Lady Layton Stars Professor Layton’s Daughter

Last month, Level-5 thrilled us with the news that a new main-series Professor Layton game was in development after all.

Now they have unveiled that game: Lady Layton!

The new game’s full title translates to something like Lady Layton: The Conspiracy of King Millionaire Ariadne, but let’s just call it Lady Layton for now.

When I first saw the title, I thought the main character might be Flora, but instead it stars Catriel Layton, Professor Layton’s daughter. She runs a detective agency and solves strange mysteries around London. She’s also searching for her father, who has disappeared.

Her companion is a talking dog named Sharo, who helps her solve the strange cases she receives. Let’s take a look at the trailer to see them in action.

There’s a lot to take in, but first let’s celebrate the fact that we’re getting a new Layton game! And if it does well, more Lady Layton games seem all but a given.

Okay, now let’s talk about the new game.

Who is Catriel Layton?

Catriel (and it’s not clear yet if that’s how her name will be localized) is a completely new character. She was never mentioned or hinted at before, and it raises related questions.

First, where is Flora? As Professor Layton’s adopted daughter, she’s the first person many fans thought of. What is she doing now? Does she consider Catriel a younger sister? Will we see her in Lady Layton?

Second, is Catriel Alfendi’s sister? Alfendi Layton only appeared in the spin-off game Layton Brothers: Mystery Room, so his placement in canon is uncertain. Will he play any role in Catriel’s story?

Third, who is her mother? This question was first raised about Alfendi, and it remains unanswered. Professor Layton’s only known love interest is out of the question, so where did his children come from? Of course, it’s possible one or both of them is adopted.

In short, Catriel herself is a huge mystery, particularly when it comes to her placement in the Layton family. However, since she’s the star of the game, we should learn a lot about her.

Professor Layton Has Disappeared?

Catriel doesn’t become a detective just because she likes solving mysteries, but because she wants to solve one big mystery in particular: the disappearance of her father.

This should be a major part of the plot, but it already tells us one important thing: wherever Lady Layton is in the timeline, it’s not the same time as Layton Brothers.

However, Layton Brothers also implies Alfendi and Professor Layton are estranged for unknown reasons, so maybe the two are connected.

A Talking Dog?

Sharo is one of the most bizarre aspects of the announcement. Layton stories are pretty far out there, but a talking dog still seems out of place for the universe.

Until we see proof otherwise, I believe Catriel shares Luke’s ability to communicate with animals. That is, Sharo sounds like a normal dog to everyone else, but she can understand him.

My Hopes

Personally, I hope these mysteries all have answers. I also hope Alfendi is Catriel’s brother, even if he isn’t yet the Alfendi we know from the spin-off.

And I do hope Flora appears. She was neglected enough in the first trilogy without being ignored again in a sequel. Overall, though, I just wanted a solid Layton game, and this looks like it will deliver.

Lady Layton looks fantastic, and I can’t wait to learn more about it. It will be made for the 3DS, iOS, and Android, with its Japanese release date set for spring 2017.

Let me know your thoughts on Lady Layton in the comments!

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