User Reviews (1 - 11 of 59)

Show these reviews first:

Highest Rated
Lowest Rated Newest
Oldest Most Helpful
Least Helpful

A great mystery in a great game.

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 6 / 6
Date: September 28, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Trace Memory is really a bit of a throwback. There's a genre of game that consists of static scenes that you move through to gain pieces of story and items and puzzles. Usually these are mystery games, and examples I know of are Shadowgate, Deja Vu, Myst (and all it's imitators). Trace Memory also falls into this category.

In Trace Memory, you take the role of a 14 year old girl who is searching for her father. Believed dead, he contacted her on her birthday to ask to meet her on Blood Edwards Island. Once there, she finds the island deserted and sets off to find her father (and unravel the mystery of his disappearance). To tell you any more would be cruel, as it's best to find out for yourself.

The game takes place over both screens. You control Ashley (the heroine) on the bottom screen in a top down view. As you explore, you'll see static pictures of your view on the top screen. If you want to examine them, the static picture drops to the bottom screen and you can point at and examine items to see if they're of interest.

It sounds clunky, and it could be, but with the stylus and touchscreen it flows beautifully. Trace Memory really works with the DS. In fact, many of the puzzles require ingenius manipulation of items with the stylus to find the solution. It works, and breathes new life into an old genre.

The puzzles themselves are somewhat typical of the type of game, but they all work and for those new to this style will seem innovative (which some indeed are) and difficult (which is also true for the uninitiated). Many times, sadly, frustration comes from simply not knowing what items you can and can't interact with, but this is a rare faulting.

The graphics of the game are beautiful, with a melding of pre-rendered scenes, polygonal puzzle-settings, and characters done in gorgeous hand-drawn style. It's really perfect in creating the mood and atmosphere of Blood Edwards Island, and immerses you in the story.

Sadly, I can't talk about that story, which is the most interesting and entertaining part of the game. It is simply too good to spoil, so I will only implore you to play it, and enjoy it for yourself.

One note, also, is that the game is fairly short. I imagine that it wouldn't take more than 8 hours to play through it, though I am only half through. Replay value depends upon the person, I imagine, though the game gives you new information and a slightly different ending your second time through.

All in all, I can't recommend this one enough. It's a great game, a great example of an old genre brought to the modern stage, and--above all--a deep and emotional story.

Greatest DS game i have played yet

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 3
Date: October 01, 2005
Author: Amazon User

This game was the best, i loved every minute, the puzzles were great, It is neat how they use features of the ds you couldnt imagine, like using the top as a stamp and stamping the bottom screen, and reflecting the iamge of the top screen onto the bottom screen. Whoever created these puzzles, has a great mind and i hope to see a sequel! Because this one ended so soon. I would say buy it, it is not super high priced like some of the ds games, and it is probably the best one, so definitely buy!!!

Great

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 3
Date: October 02, 2005
Author: Amazon User

This is a great game, probably the best out for the DS yet.
Overall, this is a must have!

Must Have Title for Nintendo DS...Fantastic.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 4
Date: October 04, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Get this game!

Just do it already!

Okay, now that we have that out of the way...this is one awesome game. Other reviews covered the genre and gameplay aspects already, so I'm just going to show my support for it.

I've loved every minute of it, and while some may say it's too short, I can tell you that there wasn't one wasted bit of gaming goodness found here. The puzzles made splendid use of the trusty ol' Dual-Screener and the story was engaging, as well as rather moving.

The graphics were beautiful, but what really grabbed me was the gorgeous and haunting music. You'll want to play with headphones on for this one; trust me. There is also a very cool (albeit short) opening movie that sets the stage for a good old-fashioned mystery, the kind of which we just don't see more of on gaming consoles these days.

Also refreshing is that the lead female character isn't contrived or "marked" by her own gender in any way. She's smart, confident and edgy without her gender feeling like an open ad to sell more games to girls, or worse, stereotypical pandering ("thank you but our princess is in another castle"). It's honest; major props to Nintendo for that.

Overall this is essential for your handheld/portable gaming library. Load times are almost non-existent, so this is perfect for long drawn out sessions, or pick-up-and-go gaming. Parents should take particular note that this is ideal for the 13-16 age market (the main character is on the eve of her 14th birthday). And when they're done playing? Have a go at it yourself.

