My defense for “who’s behind the mask” is that the mystery, while seemingly about “who’s behind the mask” turns into “Why is Randall doing this?” Once the Player finds out the answer to the first question. And as you progress through the game, you start to piece together the reasoning of the Masked Gentleman. The motivation behind the Miracles. The Desire for the Destruction of Mont ‘Odor. The moment you begin to understand how it can be viewed that Henry took EVERYTHING from Randall, it paints a very sympathetic picture for Randall. Of course, he’s in the wrong. No one had betrayed him or back stabbed him, but it can so easily he viewed that way. His fortune was stolen from him, his research and archeological achievements have been taken from him, and his wife married the man who took everything from him. Every time I saw the masked gentleman, I couldn’t help but feel sorry for him. I could understand why he was doing all he did, and Layton, too, likely started to realize why Randall was doing what he didz
I think the finale of MM is a poster child example of redemption story of causing pain for others for nothing. We get the perspective of Henry (wich is often the only side we get in these kinda of stories), but we also see Randals perspective and reaction for what he has caused, this makes the ending much rewarding, because we get the both sides of view and a proper apology. I thank you since this video boosted my love for MM even more!
This video totally renewed my appreciation for MM. I’ve never been a fan of the 3D style but I always found the story very touching, if a little clunky at times. Your video has really redeemed the whole Randall “plot twist” for me.
Now this is a video! I always liked MM and was pretty surprised with its place in rankings for best Layton games (as almost everyone put it in the lower ranks)... This analysis really reminded me of everything that made me like it in the first place!
This dude needs more recognition. I would expect this quality from a monetized UA-camr, but he still manages to make exceptional videos on a humble channel. I bet you’re gonna go far, Alex 👍
I think my favourite part of The Reuinion Inn section was slowly seeing all the stories begin to reflect Radall's feelings of betrayal from Henry and Angela. I knew quite early that it was likely Randall, but the way his revenge starts to pan out makes a lot of sense from how Descole framed it.
I absolutely adored this game as a kid. It was the first layton game I owned myself. After having borrowed all the previous entries from our town library, often multiple times to actually finish them, I really took my time with MM, especially to figure out the dungeons. It's really nice to see it get the love it deserves!
I was 8 the first time I played a Professor Layton game, and it was Pandora's Box. From that point onward I just fell in love with everything PL had to offer. Now I'm 23, I basically grew up with this franchise to the point I wanted to be an archaeologist at some point, and I still can't figure out why this universe isn't more famous since, imo, it always deserved better recognition. I'm hoping for a grand return with the new chapter, and meanwhile I got even more deep in different PL games meanings (also thanks to this video). I was really surprised seeing this video pop up in my feed, and I have to say that my curiosity has paid off to the point that I think you should really try to share your work across Reddit or some PL forums. I'm really looking forward for other videos about the PL franchise, keep up the good work.
Glad you enjoyed! The second Layton game is also what made me fall in love with the series. Hopefully I can cover all the games before the new one releases!
Thank you for uploading PL-related content! The Professor Layton series needs som more recognition and love. I haven´t even watched the video, but thank you in advance.
I hearby declare you to be the only UA-camr allowed to talk about MM 😂😂. In all seriousness, MM has always been my favorite Layton game, and it was a treat to hear someone talk about it positively. I first played the game when I was eleven or twelve, and I remember being absolutely thrilled when I actually could figure out the twist (though it is hardly a twist in hindsight), after playing all the previous games and having never been able to figure out the mysteries on my own. Looking back on it now, MM strikes me as remarkably similar to the first third of The Winter Soldier in how it sets up its “twist”-the enjoyment of Winter Soldier doesn’t come from figuring out who the Winter Soldier is. Even before the reveal, the audience absolutely knows that it’s Bucky Barnes. The enjoyment comes in figuring out why Bucky is working for Hydra, and most importantly, watching the other characters react to and grapple with this revelation, and the interpersonal drama that results from it. Though it’s a great moment, the moment we typically first think of when thinking of that movie isn’t when Bucky’s face is revealed for the first time, it’s when Bucky is punching Steve’s lights out while he refuses to fight back and says, “till the end of the line.” Similarly, we don’t remember the moment where Randall finally reveals his face, we remember the absolutely devastating reactions from Layton, Henry, and Angela upon finding out who he is, and trying to convince him that they were always waiting for him. Anyway, thank you for a wonderful video!
I really enjoyed MM, I loved it. The setting and style meant a lot to me. I never got that Randall was the Masked Gentleman until right before the reveal, iirc... I was nine years old, and I'd like to play it again from the perspective of knowing who it is to enjoy all the character work. Those books with the dog and the beggar... wow. Really appreciate the analysis of Angela especially and great job leaving the Monte D'Or night theme as one of your closing music choices :>
washing dishes while listening to your analysis has really made the chore easier 🤣 on a more serious note, you’ve totally renewed my view of the game. miracle mask has always sat at the bottom of my list for some reason, (ok maybe the clunky 3D transition is to blame) but wow.. the story now becomes more clear. angela’s significance to the story was probably the most eye opening for me when you brought it up. anyways, great video as always, pls pls make more layton content! 💞
3:03 I will say while others may have complained about the 3D character models, I quite liked them. Even when I first saw them, I could tell that they were clunky and such but it just gave the game and the characters a unique charm to them. Especially so with how unique the character designs are.
Just finished replaying Miracle Mask, as I mentioned in my comment on your Last Specter video, I did not remember a single thing about the game's story. So it was almost like I went into it blind again. As I began I remembered certain "feelings" I had about the game, in particular, I remembered not caring for the flashback chapters. I think that was because back in 2012, I'd thoroughly convinced myself that the Masked Gentleman just *had* to be Descole (I mean, he's wearing a mask, who else could it be?). Now that I'm older, and dare I say a bit more wise, I caught onto the Masked Gentleman immediately (as intended) and as a result the flash back chapters became some of my favorites this time around. I also really appreciated the more character driven nature of the plot. It was a different approach, but overall I think they made it work. I got real chills while reading the storybooks in the Reunion Inn. One aspect that I found really engaging was how Randall seemed to get more unhinged as the game and his plan progressed, going from charismatic showmanship as Layton puts it to outright maliciousness. Almost as if he becomes more convinced in his revenge after Layton appears and the "final act" gets closer (and presumably as Descole continues manipulating him). You made an interesting point about the NPCs, I didn't really appreciate it while I was playing but now that you mention it they did feel more fleshed out than other entries. That said, I definitely agree that Angela felt underdeveloped. I kinda expected that we'd get a twist towards the end where it was revealed she did indeed develop feelings for Henry, but she was barely in the game so... For some other notes, I'd put the soundtrack as up there with one of the best in the series, I never got tired of Monte d'Or's theme. And, this one might just be me, but I found myself really not being a fan of a lot of the puzzles in this one. There are a ton of repeats, especially of some of the more annoying ones (I swear, I saw red when the stupid 'dividing the chess pawns' one came up the THIRD time). All-in-all, while my opinion of Last Specter remained virtually unchanged after replaying it, I have to say Miracle Mask was a real treat and I went from feeling like I thought it was "just okay" to genuinely thinking it's a great story. Anyways, I'd intended to space out replaying the prequels since we won't be seeing New World of Steam until at least 2025, but here I am now with 2/3 done. Whoops. Looking forward to your thoughts on Azran Legacy. Even though like Miracle Mask, I also haven't played it since release, I remember most of what happens. So I won't get the same "going in blind again" experience there, but I'm looking forward to it regardless.
