Post by Fryguy64 on Jul 9, 2005 5:07:22 GMT -5
Another Code: Two Memories
UK release review by Fryguy64
Right, I picked up Another Code, as I said... what's looking like the last release we'll get over here before the US for a while. So I thought I'd let you in on the skinny.
Of all the Nintendo games I own, this game reminded me most of Pikmin - not for any gameplay elements or anything like that - but because of length. It's short... surprisingly short. But, like Pikmin, I'm reeeally hoping for a much longer sequel, because what they've packed into this short time is a whole host of puzzles, exploring, two mysteries and a lot of well-rounded characters.
Ashley, your character, has come to visit her father (whom she believed to be dead) on Blood Edward Island. He sent her a hi-tech biometric DAS system with built in camera - which, despite the high-tech contents, still looks like a chunky DS. Ashley is also haunted by memories of her mother's death, but she can never remember enough to say who did it - she was 3 years old at the time.
This lapse of memory is nothing compared to our second hero: the boy ghost named D. He may be a boy, but he died 58 years ago in a terrible incident in the Edwards mansion on the island... but he can't remember a thing. However, as soon as Ashley meets him near the start of the game, D starts to remember things. As the adventure unfolds, both mysteries start to unravel.
You control Ashley on the lower screen using the stylus by simply pointing to where you want to go. The top screen displays pre-rendered scenes, and if there is an area of interest then you can select a magnifying glass icon to search the area on the bottom screen. In these scenes you can double-tap or click the magnifying glass icon to search everything. More often that not you will find something in each scene to investigate or collect.
The puzzles themselves are quite simple, but there are times when you may find yourself stuck and you're not sure why. One puzzle ingeniously uses one of the DS's abilities not intended for gaming, and once you've cracked it you have to salute the ingenuity of the game designers.
The music accompanying the game is very relaxing - in fact the whole game is quite relaxing. Unlike most haunted mansion games, there are no moments where you feel like zombies will leap out or anything... just hidden pathways and puzzles await, and very little interaction with anybody but D for the majority of the game.
The biggest surprise for me what the use of the word "mum" - what the British say instead of "mom". I think this is the first time a game has been localized to include Britain, rather than just "English American". The DS settings also have a slight effect: the game takes place the day before Ashley's birthday... but it will also be taking place the day before YOUR birthday.
This is a very tightly constructed game with a lot of love poured into every surface. Even so, it's short (around 5hrs), and a much longer experience could have been equally rewarding.
I still await the day for a first-party DS game that takes ages, but this is definitely a nice addition to any adventure game fans collection.
UK release review by Fryguy64
Right, I picked up Another Code, as I said... what's looking like the last release we'll get over here before the US for a while. So I thought I'd let you in on the skinny.
Of all the Nintendo games I own, this game reminded me most of Pikmin - not for any gameplay elements or anything like that - but because of length. It's short... surprisingly short. But, like Pikmin, I'm reeeally hoping for a much longer sequel, because what they've packed into this short time is a whole host of puzzles, exploring, two mysteries and a lot of well-rounded characters.
Ashley, your character, has come to visit her father (whom she believed to be dead) on Blood Edward Island. He sent her a hi-tech biometric DAS system with built in camera - which, despite the high-tech contents, still looks like a chunky DS. Ashley is also haunted by memories of her mother's death, but she can never remember enough to say who did it - she was 3 years old at the time.
This lapse of memory is nothing compared to our second hero: the boy ghost named D. He may be a boy, but he died 58 years ago in a terrible incident in the Edwards mansion on the island... but he can't remember a thing. However, as soon as Ashley meets him near the start of the game, D starts to remember things. As the adventure unfolds, both mysteries start to unravel.
You control Ashley on the lower screen using the stylus by simply pointing to where you want to go. The top screen displays pre-rendered scenes, and if there is an area of interest then you can select a magnifying glass icon to search the area on the bottom screen. In these scenes you can double-tap or click the magnifying glass icon to search everything. More often that not you will find something in each scene to investigate or collect.
The puzzles themselves are quite simple, but there are times when you may find yourself stuck and you're not sure why. One puzzle ingeniously uses one of the DS's abilities not intended for gaming, and once you've cracked it you have to salute the ingenuity of the game designers.
The music accompanying the game is very relaxing - in fact the whole game is quite relaxing. Unlike most haunted mansion games, there are no moments where you feel like zombies will leap out or anything... just hidden pathways and puzzles await, and very little interaction with anybody but D for the majority of the game.
The biggest surprise for me what the use of the word "mum" - what the British say instead of "mom". I think this is the first time a game has been localized to include Britain, rather than just "English American". The DS settings also have a slight effect: the game takes place the day before Ashley's birthday... but it will also be taking place the day before YOUR birthday.
This is a very tightly constructed game with a lot of love poured into every surface. Even so, it's short (around 5hrs), and a much longer experience could have been equally rewarding.
I still await the day for a first-party DS game that takes ages, but this is definitely a nice addition to any adventure game fans collection.
