"Another Code's Just What The Casual Adventure Gamer Ordered"

European DS users rejoice as Another Code has finally been released for the DS (months ahead of the US too). It is quite rare that little gems like this see the light of day in America never mind here in the UK, it is best to compare the game to Myst more than anything else, it has the static images and the slightly obscure puzzles that made Myst the great seller that it is today but has enough new additions to make it definitely worth purchasing if your not a big Myst fan (like myself).

Gameplay - 6
I am going to start off and say that this is a flat out adventure game with only a few hard puzzles, if you are looking a great challenge with a big lengthy game to boot, then this won't do you. The game is quite easy, the puzzles never get to "hair pulling" stage. The game is pretty short as well with it only clocking around 6-7 hours on your first play through (for an average adventure gamer). Although this does not mean the game is no fun! You can go along at your own merry pace and enjoy the graphics, nicely paced story with some neat puzzles (that make good use of some of the DS' features) and come away feeling quite content with your purchase.

Controls - 9
The controls are great, you can use the D-Pad to move Ashley around the bottom screen or use the stylus to touch the screen in the direction you want her to run. The great thing about the game is that you can pretty much play it from start to finish using ONLY the touch screen and nothing else, although I found it a little easier to use the D-Pad to make her move around. When talking to someone you will get a choice of subjects on the bottom screen and you just touch what you want to say, same as choosing items. It's all easily accessible with your stylus.

Features - 6
The game makes use of most of the DS' features, with touch screen being the most heavily used, it also uses your Birthday (which you set on the DS) and the microphone as well (which is used for a few puzzles). It would have been nice to see some multiplayer on the game, even if it would have been only a few mini-games or a chat feature.

Story - 7
The game starts off that you (Ashley) get a package on the day before her 14 birthday. The package is from her Dad who Ashley thought died when she was three years old. He wants to meet her on her 14th Birthday at a place called Blood Edward Island. Is all as it seems though? The story is nice and fresh, although it isn't exactly new or unique to a certain extent, it does draw you in and capture you enough to play on and find out what will happen next. The Japanese to English translation is near perfect, I didn't notice any confusing spots of text throughout the game at all.

Graphics - 8
This game has got some of nicest graphics I have seen so far on the DS, it is simply beautiful to look at. The top screen will show you stunning rendered image of what Ashley sees while the bottom shows a real-time 3D bird's eye view of the action. The 3D is done very well, there are no noticeable glitches such as clipping errors, it seems to use a very solid engine. It has some nice features such as the cut-scenes, the camera will swoop from a top down perspective and zoom around to show you new locations or to progress the story, and it is very nice. The static images on the top screen are nicely rendered with lots of little details and a good resolution to boot. I don't notice any artifacts or grains on the pictures. The game would have been called "great looking" on the PSOne to give you some idea of how it fairs.

Sound - 7
The sound is quite good, the nice mellow midi files are nice to listen to and they are pretty varied, they don't get repetitive and annoying and are extremely clear. It sounds spectacular with a set of good earphones. The sounds are perfect; you can hear the crash of waves against the rocks and the twitter of birds in the trees. There is no speech, obviously due to lack of cartridge space, but some would prefer no voice acting to crap voice acting. I tend to agree. The only problem I have with the sound is the music sometimes doesn't fit the scenarios. You could be in a dark and mysterious chamber and listening to uplifting music, sometimes it doesn't work but that would be my only problem with it.

This game is not for everyone though!
If you're looking a good adventure game, get it.
If you're a hardcore Myst player, rent it.
If you're not in any of those categories, skip it.

Overall Score - 8

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 06/27/05