For some reason I thought Miracle Mask's puzzles were a lot harder than I remembered. Those chess pawn puzzles completely beat me up when I got to them. And those puzzles where you have to layer the 3x3 tiles on a grid to match the image were brutal, I think I spend around 40 minutes trying to make that duck. I'm pretty sure they're in the same room as the pawn puzzles too. As the years go by, I think I've realized I might be more of a prequel trilogy person. Not to say the original trilogy isn't great as well, but it's really difficult to keep an almost annual series up to quality for six years straight, and somehow they managed to do it. I like Azran Legacy a lot more than the consensus seems to, but I also feel like no one really talks about AL in general, so I'm looking forward to making that video!
@@AurumAlex64 Phew... I'm glad it wasn't just me. Holy jeez, I almost forgot about the duck one though (probably because I didn't have *too* hard a time with the first two). I originally planned to finish the game last night, but the double whammy of the third pawn puzzle and that duck's dang foot drained me completely mentally. I'm really excited to see how Azran Legacy holds up for me. I remember when I played it in 2014 I considered it the peak of the prequel trilogy. When I first played the series I never really bothered to go out of my way to complete all the story puzzles, but that changed with Azran Legacy because I was completely absorbed in the world and characters. Big part of that was I was always fascinated with Descole as a character (consider me a sucker for characters with mysterious motivations who wear capes). The ending in particular killed me emotionally, of course a big part of that was that it was the end of the series, but I think it does stand outside that context as really good.
@@PuyoPuyoMan The most striking thing about Azran Legacy is how good it looks. Like every screen is this sprawling mountain of little details and moving parts, it's honestly the most beautiful looking 3DS game ever released. Spoilers: There are more duck-tile puzzles in AL :).
@@AurumAlex64 Oh..... man....... I have a personal rule when I play Layton games, if I get hopelessly stuck on a puzzle I allow myself to look up the solution online of no more than 3 puzzles per playthrough. I'm saving those for if they make me construct a duck's foot again I swear I definitely remember Azran Legacy being a big step up graphically from Miracle Mask. And I'm one of those people who'd say MM get a bad rap and actually overall looks pretty good (though I'll concede the mo-cap in the in-engine cutscenes looks pretty awkward)
@@PuyoPuyoMan Azran Legacy was actually the opposite of Miracle Mask in that I found it easier than I remembered, so you're 3 puzzle rule should end fine. The only puzzle I remember really struggling on was this awful sliding block puzzle near the end where you have to make a path from you to a key, then a key to a chest, then a chest to another chest. They really managed to make 3 sliding block puzzles in one
Honestly, this is my favorite Layton Game. Yes, I find this game better than VS AND Lost Future. The villain, the characters, the setting, the grief, all of it is so perfectly crafted.
Going through the prequel trilogy again, I think Miracle Mask is probably my favorite of the three. I'm still partial to VS as my favorite in the series, I think the witch trials and overall setting were just the perfect possible way to combine the Ace Attorney/Professor Layton series together.
@@AurumAlex64I LOVE VS. it’s my 2nd favorite Layton game (and is the closest to beating my favorite ace attorney game, Dual Destinies). It’s strange that I find the 2nd game of the second trilogy (Dual Destinies and Miracle Mask) better than the finale of the first trilogy which everyone else argues is the best (Trials and Tribulations and Lost Future).
A few years ago, I red a letter younger me wrote about how excited I was that my suspicions about the Gentleman's identity were indeed confirmed. I still love the memory when it was revealed, even though I know now that it was very obvious
I think that goes to show that plot twists being "obvious" aren't a bad thing. If anything, drawing out a conclusion from evidence the game provides is often a very rewarding experience, especially when you get it right.
Thank you so much for helping me understand why this is my favourite game in the franchise ! I always thought it was just because the city is so unique and the soundtrack is amazing, and because Randall is a character I really love and care about, but everything you explained makes so much sense ! Also thank you for sharing appreciation for this game
You absolutely nailed this analysis. As I said in my last comment, I really love this game, and though I consider Spectre's Call, I might actually have to admit this is my favourite game. Probably favourite game period, not just Layton game. It is my most played 3DS game, I come back to it again and again and again. Sure it's obvious who the Masked Gentleman is, but if you think that's the mystery of the game, you don't understand it. The very first mystery the game gives you after just a couple dozens of seconds is the origin story of Monte d'Or, and that is the only real miracle. Seeing all of the character stories unfold and come together at the end is truly magical. This game has my favourite set of characters out of the Layton games, which shouldn't be a surprise since this is a game about its characters, not about some grandiose, fantastical mystery that needs unraveling. The real plot twist is Henry's true nature, which I could have never predicted. And it's so dope how you unlock episodes at the end that confirm Angela and Lady Ascot knew from the start. Layton plot twists recontextualise the entire game, but that couldn't be more true for this game. A game about the beauty and value of true friendship, and probably the only Layton game with a proper, happy ending. Normally Layton games are care-free and innocent, and then they hit you like a truck with an ending that will make you cry your heart out. This game on the other hand is tragic all throughout, but it's a setup for one of the most warm-hearted finales I've ever seen. The music in this game is phenomenal and it has some of the most variety out of all the Layton games. The theme of Monte d'Or represents the glitz and amusement of the casinos and carnival festivities, but if you listen carefully, you can hear the tragic background of the town in there, too. The soundtrack is grandiose, cheerful, melancholic, calming, tragic. And it all culminates in the heartwarming A Treasure that Lasts and the jazzy Mysterious Flower. What a way to end it. I also really enjoy the look of the game, actually. Sure, the models are rough around the edges, but it's what about I expect from a 3DS game. I really like the colour design though, the bright and vibrant neo lights combined with the nigth sky really pop. Azran Legacy looks a lot less inspired in comparison. And the locations are so neat and lively! As a kid, I always wished I could explore Monte d'Or and Stansbury for myself. One more note on the story, I find it interesting how Layton fans critisize the obvious nature of the identity of the Masked Gentleman because they are used to ridiculous plot twists they could never see coming. On the other hand, I feel like as a mystery story in its own right this works really well, since it actually gives you all the information you need to crack the case, as opposed to giving you random clues that only make sense in hindsight. I'm wondering how people who aren't used to the usual Layton shenanigans feel about this story. I really love it. While I adore Spectre's Call for its melancholy and eeriness, this game just makes me... happy. I replayed it only half a year ago because I'm currently busy 100%ing all Layton games (the only one still missing is LMJ...), but I want to play this game again. I know this entire game by heart, I know the exact order of events, I know the puzzles, I can predict what's on the next screen and what the NPCs will say. I don't even know how many times I've played through this game, I don't care. This game is different from your typical Layton game, but in the best way possible.