A+...and that's for awesome. Every DS owner should make it theirs.

Beautiffully Crafted

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 2 / 3
Date: October 05, 2005
Author: Amazon User

I have to admit that his game blew away any expectations I had for it. The graphics, story and controls are top-notch and are just perfectly married together. For the american release they even hired a novelist to come in and re-write the dialogue so that it would be co-herent, since more of the story is told in small snippets of info as you search for clues, and it works perfectly.

The main character Ashley, while she does get a bit tempermental from time to time, remains totally believable as a character and while she's talking we're privy to her thoughts, giving it more of an emotional connection than you could if you were just running through the game clicking on stuff.

Ashley has just found out that her father, whome she thought had died when she was a baby ,is still alive and is going to meet him on Blood Edwards Island. However he's not at the dock to greet her. Her Aunt Jessica goes off to see if she can find him and after a while it becomes apparent that something happened to her too. Ashley ventures off to try and find her relatives, and this is where it gets good.

Problems keep coming in her way, but there's no explanation it seems to why things keep happening. Why did the drawbridge go up right when Jessica screamed? How come the sign has been destroyed? Who took the gear that opens the gates jessica walked through? Ever-present is this feeling that there's someone one-step ahead of you trying to block you and you've gotta use your wits to get around.

The touch screen is utilized in 2 parts. When Ashley comes to a new problem that she needs to solve (like entering pin-numbers, turning keys, or putting together a jig-saw-puzzle) you use the stylus to accomplish that. The other thing you use the screen for is just general searching. In each room you can click on a ton of tables, cabinets, books, etc to try and learn more about where you are and what's going on. To make the puzzles even harder you'll have to take pictures with your DTS device (which looks remarkably like a NintendoDS) and superimpose one picture over another to uncover hidden words, numbers, and clues.

Along your journey you'll be accompanied by a ghost named 'D' who has forgotten his memories. Together you'll search the island and try to uncover not only YOUR past, but HIS as well. It's a very well-told yarn and the mystery is rather deep and complicated. To help you keep track of the facts, each section of the game has a multiple-choice quiz which helps Ashley and you remember the key points of what you just learned. Also, at any time in the game you can save which is really convenient.

I really enjoyed this game, and will probably be playing several times over as I did not complete it just right. There's alot of stuff to uncover, and not all of it is neccesary to finish the game. If you're looking for something that's gonna challenge you to think a bit out of the box, or looking for something that's just a bit different than a normal game, this is a good choice. The graphics are just simply stunning and the music and atmosphere created really gives you the chills sometimes. A great suspence game.

An adventure that's over almost too quickly

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 20 / 21
Date: October 06, 2005
Author: Amazon User

The Nintendo DS has served up some intriguing games of late, and Trace Memory is definitely one of them. Unlike games that place emphasis on violent contents to attract a fan base, Trace Memory relies on the good old point-and-expore adventures that we used to play on the PC. With many instances of puzzle-solving, several areas for exploration, as well as some stunning visual and audio presentations, Trace Memory could really be one of the best DS games to date. Unfortunately, before we could even get warmed up, it's over. The length, or lack of it, of the game is perhaps the one thing the mar the otherwise great adventure.

The plot of the game is simple. You assume the role of Ashley Mizuki Robbins, the daughter of a pair of scientists working on a research known only as "Trace". Believing that your parents were dead, you were surprised to receive a package from your father just before your 14th birthday. The package contains a DTS (Dual Trace System), which looks exactly like the Nintendo DS, as well as an invitation to a certain Blood Edward Island to meet him. Your adventure begins on this island, which used to house the Edward family.

While searching for your father on the island, you come across the ghost of a boy named "D", who has been dead for almost 57 years. Logic tells you that he has something to do with the Edwards. So begins a few hours of companionship, which sees D and you scout around the island and the Edwards' mansion for clues that may lead to a recovery of both his or your memories.

Throughout the search, you'll encounter several puzzles that made up the bulk of the game's gameplay. The puzzles you find can range from the relatively easy, to the ultimately head-banging. Solving puzzles mostly requires the use of your stylus, but at times, the entire DS comes into play - no, I'm not kidding. In fact, some of the puzzles in this game can't be solved unless you find an out-of-the-box way to utlilise your DS.

