Developer: Arc System Works
Platform: Nintendo Switch
Initial release date: January 19, 2024
Genre: Adventure game
Mode: Single-player video game
License: proprietary license
Composer: Rei Kondoh
Another Code: Recollection is a stunning remake of two niche adventure games that has some disappointing alterations but is still a terrific way to explore these nearly-forgotten titles.
Another Code: Two Memories, a point-and-click adventure game for the Nintendo DS, was released in 2005. In North America, it was titled Trace Memory. I enjoyed Trace Memory and was disappointed that its Wii sequel, Another Code: R – A Journey into Lost Memories, was never released in North America. Then the developer, Cing, declared bankruptcy in 2010, and I assumed these games would be lost forever. The announcement of another code:
Recollection, a full remake of both games, surprised and delighted me. I couldn’t wait to relive the first game in full 3D and discover what the second game was like.
When you begin playing Another Code: Recollection, just the first game is available. You must complete it to unlock the sequel, and the first seamlessly transitions into the second without any credits or a second location on the main menu. With that, and the way the presentation has been consolidated such that they share the same graphical style and controls, the remake is practically regarded as a single game.
When you start playing Another Code: Recollection, you only have access to the first game. To unlock the sequel, you must complete it, and the first seamlessly transitions into the second, with no credits or a second location on the main menu. Because of this, and the fact that the presentation has been merged such that they share the same graphical style and controls, the remake is practically viewed as a single game.
The gameplay relies primarily of exploring the island and interacting with the environment. Items can be collected to help solve puzzles. The original Trace Memory included problems that took advantage of the DS’s characteristics, which have been simplified down to more typical challenges. For example, you may come across a riddle that instructs you on the order in which to utilize certain things to unlock a door, or you may need to master the combination code. I assume several of the original game’s puzzles were also removed totally. A few involve the Switch’s motion controls, and one requires a special mechanic that isn’t described ahead of time, but the most are relatively easy. There is also an option to switch on puzzle hints.
Exploring to solve puzzles and unlock new areas to explore creates a fun gaming loop, but this game is ultimately more about the story than anything. Due to the short length of the first game, D regains memories so regularly that the repeated flashbacks can become tedious, but generally it’s a fascinating plot that should keep you focused until the finish. The remake also includes collectibles in the shape of origami birds that you may scan with the in-game camera to reveal messages that expand on certain aspects of the plot. Unfortunately, several story components were overlooked in comparison to how they were handled in the original, making the narrative feel less cohesive. At first, I assumed it had a slow start, but it retains a slice-of-life flavor for the most of its duration, even as indications of a conspiracy and intriguing previous occurrences emerge.
Once you’ve completed the first game, which takes about 5 hours, you’ll be able to go to the sequel. Set two years later, it follows Ashley as she travels to a camping near a research facility, only to have her backpack stolen by an unknown boy. The sequel features a radically different tone, with a pastoral campground area as the main backdrop instead of a confined mansion, and various persons to interact with rather than the first game’s limited cast. At first, I assumed it had a slow start, but it retains a slice-of-life flavor for the most of its duration, even as indications of a conspiracy and intriguing previous occurrences emerge.
The majority of the gameplay features remain untouched, including the collected origami messages, but it introduces a new type of puzzle in which you unlock locked doors by clicking the buttons presented in a sequence on the screen. You may also collect trash cans and recycle them for tokens that can be used to buy gumballs. Eating gumballs and other food appears to serve little function other than to elicit new comments from Ashley, which adds to the story’s easygoing tone. It is even less gameplay-driven than its predecessor, with you primarily moving from one location to another as the story dictates.
I can’t really compare the second game to the initial release because I haven’t played it before. According to what I’ve read, the remake will have some significant tale modifications, to the point where conversations about the sequel’s finale almost seemed like a separate story. I’m not sure why they changed it so much, but it appears that the original second game left a few loose ends. With the opportunity to rewrite the tale, they may have sought to provide a more full closure in the event that a third game is never released. If a third game is produced in this remake’s style, I’d like to see where they would take an all-new idea, especially with preferably with more puzzles.
Review Overview
Gameplay – 78%
Story – 85%
Aesthetics – 80%
Content – 75%
Accessibility – 82%
Value – 78%
Overall Rating – 79%
Very Good
Summary: Another Code: Recollection is a stunning remake that I can’t believe exists, reviving two small games that could have easily been forgotten. In many ways, it’s an excellent remake; yet, I wish it included all of the original’s riddles and plot details so that I could be completely satisfied. Instead, the alterations left me with mixed feelings, but this remake is a good narrative adventure game on its own.