One thing I don't see many people saying that helps make this ending as great as it is is the buildup throughout the series that no one really noticed. There are two constants to Layton in every single other game in the series and this game up until the end: He never takes off his hat, and no matter how dangerous the situation or how nasty someone is to him, he always stays cool, calm, and polite, only switching to kind of stern if he really has to. Seeing him truly heartbroken, yelling, crying, and unable to accept what is happening for the first and only time hits that much harder because of all this.
I'm glad i'm not alone in this, i was genuinely moved when i saw layton so visibly hurt and devastated because of exactly what you mentioned. Definitely one of the most powerful moments i've experienced in a game
Honestly, my poor 12 year old mind couldn't handle this. Agreed with OP, It really did feel like a proper conclusion after about 2 years of silly puzzle games: being hit with this emotional ending was crazy. This is legit the first (and currently only) time I've cried at a videogame lmao.
+Louis Macleod I have to agree, it was a nice game for something that costs 3$ for a bundle of cases. It wasn't a professor Layton game, but it was a nice spinoff. I kinda wish Alfendi would be brought in a new professor Layton game though
The good news is that they're ACTUALLY making a seventh game now, and I'm not referring to the iOS game either. I mean a FULL new ACTUAL Layton game. Although, it will have a different protagonist.
Wow...some people are right when they consider this the greatest romance in video games. Why? You see just how much Layton cares for Claire when he bursts out and says that she can't go and that he won't say goodbye to her a second time. This man, who is all about logic and reason, is willing to throw BOTH away in order to stay with her longer. THAT is devotion to a person. Also, as someone pointed out in the comments below, Layton almost always has a calm and clearheaded demeanor. Yet just before Claire leaves, the thought of losing her again causes him to break that demeanor. The end result of that combo is a romance that is unbelievably tragic, yet draws you in and makes itself believable and invests you in these two characters. Bravo, guys behind Layton. Bravo.
To add to that, if I'm not mistaken that moment is also the only time in the entire series where Layton cries. That's remarkable when you consider all the things that have happened to him in his life. Out of everything this is what makes him shed tears. Claire and Layton are so good for each other in so many ways. I won't drone on, but their fortitude is unparalleled; their separation ineffably tragic. Oh how I wish this series will continue in some form…~
+Hana Hime if I have to listen closely, then this didn't tear you up nearly as much as it did me, because you can hear my heart breaking from north korea XD
Possibly one of the worst/most depressing endings in a video game I ever experienced: - London is destroyed with possibly thousands dead - Hawks gets away with his crimes (even though Chelmey was aware of this) - Clive is arrested - Clair dies (this time for good) - Luke and Layton are forced to travel their separate ways
+Dean Wynn Even though Don Paolo is supossed to be the antagonist... He isn't even that bad. The Professor and Don Paolo lost Claire now for good. That poor man just wanted true love like Layton...
Notice how Professor never let go of his hat before. Even in the middle of the heat of fight where Anton legitimately wanted to stab the shit out of him, he prioritize to make sure it's still properly placed. The first time he wore it was the last time he had seen Claire. Bill hid the accident from the public, So he probably silenced the majority of people who knows Claire. She practically disappeared, and that hat was layton's only constant reminder that she ever exist. Like Dimitri, Layton never accepted to let go the disclosed truth of her death. But now that Claire had see to it that the both of the man who loved her so painfully much have a proper closure they both desperately wanted, Layton had learnt to put his head off from time to time, but still cherish it and never let it go out of his sight. Much like his memory of Claire :)
Coming back to this after the Direct. It took 15 years, but it seems we're finally going to figure out what Luke's letter was about. Excited to continue the journey in New World of Steam!
I know bro. It took 15 long years for him to have another advanture. Can't wait. And you know what. I decided to buy a Switch so I can enjoy New Work Of Steam as soon as when it's released.