I did a replay of the entire series last year, so I was initially exhausted when I realized I was gonna have to replay them all again for these videos. That being said, so far, it's actually been very enjoyable to replay through these games so soon, and Miracle Mask was no exception. I think I ultimately prefer Miracle Mask over Last Specter. It's a game that straddles an interesting line between the classic Layton template and doing something completely new, before Azran Legacy really comes in and shakes things up. It's just a good time in general.
This is super interesting because while I didn't enjoy the 3D Layton games as much, I've never looked at MM from this perspective! I also think it's got one of the best game design in the franchise too (if you ignore how repetitive the akbadain ruins chapter was lol). Thank you for this video, I love people analyse Layton!
Is it possible to marry a video? I wish I could, because THIS!!!! THIS IS THE ONE!!!! YOU _GET_ IT. Miracle Mask has always, ALWAYS been one of my absolute favorite Layton games, and as an adult I've maintained that it's one of the best in the series, and CRIMINALLY underrated, even within the existing Layton fanbase that generally gives love to all the games to varying degrees. "The Masked Gentleman being Randall is way too obvious" me gripping peoples' shoulders screaming THAT'S THE POINT!!! THAT'S THE ENTIRE FUCKING POINT, THAT'S WHY THE NARRATIVE IS SO GOOD AND IS ABLE TO BE SO IMPACTFUL, BECAUSE IT SPENDS THE WHOLE GAME BUILDING UP TO SOMETHING NEITHER YOU AND THE CHARACTERS ALREADY KNOW BUT DON'T WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE!!! It increases the feeling of dread but most of all sorrow and emotion, because you get so attached to all these characters through the flashbacks and the present day scenes, you get attached to _Randall_ , and you're both dreading but also dying waiting for the other shoe (mask?) to drop, and to know why he's doing all this!! Randall being annoying seems to be the other biggest complaint I always see, and yeah, his younger self is rather punchable sometimes lmao, but imo it's part of his charm. Maybe they could have given him a bit more depth (and... Angela.... *sigh* ), but it's impossible not to sympathize with him in the end imo. Also the complaint of "his willingness to believe Descole felt too flimsy" look, it's easy for us to say that when we know exactly what kind of person Descole is, but he didn't. With time and memory loss affecting your emotions and the things you thought you knew, and again not at all knowing of Descole's reputation, might you not also have fallen for it too??? I cannot say with certainty that I wouldn't have, had I been in Randall's position. But all that's to say that this video helps me understand and put into words exactly what makes MM so great, things that I've known internally all along but couldn't articulate. Yes, it _is_ a change in formula from the classic mystery format involving a mysterious or haunted place like in the previous games and movie, so I guess in that sense it's understandable why people would place such a huge emphasis on the mystery aspect and call that a criticism of the game, since MM is technically, a "bad" mystery, at least when it comes to the masked gentleman. I think me being spoiled on his identity long before I even played the game (...because I followed the Japanese release spoilers HEAVILY lmao, ahhh the old days of non-worldwide releases) helped me not care about this as much lol. But I was moreso just so invested in the character drama in this game and how it made me feel, and indeed, already knowing who the masked gentleman was subconsciously helped that, even if I didn't realize this as a kid, nor did I back then pick up on _just_ how heavy-handed all the hints were lmao. But I can appreciate all this so much more now. Diabolical Box might be my favorite game in the series, and Unwound Future might have the tightest written plot out of all the games, giving it the masterpiece status it deserves, but Miracle Mask has so many individual moments that are just so intimate and raw, MUCH more than in any of the other games (not that those moments don't exist in the others, mind you). Idk, it really is so heavily character-driven, like you said, so that's probably why I love it so much. It's so underrated ugh. 😭 I wish there was a way to have Descole be involved for a final reveal without him....... being Angela. Idk, but she's definitely the most underdeveloped and underutilized of the four, and it's such a shame 🫠 I think it would have been so moving and made so much sense if her and Henry's fake marriage had slowly ceased to be fake and they had eventually started to develop real feelings for each other, in their mutual grief over missing Randall and both toying with the very real possibility that neither of them want to acknowledge that he might truly be gone for good and will never come back. If they had gotten together at the end, I think Randall would have understood, while still remaining their friend of course; a lot of time has passed, and they've changed, and showing that Randall isn't just gonna go back to being Angela's girlfriend would be the biggest indicator of that. My only other criticism is that as much as I adore the ending, just like Angela's feelings aren't really addressed, Layton also never really gets a final private talk with Randall. Which is a shame, considering how we spend half the game with the buildup of their friendship and see how what happened to Randall is just as influential on Layton as the loss of Claire is. He really deserved some closure with him, to sort out all their feelings of guilt and pain over all those years, just like the final moment Layton got to have with Claire in UF. Anyway stan Miracle Mask. It's not a mystery, but a character focused Monte Cristo-esque slowburn tragedy, and that's what makes it so compelling. I hope you make more Layton videos because this is definitely one of the best ones I've ever seen 🙏💖
I've grown to appreciate Miracle Mask more and more over the years, but really, this series is just remarkable consistent. I'm happy I was able to verbalize some of that for you!
I loved this game when I was younger and didn't really get the hate for it, but eventually came to accept that maybe I was just the one who adored a mediocre game. You changed my mind, thanks.
