Trace Memory

 DS
Trace Memory Image
Metascore
70

Mixed or average reviews - based on 51 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.2

Generally favorable reviews- based on 52 Ratings

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  • Summary: (Also known as "Another Code: Two Memories") Uncover clues to a family's dark mystery in the first true adventure game on the Nintendo DS. Featuring a riveting plot and unique puzzles that must be solved using the touch screen and microphone, Another challenges you to navigate detailed(Also known as "Another Code: Two Memories") Uncover clues to a family's dark mystery in the first true adventure game on the Nintendo DS. Featuring a riveting plot and unique puzzles that must be solved using the touch screen and microphone, Another challenges you to navigate detailed environments bristling with gritty characters. Another brilliantly exploits the DS's dual screens, displaying conversations on one screen and character actions on the other. [Nintendo]… Expand
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Nintendo E3 2005 Press Conference DS/GBA Demo Showcase

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 20 out of 51
  2. Mixed: 30 out of 51
  3. Negative: 1 out of 51
  1. Four Fat Chicks
    100
    Trace Memory is a cracker-jack adventure game developed and beautifully suited for the DS system. It's not at the level and complexity of the best adventure titles for the PC, but it's not reasonable to expect that from a handheld title. What it does bring to the table is an engaging, wonderfully done and integrated story with facilitating puzzles.
  2. Just Adventure
    83
    What it does offer, though, is a game that takes advantage of the full capabilities of the Nintendo wonder-machine. It couldn't exist on anything else in anything other than a truncated form.
  3. Gamenikki
    80
    While some players may be disgruntled by the lack of action and lack of length, fans of the point and click adventure genre will be thrilled with this artistically-inclined entry from Nintendo.
  4. Gamestyle
    70
    Not a game without its problems: its short length, its stilted dialogue, its murky 3D graphics, its ridiculous name (seriously, what will the sequel be called?!); and yet there is an ineffable quality to the game that transcends these shortcomings.
  5. Total Video Games
    70
    If you’re not the biggest adventure fan in the world (like myself) then the various puzzles will often have you slamming the DS shut in frustration, but for some strange and unapparent reason I kept coming back for more.
  6. Gamers Europe
    70
    It won’t start a second coming. What it does is showcase what the DS is capable of for this genre, and does it very well indeed. It’s also a very fun, if short-lived, experience and a very satisfying one. Just don’t be disappointed when you finish it in less than six hours.
  7. Boomtown
    40
    The puzzles (if that’s what you want to call them) are either ridiculously easy or they are completely devoid of logic and impossibly hard.

See all 51 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 20
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 20
  3. Negative: 1 out of 20
  1. KonradM.
    Jun 15, 2005
    10
    Best game ever, in true RPG style.
  2. PetteriK.
    Jul 4, 2005
    10
    This is a really good game. It is short but I enjoyed every second of the game. The puzzles really use all the features of the DS. I think This is a really good game. It is short but I enjoyed every second of the game. The puzzles really use all the features of the DS. I think that this game has at least two alternative endings, so you might want to play this through a second time. Tha art is great and the story is intresting, a bit boring in the beginning but when you have played for a while, you just don't want to put the DS down. Really recommend to every adventure game fan, and for others too. A must buy for DS owners.… Expand
  4. georgefinal
    Mar 29, 2011
    10
    i'm more of a fps gamer, but this game holds a special place in my heart since it was the first adventure game i played... it's one of thosei'm more of a fps gamer, but this game holds a special place in my heart since it was the first adventure game i played... it's one of those underrated japanese games that i tend to ignore on gaming sites and magazines, but sometimes they can be worth the effort… Expand
  5. [Anonymous]
    Jun 30, 2005
    9
    Great Adventure! In my opinion the best Adventure for any console. Another Code uses EVERY feature the DS has and most even in a very unique Great Adventure! In my opinion the best Adventure for any console. Another Code uses EVERY feature the DS has and most even in a very unique way. No action and only little blood, but a great game!… Expand
  6. BeeSting1
    Jan 1, 2021
    8
    A Bitter sweet story.

