Minnesotans Creep Me Out

Puzzle Agent is an odd bird of a game.  Based on the characters created by Graham Annable of Grickle fame(?) and tipping its hat to the Professor Layton series, Puzzle Agent positions itself as a story-driven puzzle game featuring the exploits of Detective Tethers as he solves various puzzles to unravel a bizarre mystery involving secretive cults and sinister lawn gnomes in the frozen wasteland of Scoggins, Minnesota.

The gameplay consists of an interface not unlike many a point-and-click adventure game. Your primary interactions when not solving puzzles involves mainly having conversations with people and collecting chewing gum which acts as the game's hint system.  As for the puzzles themselves, they are, as one would expect, a hodge podge of various puzzles of varying degrees of challenge.  The biggest positive is that no sliding puzzles are to be found!  The puzzles in general are I would say slightly more difficult overall than Professor Layton's but the challenge level seems to be a little more consistent.

The graphics are nothing amazing but get the job done, enhancing the offbeat mood of the game.  The sound and voice acting go a long way in making the game seem more off-kilter as well.  The denizens of Scoggins are an odd bunch indeed.  In fact, the game seems to go out of its way to be as odd as possible.  Anyone expecting a loveable and adventurous romp like Professor Layton will be disappointed by the generally bizarre and vaguely creepy mood of the game.

Overall, I enjoyed the game and while it is rather short (I was able to finish it in roughly 3 hours or so), it is inexpensive.  I would recommend it to those who have enjoyed the Professor Layton games and don't mind a more strange storyline.