Puzzle 085 is Slot Sequence, a 30-picarat Select puzzle that Drake, the casino owner, gives you inside the Casino in Monte d'Or, in Chapter 5. His giant slot machine shows a four-digit number, and the numbers it shows aren't random. Work out the rule, set your own four digits to the number that comes next, and spin. You get five chances. You don't have to solve it to finish the story, and solving it gives you a new play for your rabbit.
This page covers story Puzzle 085 in Professor Layton and the Miracle Mask, the 3DS game (US and UK English). Quotes use the North American text. If you're after Daily Puzzle 085, the other puzzles in and around the Casino, or Puzzle 85 from another Layton game, see Wrong Puzzle 085? below.
What Puzzle 085 is
| Name | Slot Sequence (the same in the US and UK English versions) |
|---|---|
| Type | Select |
| Picarats | 30 |
| Location | Casino, Monte d'Or |
| Chapter | Chapter 5 |
| Given by | Drake, the casino owner |
| Required for the story? | No |
| Reward | Rabbit play, Fuzzy Dance-Off |
| Previous puzzle number | Puzzle 084, Neon Orange (Casino Entrance) |
| Next puzzle number | Puzzle 086, Even Deal (Casino) |
The puzzle reads: "The numbers on this giant slot machine aren't random. In fact, there's a rule that determines the sequence of numbers that appear every time you activate it. Your task is to work out the rule and predict what four-digit number will appear next. Be warned, though--you only have five chances. Touch the numbers on the Touch Screen to make your prediction. When you're ready, touch the orange button to activate the slot machine." The objective bar says "Predict the next number!"
The top screen shows the slot machine, with its four reels and a row of yellow lights that counts your chances. The Touch Screen shows the orange button and your own four digits.
How the slot machine works
- The machine's number. The machine always goes through the same numbers in the same order, and loops back to the start when it reaches the end. Each time you start the puzzle, it opens at a random point in that loop, so your first number may not match the one in the picture above.
- Your four digits. They start at 1, 1, 1, 1. Touch a digit on the Touch Screen to change it.
- The orange button. Touching it uses up one chance and spins the machine on to its next number. If that number matches your four digits, the puzzle is solved.
- A miss isn't a reset. If the numbers don't match, the machine keeps showing its new number and your digits stay as you set them. Your next guess has to be the number after the new one.
- Five chances. The lights count down from 5. If the fifth spin misses too, the game says "Too bad." and "Better luck next time!"
Puzzle names
| Version | Puzzle name |
|---|---|
| North America | Slot Sequence |
| UK | Slot Sequence |
| Japanese | スロットマシーン (Surotto Mashīn, "slot machine") |
The name is the same in the US and UK English versions. In the UK version the machine shows its two pairs of digits the other way round, so where the North American hints talk about the leftmost slots, the UK hints talk about the rightmost ones, and the other way round. The UK question also says "the sequence of numbers that appears". The rule is the same in both versions.
Wrong Puzzle 085?
- Daily Puzzle 085 is Kitchen 02, from the A Dish Too Far set.
- Puzzle 084, Neon Orange, is the puzzle before this one, hidden on the scorpion neon sign outside, at the Casino Entrance.
- Puzzle 086, Even Deal, is the next puzzle number, in the same Casino. It's hidden in the zoomed view of the card tables and comes from a green-haired dealer, not from Drake. If yours shows ten number cards, that's the one you've got.
- Puzzle 115, Slot Sequence 2, is Drake's second slot machine puzzle, in Chapter 7.
- Puzzle 85 in another Layton game is a different puzzle. If yours doesn't show a slot machine with four reels and an orange button, you're in the wrong game.
Where you get it
In Chapter 5, your objective becomes "Go to the Scorpion Casino!" When you walk into the Casino, a man named Frankie is shouting at Drake that the dealer was crooked, and Conner settles the row with a puzzle battle between Frankie and Layton. Once that's over, Drake stands on the red carpet in front of the card table in the middle of the room, between the pale slot machine and the dark blue one on the right. Tap him to start the puzzle.
Drake opens with "Thank you for your help, Professor." He asks Layton to keep the incident from Mr. Ledore, then says, "Wonderful! Also, I understand that you're very fond of puzzles. Would you accept one as a reward for earlier?" and "This one has to do with one of the slot machines we have here at the casino." Then the puzzle starts.
