Los dos juegos en general se ven muy bonitos y la banda sonora lo acompaña genial. La historia cojea a veces pero ambos juegos tienen un final muy satisfactorio, y todos los personajes se hacen de querer.
Lo único que no me convence de ambos juegos, sobretodo del segundo, es la poca cantidad de puzles y su facilidad.
A pesar de ser juegos con más texto que gameplay, se disfrutan mucho y tienen la duración perfecta. Cuando los terminas te dejan una impresión muy agradable.
Lo único que no me convence de ambos juegos, sobretodo del segundo, es la poca cantidad de puzles y su facilidad.
A pesar de ser juegos con más texto que gameplay, se disfrutan mucho y tienen la duración perfecta. Cuando los terminas te dejan una impresión muy agradable.
I'm quite happy this saw a release, yet still conflicted about both these remakes. They're budget titles but look good where they need to, mainly with character models. The mysteries were compelling even though the stories weren't excellent overall (the sequel especially had a bit of annoying teen drama).
Seeing as these games target a younger audience, the puzzles are about as easy as the originals, but I wish there weren't so fewer puzzles than before. Another disappointment is that the gameplay doesn't take advantage of the Switch as Cing did with the DS and Wii. It's a lovely tribute, but if Hotel Dusk is a possibility I hope that Arc System or whoever can take the concept even further.
Seeing as these games target a younger audience, the puzzles are about as easy as the originals, but I wish there weren't so fewer puzzles than before. Another disappointment is that the gameplay doesn't take advantage of the Switch as Cing did with the DS and Wii. It's a lovely tribute, but if Hotel Dusk is a possibility I hope that Arc System or whoever can take the concept even further.
Another Code: Recollection nimmt seine Verantwortung als Remake mehr als bewusst wahr, erweitert das Gameplay um praktische Quality of Life-Änderungen und bringt vor allem optisch zwei Spiele ins Spotlight, die viel zu lange unter dem Radar vieler geflogen sind.
Richard wasn't a very good dad, I don't think.
First of all, just the fact these games were chosen for a remake is already a good surprise by itself.
About the change from the original to the remake, I can't speak much on Another Code R since I never played it on the Wii (I fully intend to though!), but I did play the first game a few years ago. But I can say that this is no mere remake: it's a whole reimagination of both stories, with original gameplay, new puzzles and some changes in how the stories are told. I read in a wiki that Another Code R actually had some plot point changes, so I guess there's that as well.
It sucks a bit that the ingeniosity of the DS version with the puzzles that really took advantage of the touch screen and two screens was lost in Recollection, and I imagine losing the Wii pointer controls from R had similar effects. Makes the games feel somewhat more of a "standard" adventure game, you know? Which is not inherently a bad thing, but a huge change of pace of the Cing games from that era, that were driven by the unique features of the consoles they were on.
But I guess it can't be helped: they couldn't force touch controls or pointer ones since they had to make the game properly playable whether you're playing docked or handheld, on a regular Switch or a Switch Lite, Pro Controller or Joy-Cons... With that said, I was already imagining it using solely the Joy-Cons and having crazy puzzles using the different Joy-Con positions as well the infrared reader... But anyways. It's not like the puzzles are bad, and some even used motion controls! I wish there were more of them though.
Presentation is spectacular. This is, genuinely, one of the best-looking games I ever saw on the Switch. it looks gorgeous. Music and voice acting are also great.
Story-wise, both parts are beautiful, poignant stories about facing your past, and, as a result, facing the truth. "Facing the truth can hurt, but in the end, it's for the best" is a phrase I'm taking with me for life.
I felt much more impacted by the first game's story this time around than I was in the DS version. Again, can't say much about Another Code R at this point.
Another Code Recollection is one of my favorite Switch games ever and I'm so glad that it was chosen for a remake. I really, really hope Hotel Dusk and Last Window are next in line, even if they have to be more standard games this time around (just keep the unique artsyle)!
About the change from the original to the remake, I can't speak much on Another Code R since I never played it on the Wii (I fully intend to though!), but I did play the first game a few years ago. But I can say that this is no mere remake: it's a whole reimagination of both stories, with original gameplay, new puzzles and some changes in how the stories are told. I read in a wiki that Another Code R actually had some plot point changes, so I guess there's that as well.
It sucks a bit that the ingeniosity of the DS version with the puzzles that really took advantage of the touch screen and two screens was lost in Recollection, and I imagine losing the Wii pointer controls from R had similar effects. Makes the games feel somewhat more of a "standard" adventure game, you know? Which is not inherently a bad thing, but a huge change of pace of the Cing games from that era, that were driven by the unique features of the consoles they were on.
But I guess it can't be helped: they couldn't force touch controls or pointer ones since they had to make the game properly playable whether you're playing docked or handheld, on a regular Switch or a Switch Lite, Pro Controller or Joy-Cons... With that said, I was already imagining it using solely the Joy-Cons and having crazy puzzles using the different Joy-Con positions as well the infrared reader... But anyways. It's not like the puzzles are bad, and some even used motion controls! I wish there were more of them though.
Presentation is spectacular. This is, genuinely, one of the best-looking games I ever saw on the Switch. it looks gorgeous. Music and voice acting are also great.
Story-wise, both parts are beautiful, poignant stories about facing your past, and, as a result, facing the truth. "Facing the truth can hurt, but in the end, it's for the best" is a phrase I'm taking with me for life.
I felt much more impacted by the first game's story this time around than I was in the DS version. Again, can't say much about Another Code R at this point.
Another Code Recollection is one of my favorite Switch games ever and I'm so glad that it was chosen for a remake. I really, really hope Hotel Dusk and Last Window are next in line, even if they have to be more standard games this time around (just keep the unique artsyle)!
First half was a solid little puzzle story with likable characters and a charming anime art style. The puzzles aren't particularly hard but they are fun enough to work through. I enjoyed how the mystery slowly unfolded and the thematic parelells with the two main characters.
Second half of the game was not very good, there were hardly any puzzles and you just run from point A to point B to talk to people. I don't even mind visual novels, but I signed up for a mystery with puzzles to solve. I personally thought the story in the second part wasn't as tightly woven as the first part either. Overall, half satisfying and half disappointing game.