I love these videos too much, I honestly hope that in some future you can do this same analysis of the characters or other games in the saga, like those of the first trilogy and especially the legacy of the Azran, which in my opinion, like the miracle mask, it is a game very unappreciated by many fans, it also deserves an analysis, and you do it very well! You are right in saying that very few UA-cam channels show interest in this saga, it would be great to see more of your videos about this
This video put me in my place lol. I actually recalled kind of disliking this game when it came out, the jump to 3D might have been rough but I won't deny I was one of those "ugh its so obviously Randal 🙄" guys. I never played Azran as a result, I think the shift to melodrama was something I was a little worried about and gradually noticing here. I didn't hate Miracle Mask, but the thought of hating a Layton game was scary enough to me that I didn't want to play the followup, I was content to "leave the casino" before getting potentially heartbroken. An older piece of media that MM reminds me of would be Columbo, a must-watch for Layton fans. They're surprisingly very similar vibes in terms of having this low-key "hangout" kind of tone, but Columbo is also famously built on the premise that we are EXPLORING the characters, not playing a whodunnit. The culprits in Columbo are literally the protagonists and in many of the most iconic cases both the audience and the detective will be pretty sympathetic towards them too. The point about Angela can't be ignored though, starting from Flora's treatment in Diabolical Box there's sometimes a vibe that these games are bored by their own female characters, sympathetic to them but also at times yearning to get away from them. Emmy is obviously an exception, although there's maybe still something to be said about the "action girl that kicks people" trope. But going back to Angela, we do see a sort of uncomfortable merging of Layton's old narrative tropes with new ones that they're exploring. The whacky Don Paolo-esque "master of disguise" tropes are a fun and silly gotcha moment in previous Layton games, but it works less in a story thats more grounded about character interactions and motivations. While we ARE basically told up front that Randal is the Masked Gentlemen, and we can appreciate the dramatic irony, these "surprise disguise" reveals do significantly undermine previous attempts we might have made into exploring the nuances of a character. Watching the video, its clear that there was a lot of thought put into what the audience is thinking of Randal and Henry, but significantly less thought in regards to Angela.
Yep, and the series really doesn't do itself any favors when the next game's major female protagonist (other than Emmy) is a slave golem with muted emotions who disintegrates at the end. To its credit, I think the series started to get a bit better about this towards the end. The Layton crossover really does such a wonderful job giving us a plethora of really interesting female characters (Darklaw and Greyerl being the exemplars), and Layton's Mystery Journey has many female characters play prominent roles in the story (unfortunately, the writing of LMJ has a tendency to fail all of its characters, not just its female ones).
@@AurumAlex64 Yeah the Vs. Ace Attorney major characters just slap. and yeah I can't even GET to the female characters of LMJ while Earnest exists. Just looking him up on google and the official subtitle Level 5 gives him in marketing was "THE UNREQUITED SUITOR!" Boy I can't wait to go on adventures with THAT guy!
@@bm_burger Oh, the Ernest-Katrielle dynamic is one of the worst runners this series ever came up with. It's just 20 hours of Katrielle vaguely mistreating Ernest and then Ernest justifying it by crafting the most over-the-top, faithful interpretation of her actions. And then of course we throw all of that out the window in the last case, where they basically decide to invent a whole new personality for him.
MM is imo the the best game in the preqel trilogie because montedor is so lively the people have opinions and react to what happend. I really liked talking to people wanted to hear what they hat to say. If NWOS can craete such a living and interesting city to explore again its gonna be a great imo.
i really loved miracle mask. most layton games feel pretty uninterested in their story, with entire chapters dedicated to finding lost animals or running to dead ends, since its mostly an excuse to have fun dialogue and puzzles. but these last two prequels really feel like different beasts, miracle mask especially. as you say, it can be pretty vicious too- standing up there with the ending of LF. great stuff. theres noticably better puzzles than SC too, tho theyre definitely weaker than the OT. big agree on angela too- theyve got a really compelling start of a character and then dont let her be part of the plot. its a shame that all of these games struggle with letting women be part of the story- arrianna in SC, auroura in AL and emmy in both of the above are the only ones i can think of who actually get to be a part of the narrative.
Yeah, I think the Layton series does tend to stray into benevolent sexism from time to time, though I'd probably add Katia from DB to your list of "female characters who actually get to be a part of the narrative". I think the series has gotten a bit better with this over time, with both Vs. and LMJ having a pretty good assortment of female characters in prominent story roles.
@@AurumAlex64 "benevolent sexism" is a good way to phrase it, ive not heard that before its a problem kind of inherent to the premise- layton might be living in the 60s, but hes old fashioned even for the time. the "gentlemen" fantasy is itself chauvinist, and its disappointing the games never really try to square that circle. aurora and flora both simple damsels in distress (although aurora does get to do some interesting stuff, from a purely feminist analysis perspective its not exactly inspiring) and while emmy does get to be cool and proactive, ultimately her motivation is to impress and work with layton (a man) until, plot twist, her motivation was actually to help a different man. again, i like her as a character, but if this is the lens im looking through its not great im still yet to get to katrielle, but what i hear isnt exactly great on this front. above everything, the games initial title being "lady layton" sorta speaks for itself fingers crossed NWOS actually has something to say about this, because its such an obvious vein to mine
I'm pretty sure there's a part in this game where Randall says to Layton that "chivalry is dead," to which Layton responds, "I'd like to think it's just... hibernating," which I though was a pretty amusing conversation. I think the dislike towards Katrielle is for mostly unrelated reasons. In some sense, the main thrust of the game is Katrielle trying to work her way out of her father's shadow, with building her own detective agency as a way to leave her own mark. The ire comes in because she ends up being very... dismissive towards her clients and "co-workers" (I put in quotes because one of the recurring "jokes" is that she doesn't pay Ernest for him doing all the chores around the office). I also appreciate that LMJ gives Katrielle a foil with Emiliana, which the game does... absolutely nothing with, but it was at least a nice thought.
My defense for “who’s behind the mask” is that the mystery, while seemingly about “who’s behind the mask” turns into “Why is Randall doing this?” Once the Player finds out the answer to the first question.
And as you progress through the game, you start to piece together the reasoning of the Masked Gentleman. The motivation behind the Miracles. The Desire for the Destruction of Mont ‘Odor. The moment you begin to understand how it can be viewed that Henry took EVERYTHING from Randall, it paints a very sympathetic picture for Randall. Of course, he’s in the wrong. No one had betrayed him or back stabbed him, but it can so easily he viewed that way. His fortune was stolen from him, his research and archeological achievements have been taken from him, and his wife married the man who took everything from him.
