Coming as no shock to anyone considering its huge sales, the Nintendo DS has some absolutely classic titles in its catalogue that many gamers may have missed out on. So it’s also no surprise that Nintendo has decided to dig into its archive and remaster some of its unique entries.
Perhaps more of a shock, though, is that they chose the Another Code series to bring over to its iconic current console.
Bundling together Another Code from the DS and the Wii sequel Another Code: R — A Journey into Lost Memories, this is an endearing package that breathes new life into a beloved franchise. Despite a few misses in the translation, we enjoyed our time unravelling the slow-burn mysteries of Another Code Recollection.
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Buy Another Code Recollection for Nintendo Switch
Both games are paired as a fluid experience in this release, rather than titles to pick and choose from, which helps to make the story a much more cohesive tale of a young girl exploring her unknown family history.
The story starts with Ashley, soon turning 14, being invited to Blood Edward Island to meet her father — someone she has long thought dead. At least, that’s what her aunt told her. Burdened with some confusing fragments of memories about her mother, who died years back, Ashley has much to unravel.
In a trifecta of bad luck, once you arrive, your aunt goes missing and a search for answers begins.
Ashley happens to bump into a ghost called D, who also has no recollection of how his life ended, so the pair team up to find the answers Blood Edward Island has to offer.
The second chapter of the story is set some years after the events of Blood Edward Island and Ashley’s bad luck strikes again — with her bag being stolen as soon as she arrives on a camping trip. She uses her detective skills to not only find her belongings, but also unravel the mysteries of the lake and its inhabitants.
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As you might expect, this isn’t an action game and feels more like a blend of visual novel and walking sim akin to something like Life Is Strange.
With your personal computer, the DAS, at hand, you’ll explore your surroundings, dive into Ashley’s thoughts on the things she finds, take photos and solve puzzles that — while not too taxing — offer a nice challenge and make for an almost ‘cosy gaming’ experience.
Accessibility has obviously been thought of from the start here, with an optional hint system that gives increasingly stronger clues the more it's used for a puzzle, should you request it. It's helpful if you want a pointer when you’re not quite sure where you’re going.
The hint system may not be necessary for most players, but having that option so anyone can experience the story is a welcome feature.
The characters are all interesting and written well — even if on occasion the writing feels a little cheesy at points — and really help to drive you through Ashley's investigation. This is especially the case in the second half ‘Journey into Lost Memories’, which is a lengthier experience and has some really interesting side tasks you can spend some time on.
As someone who sadly missed out on these games on their initial release, we can’t speak much to the changes brought about — aside from the shift to 3D exploration from an isometric top-down or side-scrolling experience, as well as conversations now being animated like a motion comic (something that always warms the nostalgic section of our hearts).
As a fresh viewer of the series, we can see just why these games have stuck in people's memories for so long and we can’t be more happy that Nintendo has put in the serious work to overhaul them both.
Another Code: Recollection is a heartfelt experience that’s unique and fun, despite it not being the most challenging game around, and it's hard not to recommend. Now, let’s hope we see Hotel Dusk and its sequel Last Window released in a similar package soon!
Another Code Recollection is out now on Nintendo Switch.