Second half of the game was not very good, there were hardly any puzzles and you just run from point A to point B to talk to people. I don't even mind visual novels, but I signed up for a mystery with puzzles to solve. I personally thought the story in the second part wasn't as tightly woven as the first part either. Overall, half satisfying and half disappointing game.
A heartwarming game. Was very fun and interesting to get through.
This is regarding Two Memories. I have not finished the 2nd game yet, but I have a few comments on it. I played it with my partner, since I had already played it back in the day so she could have the full experience, now, did she?
- Pros: the game looks really nice. I don't mind some lower textures here and there, it looks pretty in some spots, especially some of the rooms, and it highlights some of the game's emotional scenes.
- Cons: they butchered some really important details about the Edward family. There's no way around it, they are important since their conflict is half of the game and this iteration removes information about them. The core conflict isn't clear or nuanced enough for a first time player and it downplays some of its emotional moments like the Thomas-Henry fight, finding D's shoes or the ending itself.
Couple this with a few dissapointing puzzles and no, you don't get the same experience of playing the original. A similar one, yeah, but not the same.
- Pros: the game looks really nice. I don't mind some lower textures here and there, it looks pretty in some spots, especially some of the rooms, and it highlights some of the game's emotional scenes.
- Cons: they butchered some really important details about the Edward family. There's no way around it, they are important since their conflict is half of the game and this iteration removes information about them. The core conflict isn't clear or nuanced enough for a first time player and it downplays some of its emotional moments like the Thomas-Henry fight, finding D's shoes or the ending itself.
Couple this with a few dissapointing puzzles and no, you don't get the same experience of playing the original. A similar one, yeah, but not the same.
Buenos remakes y muy buenas historias, aunque con puzzles bastante meh en general.
La colección viene con los remakes del juego de la DS y de Wii, con puzzles completamente cambiados para adaptarse a las capacidades de la switch y cambios en las historias para darles más sentido y cohesión respecto al lugar donde ocurren.
+ Respecto al primer juego:
Trata sobre Ashley, la prota, yendo a una isla para encontrarse con su padre desaparecido y descubrir que pasó con él y su fallecida madre, además de ayudar a un fantasma a recuperar su memoria.
El mapa es pequeño y bastante lineal, el 90% ocurriendo en una mansión, irás encontrando llaves para ir abriendo puertas y entrar a salas con rompecabezas, hay bastantes de estos, varios te pueden hacer pensar bastante, prestar atención al entorno o intuir qué cosa debes hacer.
Puedes activar las pistas si se te hacen muy duros, aunque el chiste está en hacerlos por tu cuenta, la mayoría tienen el truco de inspeccionar bien la sala donde se encuentran, pues siempre hay algo que te da una pista o solución al acertijo.
Hay pocos personajes pero la trama del fantasma y descubrir como falleció engancha bastante, además de que tiene un giro que aunque es bastante predecible sirve para que el jugador se vaya haciendo preguntas sobre lo que pasa en la mansión.
+ Sobre la secuela:
Ocurre varios años después del primero, Ashley va a un campamento y ahí descubrirá más sobre su madre, además de ayudar a un niño a descubrir qué fue de su padre, que fue incriminado hace 5 años de un delito que no cometió.
El mapa es mucho más abierto, dando más libertad de movimiento, aunque haciendo que algunos viajes de un punto a otro sean un poco tostón, pues aunque puedes correr, no es que Ashley sea Sonic.
Aquí hay bastantes más personajes, aunque varios no salen mucho, los demás son bastante entrañables y les vas agarrando cariño, con ganas de ver qué les ha ocurrido, pues todos tienen un mini arco por así decir.
Matthew, el niño al que ayudas, tiene bastante peso en la trama y ocupa bastante de ella, juntándose con la principal sobre la madre de Ashley en un punto.
Aquí los puzzles son casi inexistentes hasta el final de la mitad del juego, volviéndose más una aventura visual muy enfocada en la trama.
Hay puzzles antes, pero son muy básicos o no deberían de ser considerados puzzles, como apretar " X, Y, A, girar joystick ", la mayoría sin límite de tiempo, siendo una tontería de realizar, que ni te penalizan por hacerlos mal, solo cambiándote el patrón.
Visualmente los juegos son bastante simples, con texturas pobres y algunos modelos del escenario bastante meh, se nota que no tuvieron mucho presupuesto, aunque logran crear un estilo "low poly" en algunas zonas bastante resultón, sobretodo en el primer juego.
Los modelos de los personajes en cambio están bien, Ashley es increíblemente expresiva, dándome ganas de que se enfadase o frustrase para ver qué caras ponía.
Los juegos tienen un coleccionable, unos pájaros de origami que al escanearlos con el aparato de Ashley desbloquean entradas del diario de su padre, donde habla de su vida y sentimientos.
Por suerte te dan la ubicación de cada uno, porque hubo varios que si no fuera por eso me iba a tirar de los pelos de lo escondidos que estaban en el escenario.
No será un juego perfecto, pero la verdad es que lo he jugado en un punto de mi vida en el que necesitaba descansar un poco, no me apetecían juegos de acción o RPGs, así que este me sentó de perlas, además de que quedé enganchado a su historia.
La colección viene con los remakes del juego de la DS y de Wii, con puzzles completamente cambiados para adaptarse a las capacidades de la switch y cambios en las historias para darles más sentido y cohesión respecto al lugar donde ocurren.
+ Respecto al primer juego:
Trata sobre Ashley, la prota, yendo a una isla para encontrarse con su padre desaparecido y descubrir que pasó con él y su fallecida madre, además de ayudar a un fantasma a recuperar su memoria.
El mapa es pequeño y bastante lineal, el 90% ocurriendo en una mansión, irás encontrando llaves para ir abriendo puertas y entrar a salas con rompecabezas, hay bastantes de estos, varios te pueden hacer pensar bastante, prestar atención al entorno o intuir qué cosa debes hacer.
