You've gotta love a bit of Professor Layton puzzling! We're huge fans of the hat wearing detective and his trusty apprentice Luke, so we're delighted to hear this week that Professor Layton and the Lost Future is due to launch across Europe on October 22, 2010.

Exclusive to the Nintendo DS family of consoles, Professor Layton and the Lost Future will feature 165 brand new brain teasers, riddles and logic puzzles and is also said to be the most epic, tragic and emotionally atmospheric instalment yet.

The story begins when the Professor receives a mysterious letter written by his sidekick Luke…. but sent from 10 years in the future! This Future Luke warns of a terrible calamity that has befallen London and he needs the Professor’s aid! Earlier that week, the British Prime Minster disappeared after taking part in a special test on a time machine, which resulted in an explosion. Could this incident be related..?

Using the Nintendo DS Stylus, complete numerous kinds of logic problems and brain-testing puzzles as you follow the duo on their quest to seek out and solve the mystery. Players will be able to discover more about the Professor’s mysterious past through flashbacks, as the story is revealed with full-motion animation sequences that will explain the secrets behind Professor Layton’s lost lover and how he obtained his well-renowned hat.

As well as featuring three brand new types of mini-game puzzles, you can help Professor Layton direct the ‘Laytonmobile’ or interact with his new pet parrot. You can complete a storybook by using special stickers which are awarded to you on solving special puzzles hidden throughout the game, in addition to meeting a host of new characters who also unlock additional puzzles as you progress.

If puzzles prove too challenging for some, there is always help at hand by utilising a limited number of handy hints which are available for each individual puzzle. Players can use hint coins to help prevent giving wrong answers. They can also earn Picarats for puzzles completed correctly, but be warned! For every answer you give which is incorrect, you will reduce your score of Picarat currency that you will gain along the way.

For those who are truly stuck, there is a new Super Hint feature which will offer an extremely telling clue - although this is an expensive practice and will cost you two hint coins!

And for those who just can’t get enough of the puzzles, the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection service will be on hand to download additional content.