floor >> Solve guard puzzle, proceed
Obsidian Tower, Upper Floor >> Solve elevator puzzle and proceed
Obsidian Tower, Rooftop >> If 75 puzzles have been solved, Swift will allow you to pass
Obsidian Tower, The Boss’ Room >> Confront Bronev and take back the egg
Obsidian Tower >> Solve the egg puzzle and make the keystone
Obsidian Tower, The Boss’ Room >> Descending from the tower via hand glider
To the Bostonius
△ Waste disposal Plant
The passage leading from the back is narrow, and it’s difficult to walk through without being spotted by the enemy. On the right is a landing strip, a crane carrying waste is humming.
Hint Coins:
The cans in the waterway
In the grass near plastic containers
At the top, atop the building on the right
The red switch on the wall on the right
The story behind background art
Keeping in mind the thought that: “this is a dangerous place!”, I created this oppressive-feeling backdrop. I remember working on the waste disposal plant in particular was quite difficult. (Lead by: Level-5’s Kenichi Kurakari-san)
Why is Professor Sycamore’s name so frequently mistaken?
On our trip, there were a lot of people who would get Professor Sycamore’s name wrong. Wondering why that was, I conducted my own investigation. If there is key characteristic to a researcher, it is that they can’t neglect when something is weighing on their mind. To begin, let us consider the mistakes that were made.
Each time they make the mistake, the professor will stop and correct them, so they surely know his correct name.
Investigation I: The Mistaken Name
Harald: A Froenborg resident
(the things he calls Sycamore in Japanese): Salmon, sardine (a small type of pilchard), sirloin, sayori (stickleback), sasagarei (halibut). It seems he often mixes up the name with items of food. He also calls him suspenders and Summer-festival.
Mascha: A Froenborg resident
This might be an example of her picking up her husband Harald’s error.
Amanita: A Phong-Gi resident
Haamaisan, Maasaihan. Amanita often gets the syllables of his name the wrong way around.
“Now I think about it, the people who get his name incorrect are the ones who seem to have a fondness for the professor.”
Investigation II: The Cause
People’s reactions to Sycamore
(Screenshot of him telling the ‘Never judge a buck by its mother’ joke, except in Japanese its a completely different story about boiling eggs. I have a horrible translation of it here. )
Morel, the Chief
The first time that he heard the professor’s joke, he didn’t understand its meaning, then he said clearly that he was bored.
Lepidella, Morel’s husband
She’s been worried about her husband, so she is grateful to the professor. She doesn’t say anything about the joke, though.
Sycamore’s Response
To get a well-rounded perspective, a second investigation was conducted to see if the cause lay on the professor’s side. Somehow, he also manages to misread the feelings of others. Harald and the others feel a sense of closeness and at ease with him. Perhaps the fact that they make mistakes is a sign of their trust towards him.
Froenborg … 6
Airship Chase (Targent’s Airship)… 14
Kodh … 16
London … 24
Airship Bostonius … 34
Column: The Existence of the Azran Civilization as Observed in the Distribution of Archeological Sites … 36
Phong Gi … 38
Column: Professors Layton and Sycamore’s Lecture Course … 44
San Grio … 45
Professor Layton and the Creatures Around The World … 51
Torrido … 52
Column: Luke, the Worldwide Gourmet
Hoogland … 58
Column: Amelie’s Journal
Mossinia … 64
The Nest … 70
Column: Report on the Investigation of the Mysterious Group, Targent … 74
The Azran Sanctuary … 75
Nishiura
It made me think back to the first trilogy, of the little street corners in“Professor Layton and the Curious Village”, and the smaller arrangements using the accordion. As the series grew, and as the story expanded, the scale of the music also expanded, being played by an orchestra.
I didn’t expect the latest game to take the professor adventuring all over the world (laughs)
Nishiura
Right, (laughs). Perhaps it was because this “Professor Layton” game is the final one, but all of the staff were more organised than usual, I think it is because of all of the know-how we have gained up until now.
It’s what you’ve cultivated up until now.
Nishiura
It is. More than anything, it’s great to see the growth of the people who began only 2-3 years ago. Hashizume in the sound team was did really well. Even though she mostly worked on the non-music parts, it made me happy to be able to quietly observe everyone’s growth. This “Professor Layton” seems like an appropriate end to Hershel Layton’s story, it’s “Layton” at its best.