You don't have to solve it: the story doesn't need it. Drake has the puzzle while your objective is "Continue the Investigation!", "Go to Pumpkin Park!", "Investigate the Attractions!" and "Head to Topsy Tower!", and his puzzle is gone once you're told to "Catch the Masked Gentleman!". If you quit, Drake says, "It's rather...unique." Talk to him again and he says, "We built it as an amusement for those who don't, or can no longer, gamble." and the puzzle starts again.
Hint coins in the Casino
The Casino has four hint coins. Two are in the normal view: on the lower part of the roulette cabinet at the far left (1), and on the floor under the dark blue slot machine on the right (2). The other two are in the zoomed view. To get there, tap the spot just above the red slot machine in the middle of the room. Then you'll find a coin on the floor by the red chair behind the pale slot machine's stand (3) and one on the chandelier hanging from the ceiling (4). Each coin can be collected only once, so any you picked up on an earlier visit are gone.
If you leave Puzzle 085 unsolved, it goes to Nanna Grams (known as Elizabeth in the UK version) at the start of Chapter 7. In Chapter 7, Drake has a new slot machine puzzle, Puzzle 115, Slot Sequence 2.
When you're stuck
- Collect numbers before you guess. A miss still shows you the next number. Write down every number the machine shows; three or four in a row make the rule much easier to see.
- Don't stare at all four digits at once. Look at the left pair and the right pair separately, and watch how each pair changes from one spin to the next.
- Your guess is for the next number, not the one on display. After a miss, the machine has already moved on, so work out the number that follows the new one.
- Out of chances? Try again. Your notes still work, because the machine always goes through its numbers in the same order.
Hints, one at a time
These are the game's own hints, word for word from the North American version and in the same order. Open only the next one you need. In the game, Hints 1 to 3 cost one hint coin each and the Super Hint costs two.
Hint 1: the left pair
Pay attention to the pair of numbers in the two leftmost slots.
It appears this is a two-digit number that goes up by one each time. Well, almost each time.
Hint 2: the right pair
The two rightmost slots don't change very much. They seem to almost always display either 30 or 31. What could be the significance of that?
Hint 3: both pairs together
The pair of numbers on the left and the pair of numbers on the right go together and form a set.
Furthermore, the two leftmost slots just cycle through the numbers 01 to 12. What could this mean?
Super Hint: what the numbers are
It turns out that the numbers in the slot machine are dates. Each time, it shows you the last day of a month and the month itself. That should make it fairly simple to work out the next number.
You don't have to worry about leap years.
Answer and full solution
The answer below explains the rule, lists every number the machine can show with the number that follows it, and shows the finished puzzle. Open it when you're ready.
Show the answer
Answer: each number is a date, written month first. The left pair is the month (01 to 12) and the right pair is the last day of that month. Set your digits to the last day of the following month, then touch the orange button.
So if the machine shows 0531 (May 31), enter 0630 (June 30). February always ends on the 28th, because the machine doesn't use leap years, and after 1231 (December 31) it goes back to 0131 (January 31).
| The machine shows | Enter |
|---|---|
| 0131 (January 31) | 0228 |
| 0228 (February 28) | 0331 |
| 0331 (March 31) | 0430 |
| 0430 (April 30) | 0531 |
| 0531 (May 31) | 0630 |
| 0630 (June 30) | 0731 |
| 0731 (July 31) | 0831 |
| 0831 (August 31) | 0930 |
| 0930 (September 30) | 1031 |
| 1031 (October 31) | 1130 |
| 1130 (November 30) | 1231 |
| 1231 (December 31) | 0131 |
When you get it right, the game says: "Correct! Every four-digit number corresponds to a date--specifically, the last day of a month. The next number in the sequence is the last day of the next month. You just have to watch out for February, which only has 28 days. Good thing it doesn't deal with leap years!"
In the UK version, the machine shows the day first and the month second, so 3105 (31 May) is followed by 3006 (30 June). The rule is the same.
If it still doesn't work out:
- You entered the number that's on display. The puzzle wants the next one, so move on by one month.
- You entered 0229. The machine has no leap years: after January comes 0228.
- You entered 1331. There's no thirteenth month. After December the machine goes back to January, 0131.
