For January 2021, the retro games of the month shall be:
- Trace Memory – 2005 – point-and-click adventure
- Sin and Punishment – 2000 – rail shooter
I felt we needed something more story-driven to talk about for a change, and decided upon a visual novel-style adventure game titled Another Code: Two Memories (or Trace Memory as it’s known in NA region). This was developed by Cing, which also made Hotel Dusk and a few other titles before going bankrupt in 2010. Trace Memory was published by Nintendo for the DS, and would eventually get a sequel on the Wii titled Another Code: R – A Journey into Lost Memories (but was released only in Japan and EU region).
In this game you play as Ashley, who is searching for her long-lost father on a mysterious island. You explore various places, inspect items with the touchpad, solve puzzles, and read dialogue whenever you talk to someone. Trace Memory was an early release for the Nintendo DS, and uses its different functions for a wide variety of clever puzzles. In-game, Ashely even uses a device that looks exactly like the (model 1) DS, adding to this sense of immersion.
Though not one of the most popular story-focused adventure games by a long shot, Trace Memory seems to still be regarded as something of a cult classic, and is representative of how visual novel style games gained some traction outside of Japan during the DS era. But unlike titles like 999 and Phoenix Wright, Trace Memory is a much more subdued mystery story with more “everyday” characters who carry on more regular–and sometimes lengthy–conversations. The game as a whole is not long though, a playthrough likely to take around 5-6 hours.
This is a game I borrowed many years ago, but never got very far in. I’m eager to finally get back to it and finish the story, because it always seemed like something I’d like. Feel free to leave comments on the game’s plot as you go along from chapter to chapter, but consider using spoiler tags when bringing up any significant twists and developments. (Click the gear icon, then select “blur spoilers.”)
Here is another cult classic of sorts published by Nintendo, which also later got a sequel on the Wii. This one is Sin and Punishment, or more specifically, “Tsumi to Batsu: Hoshi no Keishōsha” – “Sin and Punishment: Earth Successor.” (Tsumi can mean crime actually, so Crime and Punishment, yeah?) This was a Japan-only game for the Nintendo 64 developed by Treasure and Nintendo R&D1, a late 2000 release for the system.
Monsters are on the loose, and it’s up to you to shoot them. The game plays as a rail shooter along the lines of Star Fox and Panzer Dragoon, but with a unique control scheme. You move your character with the D-pad, and aim your reticle with joystick (and shoot with the Z-trigger button). The idea behind this was to get players to hold the wonky unique N64 controller in a different way than usual – i.e. right hand holding the middle instead of the right side, left hand holding the left side instead of the middle. (However, you can also use the C-buttons for movement if you want.) You can also jump with the shoulder buttons, and can use a sword to counter enemy projectiles with a well-timed Z-press. It’s a lot to take in at first, so it might take some practice to get the hang of it all.
Treasure was well-known for its frantic run-and-gun and shooter-focused games (Gunstar Heroes, Alien Soldier, Radiant Silvergun, Bangai-O) but Sin and Punishment stands out as a 3D take on the formula. It is also known for its stylish and gritty visuals (a contrast to most N64 games), which keep things low-poly to ensure a smooth framerate amidst all the bullets and explosions. There is also a (perhaps infamously) bonkers storyline tying all the stages together too, and though the game was Japan-only the characters are all voiced in English (with Japanese subtitles at the bottom). Like most rail shooters this is a short game that can be replayed to aim for higher scores. Along with the original Japanese N64 release, it was also made available on the Wii and Wii U virtual consoles for all regions.
Please feel free to share your thoughts on either (or both) of these games as you play them over the course of January. If you finish, you can give a mini-review if you’d like. Let us know if you think these games stand the test of time!