    Good - being able to take pictures is very useful for remembering where items are. And for solving puzzles. -    A Bitter sweet story.

    Good

    - being able to take pictures is very useful for remembering where items are. And for solving puzzles.

    - the plot starts as a mystery that draws you in

    - you run into a ghost at first, which really gives an ominous tone to the game. There are also a lot of deaths involved right off the bat which adds to the mystery.

    - I like how's the game chose a bright Island, paired with peaceful music, despite the plots being quite morbid. It was an interesting dichotomy.

    - I couldn't pick up key items until Ashley was aware that she needed them, which made sense because she couldn't carry around too much stuff, since she was a kid.

    - it's cool being able to stack images together forming a full picture, or a full set of numbers, which helps solve a puzzle. This gave a very strong purpose for using the DTS.

    - during conversations sometimes, Ashley may bring up a random picture that she took that relates to the topic at hand. These pictures weren't mandatory but it added some extra dialogue.

    - great use of the folding screen for puzzles. (Picture frame, wood printing). Even though I got stuck on some of these puzzles, I respect the full utilisation of the hardware.

    - The story, build up, and the ending were so beautiful. Bitter sweet. D's story that went along with the plot worked out so well. Ashley was alone, but not alone because of D's company. They were both in search of answers. In the end, D saved Ashley's father's life, which was an interesting climax to the whole story. Even though it was a happy ending, it's also really sad that I knew D was dead the entire time. Simply finding out the truth for him would only release him from this world. But he needed it, and would be free. I really felt the bond between Ashley and D, despite the overall journey being quite short. Adding to that effect, they were only children, so I felt extra sorry for them. No child should have to go through the things they went through.

    Bad

    - not being able to pick up items before I encounter the puzzle is an issue. It forces me to have to backtrack areas and re-examine objects to see if there is something useful there. For example, I encountered a fireplace but could not pick up anything from it. I later encountered a notepad with indented pencil marks. I know I needed a pencil to shade over it in order to see the writing, but there was no pencil around. So I tried backtracking and re examine everything. Turns out there was some charcoal in the fireplace, but that was not indicated to me until I encountered the notepad. Had I been able to pick up the charcoal when I first examined the fireplace, this would not have been an issue. The puzzle in the research lab had the same issue. I had to re-examine two pictures to get different textboxes. D didn't notice the cut in the teddy the first time, but he did the second time?

    - it's a little weird how the characters are in anime style, but the photos and drawings are realistic looking.

    - I feel the pace of the story is a little bit too slow. I like the mystery, but too little is given to me for the amount of time play. Sure, I find Jessica and the father in chapter 5, but almost none of the questions have been answered. Like who is Franny? Why is the Edward family significant? Why is D here? Why is father being so suspicious?    … Expand
  7. doodlerman
    Jun 9, 2011
    6
    I can't say I hate this game or even dislike it, but I really can't get into it. I'm sure there's something greater there, but I personally amI can't say I hate this game or even dislike it, but I really can't get into it. I'm sure there's something greater there, but I personally am not too fond of it. I generally like slower games where you have to really think about everything and take your time with certain things, but something about this already seems extremely predictable and unenjoyable. But that's only my personal opinion. As for the visuals and the art - it is simply beautiful, but besides that I'm having trouble finding anything else about this game that's really worth while.… Expand
  8. rubin
    Apr 30, 2012
    4
    Plays more like a tech demo than an actual game. Utterly bland on almost every single account - avoid like a plague! Oh, and if you ever wantPlays more like a tech demo than an actual game. Utterly bland on almost every single account - avoid like a plague! Oh, and if you ever want to show off the DS features to your friends, there are still much better games out there (like WarioWare).… Expand

See all 20 User Reviews

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Awards & Rankings

31
#31 Best DS Game of 2005
17
#17 Most Discussed DS Game of 2005