Another Code Recollection

Developer: Arc System Works

Another code Recollection is the first new release of 2024 I planned to review, I am familiar with the Another code series it also goes by (Trace memory) in other regions, I didn’t play the DS original back in 2005 due to having finite funds as a kid and choosing ‘more’ compelling games for myself, I did however play and enjoy the 2010 Wii sequel Another Code R and if my memory serves me right really enjoyed the story apart from the major twist at the end.

I did plan on playing the DS game last year but when the Switch collection got announced and was more than just a simple up res, I thought I’d wait and play them concurrently.

Cing the original developers behind these two games and the Hotel Dusk series, this remake though is published by Nintendo but made by the developer Arc system works who are famous for their fighting game prowess with games such as guilty gear and blazblue, while this may sound like a really weird fit it’s not as bad as it seems with quite a few original CING developers actually working at Arc nowadays, I do somewhat wonder if Nintendo approached them for the remake or vice versa.  

Before last year’s September Nintendo direct there were rumours of this game and I for one wasn’t too sure if it was just blasphemy, as Cing the original developers of the series have been defunct for a good few years, one thing that caught my eye was this had way more effort being put into it than most (remasters) with them fully animating cutscenes that were static JPG’s in the originals and adding voice acting into Two memories dialogue, Nintendo have come out and stated this is an ‘Enhanced’ version of the original games.

I was interested to see how they redone some of the DS centric puzzles like the folding the DS close.

Lead designer on both games; Rika Suzuki explained that part of her inspiration for the themes of this game came from personal experience, witnessing the effects of Alzheimer's on her father and how it affected his memory., which makes sense when a couple of the characters have suppressed memories due to trauma.

Another Code: Two memories:

Ashley Robbins receives a letter from her ‘supposed’ dead father and she sets off to Blood Edward Island to find out more, early on she finds a mysterious ghost called D roaming around the mansion claiming to have amnesia and needs your help rediscovering its lost memories.

She was given a unique system that only Ashley can use due to biometrics, in the DS game the DAS system was based after the first-generation Nintendo DS and now in the remake it resembles more like a Nintendo switch.

This remake sure does remind me of the more modern adventure/visual novel ‘Life is strange' games.

Ashley comes across as an impatient bratty kid, who was being brought up by her Auntie Jessica with her supposed deceased parents absent, with knowing her upbringing it is relatable and throughout the 5/6 hour journey you see her slowly develop from a shy unnurtured kid into someone who is curious about learning about the truth of her own history and of others.

Two memories plays a lot like a point and click adventure game with its slow-paced story driven progression and like last years Final fantasy 16 has added a dynamic character chart which you can check at any time and gets updated throughout the game with new information.

There are origami figurines littered around the island which when scanned with the DAS give a-bit more backstory, into what has been happening on the island in the years prior, they have been written by your dad who has discovered the history by wandering the same rooms of the Blood Edward mansion as you. The game’s progression plays out a lot like a murder mystery show, split into chapters with cliff hanger endings.

Two memories whole adventure is played across the entirety of the small island and the mansion, while it is literally only a couple of locales to explore, the slow progression of this visual novel across the few hours you are playing, it makes sure it doesn't overstay its welcome.

While the gameplay is mostly based around puzzles, they are very simple and basically you are told the solution before even attempting it first, it reminds me a lot of Atreus in the more recent god of war games where he gives away the solution if you somewhat struggle for more than a couple of minutes which is bizarre, when Another code recollection has a separate option in the menu which allows for solutions to puzzles with a single button press.

Arc systems totally redone the DS game back to front adding fully voiced scenes, while the game looks miles above the 2005 version there are some out right ugly muddy textures, which is distracting for the eyes with the opposite contrast of some high-res models of characters and certain objects, which shows that no matter how well they remade two memories, its DNA is still of a DS game.

Rating: 6/10

Another Code: A Journey into Lost memories:

Set 2 years after the first game, we again follow in the footsteps of Ashley as she tries to piece together some confusing memories she has of her late mother, as soon as you get off the bus at the lake again to be greeted by your dad, all your belongings are stolen by a mysterious boy, Lost memories takes place entirely in the beautiful, picturesque town of Lake Juliet, it’s themed very much like an American suburban seaside town, later when you meet up with your dad at the local campsite you are given a new handy piece of tech called the 'RAS' which is essentially a companion piece to the DAS from the first game and used for most of the puzzles you will find.

Puzzles aren’t as motion based as in the first game but do require mostly timed button presses, as the same with two memories they aren’t anything groundbreaking but do help add a-bit of variation to the very text heavy formula.

While the 2009 release had exploration through the game on a mostly 2D plane, this remake the areas are fully explorable 3d areas, while its not quite of an 'upgrade' as Two memories is, I did notice its had some work done to it.

Unlike the first game and the very limited cast of characters, Journey into memories has a good few more characters and with the much bigger map to traverse than solely just the mansion in two memories makes for a more complete package.

Like the first game there are a few flashback scenes which are told through flip note style to portray backstory and give context to characters motives and fill in gaps, in Two memories the voice cast albeit very slim had some sub par performances, its more of the same with the sequel apart from a few standout characters like Ashley's voice actor growing into the role better with snarky one liners and real emotion layered in her responses.

With this replay of Another Code R, even though I remembered a few story beats here and there, I didn't realize how many 'plot twists' and scenarios are basically foreshadowed in early sequences of the game or so basic you figure out through the shallow events of the story.

Even though this is only two years after two memories, I do like that it shows a lot of character development in Ashley as she is compassionate and listens to characters ramble on about their personal troubles and issues and willing to help them while putting her main objective on the back burner, which is a total far cry from her timid shy introverted self in two memories and shows years of maturity well above her own years.

Journey into memories is a for sure better 'game' than two memories and helps finish the story of Ashley Robbins with her feelings of closure about her late mother.

Rating: 7/10

Overall Verdict:

The game took me about 15 hours to complete both of them well that is a decent length for collection of games, they have barely any replay value due to being visual novel games they are very one note, although I do recommend playing them.

This is a beloved series for myself and in my own eyes see this 7/10 as a personal 10/10 in my heart, I didn’t expect of all the dormant Nintendo I.P for Another code to be reappearing in 2024, I am glad for this though as all of CING’s back catalogue speak to me as nostalgic core memories from my youth.

Albeit the overarching story is a-bit thin on major plots or shock factors, upon replaying since 2009, it touches on pretty mature themes like loneliness, regret and forgiveness which I fully understand now as an adult and appreciate the messages it’s trying to tell the player.  

I’m not sure what Nintendo’s overall agenda is with bringing back games such as this and 2019s Famicom Detective Club as they’re very niche properties that apart from the text adventure series Ace Attorney don’t set the charts alight, hopefully Nintendo have set realistic expectations with what this series and brand of game is and has future plans for more to come.

Overall Score: 7/10

Pro's:

• Charming characters

• Great environments

• 2 games

Cons:

• Very simple puzzles

• No thrills Paper thin plot

• Muddy textures