-
MIHO FUKUHARA
The young artist responsible for the theme song “Surely Someday”. She wrote the lyrics and also sang the theme herself.
-
Nishiura-san discusses the theme song, “Surely Someday”
Nishiura
Since this was the final entry, Hino said “I’ll let Nishiura compose the theme song.” As a result, we said that as long as I could compose it, we would offer Miho Fukuhara-san the opportunity to sing the song. Fukuhara-san was the first person I asked, she said she liked the song, and gladly agreed.
Our reason was that Fukuhara-san had sung the end theme for the film “悪人” (‘Villain’) (I really like this film. My favourite lighthouse appears in it). This song was entirely in English, but the lyrics really suited the film. I was just so impressed by how incredibly expressive the song was.
My initial vision was for “Surely Someday” to be in English, so in the initial demo, I wrote my own lyrics in English. We sent it to Fukuhara-san, and she wrote some amazing lyrics. This song isn’t just about Layton, it is also about Fukuhara-san.
Which is why, depending upon the interpretation, this song could be a story about family, or love – we hoped it could be interpreted in many ways. The song being open to interpretations adds depth.
Oh, and I was really pleased about the title “Surely Someday”. The meaning of the title is「きっと、いつか」(kitto itsuka) , but I think this title has a nicer, more beautiful sound to it.
—
The idea behind the title “Surely Someday”
A crossroads at the middle of your life.
When it is time to aim for your dreams.
New, dearly precious family and friends have to leave.
They want their own flowers to bloom.
With that belief, each of them part ways.
Believing that they will meet again someday.
This poem is titled “希望” (Hope).
I started with Nishiura-san’s melody, then arranged by Makoto Minagawa-san, and was carried through each of us with the idea of an airship. I want to listen to it over and over. It became very important to us. It will be fun to hear it live.
Ever since the first game, Tomohito Nishiura-san has been creating the beautiful soundtrack of Professor Layton’s adventures. And for this game, the main theme was written and sung by Miho Fukuhara-san. We asked them both about how they feel about the final result.
TOMOHITO NISHIURA
A composer working for Level-5 and director of the sound team. Has been a member since the beginning and has worked on many projects. Loves lighthouses.
Working on composing for Hershel Layton’s final chapter
As the the final part of this second trilogy, what was the work flow like?
Nishiura
As always, we started by reading the rough scenes but the process was easy this time.
It was easy to make?
It was the final part of the adventure, which in a way, made thing easier. It was easy to understand the direction of the story, which is why I say it was easier. While reading the script, I was thinking, “what do I want to make (of this)?”
“A cool main theme”
As the last chapter, the adventure was able to be made without any major changes. The live performance of the theme for “Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy” that plays in the title was fitting for the final adventure, it was very cool.
Nishiura
Thank you. When composing “Layton” series ‘main themes’, I want to make music that people will say “what on earth is this game”, upon hearing it for the first time, and make them curious. That’s why, I don’t know how to say it, but the (piece’s) feeling of identity is important. The main theme must be made with that feeling. It’s the opposite of composing, say, a map theme, where you have art or scenery to think of.
So you compose map themes by imagining the location’s atmosphere?
Nishiura
That’s right. This time, during development I was able to tap on the actual map and saw there were a lot of moving objects on the screen.
There is, right?
Nishiura
How do I put it? It feels like it was made very thoroughly. I wanted to go above and beyond with the music and sound of the locations, so that the player could to feel the atmosphere of the location. We used specific sounds and sound effects to express such as temperature and atmosphere. I think game music helps us think about these sorts of things. Of course, the game was also enjoyable to tap around on.
I thought “Azran Legacy” was the best “Layton”
For certain, having played it, there is even more depth depth, it feels like every aspect seems to have been carefully considered.
Nishiura
I’m glad you feel that way.
Everyone in the Layton Team think this work was special… Nishiura-san, when you played it yourself, how did you feel?
Nishiura
That’s right… When I saw the credits, I remembered all of the series up until now, one by one, and I found that really moving.
(the interview continues on next page)
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First time listening to Nishiura-san’s original piece
The first time I heard it, I put myself in the sound of the melody.
Like I was travelling in an airship.
Some travellers were leaving, and new ones were arriving.
I imagined the image of a big airship, as the melody played.
Scenario and lyrics
The key words for the song were “a new journey is beginning” and “setting out on a journey”, a very positive message, I think. I read the script, and then also wrote parts which included imagery relating to Emmy’s state of mind.