The degree to which Level-5 were able to expand Layton's character in the space of a few cutscenes is literally astonishing. When I first started playing the PL games - i.e. when I finished the first game - I remember thinking Layton was merely a "good" protagonist - perfectly likeable, but fairly one-dimensional - but now I have to say he's by far my favourite video game protagonist, ever.
I feel bad for saying this but....... I felt pretty satisfied when I saw Layton like this. I agree with you it really added on to his character. 'I felt satisfied' sounds so cruel but I can't say that I'm not
Ray Norshine I felt sad and satisfied, I felt really sad for Layton, but I was glad because in one game, hell, a few scenes of one game they changed him from a smart mostly kind guy who likes the word gentleman to a character you can actually empathize with
From the beginning, I have always thought that Professor Layton's hat looked ridiculous and as a logical man, the professor too might have thought that way but I never dug deeper to find its meaning because I thought that it was just for his character identification. Then this game came. I realized that the professor's character was a puzzle itself and Claire was the answer. Good job Level 5! I wish you all the best and thank you for a wonderful game.
“The Professor’s character was a puzzle itself and Claire was the answer.” I’LL NEVER THINK OF IT ANY OTHER WAY EVER AGAIN THANK YOU NOBODY HMU THIS IS ALL IM GONNA BE THINKING ABOUT FOR DAYS
The thing that makes this scene so hard to watch is Layton's behavior relative to his character. Throughout the whole series up to this point, he'd been portrayed as a cool-headed, logical kind of guy that couldn't lose his composure even if he wanted to. And then to see him act the way he does here... it shows just how much of an impact this whole thing has had on him. And it makes us hurt for him that much more.
For those who don't know，this game is the final of the story. It goes like this: Last Spectre Mask of Miracle Azran Legacy Curious Village Diabolical Box Unwound Future
For me, it was Claire. I mean, Layton had to say goodbye to her TWICE!! Also, he just realized that it was Claire, but a few seconds later, she had to leave AGAIN!! Dude, I'm a guy, and that moment almost made me cry!
***** Good point, but still. Having to say good bye to the love of your life (especially if you realized it was that particular person) twice? That's pretty jacked up! And it's all that prime minister's fault! SCREW YOU HAWKES!! SCREE YOU!!!!!
I love how this is like one of the few times Layton was blindsided. The probability of Claire actually being shot into the future was so low, even the genius Hershel Layton was caught by surprise.
By itself, that epilogue would have merely been bittersweet. After that ending, though, it felt like the second part of a one-two punch to my gut. I would never have guessed how emotionally attached I got to this pair after initially playing Curious Village after it first came out.
So let me get this straight: London has tons of damage that will be hard to repair, and possibly thousands dead. Layton was forced to say goodbye to both his loved one Claire and one of his closest friends and apprentice Luke. By this point, he's probably already lost or is losing Clark soon too Bill Hawk also pretty much gets away from all of this scott free and can continue silencing people about the time travel incident, especially since he's prime minister. And a bunch of other minor yet still negative stuff. And this is the *last game in the franchise for the Professor's story canonically.* Poor guy goes through all of those adventures, and in the end, it all ends with one tragic downturn. Someone give the poor guy a hug, he really could use one after all that..
Celeste: You've taken very good care of that hat I gave you. Me: Repeat that so I don't space out again. And at the end, I was screaming " he took off the hat! HE TOOK OFF THE HAT!!!!!!
I hate myself for always going back to this clip. That ending made me cry for days. I can't even hear my boyfriend humming the song without crying, and it's been years since I played this game. :(
The placement of the way she said 'Unwound future' WAS PERFECT I normally hate it when people mention the name of the 'movie' or whatever but this was completely beautiful ;-;
That empty and sad expression on Layton's face tugged on my heartstrings but when he hid his face and started crying........that was more than I could take, these games have been such a joy to me and I'll miss them :')
I cried two times at the end because Claire's leaving and Luke's farewell just broke my heart into million pieces. My parents kept making fun of my crying face.
I always cry at the end of this game, without fail. After playing the second game, I thought nothing could compare to that emotion. After playing this, I changed my mind.