Every time I saw the masked gentleman, I couldn’t help but feel sorry for him. I could understand why he was doing all he did, and Layton, too, likely started to realize why Randall was doing what he didz
I think the finale of MM is a poster child example of redemption story of causing pain for others for nothing. We get the perspective of Henry (wich is often the only side we get in these kinda of stories), but we also see Randals perspective and reaction for what he has caused, this makes the ending much rewarding, because we get the both sides of view and a proper apology. I thank you since this video boosted my love for MM even more!
This video totally renewed my appreciation for MM. I’ve never been a fan of the 3D style but I always found the story very touching, if a little clunky at times. Your video has really redeemed the whole Randall “plot twist” for me.
Now this is a video! I always liked MM and was pretty surprised with its place in rankings for best Layton games (as almost everyone put it in the lower ranks)...
This analysis really reminded me of everything that made me like it in the first place!
Glad you enjoyed it!
You somehow managed to make me appreciate Miracle Mask even more than I already did, and it’s my favourite game in the series
This dude needs more recognition. I would expect this quality from a monetized UA-camr, but he still manages to make exceptional videos on a humble channel. I bet you’re gonna go far, Alex 👍
That means a lot! Comments like this definitely help make it feel worthwhile, haha.
I think my favourite part of The Reuinion Inn section was slowly seeing all the stories begin to reflect Radall's feelings of betrayal from Henry and Angela. I knew quite early that it was likely Randall, but the way his revenge starts to pan out makes a lot of sense from how Descole framed it.
I absolutely adored this game as a kid. It was the first layton game I owned myself. After having borrowed all the previous entries from our town library, often multiple times to actually finish them, I really took my time with MM, especially to figure out the dungeons. It's really nice to see it get the love it deserves!
I was 8 the first time I played a Professor Layton game, and it was Pandora's Box. From that point onward I just fell in love with everything PL had to offer.
Now I'm 23, I basically grew up with this franchise to the point I wanted to be an archaeologist at some point, and I still can't figure out why this universe isn't more famous since, imo, it always deserved better recognition. I'm hoping for a grand return with the new chapter, and meanwhile I got even more deep in different PL games meanings (also thanks to this video).
I was really surprised seeing this video pop up in my feed, and I have to say that my curiosity has paid off to the point that I think you should really try to share your work across Reddit or some PL forums. I'm really looking forward for other videos about the PL franchise, keep up the good work.
Glad you enjoyed! The second Layton game is also what made me fall in love with the series. Hopefully I can cover all the games before the new one releases!
Thank you for uploading PL-related content! The Professor Layton series needs som more recognition and love. I haven´t even watched the video, but thank you in advance.
Yup, I mention this towards the end of the video. For a series everyone seems to know about, it's surprising how little presence it has online
I hearby declare you to be the only UA-camr allowed to talk about MM 😂😂. In all seriousness, MM has always been my favorite Layton game, and it was a treat to hear someone talk about it positively.
I first played the game when I was eleven or twelve, and I remember being absolutely thrilled when I actually could figure out the twist (though it is hardly a twist in hindsight), after playing all the previous games and having never been able to figure out the mysteries on my own. Looking back on it now, MM strikes me as remarkably similar to the first third of The Winter Soldier in how it sets up its “twist”-the enjoyment of Winter Soldier doesn’t come from figuring out who the Winter Soldier is. Even before the reveal, the audience absolutely knows that it’s Bucky Barnes. The enjoyment comes in figuring out why Bucky is working for Hydra, and most importantly, watching the other characters react to and grapple with this revelation, and the interpersonal drama that results from it. Though it’s a great moment, the moment we typically first think of when thinking of that movie isn’t when Bucky’s face is revealed for the first time, it’s when Bucky is punching Steve’s lights out while he refuses to fight back and says, “till the end of the line.” Similarly, we don’t remember the moment where Randall finally reveals his face, we remember the absolutely devastating reactions from Layton, Henry, and Angela upon finding out who he is, and trying to convince him that they were always waiting for him.
Anyway, thank you for a wonderful video!
Thank you! In truth, I wish there were more people talking about Layton, MM or otherwise
been playing the entire layton series and just finished this game a couple weeks ago. I like this analysis a lot. good video
Miracle Mask has always been my favorite of the series because of The Masked Gentleman/Randall, I'm happy to see other people talk in his defense !
I really enjoyed MM, I loved it. The setting and style meant a lot to me. I never got that Randall was the Masked Gentleman until right before the reveal, iirc... I was nine years old, and I'd like to play it again from the perspective of knowing who it is to enjoy all the character work. Those books with the dog and the beggar... wow.
Really appreciate the analysis of Angela especially and great job leaving the Monte D'Or night theme as one of your closing music choices :>
washing dishes while listening to your analysis has really made the chore easier 🤣 on a more serious note, you’ve totally renewed my view of the game. miracle mask has always sat at the bottom of my list for some reason, (ok maybe the clunky 3D transition is to blame) but wow.. the story now becomes more clear. angela’s significance to the story was probably the most eye opening for me when you brought it up. anyways, great video as always, pls pls make more layton content! 💞
Thanks! Luckily, more Layton is next on the schedule, so you won't have to wait too long :)
This is such a well made, well constructed analysis!
Hats off to you, you've earned yourself a new subscriber
3:03 I will say while others may have complained about the 3D character models, I quite liked them. Even when I first saw them, I could tell that they were clunky and such but it just gave the game and the characters a unique charm to them. Especially so with how unique the character designs are.
Just finished replaying Miracle Mask, as I mentioned in my comment on your Last Specter video, I did not remember a single thing about the game's story. So it was almost like I went into it blind again. As I began I remembered certain "feelings" I had about the game, in particular, I remembered not caring for the flashback chapters. I think that was because back in 2012, I'd thoroughly convinced myself that the Masked Gentleman just *had* to be Descole (I mean, he's wearing a mask, who else could it be?). Now that I'm older, and dare I say a bit more wise, I caught onto the Masked Gentleman immediately (as intended) and as a result the flash back chapters became some of my favorites this time around.
I also really appreciated the more character driven nature of the plot. It was a different approach, but overall I think they made it work. I got real chills while reading the storybooks in the Reunion Inn. One aspect that I found really engaging was how Randall seemed to get more unhinged as the game and his plan progressed, going from charismatic showmanship as Layton puts it to outright maliciousness. Almost as if he becomes more convinced in his revenge after Layton appears and the "final act" gets closer (and presumably as Descole continues manipulating him).
You made an interesting point about the NPCs, I didn't really appreciate it while I was playing but now that you mention it they did feel more fleshed out than other entries.
