What does death mean? What does it mean for those left behind? What does it mean when memories die? These weren’t the questions people were prepared to answer when Trace Memory was first released in the United States in 2005—especially not as a point-and-click adventure game on the Nintendo DS. But here we are, nineteen years on. Time has seen fit to bring us a little miracle in the form of Another Code: Recollection, reuniting us not only with young Ashley Mizuki Robins and her many misadventures as she traverses the Island Blood Edward but also allows American fans to enjoy her journey to the Lake. Juliet for the first time.
Ashley is a unique protagonist with such heavy subject matter. When we first meet her, she is a gentle youngster of 14, worried about a father she doesn’t remember and a mother who was taken from her too soon. Her journey with the ghostly D across Blood Edward Island causes her to face truths far beyond her years — but Ashley soon learns that it’s better to face the harsh truths head-on rude. Much of the first part of the story, which Recollection calls “Two Memories,” finds Ashley piecing together the lives of those who came before her from contextless clues — learning about loss and death. had set her life in motion before she was born. Harsh truths may be like that, but they actually helped Ashley get to a happier place in life — even if, when we see her again in season two,”Journey to Lost Memories,” she is a much more moody 16 year old girl. Family relationships are struggling. However, Ashley can use her own wisdom to help those around her overcome their pain and learn how to process memories of those long gone. It’s not always easy, it’s not always pretty, but the important thing is that everyone can do it together.
The years have been kind to Ashley’s adventures. While Nintendo and Arc System Works took a lot of liberties with both of the original Another Code games, overall things were better. The original games were reformatted from a 2.5D point-and-click/adventure game into a three-dimensional adventure game in which Ashley could fully explore her environment. Many of the locations on Blood Edward Island have been changed from what you may remember from Ashley’s handheld adventure, but it’s all to improve pacing and tension—as well as problem solving Loss of touch screen control of DS. Indeed, the DAS in Ashley’s game was redesigned to look like a Nintendo Switch instead of a DS (similarly, the RAS was redesigned from a Wiimote-like device to a bracelet). Many of the puzzles that Ashley encounters are equally challenging: players will use a combination of motion controls, cryptography, deduction, and memory to solve the many tricks and traps placed before Ashley. There’s even an in-game hint system if the puzzles prove too difficult—useful, especially if you choose to share this game with younger players. It helps Memoirs avoid the less intuitive solutions of its originators; Although photo layering is an extremely situational tool, it is still easier to parse than intentionally closing the DS to “reflect” the photo on the bottom screen.
There are other changes that may make some people wonder. In the original Trace Memory, D’s memories were a completely separate challenge from Ashley’s; it is possible to beat the game without solving the mystery behind D’s death. Flashback simplifies matters, bringing D’s backstory much more clearly into Ashley’s quest, while also simplifying or even omitting certain details about D’s life. Similarly, the Journey into Lost Memories segment retcon certain aspects of the original story, resolving long-standing mysteries surrounding around Juliet Lake.
Graphically, Recollection revises its initialization, from top to bottom. The art style is all new, Ashley has completely different outfits (swapping the Trace Memory belly shirt for a hoodie more in keeping with her Seattle roots) and some of the other characters are even There are completely new designs. This comes at the cost of heavy contrast compared to the original Trace Memory; Old DS titles feature bold shadows on all models that enhance the game’s suspenseful tone. But now both Two Memories and Journey to Lost Memories benefit from a more uniform shaded look. There are some minor issues; For example, trees and bushes have lots of paper-thin branches that are clearly visible at certain angles. But when it comes to this problem, Recollection has a pretty good approach.
Recollection adds some final wrinkles to the formula in the form of hidden origami cranes that, once scanned, unlock diary entries that make up one of the main characters in the game; and an outfit unlockable upon completing the game that allows Ashley to go through the events of Two Memories in her original Trace Memory outfit. (Sadly, Ashley’s original pink luau tank top from the original Journey into Lost Memories was not carried over, although you can see an image of it in the game.) Origami is a Interesting addition, especially when keeping track of all of them. but while playing Another Code, I discovered that one of the cranes was permanently unable to fly. An annoyance, but at least a little. And for those who remember Cing’s other popular adventure series, Hotel Dusk, you’ll be pleased with the fanservice sprinkled throughout the game.
It’s been fourteen years since developer Cing closed its doors but still, like the mysterious letter Ashley received on the eve of her birthday, we find ourselves reunited with the young white-haired girl. The world is different than it was in 2005 and we have all changed with it. Whether you joined Ashley’s original adventure on the DS or you’re a new friend, Another Code: Recollection is a game that’s sure to stick in your memories. Rarely do we get a flashback like this, definitely don’t miss it.