Some other Code: Recollection Sport Assessment
How does one see death? If this happens, how will it affect those who are left behind? When a memory fades away, what does it signify? When Trace Memory first came out in 2005 in the US, nobody was prepared to answer these questions, particularly when it came to the point-and-click adventure game for the Nintendo DS. Still, here we are, after all these time. A little miracle has been bestowed upon us by the passage of time in the shape of Another Code: Recollection. This game not only brings back the exploits of young Ashley Mizuki Robins as she traverses Blood Edward Island, but it also gives American fans the opportunity to experience her voyage to Lake Juliet for the very first time.
Despite the weighty subject matter, Ashley stands out as the protagonist. At the age of fourteen, when we first meet her, she is a vulnerable child who is grieving the loss of her mother and an absent father. As she travels around Blood Edward Island with the specter D, Ashley faces realities that are far older than her—but she quickly realizes that it’s best to face adversity head-on. “Two Memories” is the name given to the first portion of the tale by Recollection. Throughout much of it, Ashley uses clues that do not provide any context to piece together the lives of her ancestors, discovering information about deaths and losses that occurred long before she was born. No matter how harsh the facts are, they do help Ashley find happiness in life. However, when we meet up with her again in the second book, “Journey into Lost Memories,” she is a far gloomier 16-year-old with strained family dynamics. But Ashley’s own experience and insight allow her to guide others around her through their loss and teach them to cope with the memories of loved ones who have passed on. No matter how ugly or difficult the situation, the most important thing is that everyone can pull together and make it through.
The exploits of Ashley have been well-received throughout the years. Arc System Works and Nintendo have made a lot of changes from the original Another Code titles, but they’re all for the better. Ashley may now explore her surroundings to her heart’s content in the redesigned original games, which were formerly point-and-click adventures in two dimensions. There have been some changes to Blood Edward Island’s numerous locations compared to Ashley’s earlier adventures, although they have been made to improve the game’s tempo and intensity, as well as to compensate for the DS’s lack of touch-screen capabilities. The in-game DAS for Ashley is now reminiscent to a Nintendo Switch, replacing the previous design of a DS. Similarly, the RAS, which resembled a Wiimote, has been transformed into a bracelet. Players will need to use a mix of motion controls, cryptography, deduction, and memory to overcome the many traps and tricks that Ashley faces; these puzzles are just as difficult. If you find the puzzles too difficult, you may utilize the in-game hint system to get some help. This is particularly helpful if you want to play the game with kids. Thankfully, Recollection stays away from its creators’ less-than-intuitive solutions. Overlaying photographs was a very situational tool, but it was still simpler to understand than purposefully shutting a DS to “reflect” a photo on the bottom screen.
Additional alterations may cause some to wonder. Getting beyond the game in the original Trace Memory required uncovering the truth about D’s death, but Ashley had to cope with D’s memories on her own. By reducing or eliminating key facts from D’s past, recollection makes things easier to understand and incorporates D’s history into Ashley’s quest. In a similar vein, the Journey into Lost Memories section updates the plot by rewriting several parts and finally answering some long-standing questions about Lake Juliet.
On a visual level, Recollection updates its creators from the ground up. Aside from the new visual style, Ashley gets new clothes (a hoodie instead of her Trace Memory belly shirt, more appropriate for her Seattle roots), and some other characters even get new designs. The original Trace Memory, a DS title, featured dark shadows on every model, adding to the game’s ominous tone; this comes at the cost of that contrast. A more uniform cel shading style has been applied to both Two Memories and Journey into Lost Memories. A few little problems exist; for instance, plants and trees sometimes contain several very thin branches that are visible from certain points of view. Nonetheless, Recollection’s method is very lovely in the end.
With the addition of hidden origami cranes in Recollection, players can scan them to reveal journal entries that develop one of the game’s main characters. Additionally, after completing the game, Ashley can unlock a costume that lets her wear her original Trace Memory outfit while she goes through the events of Two Memories. (Although you can view artwork of it in-game, Ashley’s original pink luau tank top from the original Journey into Lost Memories was unfortunately not included.) The origami pieces are a nice touch, and finding them all is half the fun. However, when playing Another Code, I found out that one of the cranes is permanently missable. Certainly an irritation, although a rather little one. Even the game has a few nods to Cing’s other well-known adventure series, Hotel Dusk, so fans of that series will be thrilled.
Like the enigmatic letter Ashley got on the night before her birthday, we are reunited with the young girl with the white hair, even though it has been fourteen years since developer Cing shut down. Compared to 2005, the world has changed, and we have all changed along with it. Another Code: Recollection will remain memorable for anybody who played Ashley’s first DS adventure or who is now friends with Ashley. Do not miss out on this rare flashback; it does not happen very frequently.