That said, I definitely agree that Angela felt underdeveloped. I kinda expected that we'd get a twist towards the end where it was revealed she did indeed develop feelings for Henry, but she was barely in the game so...
For some other notes, I'd put the soundtrack as up there with one of the best in the series, I never got tired of Monte d'Or's theme. And, this one might just be me, but I found myself really not being a fan of a lot of the puzzles in this one. There are a ton of repeats, especially of some of the more annoying ones (I swear, I saw red when the stupid 'dividing the chess pawns' one came up the THIRD time).
All-in-all, while my opinion of Last Specter remained virtually unchanged after replaying it, I have to say Miracle Mask was a real treat and I went from feeling like I thought it was "just okay" to genuinely thinking it's a great story.
Anyways, I'd intended to space out replaying the prequels since we won't be seeing New World of Steam until at least 2025, but here I am now with 2/3 done. Whoops. Looking forward to your thoughts on Azran Legacy. Even though like Miracle Mask, I also haven't played it since release, I remember most of what happens. So I won't get the same "going in blind again" experience there, but I'm looking forward to it regardless.
For some reason I thought Miracle Mask's puzzles were a lot harder than I remembered. Those chess pawn puzzles completely beat me up when I got to them. And those puzzles where you have to layer the 3x3 tiles on a grid to match the image were brutal, I think I spend around 40 minutes trying to make that duck. I'm pretty sure they're in the same room as the pawn puzzles too.
As the years go by, I think I've realized I might be more of a prequel trilogy person. Not to say the original trilogy isn't great as well, but it's really difficult to keep an almost annual series up to quality for six years straight, and somehow they managed to do it. I like Azran Legacy a lot more than the consensus seems to, but I also feel like no one really talks about AL in general, so I'm looking forward to making that video!
@@AurumAlex64 Phew... I'm glad it wasn't just me. Holy jeez, I almost forgot about the duck one though (probably because I didn't have *too* hard a time with the first two). I originally planned to finish the game last night, but the double whammy of the third pawn puzzle and that duck's dang foot drained me completely mentally.
I'm really excited to see how Azran Legacy holds up for me. I remember when I played it in 2014 I considered it the peak of the prequel trilogy. When I first played the series I never really bothered to go out of my way to complete all the story puzzles, but that changed with Azran Legacy because I was completely absorbed in the world and characters. Big part of that was I was always fascinated with Descole as a character (consider me a sucker for characters with mysterious motivations who wear capes).
The ending in particular killed me emotionally, of course a big part of that was that it was the end of the series, but I think it does stand outside that context as really good.
@@PuyoPuyoMan The most striking thing about Azran Legacy is how good it looks. Like every screen is this sprawling mountain of little details and moving parts, it's honestly the most beautiful looking 3DS game ever released.
Spoilers: There are more duck-tile puzzles in AL :).
@@AurumAlex64 Oh..... man....... I have a personal rule when I play Layton games, if I get hopelessly stuck on a puzzle I allow myself to look up the solution online of no more than 3 puzzles per playthrough. I'm saving those for if they make me construct a duck's foot again I swear
I definitely remember Azran Legacy being a big step up graphically from Miracle Mask. And I'm one of those people who'd say MM get a bad rap and actually overall looks pretty good (though I'll concede the mo-cap in the in-engine cutscenes looks pretty awkward)
@@PuyoPuyoMan Azran Legacy was actually the opposite of Miracle Mask in that I found it easier than I remembered, so you're 3 puzzle rule should end fine. The only puzzle I remember really struggling on was this awful sliding block puzzle near the end where you have to make a path from you to a key, then a key to a chest, then a chest to another chest. They really managed to make 3 sliding block puzzles in one
Honestly, this is my favorite Layton Game. Yes, I find this game better than VS AND Lost Future. The villain, the characters, the setting, the grief, all of it is so perfectly crafted.
Going through the prequel trilogy again, I think Miracle Mask is probably my favorite of the three. I'm still partial to VS as my favorite in the series, I think the witch trials and overall setting were just the perfect possible way to combine the Ace Attorney/Professor Layton series together.
@@AurumAlex64I LOVE VS. it’s my 2nd favorite Layton game (and is the closest to beating my favorite ace attorney game, Dual Destinies).
It’s strange that I find the 2nd game of the second trilogy (Dual Destinies and Miracle Mask) better than the finale of the first trilogy which everyone else argues is the best (Trials and Tribulations and Lost Future).
I thoroughly enjoyed this video and I hope it gets the traction it deserves. Looking forward to your future uploads
A few years ago, I red a letter younger me wrote about how excited I was that my suspicions about the Gentleman's identity were indeed confirmed.
I still love the memory when it was revealed, even though I know now that it was very obvious
I think that goes to show that plot twists being "obvious" aren't a bad thing. If anything, drawing out a conclusion from evidence the game provides is often a very rewarding experience, especially when you get it right.
Thank you so much for helping me understand why this is my favourite game in the franchise ! I always thought it was just because the city is so unique and the soundtrack is amazing, and because Randall is a character I really love and care about, but everything you explained makes so much sense ! Also thank you for sharing appreciation for this game
You absolutely nailed this analysis. As I said in my last comment, I really love this game, and though I consider Spectre's Call, I might actually have to admit this is my favourite game. Probably favourite game period, not just Layton game. It is my most played 3DS game, I come back to it again and again and again. Sure it's obvious who the Masked Gentleman is, but if you think that's the mystery of the game, you don't understand it. The very first mystery the game gives you after just a couple dozens of seconds is the origin story of Monte d'Or, and that is the only real miracle. Seeing all of the character stories unfold and come together at the end is truly magical. This game has my favourite set of characters out of the Layton games, which shouldn't be a surprise since this is a game about its characters, not about some grandiose, fantastical mystery that needs unraveling. The real plot twist is Henry's true nature, which I could have never predicted. And it's so dope how you unlock episodes at the end that confirm Angela and Lady Ascot knew from the start. Layton plot twists recontextualise the entire game, but that couldn't be more true for this game. A game about the beauty and value of true friendship, and probably the only Layton game with a proper, happy ending. Normally Layton games are care-free and innocent, and then they hit you like a truck with an ending that will make you cry your heart out. This game on the other hand is tragic all throughout, but it's a setup for one of the most warm-hearted finales I've ever seen. The music in this game is phenomenal and it has some of the most variety out of all the Layton games. The theme of Monte d'Or represents the glitz and amusement of the casinos and carnival festivities, but if you listen carefully, you can hear the tragic background of the town in there, too. The soundtrack is grandiose, cheerful, melancholic, calming, tragic. And it all culminates in the heartwarming A Treasure that Lasts and the jazzy Mysterious Flower. What a way to end it. I also really enjoy the look of the game, actually. Sure, the models are rough around the edges, but it's what about I expect from a 3DS game. I really like the colour design though, the bright and vibrant neo lights combined with the nigth sky really pop. Azran Legacy looks a lot less inspired in comparison. And the locations are so neat and lively! As a kid, I always wished I could explore Monte d'Or and Stansbury for myself. One more note on the story, I find it interesting how Layton fans critisize the obvious nature of the identity of the Masked Gentleman because they are used to ridiculous plot twists they could never see coming. On the other hand, I feel like as a mystery story in its own right this works really well, since it actually gives you all the information you need to crack the case, as opposed to giving you random clues that only make sense in hindsight. I'm wondering how people who aren't used to the usual Layton shenanigans feel about this story. I really love it. While I adore Spectre's Call for its melancholy and eeriness, this game just makes me... happy. I replayed it only half a year ago because I'm currently busy 100%ing all Layton games (the only one still missing is LMJ...), but I want to play this game again. I know this entire game by heart, I know the exact order of events, I know the puzzles, I can predict what's on the next screen and what the NPCs will say. I don't even know how many times I've played through this game, I don't care. This game is different from your typical Layton game, but in the best way possible.