- You missed and then entered the same guess again. After a miss the machine has moved on to a new number, so work out the one after that.
Picarats, hints and hint coins
Its three picarat values are all 30.
Hints cost hint coins, not picarats. Hints 1 to 3 cost one hint coin each and the Super Hint costs two, five in total. The Casino's four coins, two in the normal view and two in the zoomed view, pay for Hints 1 to 3 with one coin left over, so they can't cover all four hints on their own. You'd need a coin saved from elsewhere for the Super Hint, or you can use the free hints on this page.
Does it unlock anything?
Yes. Solving it gives you a new play for your rabbit, Fuzzy Dance-Off. The game announces, "You got a new play for your rabbit: "Fuzzy Dance-Off"!" Its description says, "Animals can dance, no question there! But can they do it with style?" Solving it also adds its picarats to your total and counts toward the puzzles you've solved.
Versions
- Nintendo 3DS family: this page covers the 3DS game (US and UK English). You set your digits and touch the orange button on the Touch Screen, and the slot machine spins on the top screen.
- US and UK English versions: the name, the rule and the number of chances are the same. The UK machine shows its two pairs of digits the other way round, and its hints swap "leftmost" and "rightmost" to match.
The scene around the puzzle
Before the puzzle, Drake tells Layton, "As you've seen, we get our share of upset patrons. Casino security is usually quick to respond." and "I'm glad we didn't have to escalate the situation to Mr. Ledore." Layton asks, "Oh, is Henry involved in the day-to-day matters here?" and Drake answers, "He is. His tireless devotion to the smallest detail is quite admirable." When Drake asks, "If you don't mind, I'd rather this incident not get back to Mr. Ledore," Layton replies, "You have my word."
Once the puzzle is solved, Drake says, "I hope that was enjoyable." Layton answers, "What a charming puzzle." Drake adds, "Do visit us again if you get the chance." and "A complimentary rack of chips awaits you." Talk to him again and he says, "After your investigation, I hope you'll drop by for a visit, Professor Layton."
FAQ
Where is the answer to Puzzle 085?
It's in the Answer and full solution section above, hidden until you open it. If you only want a push, open the hints one at a time first.
What is Puzzle 085 called?
Slot Sequence, in both the North American and UK English versions. In Japanese it's スロットマシーン.
Where is Puzzle 085?
In the Casino in Monte d'Or, in Chapter 5, after the puzzle battle with Frankie. Talk to Drake on the red carpet in front of the card table in the middle of the room.
Why does my machine show a different number?
The machine opens at a random point in its sequence each time you start the puzzle. The rule doesn't change, so the same method works whatever number you get.
What does Puzzle 085 unlock?
A new play for your rabbit, Fuzzy Dance-Off.
Are there hint coins in the Casino?
Four. Two are in the normal view, on the roulette cabinet at the far left and under the dark blue slot machine on the right. Two are in the zoomed view you get by tapping just above the red slot machine: by the red chair behind the pale slot machine's stand, and on the chandelier.
How many picarats is Puzzle 085 worth?
30. Its three picarat values are all 30.
Is Daily Puzzle 085 the same as Puzzle 085?
No. It's a different puzzle, listed under Wrong Puzzle 085?. Story puzzles are numbered 001 to 135 and Layton's Challenges 136 to 150; Story Puzzle 085 is Drake's slot machine puzzle in the Casino.
More Miracle Mask puzzles
- Puzzle 086: Even Deal
- Puzzle 084: Neon Orange
- Puzzle 087: Merry-Go-Tiles
- Puzzle 083: Settle the Scores
- Puzzle 082: Rainbow Repair
- Puzzle 081: King Arthur's Sword
- Puzzle 080: Sharing the Burden 2
- Puzzle 079: The Shopkeepers
- Puzzle 078: Three Clowns
- Puzzle 077: Mishmash Map
- Puzzle 076: Painstaking Packing
- Puzzle 075: Grand Horse Race
- Puzzle 60: Dangerous Holes
- Puzzle 100: Gate to the Ruins!
- Puzzle 113: Chip Champions
- Puzzle 118: Evenly Matched 3
- Puzzle 122: Kitty Solitaire 3
For the rest of the game's puzzles, see the Miracle Mask puzzle index.