Another Code R is a pleasing adventure with a good story, but slow pacing, frustrating motion puzzles, and overwrought dialogue spoil it.

Score: 6.5 / fair

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Puzzle Kingdoms is a worthy addition to the growing list of puzzle/role-playing hybrid games.

Score: 7.0 / good

Get the full review at GameSpot

Puzzle Kingdoms is a worthy addition to the growing list of puzzle/role-playing hybrid games.

Score: 7.0 / good

Get the full review at GameSpot

A lot of parents feel that video gaming is a bad thing for children. They say they spend too much indoors doing nothing, that it rots their brain, that it stunts their mental growth. You see all the negatives of video games played out in the media. They blame everything wrong with an abnormal kid with tons of underlying problems solely on the effect of video games. None of that is fair at all. Nothing could be further from the truth (ok, except maybe the staying inside part, but hey, there are worse things). I’m sure that in reality you don’t really think someone who hauls off and shoots their classmates is really the way they are because they decided to play a video game, do you? Video games just really aren’t that bad for kids.

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Critical thinking is the key to success!

Developer Level-5′s trilogy of charming puzzle adventures is finally making its way to North America. The first Professor Layton game was a delightful adventure starring the professor and his sidekick, Luke, who traveled to the mysterious village of St. Mystere to find the Golden Apple. The second game, Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box, seems to follow the same successful formula, with a blend of logic puzzles and a fascinating story.

The story begins with Professor Layton and Luke boarding the luxurious Molentary Express. Professor Layton had received a letter earlier from his mentor, which talked about a mysterious box that kills all those who open it. From what we played of the demo, it’s very much like the previous game in which you explore the locations that you’re in and find puzzles to solve. You’ll interact with other characters and learn more about this diabolical box, referred to as the Elysian box. Since the professor is all about solving mysteries, their journey will no doubt include a variety of clever puzzles to tackle.

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