Trace Memory Review

Trace Memory is a point-and-click adventure developed by Cing for the Nintendo DS. This unique effort plays to the DS’ innovative features and stylus play to create an interactive novel similar to other point-and-click adventures like Myst. The point-and-click adventure genre has really been disappearing, but perhaps with games like Trace Memory, more gamers will realize how much this genre has to offer.

Gameplay

Trace Memory certainly isn’t for everyone. There is no way to “lose” in this game (though you certainly will get stuck for long periods of time), and there is no real action involved. Instead gamers will move the main character, Ashley, and her ghostly companion, “D”, around the mansion solving puzzles and unlocking the mysteries behind several violent murders. The game centers on the story of Ashley, her father’s disappearance (while working on mysterious software dubbed “Trace”), and the tragic story of D, who died at an early age decades before but does not remember how. Most of the story plays out like a good mystery novel, and while there are some weak plot points involved, most gamers will remain intrigued and enraptured by the story until the very last chapter and epilogue. In fact, the story is good enough to create tense moments where characters interact, and it provides just enough twists to avoid being completely predictable.

The most innovative aspect of Trace Memory is in the way the developers have incorporated the DS’ unique features into the puzzle-solving mechanics. Without giving away any spoilers, be prepared to use the DS in creative and previously unimagined ways. Sure, its got its fair share of blowing into the microphone and rubbing the screen with the stylus, but Trace Memory had puzzle-solving techniques that had me admiring the development team because of how incredibly clever they were. These were the moments when the game’s developers pushed the envelope to involve the player in truly thinking through a puzzle and finding unconventional ways to solve it. It was during these moments that Trace Memory shined the most.

Graphics

The graphics in Trace Memory are a mix of pre-rendered environments, animated cut-scenes, and 3D outdoor and indoor exploration scenes. The pre-rendered environments look sharp for the most part, though certain scenes make it difficult to select a specific item with the stylus because it’s so small on the bottom screen. The animated cut-scenes are stylish and do a good job of demonstrating the character’s emotions, though for most scenes, only the mouths on the characters animate. The 3D scenes are mostly well done, as well, with large trees and objects. The areas are separated into fairly small sections, however, and there are moments when the 3D graphics are muddied during movement or look really pixilated. Overall, it’s acceptable 3D on the DS platform, and it certainly has enough detail to immerse players in the exploration aspect of the game.

Lasting Appeal

The most disappointing part of Trace Memory has to be its length. Depending on how much you get stuck, or how much time you spend checking out every nook and cranny, the game will clock in at just over 5 hours to about 7 hours. For many, this means that the game is rental material, but others who are interested in adventures of this sort and want to spend a half hour every night using this game as bedtime reading material, its definitely worth owning. There are separate endings, but they really boil down to selecting different text choices towards the end of the game, so in reality they don’t add much to the game’s lasting appeal. Overall, this is an excellent puzzle solving mystery game while it lasts, and it certainly has its moments, making this yet another off-beat, accessible game on the system’s roster that DS owners should at least try out.