Puedes activar las pistas si se te hacen muy duros, aunque el chiste está en hacerlos por tu cuenta, la mayoría tienen el truco de inspeccionar bien la sala donde se encuentran, pues siempre hay algo que te da una pista o solución al acertijo.
Hay pocos personajes pero la trama del fantasma y descubrir como falleció engancha bastante, además de que tiene un giro que aunque es bastante predecible sirve para que el jugador se vaya haciendo preguntas sobre lo que pasa en la mansión.
+ Sobre la secuela:
Ocurre varios años después del primero, Ashley va a un campamento y ahí descubrirá más sobre su madre, además de ayudar a un niño a descubrir qué fue de su padre, que fue incriminado hace 5 años de un delito que no cometió.
El mapa es mucho más abierto, dando más libertad de movimiento, aunque haciendo que algunos viajes de un punto a otro sean un poco tostón, pues aunque puedes correr, no es que Ashley sea Sonic.
Aquí hay bastantes más personajes, aunque varios no salen mucho, los demás son bastante entrañables y les vas agarrando cariño, con ganas de ver qué les ha ocurrido, pues todos tienen un mini arco por así decir.
Matthew, el niño al que ayudas, tiene bastante peso en la trama y ocupa bastante de ella, juntándose con la principal sobre la madre de Ashley en un punto.
Aquí los puzzles son casi inexistentes hasta el final de la mitad del juego, volviéndose más una aventura visual muy enfocada en la trama.
Hay puzzles antes, pero son muy básicos o no deberían de ser considerados puzzles, como apretar " X, Y, A, girar joystick ", la mayoría sin límite de tiempo, siendo una tontería de realizar, que ni te penalizan por hacerlos mal, solo cambiándote el patrón.
Visualmente los juegos son bastante simples, con texturas pobres y algunos modelos del escenario bastante meh, se nota que no tuvieron mucho presupuesto, aunque logran crear un estilo "low poly" en algunas zonas bastante resultón, sobretodo en el primer juego.
Los modelos de los personajes en cambio están bien, Ashley es increíblemente expresiva, dándome ganas de que se enfadase o frustrase para ver qué caras ponía.
Los juegos tienen un coleccionable, unos pájaros de origami que al escanearlos con el aparato de Ashley desbloquean entradas del diario de su padre, donde habla de su vida y sentimientos.
Por suerte te dan la ubicación de cada uno, porque hubo varios que si no fuera por eso me iba a tirar de los pelos de lo escondidos que estaban en el escenario.
No será un juego perfecto, pero la verdad es que lo he jugado en un punto de mi vida en el que necesitaba descansar un poco, no me apetecían juegos de acción o RPGs, así que este me sentó de perlas, además de que quedé enganchado a su historia.
Como remake Recollection tem altos e baixos. A atuação de voz, atualização gráfica e adaptação dos originais são feitas de forma bem executada, de altíssimo nível e com supervisão da escritora original.
Entretanto, na parte mecânica eu sinto que se perdeu não só as particularidades inerentes aos hardwares originais, o que era algo indissociável de suas experiências.
É algo inevitável, mas não menos lastimável, que é agravado pela higienização e pasteurização da direção de arte em uma só, mantendo uma coesão visual, porém descartando as particularidades das originais.
Pra azedar um tiquinho mais, uma característica de design marcante dos jogos da CiNG, suas tradicionais recapitulações ao fim de cada parte da história, foi completamente removida.
Isso não impede dos remakes exibirem alto nível de polimento, respeito e fidelidade ao trazer para a modernidade a saga de Ashley Mizuki Robins em sua jornada para recuperar suas memórias e resgatar os segredos que envolvem sua família.
Com todo o seu caráter de ritmo lento típico de muitos Visual Novels e adventures japoneses, elenco variado e com arcos próprios, e a escrita primorosa de ficção científica humanamente realista de Rika Suzuki, Another Code: Recollection é uma carta de amor à CiNG, à grandiosa autora de adventures, e também a todo o legado cultural do gênero em sua vertente japonesa.
O que pesa na experiência é a estrutura marcada por constantes interrupções do controle direto da personagem, o que torna parte do tempo a locomoção truncada e até desnecessária.
Um avanço de cena em cena teria evitado esse breve deslocamento que diversas vezes serve só para ligar uma cena à outra, sem oferecer nada de interessante no caminho.
No fim, o roteiro, os quebra-cabeças criativos, os diálogos e o desenvolvimento de personagens e dos temas brilham de forma a sustentar o produto final, resultando em um produto ligeiramente inferior à soma das experiências originais, mas que tem seu valor próprio.
Ah, esse jogo talvez seja o melhor título já lançado na atualidade pra estudar japonês em nível N4/N3. Tanto em vocabulário quanto em escrita fácil. Fica a dica pra estudantes da língua.
Entretanto, na parte mecânica eu sinto que se perdeu não só as particularidades inerentes aos hardwares originais, o que era algo indissociável de suas experiências.
É algo inevitável, mas não menos lastimável, que é agravado pela higienização e pasteurização da direção de arte em uma só, mantendo uma coesão visual, porém descartando as particularidades das originais.
Pra azedar um tiquinho mais, uma característica de design marcante dos jogos da CiNG, suas tradicionais recapitulações ao fim de cada parte da história, foi completamente removida.
Isso não impede dos remakes exibirem alto nível de polimento, respeito e fidelidade ao trazer para a modernidade a saga de Ashley Mizuki Robins em sua jornada para recuperar suas memórias e resgatar os segredos que envolvem sua família.
Com todo o seu caráter de ritmo lento típico de muitos Visual Novels e adventures japoneses, elenco variado e com arcos próprios, e a escrita primorosa de ficção científica humanamente realista de Rika Suzuki, Another Code: Recollection é uma carta de amor à CiNG, à grandiosa autora de adventures, e também a todo o legado cultural do gênero em sua vertente japonesa.
O que pesa na experiência é a estrutura marcada por constantes interrupções do controle direto da personagem, o que torna parte do tempo a locomoção truncada e até desnecessária.
