Let’s discover together, in this dedicated review, whether and how successful Nintendo’s “Another Code Recollection” operation was, aimed at bringing back to life a franchise loved by many in the days of the Nintendo DS
The library of titles for Nintendo DS and Nintendo Wii that risks being lost is unspeakably vast and also includes video games of very high artistic value. And one of the strategies implemented by the big N is precisely to take back these old glories, modernize them for the new hybrid protagonist of the current market, and release them into a world completely different from the one we experienced 10 or 15 years ago. This is true, for example, for The World Ends With You (here is our review!) and, more recently, for Another Code, revived in the Recollection version and which we talk about in this dedicated review. It will be a beautiful journey… to the edge of memory.
Trace Memory | Review Another Code Recollection
Another Code Recollection includes the two original chapters developed by Cing, the Japanese software house that saw its sad decline in 2010 and which, in addition to the franchise we are talking about in this review, he also developed the masterpiece Hotel Dusk: Room 215. Another Code Two Memories, the first chapter, arrived on Nintendo DS in 2005, while Another Code R – Journey to the Edge of Memory came out on Nintendo Wii four years later. With this (Re)Collection, Nintendo aims to bring them back to the current market appropriately reworked. An even more necessary operation considering that both chapters exploited the intrinsic characteristics of the two reference hardware at the time of release.
The narrative of both chapters features Ashley Mizuki Robbins, a young teenager just 13 years old, but who has already received more misfortunes than joys from life. Orphaned by her mother at just 3 years old, Ashely was then raised by her paternal aunt, Jessica, given that her father also mysteriously disappeared some time later without leaving any trace. That is until a few days before her thirteenth birthday, when she receives a strange letter signed by her father with a strange device attached, the DAS, which seems to react exclusively to her interaction with Ashley. And if in the original it had the shape of a DS, obviously in this case we will find ourselves in our hands a sort of Switch.
Serenity | Review Another Code Recollection
In the letter, Ashley’s father, Richard, invites her to join him on Blood Edward Island, a very small piece of land located not far from the coast of Washington and which is sadly known for the painful fate of the family who lived there for 60 years first, the Edwardes. The narrative plot of Another Code Two Memories starts from this island, which it mixes sci-fi elementscharacterized by futuristic and hardly conceivable machinery even 19 years after the release of the game, to others of the supernatural. A plot which, although it contains rather intuitive and unsurprising twists, is nevertheless followed in the total 6-7 hours needed to complete Two Memories. And Ashley is adorably teenage, so it can be done.
We cannot say the same about Another Code R – Journey to the Edge of Memory, which, despite maintaining the narrative tone similar to the prequel, as well as always presenting Ashley as the protagonist, fails to maintain its pace. We won’t tell you anything about the script of Journey to the Edge of Memory, because being a sequel we would be moving into the field of spoilers. Just know that the narrative is too diluted, too slow and definitely too verbose. And in fact, compared to the 6-7 hours of Two Memories, it will take you at least double, if not triple the time to complete its sequel.
Then yes, the narrative is still engaging, but it is definitely not at the levels of the original title. However, we admit that if we have to evaluate the Collection itself, there is no doubt that as far as the content is concerned it is worth the price of the ticket, although qualitatively it does not hold up from start to finish, and allows you to relive Ashley’s original adventures without any changes.
Buried Truths | Review Another Code Recollection
So let’s get to the gameplay, which is what has been changed the most by Nintendo. As was obvious from the presentation, unfortunately Recollection completely abandons the peculiarities of the two original chapters, which were based on the hardware characteristics (the touch screen with attached pen and motion sensors) of the time. These differences have been completely eliminated, making the game system common to both chapters and similar to the characteristics of Nintendo Switch… circa.
This is because, although it is true that some puzzles in the original Another Code could be, for example, solved by opening and closing the console, it is equally true that Nintendo Switch also has a touchscreen, which has not been implemented at all in the use of Recollection. Just as the Wii’s characteristic motion sensors are present, albeit in a different way, with the Joycons and the gyroscope internal to Nintendo Switch. A peculiarity that is exploited on very rare occasions for basic puzzles.
Miracle of the Blue Moon | Review Another Code Recollection
Basically, however, Another Code Recollection is a point-and-click text adventure with some easy-to-solve environmental puzzles that never really manage to worry the most experienced players. For novices, however, the accessibility options which provide two facilitators. The first is a navigator, which is placed around Ashley in the form of an arrow, and which indicates the location of the next objective. The second is a set of clues, which can be called up via a specific button, which will help you solve any puzzles you get stuck in. Both facilitators can be deactivated in the options menu, so more experienced players don’t have to worry about them, but they are a good addition for those who, perhaps, have never been used to point and click.
Technically speaking, Another Code Recollection It looks very good for a Nintendo Switch title. The aesthetic style, typically anime, is very pleasant and presents both particularly detailed settings and characters. In particular, the polygonal models that make up the characters are very well made, also in terms of facial animations, which perfectly convey the moods of especially Ashley and the supporting characters, with whom it is possible to establish a real empathetic relationship.
Compared to the originals, obviously, the entire technical sector has been improved, from the aforementioned animations to the polygonal count, through to the visual and lighting effects. The game world is painted like a real landscape, with pastel tones and a color palette that is bright and fascinating enough. The Italian adaptation of the texts is excellent, but there is no dubbing, which is entirely English and at a truly excellent acting level. The soundtrack is also good, which gently accompanies every moment, from the darkest to the most tragic.
Researching Memories
In short, let’s sum up this review of Another Code Recollection. We highly recommend it to all those who have never played the originals and to fans of text adventures, despite the general difficulty of the environmental puzzles being aimed towards low. The engaging narrative of the first chapter shows a bit of a parallel with the second, but never really descends into banality and always maintains a good level. In short, Another Code Recollection is an excellent way to relive two great Nintendo classics, which would also have been lost with the passing of time. And now please bring back Hotel Dusk too.
Another Code Recollection is currently available on Nintendo Switch. Let us know what you think below in the comments and stay tuned with us at techgameworld.com for all the news, guides and reviews on gaming and tech themes! And if you are interested in game keys at advantageous prices, we recommend you take a look at the InstantGaming catalogue!
A nice trip down memory lane
Points in favor
- Interesting narrative…
- Revamped gameplay…
- Technically valid and aesthetically refined
Points against
- …but too diluted in the second chapter
- … but which inexplicably loses some features