I’ve always thought the Professor Layton series on DS was something remarkable in videogame terms. Beautiful music, quaint locales, an intriguing plot and entertaining puzzle-based gameplay offered a portable experience quite unlike anything I had ever experienced before.

The good news is that this stellar series is far from over, and developer Level-5 is doing a wonderful job keeping the franchise relevant and ensuring its main attractions remain intact.

The latest title in the series due for release in the West is called ‘Professor Layton and the Last Specter’ (North America) or ‘Professor Layton and the Spectre’s Call’ (Europe). It’s been out for almost two years in Japan already, so the October 17th and November 25th release dates for the US and UK respectively are long overdue.

Nintendo and Level-5 have created an awesome English website for the game, complete with detailed information about The Last Specter’s characters and story as well as four in-game puzzles to solve.

The Last Specter reportedly has more puzzles than any previous Professor Layton game, and serves as an origin story of sorts - detailing how the genteel professor first met his assistant-to-be Luke and their initial forays into mystery-solving in the remote village of Misthallery.

Stay tuned to El33tonline for more Professor Layton and the Last Specter news and views as we close in on its Western release.