Another Code: Recollection is a duology that contains Another Code: Two Memories and Another Code: R. Each of the games follows Ashley a young girl who’s trying to solve a mystery. Ashley is a stellar protagonist who at a young age witnessed the murder of her mother, and her new friend witnessed the murder of his father years ago. She’s out exploring the Blood Edward Island, an island awash with mystery and a rather on the nose name. Ashley has a lot to do on this first adventure and it soon becomes apparent she isn’t alone.
The game itself has different styles of cutscenes, some are in the style of comics and some are just happening as they happen. Ashley and the other characters will even talk, which is always appreciated. The game definitely retains the more visual novel styling of its original release in the first game and I appreciate seeing Ashley pick up information and use it to gain more, and the player kind of embodies Ashley has they choose each of the lines, like she’s thinking of what to respond with. There are no choices but it’s nice to see.
Ashley obtains a device called the DAS in the mail. It used to look like a Nintendo DS in the original game but now is modelled after the Nintendo Switch. Using it Ashley can look up information on characters that she’s met and it’s done automatically.
Ashley will learn keywords which she can use to gather more information and she can talk to characters she meets and learn what they know. It easily expands the story and players can learn a lot by going through all the options. The visual novel style is definitely alive even if the game is far more modern now.
Ashley works to solve puzzles as she finds out where her father may have gone. For instance, early she lays a board down and opens a locked gate. The puzzles may not be the craziest but it generally feels good solving them anyway. Some of the other puzzles in the games do require leaps of logic though, and thoughts players may not necessarily have at the moment. For instance, I had trouble with the safe puzzle because it’s a little finicky. Players must stop the dial directly on the number and do that four times in succession. Players might not know that from the offset.
The game is definitely a departure from its original too, as the original is more of a comic book visual novel. The puzzles are completely different too, because of the limitations of the DS. Original creators from the original game actually came back to help with this game so the charm of the first is definitely still in the remake.
The remake definitely ties Two Memories to R with both of the games playing similarly now, and it’s cool to see the evolution. The game is definitely more open and the exploration is a little easier, but it makes sense as the Switch is stronger than the DS. I appreciate the way the game changed and that it still maintains the visual novel styling.
The second game is a Wii game, that was never released in America. It tells the tale of a slightly older Ashley who follows her once again estranged father, to Lake Juliet. Here another mystery unfolds and it’s up to Ashley to find out what’s going on.
Ashley is a little older in this game and is a little more cynical. She aimed to live with her father after the events of the first game but work did eventually get in the way. She just wants to live with her father and be a normal teenage rocker girl, but her life never lets her do that.
As she arrives she learns the the lake is linked to her family and her bag gets stolen. She’s out in the wilderness with her father and coworkers and she must figure out what’s really going on. The game still has that serious tone, but it also feels a little happier especially not being trapped in an old mansion.
The characters definitely take a more prominent role too and that isn’t just because there are more to physically talk to. Ashley is forced out of her comfort zone time and again and she makes a lot of new friends who know about her from her father. Plus she makes new friends and helps them with their own problems.
This game definitely feels more collaborative too. Matthew really is the deuteragonist as he might start out as a bag thief but soon becomes Ashley’s closest partner. It’s great again to see character progress even in a single game. Without Ashley, Matthew wouldn’t grow and without him, Ashley wouldn’t have been able to learn more about her family and grow herself.
This game is more of a 1:1 game as the gameplay is easier to port to the switch. The game is definitely a little less classic then Two Memories but it’s still great to see Ashley again and see what she’s up two years later. Lake Juliet is a pretty open place and Ashley is allowed to run to and fro, which makes me excited about the prospect of a third game.
There are puzzles once again and players can combine items right from the start. In Two Memories, combining items didn’t happen till nearly the end of the game and now the puzzles are often based more upon the world. In Two Memories the puzzles were usually more of a mental exercise. The camera returns and it is important to take pictures to show people Ashley has proof. Like when she finds Matthew stealing and has to take pictures of the crime scene to show she isn’t the culprit.
Ashley gets a bracelet from her father that her mother wore and it unlocks doors. Ashley uses the DAS and the RAS in tandem. The RAS can unlock any locked door, if it has an electronic lock, then the player must input button presses to unlock the door. Again it’s a simple mechanic but it definitely works.
The RAS puzzles do later get a little more nuanced. By the end of the game, players must press buttons in pairs or press them for a certain amount of time. They might have to tilt the controller or rotate a joystick too. It shows off the progression of the story as Ashley grows more accustomed to using the technology.
Ashley once again communicates with characters using the same style from the Two Memories Remake. If she is talking one on one there is a choice to make at least once a conversation. Any choice is good and might offer players a reason to play the game again. The game is full of life like Two Memories and the characters are deep and worth understanding.
Once again there’s no risk of Ashley dying, so the game is a little light, though the story of the game once again is serious. The Another Code games really do rely on heavy moments and heavy stories to show why Ashley is so interested. Tying things to Ashley immediately makes her need to know what’s going on understandable.
The character of Matthew is one that reminds Ashley of D. D was a young boy that Ashley met in Two Memories. I think it’s smart to include a second character because it lets Ashley have someone to interact with. Ashley as a character is stronger because of her reactions to other people.
Ashley continues to gather items and interact with the world and its people. Lake Juliet is a magical and relaxing place but there are odd things abound. People disappear and nothing is quite as it seems. The game definitely keeps with the themes of mystery and I appreciate it.
I appreciate that the puzzles are more about exploration. Ashley looking at the environment to find out how to solve puzzles is a nice touch. Some puzzles definitely require a little finesse and of course, there is a ball-rolling challenge. The puzzles always lead to something and that’s another thing that makes them worth it.
Both games also add narrative with origami. Ashley’s father makes origami cranes and hides them around the area. Scanning them drops some new lore or ideas for the player to take in. It’s great when games expand upon things and I’m certain this won’t be the last we see of Ashley.
Playing this collection is very seamless, and once the player beats Two Memories the game transitions effortlessly to R. I wasn’t expecting that, but it works very well. I appreciate that you don’t have to go to the main menu to change games and that it flows so easily.
The voice acting in both the games is rather well done, and I enjoy hearing the different characters. The voices are chosen well, and the actors do their best to voice the characters as they should. It’s nice to hear the incidental lines of Ashley too, as she explores.
The developers really did a good job in making the models. Though they may have put a little too much effort in for Ashley, as it just seems like someone really wanted to make her body move as it should. However, it does show that the creators did care about this remake.
The music in both games is good and adds to the tone of the game. The Mansion’s music is definitely dark and dreary and shows off the power of time. Lake Juliet’s theme while repetitive adds to the idea that they wanted the sequel to be a little lighter. The other songs add where they need to and nothing is done without reason.
Another Code: Recollection is a fantastic duology of games. Ashley is intrinsic to these games and her characterizations help push these games to greatness. The player feels her emotions through her dialogue, thoughts and emotions. She just wants to live a normal life and it just never works out that way for her. Will the player help Ashley figure things out and solve the mysteries of Blood Edward Island and Lake Juliet?
Disclaimer: A review key was provided