I did a replay of the entire series last year, so I was initially exhausted when I realized I was gonna have to replay them all again for these videos. That being said, so far, it's actually been very enjoyable to replay through these games so soon, and Miracle Mask was no exception. I think I ultimately prefer Miracle Mask over Last Specter. It's a game that straddles an interesting line between the classic Layton template and doing something completely new, before Azran Legacy really comes in and shakes things up. It's just a good time in general.
This is super interesting because while I didn't enjoy the 3D Layton games as much, I've never looked at MM from this perspective! I also think it's got one of the best game design in the franchise too (if you ignore how repetitive the akbadain ruins chapter was lol). Thank you for this video, I love people analyse Layton!
Is it possible to marry a video? I wish I could, because THIS!!!! THIS IS THE ONE!!!! YOU _GET_ IT. Miracle Mask has always, ALWAYS been one of my absolute favorite Layton games, and as an adult I've maintained that it's one of the best in the series, and CRIMINALLY underrated, even within the existing Layton fanbase that generally gives love to all the games to varying degrees. "The Masked Gentleman being Randall is way too obvious" me gripping peoples' shoulders screaming THAT'S THE POINT!!! THAT'S THE ENTIRE FUCKING POINT, THAT'S WHY THE NARRATIVE IS SO GOOD AND IS ABLE TO BE SO IMPACTFUL, BECAUSE IT SPENDS THE WHOLE GAME BUILDING UP TO SOMETHING NEITHER YOU AND THE CHARACTERS ALREADY KNOW BUT DON'T WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE!!! It increases the feeling of dread but most of all sorrow and emotion, because you get so attached to all these characters through the flashbacks and the present day scenes, you get attached to _Randall_ , and you're both dreading but also dying waiting for the other shoe (mask?) to drop, and to know why he's doing all this!! Randall being annoying seems to be the other biggest complaint I always see, and yeah, his younger self is rather punchable sometimes lmao, but imo it's part of his charm. Maybe they could have given him a bit more depth (and... Angela.... *sigh* ), but it's impossible not to sympathize with him in the end imo. Also the complaint of "his willingness to believe Descole felt too flimsy" look, it's easy for us to say that when we know exactly what kind of person Descole is, but he didn't. With time and memory loss affecting your emotions and the things you thought you knew, and again not at all knowing of Descole's reputation, might you not also have fallen for it too??? I cannot say with certainty that I wouldn't have, had I been in Randall's position.
But all that's to say that this video helps me understand and put into words exactly what makes MM so great, things that I've known internally all along but couldn't articulate. Yes, it _is_ a change in formula from the classic mystery format involving a mysterious or haunted place like in the previous games and movie, so I guess in that sense it's understandable why people would place such a huge emphasis on the mystery aspect and call that a criticism of the game, since MM is technically, a "bad" mystery, at least when it comes to the masked gentleman. I think me being spoiled on his identity long before I even played the game (...because I followed the Japanese release spoilers HEAVILY lmao, ahhh the old days of non-worldwide releases) helped me not care about this as much lol. But I was moreso just so invested in the character drama in this game and how it made me feel, and indeed, already knowing who the masked gentleman was subconsciously helped that, even if I didn't realize this as a kid, nor did I back then pick up on _just_ how heavy-handed all the hints were lmao. But I can appreciate all this so much more now. Diabolical Box might be my favorite game in the series, and Unwound Future might have the tightest written plot out of all the games, giving it the masterpiece status it deserves, but Miracle Mask has so many individual moments that are just so intimate and raw, MUCH more than in any of the other games (not that those moments don't exist in the others, mind you). Idk, it really is so heavily character-driven, like you said, so that's probably why I love it so much. It's so underrated ugh. 😭
I wish there was a way to have Descole be involved for a final reveal without him....... being Angela. Idk, but she's definitely the most underdeveloped and underutilized of the four, and it's such a shame 🫠 I think it would have been so moving and made so much sense if her and Henry's fake marriage had slowly ceased to be fake and they had eventually started to develop real feelings for each other, in their mutual grief over missing Randall and both toying with the very real possibility that neither of them want to acknowledge that he might truly be gone for good and will never come back. If they had gotten together at the end, I think Randall would have understood, while still remaining their friend of course; a lot of time has passed, and they've changed, and showing that Randall isn't just gonna go back to being Angela's girlfriend would be the biggest indicator of that. My only other criticism is that as much as I adore the ending, just like Angela's feelings aren't really addressed, Layton also never really gets a final private talk with Randall. Which is a shame, considering how we spend half the game with the buildup of their friendship and see how what happened to Randall is just as influential on Layton as the loss of Claire is. He really deserved some closure with him, to sort out all their feelings of guilt and pain over all those years, just like the final moment Layton got to have with Claire in UF.
Anyway stan Miracle Mask. It's not a mystery, but a character focused Monte Cristo-esque slowburn tragedy, and that's what makes it so compelling. I hope you make more Layton videos because this is definitely one of the best ones I've ever seen 🙏💖
I've grown to appreciate Miracle Mask more and more over the years, but really, this series is just remarkable consistent. I'm happy I was able to verbalize some of that for you!
I loved this game when I was younger and didn't really get the hate for it, but eventually came to accept that maybe I was just the one who adored a mediocre game. You changed my mind, thanks.
Glad I was able to reaffirm your younger self!
