For some time there, the Nintendo DS was the place to go for thriller video games. Main the way in which had been the courtroom antics of the Ace Legal professional collection and the puzzle ebook detective tales in Professor Layton. However serving to spherical out the area was a small studio referred to as Cing that has since shut down, which launched a pair of fantastic mysteries for the DS with Resort Nightfall: Room 215 and Hint Reminiscence (recognized outdoors of North America as One other Code). They’ve since grow to be cult classics, and now the latter is getting a second likelihood with a remastered version for the Swap that retains all the great elements (particularly the story), whereas sprucing issues up for contemporary gamers.
The brand new launch — referred to as One other Code: Recollection — is definitely a bundle of two completely different video games. There’s One other Code for the DS in addition to its sequel, A Journey into Misplaced Reminiscences, which got here out on the Wii however was by no means formally launched in North America. So, for a variety of followers of the unique sport — like me, for instance — that is their first likelihood to expertise the entire story. Each are visible novels with a healthy dose of puzzles, full of intricately locked doorways and sophisticated machines that will make the architect behind the Resident Evil mansion proud.
The One other Code collection stars a woman named Ashley who grew up pondering that her dad died when she was younger. Then, out of the blue, just some days earlier than her 14th birthday, she will get an invite from her dad to satisfy on the ominously named Blood Edward Island. As soon as there, Ashley meets an amnesiac ghost named D — who solely she will be able to see — and the 2 set about exploring the island to uncover every kind of secrets and techniques collectively; Ashley learns the reality about her mother and father, whereas D uncovers his long-lost recollections. Additionally, there’s a machine that may delete and edit recollections from somebody’s thoughts. Principally, it’s full of mysteries to uncover. The sequel picks up two years later, with Ashley as soon as once more assembly up along with her dad, this time for a tenting journey within the woods, which brings about much more secrets and techniques.
Apparently, the remaster doesn’t separate the video games. You don’t choose one or the opposite from the primary menu. As an alternative, when you wrap up the unique One other Code, issues simply roll proper into the following sport, making the story really feel very cohesive.
That’s removed from the one change on this package deal, although. Whereas the superb story stays the identical, as do — so far as I can inform — many of the puzzles, just about every little thing else has been overhauled. There’s voice performing, absolutely 3D areas to discover, slick anime-style visuals, and dynamic cutscenes that body conversations like a consistently shifting movement comedian. Additionally, now, the unusual gadget that Ashley carries round appears to be like like a Swap as a substitute of a DS. All of it appears to be like and sounds nice (and once more, it makes the 2 video games really feel like a extra cohesive package deal), and there are additionally some quality-of-life tweaks that make the expertise a little bit smoother.
First, there’s an escalating trace system. It’s elective, however while you flip it on, you may get hints for puzzles that begin out very primary however get more and more detailed in the event you select. It principally lets you select your individual degree of issue on the fly. Equally, it’s fairly straightforward to overlook issues within the sport, so there’s an choice that permits you to activate a directional arrow that all the time factors you towards your subsequent goal. I discovered each of those instruments very helpful throughout my playthrough; on the very least, the directional arrow stored me from looking for out a walkthrough on a couple of events.
Very like final yr, 2024 is shaping as much as be full of remakes and rereleases; already, there’s The Final of Us Half II Remastered popping out this week and a revamped Persona 3 launching in February. Within the case of One other Code, a minimum of, it’s the best type of remaster: taking video games that had been launched a couple of generations in the past (and, in some instances, solely in choose areas) and making them rather more accessible whereas additionally giving them a recent coat of paint. Recollection doesn’t mess with the a part of the collection folks beloved however brings every little thing else as much as trendy requirements. It’s a remaster so good I can’t assist however surprise: when is Resort Nightfall coming to the Swap?
One other Code: Recollection launches on the Nintendo Swap on January nineteenth.
