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| The Entertainment Review |
| Genre: Adventure Developer: Nintendo Publisher: Nintendo |
Adventure games of any type seem difficult to come by these days, and handheld adventure games are even rarer. “Trace Memory”
distinguishes itself not only through the genre which it takes on, but also by using the features offered by the Nintendo DS to create a
unique experience. These moments are few and far between in a game that has a short lifespan, and while there is a nice story line
and some amazing design, the game ends far too quickly.
The events that take place in “Trace Memory” revolve around a thirteen year old girl named Ashley Mizuki Robbins who boards a ferry for
Blood Edward Island on the eve of her fourteenth birthday. After believing her parents have been dead for her entire life, she receives a
package in the mail from her father that has an electronic device and a note asking her to meet him. The machine is a Dual Trace
System and it is created specifically to Ashley and no one else. The use of the device, its relation to her parents’ research into
memories and the truth of what happened to her parents are only a small part of the journey. When she arrives to the island she is
encounters by D, the ghost of a young man with a strange marking on his chest and no memory of his previous life before death. D and
Ashley become friends for an adventure that leads them into the depths of the large Edward mansion, as well as their clouded pasts.
The story does a great job of keeping things interesting for the player, with plenty of little things to discover about the two characters
along the way.
Players will move Ashley around on the bottom screen of the Nintendo DS using either the D Pad or the stylus and as players wander
around the 3D environments, static and more detailed views will appear on the top screen in 2D. When players are near an area that
they can examine more closely an icon will light up that players can tap on. The top screen view will move to the bottom, where players
can search every little nook and cranny or talk to a character that is nearby. They type of investigation is necessary to find clues that will
help to progress through the game, but the game is good about giving players subtle hints through text and imagery that lets the player
know when they should examine something more closely. There are a variety of puzzle types for players to solve, and it is these puzzles
that make the game special.
There are all kinds of simple actions that players would expect from a Nintendo DS game to use. Some areas require players to move
items around with the stylus, to interact with objects or to rub the touch screen in order to clear off a surface. There are also a few
places that require players to use the microphone and some instances that use the dual screens in ways that may not feel very natural.
It is hard to say whether these puzzles are intelligent or not, but once players have figured them out it is both rewarding and is evidence
to the inventiveness and design of the Nintendo DS.
The main flaw with this game is that the special moments in the game can easily be counted on two hands, and that the game as a
whole is over very quickly. Players could go through the entire game in about four or five hours in one marathon session of playing.
Other than a few minor Easter Eggs that can be found on a second play through, the game doesn’t offer anything that would make
players want to play through again. There are a couple of endings that are determined on whether or not players are able to help D
remember his past life and how he died, but if players wanted to whip through the game a second time to figure all of that out, it would
take a lot less time. Other than a few cool puzzles, the overall game play is pretty simple and it is a shame that the depth shown in a
few of the puzzles wasn’t used more often and that there wasn’t more story to work through.
The two dimensional art in the game is where all of the detail of the game is, with interesting environments to explore. Each section of
the mansion and its ground has its own feel and players will be happy to check each of the areas for every hidden item and information.
Though the information and items aren’t always important, some help to stimulate D’s memory. From lavish suites to cluttered
kitchens and dusty rooms scattered with traces of their previous occupants, it all looks quite nice. The portrait art for the characters is
also attractive and though the top down 3D view in the navigation screen is much simpler than the 3D detail. The sound of the game is
lacking and the limited number of songs shift as the mood of the game changes, somewhat suddenly at times. They serve as a
backdrop with a few minor sound effects to give a better feel of the environment.
“Trace Memory” offers players with an interesting story with a handful of fun puzzles that are all too easy to complete. Fans of the
adventure genre that are looking for a game that will quench their thirst for adventure and offer some mind bending puzzle solving will
enjoy this game for the short amount of time that it lasts. However, making the game last is one puzzle that this game never quite
figures out.
distinguishes itself not only through the genre which it takes on, but also by using the features offered by the Nintendo DS to create a
unique experience. These moments are few and far between in a game that has a short lifespan, and while there is a nice story line
and some amazing design, the game ends far too quickly.
The events that take place in “Trace Memory” revolve around a thirteen year old girl named Ashley Mizuki Robbins who boards a ferry for
Blood Edward Island on the eve of her fourteenth birthday. After believing her parents have been dead for her entire life, she receives a
package in the mail from her father that has an electronic device and a note asking her to meet him. The machine is a Dual Trace
System and it is created specifically to Ashley and no one else. The use of the device, its relation to her parents’ research into
memories and the truth of what happened to her parents are only a small part of the journey. When she arrives to the island she is
encounters by D, the ghost of a young man with a strange marking on his chest and no memory of his previous life before death. D and
Ashley become friends for an adventure that leads them into the depths of the large Edward mansion, as well as their clouded pasts.
The story does a great job of keeping things interesting for the player, with plenty of little things to discover about the two characters
along the way.
Players will move Ashley around on the bottom screen of the Nintendo DS using either the D Pad or the stylus and as players wander
around the 3D environments, static and more detailed views will appear on the top screen in 2D. When players are near an area that
they can examine more closely an icon will light up that players can tap on. The top screen view will move to the bottom, where players
can search every little nook and cranny or talk to a character that is nearby. They type of investigation is necessary to find clues that will
help to progress through the game, but the game is good about giving players subtle hints through text and imagery that lets the player
know when they should examine something more closely. There are a variety of puzzle types for players to solve, and it is these puzzles
that make the game special.
There are all kinds of simple actions that players would expect from a Nintendo DS game to use. Some areas require players to move
items around with the stylus, to interact with objects or to rub the touch screen in order to clear off a surface. There are also a few
places that require players to use the microphone and some instances that use the dual screens in ways that may not feel very natural.
It is hard to say whether these puzzles are intelligent or not, but once players have figured them out it is both rewarding and is evidence
to the inventiveness and design of the Nintendo DS.
The main flaw with this game is that the special moments in the game can easily be counted on two hands, and that the game as a
whole is over very quickly. Players could go through the entire game in about four or five hours in one marathon session of playing.
Other than a few minor Easter Eggs that can be found on a second play through, the game doesn’t offer anything that would make
players want to play through again. There are a couple of endings that are determined on whether or not players are able to help D
remember his past life and how he died, but if players wanted to whip through the game a second time to figure all of that out, it would
take a lot less time. Other than a few cool puzzles, the overall game play is pretty simple and it is a shame that the depth shown in a
few of the puzzles wasn’t used more often and that there wasn’t more story to work through.
The two dimensional art in the game is where all of the detail of the game is, with interesting environments to explore. Each section of
the mansion and its ground has its own feel and players will be happy to check each of the areas for every hidden item and information.
Though the information and items aren’t always important, some help to stimulate D’s memory. From lavish suites to cluttered
kitchens and dusty rooms scattered with traces of their previous occupants, it all looks quite nice. The portrait art for the characters is
also attractive and though the top down 3D view in the navigation screen is much simpler than the 3D detail. The sound of the game is
lacking and the limited number of songs shift as the mood of the game changes, somewhat suddenly at times. They serve as a
backdrop with a few minor sound effects to give a better feel of the environment.
“Trace Memory” offers players with an interesting story with a handful of fun puzzles that are all too easy to complete. Fans of the
adventure genre that are looking for a game that will quench their thirst for adventure and offer some mind bending puzzle solving will
enjoy this game for the short amount of time that it lasts. However, making the game last is one puzzle that this game never quite
figures out.
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