Trace Memory Review (no fat)

Game Description

Trace Memory kicks off with Ashley boarding a ship to Blook Island, expecting her father to be there to receive her. However, that does not happen and she is left to roam the island and unravel the mystery. En route, she has to crack a lot of puzzles and this aspect of the game tests a player's problem solving skills. The game takes on a new dimension with the arrival of a ghost with no memory of his past, who becomes Ashley's soul mate and companion through her adventures.

Trace Memory is an intriguing adventure game with a tight storyline and intricate puzzles to solve, in order to unravel the mysteries that the game holds.

Trace Memory Gameplay

As with most adventure games, you got lands to explore, areas to uncover, puzzles to crack and clues to gather to unlock the secrets that the game holds. The puzzles have been cleverly designed and are complex enough to test players. The highlight of the game is it's storyline which has immense possibilities and elements of intrigue. However, the central sprite and it's characteristics suffer from minor thought flaws which can be frustrating at times.

The bottom screen of the DS is what you use to maneuver Ashley and navigate the 3D environs whereas the top screen is used to provide a detailed view that is particularly helpful during puzzle solving. Moving around is done using the buttons or the stylus. The stylus also comes into play while performing relevant actions and doing serious investigations, which are an essential aspect of the game.

The tap and explore gameplay is well implemented and the rich 2 dimensional version of the map features decent detailing of the island and mansion and is intuitive in it's implementation of textual hints that help you progress and other descriptive elements.

The meaty part of the game is it's puzzles which involve a bit of effort to crack but aren't impossible to tame. The only issue is that there is not enough of them to go around and the game can be completed in a few sittings. The addition of a few more hours of gameplay and a handful of puzzles might have done real justice to the decent plot.

Players have to strive to uncover the secrets of the scientists' disappearance and also the mystery behind the death of D, the ghost, and his lack of past memory. There are a couple of endings associated with the game you play through one of the two depending on whether you managed to help D find his memory or not.

Trace Memory Glitches

The whole game is a bit too linear. There are times when you can’t pick up objects when you see them for the first time but later you have to go back to pick them up because the game wants you to. The whole thing drags out and makes you spend more time doing the solving than would have been otherwise required…and then too it manages no more than a gameplay worth a few hours.

As odd as it may sound, the threat of failure lurking around does spur excitement. Trace Memory lets you derive no such excitement. There are no penalties for failing to do a task, as there are none to reward your quick problem solving skills. The story just moves triggered by your actions, without giving you any feedback on how you are doing. You can not die, or fail within the game. The most that can happen is that you leave the adventure mid-way through…that too will be tough as the puzzles are not testing enough to trial you with dead ends.

Trace Memory Graphics & Sound

The game takes advantage of the twin screen capabilities of the DS and implements a combination of 3D and 2D scenarios to provide interesting gameplay. The artwork is great and the simplistic 3D environs are functional, if not truly cutting edge and detailed.

The Sound effects are cleverly implemented but the background scores are pretty lackluster and do not add serious value to the game.

Trace Memory 2cent

The game acts as a nice platform for more adventure game titles that will grace the Nintendo DS platform. It has a storyline that packs a lot of potential and a slew of puzzles that are complex and ensure a satisfying experience when solved.

Trace Memory falls short of being a really good mystery adventure, like Myst, by limiting the number of puzzles and the game's playability. All said and done, it's a decent adventure title for DS owners. As the game doesn’t have much replay value, its probably too short to merit a purchase… a rental, perhaps, is the best way to enjoy the game.

Trace Memory Cost

Trace Memory currently retails at $29.99US.