Another Code: Two Memories / Trace Memory (Patreon)

The year is 2005, the console is the Nintendo DS, and the name of the game depending on your location is Another Code: Two Memories (or Trace Memory).

I'll always freely admit, the DS was a phenomenal system. The Dual Screens meant devs could typically chuck a lot of UI and menu stuff below (and tapping menus is typically always a good time, especially when they let you also use the D-pad and buttons) and the regular gameplay on top. Ooooh that's the good stuff. And with CiNG's Hotel Dusk, you're holding that DS like a gosh darn book, it's a visual novel/mystery/point and click adventure!

But right, Another Code. I had always seen it/played a smidgen of it but finally sunk my teeth into the game last month and thought hey, I think this would be quite cool as a demake. Visual novel/adventure games tend to be a fun time of seeing some wonderful 2D art, translated and represented as (hopefully) wonderful 2D pixel art.

And the game is a wonderfully charming time, really chock full of atmosphere and mostly relaxing/straight forward puzzles. Unravelling a mystery is always fun and I almost kinda just wish the entire story was just about Ashley solving the ghost side of the story. Maybe that would have been too ....one note?

Either way I'll have to check out the wii sequel at some point, who knows, maybe that'll give me ideas for future demakes too!