Okay. Usually I don't get very sentimental, but this time, even though a bunch of my friends were there, I put my head on the table and CRIED so long that one of my friends got worried and called my mom to help. ANYWAY, this was the sweetest thing I've EVER seen. If you don't cry, or at least get a little sentimental, you have no soul and belong in Tartarus, or The Fields of Asphodel.
Nicko Pam Love the pic you're using. Made me laugh to see Maya look like Luke and Phoenix like Layton. But Layton is better. Shoot, I just started a comment war, or at least sparked it...
I think I started to tear up around 5:40. Because a true gentleman never takes his hat off, and yet here Layton is breaking the rule. You can tell he's demolished.
Such a sad ending, dammit I cried:'( Professor Layton who is always a calm and logical man that always acts like a gentleman throws it all away because he doesn't want to part ways with the woman he loves. I loved the romance between Claire and Layton and the moment he took off his hat and was crying, so sad;_; One of the most depressing and sad endings ever:(
i......really cried like professor did........... it was so sad.....for a true gentleman like him..........to beloved woman........Claire and Layton.....you are really the best couple...... :')
sentrogaspers9813 I mainly play the professor Layton games for the fun light hearted stories and the puzzles of course so I was surprised to see a ending this depressing and sad. The romance between Claire and Layton was so beautiful, one of the best romances in a game:') This is truly the best professor layton game:D
sentrogaspers9813 Most of my friends and family where new. And when a sibling finished the game. They came to my room in the middle of the night for comfort after seeing the cruelty of life. WHY LEVEL 5 WHY?!
Angelique Deaderick Yeah, a very cruel and sad ending. I didn't expect such a depressing ending in a Layton game. I really felt bad Layton, Claire, Dimitri and especially Clive:'( How could the prime minister walk away freely? Why doesn't he have to pay for his wrongdoings?
Was I the only one who was screaming like a lunatic when Layton took his hat off? I was like, "No, no, NO!! HE"S TAKING THE HAT OFF!!! HE NEVER TAKES HIS HAT OFF!! NO LAYTON, NO!" At least we know what his hair looks like now! :P
This was one of the first games that made me feel for the characters, and made me actually cry, and watching this again, didn't make me cry as much, but I still shed a single tear.
I cried twice. I bawled when Claire left and Layton cried, so much that my face was soaking wet and my pillow damp. Near the end of the credits I thought I'd calmed down... and then Luke's goodbye played and I started all over again. It's amazing that I didn't have to change the sheets, it was so sad. But the To Be Continued made me smile. I think if it hadn't been for the very end sequence, I may have gone to live under my bed in sorrow. And I'm 21 years of age, crying at a video game.
Its just so dignified no screaming, or dropping to his knees or anything like that. Just quietly crying and taking his hat off, one of the most touching scenes I have ever seen.
If you don't cry during this scene, you either have exhausted all your tears already, or you straight-up have no soul. There is no in-between with this
At least Layton was able to say goodbye properly to Claire. It's still upsetting and I'm still crying over this ending. I want to give Layton a big massive hug when he started shouting and crying. Bill Hawks should of been arrested for basically murdering Claire and everyone else in that building. How did he even manage to become prime minister is beyond me. Clive shouldn't of been arrested even though he did try to destroy London. I really wish Luke didn't have to leave. I don't want this series to ever end. This is by far my most favourite game that I've ever played and I can't get over how simply amazing it is.
What makes the scene so powerful is that we're so used to the composed layton who shows no emotion suddenly break down and let it all out, something so strange it takes you by surprise
The professor Layton games have always resonated with me. I've always felt like Layton was something like a big brother to me-- and it's incredible how a fictional character has managed to do that. He really reminds me of my real big brother.
Hats Off to the ending theme composition and compilation team. Superb storyline, excellent graphics and to top it all off soothing music that touches the soul. Well Done Guys!!!!!!!!!