Um avanço de cena em cena teria evitado esse breve deslocamento que diversas vezes serve só para ligar uma cena à outra, sem oferecer nada de interessante no caminho.
No fim, o roteiro, os quebra-cabeças criativos, os diálogos e o desenvolvimento de personagens e dos temas brilham de forma a sustentar o produto final, resultando em um produto ligeiramente inferior à soma das experiências originais, mas que tem seu valor próprio.
Ah, esse jogo talvez seja o melhor título já lançado na atualidade pra estudar japonês em nível N4/N3. Tanto em vocabulário quanto em escrita fácil. Fica a dica pra estudantes da língua.
A remake I didn't think I would ever see come about. The original game is a welcome expansion given how short it was on DS. I never played Another Code R before but I loved it here, though I learned about the massive amount of rewriting in its back half that makes me wanna play the original sometime. I also think they sanded down the puzzles a bit too much given what I remember about the DS original and what I heard about R's Wii puzzles.
I really REALLY hope we see a Kyle Hyde duology remaster
I really REALLY hope we see a Kyle Hyde duology remaster
[From Media Thread]
A perfect remake of two perfect games, one of which I’ve experienced for the first time. A few things were retconned here and there but not to the point where the experience was hindered. See you soon Kyle Hyde... (I hope :3)
A perfect remake of two perfect games, one of which I’ve experienced for the first time. A few things were retconned here and there but not to the point where the experience was hindered. See you soon Kyle Hyde... (I hope :3)
This review contains spoilers
I finished the entire first game and the first two chapters of the second; I just had to put it down.
We deserve much better video game dialogue in the year 2024. I assume the original Trace Memory didn't suffer from the dialogue problem as much since it was a simple text-based 2D DS game, but the cracks really start to show with this game's full voice acting. Ashley was endearing at points but come on man...the way everyone was like "wow today was a long day" after they saw Bill fall to his death LMFAO
Puzzles were underwhelmingly easy, and the main twists were predictable. Music was also mid for the most part.
The stylized drawn portraits and character models looked really nice but the environments had some really ugly texture work.
I am super appreciative and optimistic that Nintendo would revive these obscure ass Cing visual novels, but the way they did this was just not it for me. Would be great to see Hotel Dusk come back but if the dialogue was as terrible as it was here, honestly don't even bother.
The story of the first game was itself decently interesting but Edith Finch did it sooooooooo much better...please play Edith Finch instead!!!
$60 for this is a ripoff
We deserve much better video game dialogue in the year 2024. I assume the original Trace Memory didn't suffer from the dialogue problem as much since it was a simple text-based 2D DS game, but the cracks really start to show with this game's full voice acting. Ashley was endearing at points but come on man...the way everyone was like "wow today was a long day" after they saw Bill fall to his death LMFAO
Puzzles were underwhelmingly easy, and the main twists were predictable. Music was also mid for the most part.
The stylized drawn portraits and character models looked really nice but the environments had some really ugly texture work.
I am super appreciative and optimistic that Nintendo would revive these obscure ass Cing visual novels, but the way they did this was just not it for me. Would be great to see Hotel Dusk come back but if the dialogue was as terrible as it was here, honestly don't even bother.
The story of the first game was itself decently interesting but Edith Finch did it sooooooooo much better...please play Edith Finch instead!!!
$60 for this is a ripoff
Como remake empeora el primero (también porque era buenísimo), pero mejora el segundo (se ahorran bastante paja que había en su momento y cambian cosas de la historia en la recta final, aunque sigue siendo muy fumada).
Para mi, lo peor son los puzzles, ya que los han simplificado mucho y pocos merecen la pena. Se entiende que los originales usaban mucho el hardware y es algo que no se puede replicar en Switch, pero aún así, se notan muy simplones.
De todas maneras, muy contento de haber revivido estas dos aventuras.
Para mi, lo peor son los puzzles, ya que los han simplificado mucho y pocos merecen la pena. Se entiende que los originales usaban mucho el hardware y es algo que no se puede replicar en Switch, pero aún así, se notan muy simplones.
De todas maneras, muy contento de haber revivido estas dos aventuras.
I really enjoyed revisiting these two somewhat forgotten classics in the remastered Switch version. I particularly enjoyed the first part. The atmosphere in the old manor house came across very well and I found the two parallel stories about Ashley and D very exciting and well written. There were some very heartfelt moments that really got to me. I also liked the second part. It had a completely different vibe, a summer camp by the lake instead of a gloomy villa. Of course, I was a little skeptical at first. The story also took a while to get going but then it got really interesting. By the end, I really realized that I had grown fond of the characters and especially Ashley. The credits made me really emotional. What beautiful games. Yes, they're not the most perfect and interesting games of all time in terms of storytelling and game mechanics, but I had a really good time with them and I'm glad to have caught up with them. Reminded me a bit of Life is Strange :)
I picked this up as I played the first one on the DS when I was younger and remember loving it. While these are great remakes presentation-wise, there's not a huge amount of gameplay here.
There's a lot of dialogue and puzzles are few and far between, and I seem to remember there being more puzzles in the original; it now feels less puzzle game and more visual novel. I appreciate that they can't replicate puzzles that used the DS dual screens, but there's no new puzzles that really use Switch features to compensate so the concept of unique puzzle solving hasn't really translated to the Switch at all.
So far I've finished the first game and I'm about halfway through the second and, while I've enjoyed my time with it, I'm not sure I'm enjoying it enough to finish.
There's a lot of dialogue and puzzles are few and far between, and I seem to remember there being more puzzles in the original; it now feels less puzzle game and more visual novel. I appreciate that they can't replicate puzzles that used the DS dual screens, but there's no new puzzles that really use Switch features to compensate so the concept of unique puzzle solving hasn't really translated to the Switch at all.
So far I've finished the first game and I'm about halfway through the second and, while I've enjoyed my time with it, I'm not sure I'm enjoying it enough to finish.
Two Memories: overall pretty nice remake of the original, It can be hard transforming top-down to 3D and I'd say it's done pretty well. That said, the puzzles feel way easier, and I think the game goes into the mansion itself a bit too early.
