 | | Another Code is a top-down adventure game that makes pleasing use of Nintendo's dual screen machine |
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Another Code is a Japanese style adventure game for the DS. It's currently out this side of the pond, but bizarrely isn't expected in the US for another two weeks (where it'll debut under the name Trace Memory). Is it worth your time though? Read on...
In true Japanese paedophilic fashion, the story centres around young 14 year old Ashley. Ashley is an orphan living with her aunt, when one day she receives a package from someone claiming to be her (presumed to be dead) father. The package includes a bizarre gadget of some sort (which looks oddly like a DS), and instructions to meet him at a dock on Blood Edward Island (a name which bodes well). The game kicks in as Ashley arrives on said island, so I won't ruin anything beyond that.
In terms of gameplay, the majority of the game has you travelling around an overhead view 3D world. What's great is that at the same time the second screen of the DS' display acts as a quasi-first person view, constantly swapping in new (pre-rendered) images depending on which direction you look. You can then click on items in these images with the stylus to pick stuff up or examine closer, much like an old point and click adventure on the PC.
Another Code certainly makes an admirable attempt at using the more advanced features of the DS in that regard. What would otherwise be a fairly standard adventure game is made a lot more interesting and inventive as a result.
 | | The DS' capabilities allow for more interesting puzzles than normally seen in this type of game |
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Take the note scribbling puzzle for instance. By rubbing the DS' stylus across the page of a notebook repeatedly, you reveal a hidden message indented from the page before it. The game regularly throws in interesting and original ideas such as this to keep you glued.
As for the graphics, the 3D world is incredibly well done, both in terms of detail and smoothness. It's not quite up to PSP standards by any means, but is still rather stunning given the platform. Sound fairs less well though, as with no voices, we have nothing but petite elevator music keeping us company, most of which is of average quality and a little niggling.
It's worth noting, that although the game comes reasonably well translated, it's still full-on anime inside and out. If you aren't a fan of such things - the stylised characters, the cheesy music, etc - you'll find Another Code somewhat silly and immature. There's a ton of non sequiturs, with people saying, "What..?!" and "..." over and over for no apparent reason. Personally I can take or leave such things, but if nothing else it gives the game a little extra personality.
Although some will complain of Another Code's short length, for me stretching it out any longer would have resulted in boredom. Nope, Another Code's biggest drawback is more the linearity of the whole thing in my book. From beginning to end, there's really no deviation in direction or pathway. You have to collect all items, solve all puzzles and talk to all people in exactly the order the game wants you to, or you simply can't advance. Occasionally it won't even let you leave a room until you pick-up or notice exactly what's required by the demands of the story. As a result, Another Code is half game and half like watching a cartoon.
At the end of the day though, this is a solid little adventure game, and one that has some interesting ideas not really seen before as far as I know. It's a good example of the kind of interesting story-based titles the DS seems a lot more capable of pumping out than the PSP right now. If I were you, I'd give it a go.
This review/report was created by the great team at TPSreport.co.uk:
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