I'm sobbing my eyes out on this scene, while my mom is sitting beside me yelling, "HIS EARS! HIS EARS LOOK FUNNY! BAHAHAHAHAH!" "mom. you're killing the mood."
As much as I loved and hated this ending for causing me to sob uncontrollably, I must say one thing has always bothered me. Everyone seems to be ignoring the fact that Clive just committed what is essentially a terrorist crime that endangered hundreds to thousands of innocent lives? A gargantuan machine that, had it not been tampered with, could have ushered in a new era of warfare and destruction on a global scale? Sure, Bill Hawks is a reckless, insensitive asshole, but I don't recall him attempting genocide. Bill's impulsiveness _unwittingly_ took out an apartment complex worth of lives, whereas Clive's intentions were to _wipe out an entire city_ in an act that was backed by _calculated premeditation._ Anyone with me on this?
***** But really. It's like if we forgave the 9/11 hijackers because they all might have had daddy issues and then placed all the blame on Bush because he happened to be clipping his toenails when the attack occurred. You don't just burst through the ground on a city-sized walking fortress in a densely-populated area with the intention to _not_ wipe out existence. You would think even the incredibly level-minded and rational Professor Layton would see this, regardless of his ever-extending compassion for others.
+Donquixote Doflamingo I think that what made people more angry at Hawks was the fact that Clive is clearly going to pay for his crimes at the end while he goes right back to ruling the country with no repurcussions. Plus the fact that Clive's madness was a result of Hawks' mistakes. In other words, Clive was definitely a dangerous villain, but more of a tragic one. Hawks was just a dick.
Behonkiss Tragic villainy is never an excuse. It makes for an emotionally compelling storyline and characters, but is a piss-poor pardon for atrocious acts of terrorism. Clive lost his parents and it's all sad times and everything, but putting it all into perspective, how many other little "Clive Doves" could've been wrought in Clive's selfish rampage? Little Suzy loses _her_ folks because Clive's walking fortress crushed them into a fine bloody paste. Will she be the next person to unleash absolute chaos and destruction? What Clive's done is create a senseless cycle of violence; nothing more. The only reason you see fans excusing him at all is that he happens to have the advantage of being a "pretty boy", which is Tumblr logic at its finest. Yes. Bill was a greedy, self-centered, reckless asshat. And yes, I do believe he deserves jail time. But as it stands, Clive fired back and fired _harder._ I do see your point though.
+Donquixote Doflamingo I'm pretty sure it's because it's a DS game XDDD if they completely disregarded freaking laws of physics I don't think it would necessarily go THAT deep.
There is something so enchanting about these games that I will miss more than anything ever. I don't know why I love these games so much, but I'm pretty sure if I tried to explain, I'd end up writing an essay. But, on another note, I cannot imagine what kind of agony Layton must be going through. After all... Randall came back. Thank you, Professor Layton, for the mystique and charm you brought, and all the adventures we shared. For everything.
I've been playing these games from the very start, since I was eleven. I finished azran legacy in November when it came out.....and for some reason it's only hit me now that the series is ended :'( please god let them make a trilogy with Luke :(
Saying goodbye to luke must have been heartbreaking. I loved the scene where luke wrote him that letter.The professors face when he knew he was going to see Luke again was just...wauw...
Just finished the game yesterday and came back to look at this clip, I can't stop internally crying I hate that my tears refused to come out, but aaaaaaaa my heart
John David Tibbetts He's talking about whoever developed it - the studio is called Level 5. I do disagree with him on one thing, however; this game being developerd by Level 5 doesn't make it any less "Nintendo". Nintendo has, indeed, created yet another amazing experience.
My tears. I've just finished this game, and it's got the one thing I complained about with Curious Village and Diabolical Box. Flaw in Layton's character. Story games need to realize that the only way you can make players sympathize with characters is by giving them a flaw. In the previous two games, Layton was practically flawless, personality wise. Pretty much the only thing you could call him out for was leaving Flora alone, and even that was in the interest of keeping her safe. They finally gave him that one piece of personality that sealed the deal, making players love him all the more.
