So I took advantage of Gamestop's 20% + trade in offer on Layton and I'm about five hours in. I really dig it, the art is great, the music is robo-great, the localization has a unforced charm that's really endearing. I'm having a great time with it.
I also got a big kick out of finally solving Die Hard 3's water puzzle. I never got it until the onus was put on me.
It really, really is much more of a puzzle game then a graphic adventure. Yes, there's a story, and characters you interact with, but its all a blatant delivery system for more puzzles. Hell, the game doesn't even have any shame about its puzzle pushing.
"Oh hey, its you Layton, I gots a puzzle for ya."
Its a DS game that I'm not embarrassed to play in public, which along with Contra 4, brings my shame-free DS catalog up to an astounding two titles. I like it a lot, but most of you people aren't me. I recommend it only to people who figured out that riddle in Labyrinth way before Jennifer Conally did.