Trace Memory
November 23,2005 - Trace Memory is the kind of game that stays with you long after it is over, which is fortunate since the game ends very quickly. This brevity seems to work in its favour though, as the game's emotional impact is made more powerful by its succinct nature. A game of admirable creative design, style, and a touching story, Trace Memory is highly recommended.

The game opens with the internal thoughts of Ashley, a 13-going-on-14 year old girl. She has received a note from her father, who she previously thought dead, asking her to come to Blood Edward Island to celebrate her 14th birthday. Once she arrives, Ashley's father, Richard Robbins, is nowhere to be seen. Her aunt, Jessica Robbins, goes off into the island to look for him, but doesn't come back. Thus, Ashley sets out to find her father and Jessica. Along the way, she meets D, a ghost who died on the island 57 years ago, whose memories you must help him recover.

Though the story never becomes complicated, it is elegantly constructed. Revelations about the plot are revealed at a gradual pace, and allow the two protagonists (Ashley and D) to develop. The characterizations are one of the best thing about Trace Memory; the player will understand the characters in a short period of time. Ashley is exactly how you'd expect a teenager searching for her father to be; emotionally vulnerable, a little moody, but well-meaning. D's cheerful attitude stands in melancholy contrast to his mission of discovering the grim circumstances of his death. You learn about Ashley's father through a series of journal entries that can be found throughout the island. Although the rest of the characters lack the volume of dialogue of the protagonists, you get a great sense of their personality, despite minimal screen-time.

The single best element of Trace Memory is its emotional poignancy. Since the characters are so empathetic, you get caught up in the drama of Trace Memory very easily. This is further accentuated by a plot that sticks to its strengths by focusing on the bare essentials of the story, and doesn't bog itself down with unnecessary material. Furthermore, the art is incredibly expressive. If you are apt to getting emotionally involved with stories, Trace Memory will more than likely draw you in. It's the most emotionally charged game since ICO.

If there is one problem with Trace Memory's story, it is the writing. Though most of the time, it adequately conveys the characters, there are times when the writing doesn't seem entirely appropriate. Some lines just seem stilted, though the art goes a long ways towards selling it. For the most part, the writing is serviceable, but it is disappointing considering the excellent quality of the rest of the story.

Trace Memory's gameplay is as inventive as the story is good. Though it firmly fits within the defined limits of the graphic adventure genre, Trace Memory feels like a distinctly DS take.

You can move your character with either the D-pad or the touch screen, though the latter is more effective. As you wander about the island, 2D representations of the area will be displayed on the top screen. On the touch screen is a 3D overhead view of the area and various icons: a magnifying glass allows you to examine an area more closely, by putting the 2D rendering of the top screen on the bottom for you to play around with and a little icon for the DTS, a device that looks suspiciously like the DS. In the DTS, you can save, sort through your photos, look at various DTS cards (which include important information, and some journal entries by Richard), and sift through your inventory. Should you touch the magnifying glass, you're give the option to investigate various items shown on the touch screen by double tapping or pointing at an item, and then touching the magnifying glass. You can use the magnifying glass to get verbal descriptions of items, use them, or look at them closely. You can also use items in your inventory in order to solve various puzles, or take photographs of that particular screen. It's an excellent interface, and can be understood almost immediately by anyone, despite its dissimilarities with that of a traditional graphic adventure game.

This excellent interface leads to some excellent and inventive puzzles. For the most part, they fall into two categories; the core plot-advancing puzzles, and reviving D's memories. The latter are usually pretty simple, as they often consist of looking at key objects. However, the former is where the game's design truly shines. What sets Trace Memory apart is its dynamic combination of puzzles that focus on the features of the DS, novel solution and logic. Many of the puzzles allow you to play with the physical juxtaposition of visual representations or physical items, which work well, thanks in large part to the touch screen. There is a touch of thinking outside the box, as these puzzles are designed outside the spectrum of normal puzzles. They are also quite original, as the game often manages to avoid the conventions of the genre. The name "Another Code" is actually quite appropriate, as many of the puzzles revolve around discovering little codes and mysteries. Fortunately, they all make sense. The memory triggers for D are all things that are appropriately tied to his past, and secrets of the island fit together nicely, although it is a little unbelievable that a family would go through so much trouble to inhibit access to their house.

Unfortunately, the game's usual puzzle design goes a little too far. A couple of the puzzles are constructed so far from convention that it is very likely that you won't even think of the correct solution as mechanically possible. Still, these puzzles are so clever, that when you finally figure them out, they are quite impressive.

One might be shocked at the short length of Trace Memory. The game lasts all of four or five hours, and yet, that really isn't a weakness. Trace Memory tells a simple, touching tale that doesn't take long to tell, and it offers a couple of intriguing puzzles. Anything more than that would stretch the game, and make it  worse than the core content. In fact, the lack of filler in Trace Memory ensures that the experience is tightly paced. Whether Trace Memory is actually worth the money depends on the prospective buyer. Do you want something that will stay with you, or a multitude of gameplay hours? Do you believe in supporting artistic titles like Trace Memory, or do you simply want to use your money on the mainstream sequels and franchises?

Visually, Trace Memory is quite striking. The 3D engine is not particularly impressive, but it is from a fixed overhead view, so it is hardly obstructive. What stands out is the game's superb artistic design. Each room is drawn with great flair, and the characters are very expressive, and convey emotion with surprising believability. On the flip-side, the game's audio is fairly disappointing. Most of the tunes are relatively repetitive, though they are generally of good quality. Some stirring music during cut-scenes helps, but the audio overall is still moderately unimpressive.

Trace Memory is a game that comes highly recommended, but to a certain set of people. If you have more than enough games, and you're just looking for something that will engage you, Trace Memory is probably for you. If you are dead-set on getting a certain number of gaming hours per dollar, Trace Memory isn't going to please you. However, a game as succintly brilliant as Trace Memory guarantees that anyone looking for a graphic adventure game, or an emotional, engaging experience, will be more than content.

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