@@AurumAlex64 The child in my heart thanks you dearly
I love these videos too much, I honestly hope that in some future you can do this same analysis of the characters or other games in the saga, like those of the first trilogy and especially the legacy of the Azran, which in my opinion, like the miracle mask, it is a game very unappreciated by many fans, it also deserves an analysis, and you do it very well! You are right in saying that very few UA-cam channels show interest in this saga, it would be great to see more of your videos about this
Well, you're in luck, because Azran Legacy is my next video!
@@AurumAlex64 Yeah! So exciting!!! I'm already subscribe!
This video put me in my place lol. I actually recalled kind of disliking this game when it came out, the jump to 3D might have been rough but I won't deny I was one of those "ugh its so obviously Randal 🙄" guys. I never played Azran as a result, I think the shift to melodrama was something I was a little worried about and gradually noticing here. I didn't hate Miracle Mask, but the thought of hating a Layton game was scary enough to me that I didn't want to play the followup, I was content to "leave the casino" before getting potentially heartbroken.
An older piece of media that MM reminds me of would be Columbo, a must-watch for Layton fans. They're surprisingly very similar vibes in terms of having this low-key "hangout" kind of tone, but Columbo is also famously built on the premise that we are EXPLORING the characters, not playing a whodunnit. The culprits in Columbo are literally the protagonists and in many of the most iconic cases both the audience and the detective will be pretty sympathetic towards them too.
The point about Angela can't be ignored though, starting from Flora's treatment in Diabolical Box there's sometimes a vibe that these games are bored by their own female characters, sympathetic to them but also at times yearning to get away from them. Emmy is obviously an exception, although there's maybe still something to be said about the "action girl that kicks people" trope.
But going back to Angela, we do see a sort of uncomfortable merging of Layton's old narrative tropes with new ones that they're exploring. The whacky Don Paolo-esque "master of disguise" tropes are a fun and silly gotcha moment in previous Layton games, but it works less in a story thats more grounded about character interactions and motivations. While we ARE basically told up front that Randal is the Masked Gentlemen, and we can appreciate the dramatic irony, these "surprise disguise" reveals do significantly undermine previous attempts we might have made into exploring the nuances of a character. Watching the video, its clear that there was a lot of thought put into what the audience is thinking of Randal and Henry, but significantly less thought in regards to Angela.
Yep, and the series really doesn't do itself any favors when the next game's major female protagonist (other than Emmy) is a slave golem with muted emotions who disintegrates at the end. To its credit, I think the series started to get a bit better about this towards the end. The Layton crossover really does such a wonderful job giving us a plethora of really interesting female characters (Darklaw and Greyerl being the exemplars), and Layton's Mystery Journey has many female characters play prominent roles in the story (unfortunately, the writing of LMJ has a tendency to fail all of its characters, not just its female ones).
@@AurumAlex64 Yeah the Vs. Ace Attorney major characters just slap.
and yeah I can't even GET to the female characters of LMJ while Earnest exists. Just looking him up on google and the official subtitle Level 5 gives him in marketing was "THE UNREQUITED SUITOR!" Boy I can't wait to go on adventures with THAT guy!
@@bm_burger Oh, the Ernest-Katrielle dynamic is one of the worst runners this series ever came up with. It's just 20 hours of Katrielle vaguely mistreating Ernest and then Ernest justifying it by crafting the most over-the-top, faithful interpretation of her actions. And then of course we throw all of that out the window in the last case, where they basically decide to invent a whole new personality for him.
Loved this video! You really made me reappreciate Miracle Mask again! Keep up to good work :)
It's an uglyass game but definately deserves love, I'm happy you made a video appreciating it
It's kinda impressive how much nicer VS and Azran Legacy look in comparison
MM is imo the the best game in the preqel trilogie because montedor is so lively the people have opinions and react to what happend. I really liked talking to people wanted to hear what they hat to say. If NWOS can craete such a living and interesting city to explore again its gonna be a great imo.
Great video!
i really loved miracle mask. most layton games feel pretty uninterested in their story, with entire chapters dedicated to finding lost animals or running to dead ends, since its mostly an excuse to have fun dialogue and puzzles. but these last two prequels really feel like different beasts, miracle mask especially. as you say, it can be pretty vicious too- standing up there with the ending of LF. great stuff. theres noticably better puzzles than SC too, tho theyre definitely weaker than the OT.
big agree on angela too- theyve got a really compelling start of a character and then dont let her be part of the plot. its a shame that all of these games struggle with letting women be part of the story- arrianna in SC, auroura in AL and emmy in both of the above are the only ones i can think of who actually get to be a part of the narrative.
Yeah, I think the Layton series does tend to stray into benevolent sexism from time to time, though I'd probably add Katia from DB to your list of "female characters who actually get to be a part of the narrative". I think the series has gotten a bit better with this over time, with both Vs. and LMJ having a pretty good assortment of female characters in prominent story roles.
@@AurumAlex64 "benevolent sexism" is a good way to phrase it, ive not heard that before
its a problem kind of inherent to the premise- layton might be living in the 60s, but hes old fashioned even for the time. the "gentlemen" fantasy is itself chauvinist, and its disappointing the games never really try to square that circle. aurora and flora both simple damsels in distress (although aurora does get to do some interesting stuff, from a purely feminist analysis perspective its not exactly inspiring) and while emmy does get to be cool and proactive, ultimately her motivation is to impress and work with layton (a man) until, plot twist, her motivation was actually to help a different man. again, i like her as a character, but if this is the lens im looking through its not great
im still yet to get to katrielle, but what i hear isnt exactly great on this front. above everything, the games initial title being "lady layton" sorta speaks for itself
fingers crossed NWOS actually has something to say about this, because its such an obvious vein to mine
I'm pretty sure there's a part in this game where Randall says to Layton that "chivalry is dead," to which Layton responds, "I'd like to think it's just... hibernating," which I though was a pretty amusing conversation.
I think the dislike towards Katrielle is for mostly unrelated reasons. In some sense, the main thrust of the game is Katrielle trying to work her way out of her father's shadow, with building her own detective agency as a way to leave her own mark. The ire comes in because she ends up being very... dismissive towards her clients and "co-workers" (I put in quotes because one of the recurring "jokes" is that she doesn't pay Ernest for him doing all the chores around the office). I also appreciate that LMJ gives Katrielle a foil with Emiliana, which the game does... absolutely nothing with, but it was at least a nice thought.
Miracle Mask is a great game. I think it's the best of the prequel trilogy (but I prefer all three games in the original trilogy).
MM is peak