Another Code: Recollection is a remake of the DS cult-classic Adventure game, Trace Memory, and its sequel, Another Code R: A Journey Into Lost Memories. Join Ashley and her companions on a journey to solve the mysteries of Blood Edward Island, Lake Juliet, and, of course, lost memories. Read our Another Code Recollection review so you don’t forget a single detail!
Check out the game on Nintendo eShop! (There’s also a free demo!)
Picking the Pieces Up
The central theme of Another Code is memory. The entire plot hinges on the central characters’ memories and lack thereof. What does memory mean for each character? How do memories bring people together? What has been forgotten? Will you remember?
As these are Adventure games with a story focus, I don’t want to get into excruciating details to preserve the experience. The stories are good, though. The characters play off of each other well (especially the main duo in each game), and the theming is rock solid. I especially love the delicate dance and interweaving of the memory triggers of Ashley and D/Matthew. At first, I thought the games were going to be stingy with the development of the central characters – a thought I garnered early into Two Memories because D’s development overshadowed Ashley’s. Fret not, as that is not the case. Ashley begins getting her own moments.
While I do enjoy these stories and characters, I do have some qualms. First off, the story isn’t always my cup of tea. I like it, sure, but I think this is important for me to say. I believe that this story could do way more for someone other than me. Though admittedly, D’s story and the finale of Ashley’s journey are totally my jam. Secondly, my main story complaint with Journey Into Lost Memories is that Matthew just sort of falls out of the plot. Yeah, he does have a good reason to, but it was done so flaccidly, in my opinion. He deserved a little better.
Album of Memories
The original games had very unique presentations, especially Trace Memory with its top screen CGs changing as you move on the bottom screen. Another Code: Recollection isn’t unique in its presentation, but it is very refined. The art is very smooth and beautiful, and any shortcomings (like low-resolution textures) don’t outshine the strong presentation.
One of my favorite aspects of the presentation is the manga panel-style dialogue segments. It frames the characters in such a way that they can show off their personalities and strong character art. It’s almost like an evolution of character portraits, making this remake feel like a step up that’s respectful towards its predecessors.
The cutscenes and CGs are also of high quality. Good shots and camerawork bring the world to life with some great voice acting. Not to mention, the 2D art and CGs are spectacular-looking. I especially love the credits sequence!
Testing Ashley’s Neurological Functions
Adventure games have two main elements: the story and the puzzles/interactions with the world (well, from the ones I’ve played, anyway). You sit and enjoy the story, and then you explore areas while figuring out how to proceed. The areas in these games are nice to walk around and take in, but I feel the puzzles usually fall flat. There are some standouts, but on the whole, they’re in a kind of ‘too few and too weak’ situation. I suppose this is a boon to those who’d rather enjoy the story, but for me, it leaves a bit to be desired.
While I do find most of the puzzles kind of meh, some of the puzzles are really awesome and require you to think outside of the box. There are some super cool ones in chapters 2 and 6 of Two Memories that require the player to do some very interesting interactions. Journey Into Lost Memories also has some nice fun puzzles but is otherwise direly lacking in variety. Especially due to the vast majority of them being essentially QTEs.
There are a couple of puzzles that actually peeved me off. Any puzzle that requires the usage of the gyro controls is the bane of my existence. Well, to be fair, they don’t feel nearly as bad in portable mode. The same can’t be said for a Pro Controller. I think it was a motion control puzzle in Journey Into Lost Memories that sent me over the edge. It was so unruly that it took me several minutes.
Rose-Tinted Glasses
As far as remakes go, Another Code: Recollection changes things quite a bit. This is essentially a different game from the originals. There is a method to this madness because while this isn’t the most faithful remake out there, everything is in service of creating a whole, cohesive experience. The overarching plot isn’t different, per se, but the presentation, puzzles, and event order are changed to create a smooth update.
This retooling is understandable, even a great decision, I’d say. However, I do think that some longtime fans will miss some of the charm of the puzzles in the original versions. Some of that charm definitely comes from the unique gimmick puzzles and game presentation that revolved around the DS and Wii hardware. There are puzzles like this in Recollection, of course, but the puzzle density is much lower.
I can’t say too much more, as these are musings coming from a person (me!) who’s outside looking in. I have not played Trace Memory or Another Code R. I did try my best to look at game footage in order to settle on some sort of opinion on this matter so that I could offer ANY insight. Check out some playthroughs on YouTube yourself if you desire! While Recollection is great, the experience it provides is different and does not replace the originals by any means.
With My Heart and Mind Full…
Another Code: Recollection is a smartly made remake that’s beautiful to look at and heartwarming to play. This collection combines both games with a unified art style and presentation while smoothing out the plot to create a cohesive whole. This game is very different from its original versions, so if you are a fan of those, don’t expect the same presentation or puzzles. I do find the puzzles weak overall, and the story enjoyment will hinge entirely on what you want out of Adventure games.