Another Code R: again, pretty good conversion from 2D to 3D, although the world feels a bit empty sometimes. With puzzles, same as before, they feel a bit too easy. The changes to some of the character models and their dialogues did dissappoint me a bit (for example the rocker guy, he's super bland now), but otherwise I did like Matt's story does finish, as well as the changes to the antagonist and their motivations.
Overall, while I did see some questionable choices, it's a pretty fun remake of the original games. Hopefully we can get some Hotel Dusk down the line.
Another Code R: again, pretty good conversion from 2D to 3D, although the world feels a bit empty sometimes. With puzzles, same as before, they feel a bit too easy. The changes to some of the character models and their dialogues did dissappoint me a bit (for example the rocker guy, he's super bland now), but otherwise I did like Matt's story does finish, as well as the changes to the antagonist and their motivations.
Overall, while I did see some questionable choices, it's a pretty fun remake of the original games. Hopefully we can get some Hotel Dusk down the line.
Enjoyed the story and mystery despite correctly predicting several plot elements long in advance. Puzzles were kinda braindead though
Haven't played the originals, so I don't know how these measure up to the Wii and DS games, but there's a palpable heart to these games that is the je ne sais quoi that binds it all together. And that indescribable sauce is really why you should play it if you're at all interested. The vibes are just spectacular. The music is eerie, but comforting as well.
The character writing is pretty sharp. Ashley feels really believable especially in the transition between the two games.
The game obviously isn't perfect. These are clearly low-budget. The character models get the budget where the environments don't get the same attention. Honestly though, it's presentation overall is charming in that it reminds me that games like this used to come out on the regular in the 2000s before AA games and cheap, small handhelds went away.
The puzzles are easy and the stories are simple but effective. The second one is a little less cohesive, but it ends quite poignantly.
I appreciate these games a lot, overall. It's awesome that Nintendo is willing to bring back largely forgotten games like these.
The character writing is pretty sharp. Ashley feels really believable especially in the transition between the two games.
The game obviously isn't perfect. These are clearly low-budget. The character models get the budget where the environments don't get the same attention. Honestly though, it's presentation overall is charming in that it reminds me that games like this used to come out on the regular in the 2000s before AA games and cheap, small handhelds went away.
The puzzles are easy and the stories are simple but effective. The second one is a little less cohesive, but it ends quite poignantly.
I appreciate these games a lot, overall. It's awesome that Nintendo is willing to bring back largely forgotten games like these.
A surprisingly niche choice for a remaster release, these 2 adventures had been on my wish list to try since the original release on DS & Wii
Recollection is an impressive upgrade to the original DS game, feeling more like a full remake than remaster. It does feel a touch more generic on Switch - with a few DS specific puzzles replaced.
The sequel, fares a little worse in the package - fighting a slower pace and seemingly less puzzle focused game. Although released on better hardware, the larger outdoor areas have not aged as well as the mansion from the first game.
Overall, it’s nice to have both games available on a modern console.
Recollection is an impressive upgrade to the original DS game, feeling more like a full remake than remaster. It does feel a touch more generic on Switch - with a few DS specific puzzles replaced.
The sequel, fares a little worse in the package - fighting a slower pace and seemingly less puzzle focused game. Although released on better hardware, the larger outdoor areas have not aged as well as the mansion from the first game.
Overall, it’s nice to have both games available on a modern console.
I was drawn to this one chiefly because of its artstyle and, in that way, it did not disappoint~ liked the character designs quite a bit and the in-game models were pretty good too. The music is also quite good and atmospheric.
I have more mixed feelings in regards to the story and gameplay. The Two Memories story of the first game was frankly disappointing. Maybe I've played too many of these types of games, but the "mysteries" were blatantly obvious to me and Ashley's naivete throughout was irksome. Granted she is just a teenage girl and not a lawyer or detective or anything, but I was like "c'mon girl, no way you're this dumb" ^^""" lol. I finished this part of the story in less than 6 hours and was left feeling pretty "meh" by the end. Had it not automatically transitioned into Journey Into Lost Memories, I probably would have dropped it right there. But I persisted and luckily, the second game is an improvement in basically all the ways. It has a larger cast, bigger setting to explore and I think the writing was significantly stronger too. Some things were still obvious, but there were bigger and more enticing surprises. It also had more emotional payoff though admittedly I was very annoyed by the plot point of Ashley's father being a deadbeat ^^""
Gameplay-wise... the puzzles were not challenging at all even if they didn't give you hints that basically told you the answers to them, lol. But then, I didn't necessarily mind that - progression was laid back and chill throughout. Implementing motion controls into the puzzles was... not the best decision they could have made. It felt rather janky and frustrating, but thankfully there weren't too many motion-based puzzles to ruin the vibes.
Overall, I'd say I liked this one mostly thanks to the second game of the duology. It was a nice game to curl up and relax with even if there's nothing particularly mindblowing about it.
I have more mixed feelings in regards to the story and gameplay. The Two Memories story of the first game was frankly disappointing. Maybe I've played too many of these types of games, but the "mysteries" were blatantly obvious to me and Ashley's naivete throughout was irksome. Granted she is just a teenage girl and not a lawyer or detective or anything, but I was like "c'mon girl, no way you're this dumb" ^^""" lol. I finished this part of the story in less than 6 hours and was left feeling pretty "meh" by the end. Had it not automatically transitioned into Journey Into Lost Memories, I probably would have dropped it right there. But I persisted and luckily, the second game is an improvement in basically all the ways. It has a larger cast, bigger setting to explore and I think the writing was significantly stronger too. Some things were still obvious, but there were bigger and more enticing surprises. It also had more emotional payoff though admittedly I was very annoyed by the plot point of Ashley's father being a deadbeat ^^""
Gameplay-wise... the puzzles were not challenging at all even if they didn't give you hints that basically told you the answers to them, lol. But then, I didn't necessarily mind that - progression was laid back and chill throughout. Implementing motion controls into the puzzles was... not the best decision they could have made. It felt rather janky and frustrating, but thankfully there weren't too many motion-based puzzles to ruin the vibes.
