Another Code: Two Memories
Another Code: Two Memories is the first point&click adventure for the Nintendo DS, a bit like we know them from the early PC era. A much spoken about title that wasn’t supposed to be released outside Japan but due to the many requests from fans did come to the US and Europe. A title that got a lot of attention but got released earlier than expected… does the early release bring problems?
In Another Code you play as Ashley, a 13 year old girl who has to continue her life knowing that both her parents have died… until one day she gets a letter from her father that says she has to go to Blood Edward Island asap. Quickly she jumps on a boat with her aunt who’s taken her in, but when she arrives at the island, her father isn’t there. Ashley’s aunt starts to investigate but when she doesn’t return after some time, Ashley goes out to find answers herself.
In your search to solve the mystery behind Ashley’s dad, you have to use all the important features of the DS, like the microphone, but mostly the touch-screen. You go through the environment by clicking the desired direction with your stylus, and you also have to inspect the many objects with the pen. One of the fun, though little, details is that you can touch as well as get a description of every item you see, something that makes it easier to get involved with the surroundings. The upper screen shows nice pictures of the environment, but this isn’t really a worthwhile addition, the game could have just as easily been made for a console with 1 screen.
Puzzles are the only difficulty in the game, there aren’t any flesh-eating mummies that can kill you. Some puzzles are extremely easy, when you for instance have to go through a closed door by pulling a lever, something will always be nearby to help you, searching for hours isn’t present. Some riddles however are so difficult that even a masterbrain will have to check a walkthrough on the internet. Since the hard ones are rare, you’ll fly through the game in no time, and finishing it in 1 or 2 days isn’t really special.
The graphics are of good quality. As said earlier, the top screen shows the surroundings while all the action plays on the bottom. You get a top-down view with a somewhat cell-shaded looking Ashley in a 3D environment. The textures are sharp and there are details a plenty. The sound on the other hand is quite bad. You constantly get the same tune and after a while this really starts to irritate. Next to that there are some typical sounds when Ashley finds a clue or during a conversation.
Another Code: Two Memories is a very entertaining title, with good graphics and a nice storyline. The biggest downpoints are that it’s easy and has a short lifespan. The replay value is very limited since there’s no challenge what so ever once you’ve completed the puzzles. Another Code is one of those mediocre titles like there are dozens available, and maybe this is partially due to the fast release.
8.0
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