It's an old Penny-Arcade comic. When they were good, you know?
This game is merely just puzzles puzzles puzzles with a great game. Phoenix Wright is more about individual case stories and quirky humor. The cases are, most of the time in Wright, easy to figure out. Here in Layton it's sorta the same, but has some great stories to go with it.
Pretty much you literally advance every part of the story by completing some puzzle.
Great, great games. You should pick them up. Curious Village is fun. So far the Diabolical Box is as well with a good story, and I've heard nothing but good about the Unwound Future.