Overall, I'd say I liked this one mostly thanks to the second game of the duology. It was a nice game to curl up and relax with even if there's nothing particularly mindblowing about it.
It is ironic that a game series with themes of the importance of memory – to the point where it makes sure you remember every story detail at the end of each chapter – gets a remake that deceives you with a twisted version of events.
My misgivings already took shape, knowing that at the very beginning of the game you don't get candy from the captain, and it only got worse from there.
The DS part was serviceable at best. The Wii portion, on the other hand, left a bad taste in my mouth.
I won't go into all the changes, but I will say that from the character redesigns that stripped them of their 2007 aesthetic, to the toned down BGM, to the environments that looked better on the Wii, to the progression that's more railroaded than the original that was literally on rails, to the most important thing; the creative puzzles, of which there are none. Everything feels like a cheap downgrade. A 16 hour game cut in half. The one positive being the end credits showing Taisuke Kanasaki's lovely art.
There is a part of me that still hopes for a Hotel Dusk revival, but it's obvious that it could never fulfil any expectations. I mean, what would they even do? Turn the iconic sprites into dull 3D models? It certainly won't look like that one a-ha music video.
I wasn't interested in getting Persona 3 Reload because I was doubtful of its quality. In fact, most of what I heard second-hand only confirmed this suspicion, but I still gave this one a chance, and I got my fingers burned. There are of course exceptions, but all in all, remakes are worthless.
My misgivings already took shape, knowing that at the very beginning of the game you don't get candy from the captain, and it only got worse from there.
The DS part was serviceable at best. The Wii portion, on the other hand, left a bad taste in my mouth.
I won't go into all the changes, but I will say that from the character redesigns that stripped them of their 2007 aesthetic, to the toned down BGM, to the environments that looked better on the Wii, to the progression that's more railroaded than the original that was literally on rails, to the most important thing; the creative puzzles, of which there are none. Everything feels like a cheap downgrade. A 16 hour game cut in half. The one positive being the end credits showing Taisuke Kanasaki's lovely art.
There is a part of me that still hopes for a Hotel Dusk revival, but it's obvious that it could never fulfil any expectations. I mean, what would they even do? Turn the iconic sprites into dull 3D models? It certainly won't look like that one a-ha music video.
I wasn't interested in getting Persona 3 Reload because I was doubtful of its quality. In fact, most of what I heard second-hand only confirmed this suspicion, but I still gave this one a chance, and I got my fingers burned. There are of course exceptions, but all in all, remakes are worthless.
El juego tiene algunos problemas en el gameplay y en los gráficos pero es que todo el resto del juego es precioso y es increíble 👏👏👍👍
ta bien pa pasar el rato, aunque el pacing del segundo me parece que se draggea demasiado, además de que al final la historia tiene tantos twists, turns, y tantas fechas que acordarse que te lia un poco.. aparte de eso ha estado bien es fun
Im sure people who played the original 2 loved this but it just wasnt that fun for me especially the second game it was just not it
"A person will experiences two deaths. The first is when a soul leaves their body. And the second is when the memories of that person fade from everyone's hearts."
- Sayoko Robbins
"Because you remember her, my mom lives on. And thanks to that, I got to see her."
- Ashley Robbins
Been thinking a lot about remakes. What is the value of a remake? What is lost in returning to an older work to "fix" things? All these meta-commentaries and adaptations are interesting in theory, but why is it so hard to simply release the old games?
Another Code is a messy example in that so much of its foundation is built on hardware that no longer exists. Cing used every aspect of the DS and the Wii to build its narratives and these clever methods of interaction are a crucial beating heart. Losing a majority of that puzzle interaction in the Recollection's format does... hurt. But there's still so much love here that its a compromise I understand.
The game undeniably provides two key features: ease and access. The game is easier to navigate, dialogue easier to skip through, backtracking and surplus content is snipped off for a more pleasant experience. Running around the mansion in Two Memories is really fun! The sensation of interacting with a tiny video game map to unravel, rather than an exhausting open world, feels like something that's been lost in a lot of modern game design. It felt amazing to return to it and even more amazing that its so easy to acquire this game. People can play and experience these games in one complete package. It'd certainly wish people to at least seek out emulators, but I'm choosing to be happy for the people experiencing this narrative for the first time.
But I think what really won me over on this game was the director's cut feel of it. Head Writer Rika Suzuki and Director Taisuke Kanasaki returned for Recollection and you can feel that sense of time permeate their approach to this game, especially in the Journey Into Lost Memories section. One character in the Wii game was a character I often found frustrating and boring to engage with. Recollection completely changes the final climax of the story and alters his journey into something full of tragedy, misunderstanding, and existentialism. It ties up loose ends and closes the book on a series that never continued. It says goodbye, but with peace and joy rather than misery.
In 2022, Rika Suzuki became an honorary member of the Game Preservation Society. Her interview after Cing's closure can be found here. Cing's closure was the first time I understood as a child that a company closing meant something could be lost that wouldn't be filled. That something would change. And from there, an understanding that when an uncaring company fires its workers, its throwing away the talents and efforts of so many dedicated people. That lesson influences how I think about... a lot of things into the present.
Games are built through the hard-work and care of many different individuals we will never know. Their names passing us by on a credits screen symbolizes days and weeks and months of work. I can feel the love pouring from the screen. I can feel the passion for creativity and joy. If you don't feel it for this game, and I would never demand that you have to, feel that passion in your own favorite games. Find a favorite moment or scene or piece of art and look up who was in charge of art design or script or lighting or any piece of visual scenery that you adored. Someone made that. Remember them, if just for a little while. And if you don't want to do that for games, do that for your fridge, your coat, your wallet. Someone made that. We're all connected by work we'll never see. Remember them.
Another Code helped teach me that a decade ago and its still reminding me that now.
- Sayoko Robbins
"Because you remember her, my mom lives on. And thanks to that, I got to see her."
- Ashley Robbins
Been thinking a lot about remakes. What is the value of a remake? What is lost in returning to an older work to "fix" things? All these meta-commentaries and adaptations are interesting in theory, but why is it so hard to simply release the old games?
Another Code is a messy example in that so much of its foundation is built on hardware that no longer exists. Cing used every aspect of the DS and the Wii to build its narratives and these clever methods of interaction are a crucial beating heart. Losing a majority of that puzzle interaction in the Recollection's format does... hurt. But there's still so much love here that its a compromise I understand.
The game undeniably provides two key features: ease and access. The game is easier to navigate, dialogue easier to skip through, backtracking and surplus content is snipped off for a more pleasant experience. Running around the mansion in Two Memories is really fun! The sensation of interacting with a tiny video game map to unravel, rather than an exhausting open world, feels like something that's been lost in a lot of modern game design. It felt amazing to return to it and even more amazing that its so easy to acquire this game. People can play and experience these games in one complete package. It'd certainly wish people to at least seek out emulators, but I'm choosing to be happy for the people experiencing this narrative for the first time.
But I think what really won me over on this game was the director's cut feel of it. Head Writer Rika Suzuki and Director Taisuke Kanasaki returned for Recollection and you can feel that sense of time permeate their approach to this game, especially in the Journey Into Lost Memories section. One character in the Wii game was a character I often found frustrating and boring to engage with. Recollection completely changes the final climax of the story and alters his journey into something full of tragedy, misunderstanding, and existentialism. It ties up loose ends and closes the book on a series that never continued. It says goodbye, but with peace and joy rather than misery.
In 2022, Rika Suzuki became an honorary member of the Game Preservation Society. Her interview after Cing's closure can be found here. Cing's closure was the first time I understood as a child that a company closing meant something could be lost that wouldn't be filled. That something would change. And from there, an understanding that when an uncaring company fires its workers, its throwing away the talents and efforts of so many dedicated people. That lesson influences how I think about... a lot of things into the present.
Games are built through the hard-work and care of many different individuals we will never know. Their names passing us by on a credits screen symbolizes days and weeks and months of work. I can feel the love pouring from the screen. I can feel the passion for creativity and joy. If you don't feel it for this game, and I would never demand that you have to, feel that passion in your own favorite games. Find a favorite moment or scene or piece of art and look up who was in charge of art design or script or lighting or any piece of visual scenery that you adored. Someone made that. Remember them, if just for a little while. And if you don't want to do that for games, do that for your fridge, your coat, your wallet. Someone made that. We're all connected by work we'll never see. Remember them.
Another Code helped teach me that a decade ago and its still reminding me that now.
• Ai, achei tão lindo. A Ashley é uma protagonista MUITO carismática, e eu amei acompanhar o desenvolvimento dela nos dois jogos.
• Gráficos LINDOS, a trilha sonora também é fenomenal, especialmente a do segundo jogo.
• Originalmente eu ia dar 4 estrelas, mas o segundo jogo é TÃO bom e TÃO cativante! A gameplay se mantém praticamente a mesma do primeiro, mas a história é elevada a outro patamar, com momentos muito emocionantes e um elenco de personagens interessante que fazem você se apegar.
• Mesmo os puzzles sendo bem simples, eles ainda são bem divertidos. Adorei explorar a mansão e Lake Juliet.
• Primeiro jogo que zerei no switch! 😍
• Gráficos LINDOS, a trilha sonora também é fenomenal, especialmente a do segundo jogo.
• Originalmente eu ia dar 4 estrelas, mas o segundo jogo é TÃO bom e TÃO cativante! A gameplay se mantém praticamente a mesma do primeiro, mas a história é elevada a outro patamar, com momentos muito emocionantes e um elenco de personagens interessante que fazem você se apegar.
• Mesmo os puzzles sendo bem simples, eles ainda são bem divertidos. Adorei explorar a mansão e Lake Juliet.
• Primeiro jogo que zerei no switch! 😍
I think that, without having a particularly brilliant or elaborate story, and in fact being sometimes predictable, it shows great work and effort behind it, and has little to envy of other titles based on a powerful narrative.
On the one hand, I wish that in some aspects it was much more polished, such as the movement of the character and the camera, the artificial intelligence of the characters when following you, the constant invisible walls that limit our movement, and the technical simplicity of the minigames, among other things. But the interface and sound are downright elegant, the puzzles feel organic and are cleverly unified with the story, and overall, for a visual novel, this remake is relatively ambitious with respect to the two titles it sets out to reimagine.
Thus, we find an excellent Japanese dubbing and translation into several languages, a light and modernized object inspection and inventory use system, a nice ambient soundtrack, although too repetitive, and a reconstruction of the Another Code universe much more alive than ever, with three-dimensional places to explore, illustrations for each moment, and simple, but achieved most of the time, animations and facial expressions.
In fact, one of the things I like most about the game, although it may seem like a simple detail, is the feedback that the protagonist provides by informing the player with her gaze about the objects that can be interacted with.
Another is the aesthetics of the scenes, in the form of comic vignettes, which encompass the conversations that the characters have with each other, and which give them dynamism and personality.
In addition, it is appreciated that you can skip or fast forward dialogues by repeatedly pressing a button, automatically advance these by activating the corresponding function, and access a detailed record of all the things previously read in case you want to review something.
Finally, the story we are told does not try to be impressive or epic, but rather to overflow with sensitivity and heart in a painful but sincere way, based on realism with a great fantastic component.
In fact, this title is much more like a fiction novel than a video game, not only because its narrative lacks a fast pace, or because it tries to reflect on many topics, but because its game system wants to take you too much by the hand so that you don't get frustrated or get lost, turning the gaming experience into a practically linear one, and abandoning any possibility of you exploring its world freely.
Therefore, it is correct to think that we are facing a magnified and expanded book, transformed into a much larger work, such as, in this case, a video game.
Without a doubt, this is the resurgence of one of Cing's hidden gems, and it is nothing more than a wake-up call that both the memory of Another Code and that of its protagonist Ashley are not going to fade easily.
On the one hand, I wish that in some aspects it was much more polished, such as the movement of the character and the camera, the artificial intelligence of the characters when following you, the constant invisible walls that limit our movement, and the technical simplicity of the minigames, among other things. But the interface and sound are downright elegant, the puzzles feel organic and are cleverly unified with the story, and overall, for a visual novel, this remake is relatively ambitious with respect to the two titles it sets out to reimagine.
Thus, we find an excellent Japanese dubbing and translation into several languages, a light and modernized object inspection and inventory use system, a nice ambient soundtrack, although too repetitive, and a reconstruction of the Another Code universe much more alive than ever, with three-dimensional places to explore, illustrations for each moment, and simple, but achieved most of the time, animations and facial expressions.
In fact, one of the things I like most about the game, although it may seem like a simple detail, is the feedback that the protagonist provides by informing the player with her gaze about the objects that can be interacted with.
Another is the aesthetics of the scenes, in the form of comic vignettes, which encompass the conversations that the characters have with each other, and which give them dynamism and personality.
In addition, it is appreciated that you can skip or fast forward dialogues by repeatedly pressing a button, automatically advance these by activating the corresponding function, and access a detailed record of all the things previously read in case you want to review something.
Finally, the story we are told does not try to be impressive or epic, but rather to overflow with sensitivity and heart in a painful but sincere way, based on realism with a great fantastic component.
In fact, this title is much more like a fiction novel than a video game, not only because its narrative lacks a fast pace, or because it tries to reflect on many topics, but because its game system wants to take you too much by the hand so that you don't get frustrated or get lost, turning the gaming experience into a practically linear one, and abandoning any possibility of you exploring its world freely.
Therefore, it is correct to think that we are facing a magnified and expanded book, transformed into a much larger work, such as, in this case, a video game.
Without a doubt, this is the resurgence of one of Cing's hidden gems, and it is nothing more than a wake-up call that both the memory of Another Code and that of its protagonist Ashley are not going to fade easily.
On one hand, I'm glad that Nintendo is diving deeper into their more niche games from their past and bringing them back in some form. However, I felt pretty done with this game after the Trace Memory part, and the direction the Journey Into Lost Memories half goes in just came off as kind of dumb to me. Lots of weird sci-fi anime bullshit that ends up as sappy and failing to grip me emotionally unlike the first half. Also could have used some editing too, because Jesus Christ do some of the later chapters go full Kojima and just shove exposition down your throat. It also has this whole band drama aspect to it that felt like filler more than anything and doesn't really pay off all that well.
With that said, I wouldn't say it isn't worth playing. The story is mostly interesting and the mysteries are fun to unravel. Puzzles are pretty basic, although I'll fully admit I did have to use the in-game hint system for one that I think was pretty stupid, but I probably could have solved it by myself if I wasn't being impatient. Apparently, a lot of the more interesting aspects of the DS and Wii versions were removed here due to not having those respective consoles' controller gimmicks, which is a shame.
I'm glad I finally got to play this pair of games in some way, especially since one of them never was localized to America. Overall though, it's just okay at best. If you want to play a good pair of story heavy adventure games on the Switch, I'd honestly recommend the Famicom Detective Club remakes over this.
With that said, I wouldn't say it isn't worth playing. The story is mostly interesting and the mysteries are fun to unravel. Puzzles are pretty basic, although I'll fully admit I did have to use the in-game hint system for one that I think was pretty stupid, but I probably could have solved it by myself if I wasn't being impatient. Apparently, a lot of the more interesting aspects of the DS and Wii versions were removed here due to not having those respective consoles' controller gimmicks, which is a shame.
I'm glad I finally got to play this pair of games in some way, especially since one of them never was localized to America. Overall though, it's just okay at best. If you want to play a good pair of story heavy adventure games on the Switch, I'd honestly recommend the Famicom Detective Club remakes over this.
in the end none of the following will actually matter when my real review is "miracles do happen. cing is back. holy shit"
have to disclose that i'm significantly more familiar with the ds game, as sadly a few hours into playing R, my wii died and i never really had the chance to go back to it
the best way i can describe this as a remake, and i apologize in advance for the pretentiousness, is as a really good movie adaptation of a favorite book. everything is gorgeously realized, with taisuke kanasaki's art in particular stealing the show. but on the other hand, there's an element of intimacy lost in the process. personally speaking, that intimacy is a huge part of the appeal of cing's catalog, and having the characters fully emoting and speaking on screen, as amazing as it is, does take something away from it
of course, the original DS game is quite slim, and as personally meaningful as it is to me, i would hesitate to call it an all-timer in its genre. R definitely goes more interesting places with its story, but it can also certainly feel a bit meandering, even in the remake version, and intermingling with a cast of characters and teen drama might not necessarily be a welcome replacement to the more introspective and exploratory tone of the first game for everyone
so in essence, these are great, but personally speaking not definitive, remakes of pretty good, but personally very meaningful, games. even getting a taste of a future where cing continued on is a truly priceless thing for me, though. and i hope that through a similar miracle that brought about this remake in the first place, we can get more stories for ashley in the future (and kyle hyde (sorry i know everyone says this but i can't help it))
have to disclose that i'm significantly more familiar with the ds game, as sadly a few hours into playing R, my wii died and i never really had the chance to go back to it
the best way i can describe this as a remake, and i apologize in advance for the pretentiousness, is as a really good movie adaptation of a favorite book. everything is gorgeously realized, with taisuke kanasaki's art in particular stealing the show. but on the other hand, there's an element of intimacy lost in the process. personally speaking, that intimacy is a huge part of the appeal of cing's catalog, and having the characters fully emoting and speaking on screen, as amazing as it is, does take something away from it
of course, the original DS game is quite slim, and as personally meaningful as it is to me, i would hesitate to call it an all-timer in its genre. R definitely goes more interesting places with its story, but it can also certainly feel a bit meandering, even in the remake version, and intermingling with a cast of characters and teen drama might not necessarily be a welcome replacement to the more introspective and exploratory tone of the first game for everyone
so in essence, these are great, but personally speaking not definitive, remakes of pretty good, but personally very meaningful, games. even getting a taste of a future where cing continued on is a truly priceless thing for me, though. and i hope that through a similar miracle that brought about this remake in the first place, we can get more stories for ashley in the future (and kyle hyde (sorry i know everyone says this but i can't help it))