Examining the areas in this game will unlock several items, which will be useful in solving the puzzles. Backtracking is frequently required, however, because you won't pick up items that you find no use of. Apart from items, you'll also find DTS cards, which are shaped like a Nintedo DS game cart. These carts contain messages from your father to you, as well as his journals. Reading them will give you more insight into the story.

Puzzles and items aside, you'll come across snippets of the past all over the game. These will either trigger D's, or your very own memories. Collecting all memories for D will unlock an alternate ending, but it's not essential for the completion of the game. Unless you're a completist, or you really feel for him, you may just conveniently get done with your side of the story and move on.

As I mentioned, the game is relatively short though, and a first attempt going through it shouldn't take you than five hours. A second playthrough, if you already know the puzzles and manage to skip past the conversations, will take half that amount of time. All in all, the length of the game makes it really unfulfilling if you're looking for a longer adventure. Completing it a second time, however, unlocks some different messages of DTS cards, as well as an additional ending, which may interest some players. But after that, you'll find no incentive to replay the game.

Still, you can't fault Cing's attempt in creating the game. Not when the graphics are so beautifully rendered, and the sound, so perfectly complementary. You'll find both 2D and 3D graphics in this game, and they're drawn in a mixture of anime and American style, which should appeal to people from most masses. The details on closed-up items are also nicely drawn, which is a testimony to how much effort has been put into the graphic designs. The audios may be a little bland for some quarters, but the various background music fit the mood of the scenarios pretty well, which is also a plus point for any game.

In close, I'll say that Trace Memory is a fun game for fans who enjoy games of this genre. However, even so, it may not be worth the retail price since it's just too short. I'd only recommend a purchase if you don't mind the length, or if you're looking for a short, but refreshing game that doesn't take up too much of your time to complete.

cool

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 3
Date: October 07, 2005
Author: Amazon User

i really enjoy playing this game. I have only had it for a day and i am already addicted to it! All my friends thought that it was too much money and bought some odd poker game but i speent a little more then i wanted to abd bought the better game so it's worth the money! And i really do think that you should buy this product.

A different side of the spectrum...

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 0 / 2
Date: October 12, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Hmm... everyone seemed to like this video game a lot, and I agree that the graphics were WONDERFUL and the gameplay was new and interesting... but as for how much fun the game was, I disagree a little.

Now, don't get me wrong- this game is a lot of fun if you're the kind of gamer who enjoys games like this. I liked it a bit too- the puzzles and mysteries were addicting, at first. But before the game had even hit halfway I had figured out what was going to happen, and, though some of the puzzles were kind of hard, others were so excruciatingly easy it gave me a headache.

Not only that but the conversations between the characters sometimes got a little annoying (the whole 'conversation system' in the game is just plain aggravating and long), and though the graphics were pretty while you were walking around, the pictures of the people you were talking to were just still pictures, and even your main character had only about 3 different facial expressions. (Which didn't always fit with what she was saying)

Overall, I kind of found the game boring and lacking of ANY replay value whatsoever. (Unless you missed helping your ghost friend, where as you might feel sorry for him and try the game one more time *lol*) If you're the kind of person who likes longer games with complicated plots and a little action and/or excitement, this really isn't the game for you.

Cheers. ^-^

Great for older gamers too

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: October 13, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Trace Memory is a great intriguing game. It had me totally hooked. I don't play a lot of games since I'm older, but this one had me hooked after the first 1/2 hour. Yes, it is short, but still worth the price.

I hope to find more games like this one!

BEWARE! Blood Edward Island is haunted!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 38 / 44
Date: October 15, 2005
Author: Amazon User

I have not actually beaten this game yet but I've played quite a bit to know about it. You are Ashley Robbins, a 13 year old girl who has been living with her aunt Jessica for the past 10 years. Ashley's parents, who were said to be dead, supposedly went to Blood Edward Island but never returned. Just recently, Ashley received a gift that she believes is from her father. The gift turned out to be a little device called the DTS which had a message saying for her to meet him (her father) there at Blood Edward Island. Ashley sets off to Blood Edward Island the day before her 14th birthday with her aunt Jessica.

After you get to Blood Edward Island, the real fun and mystery and creepiness begins. There is creey music, creepy surroundings, a lot of dialog which kind of makes me feel like I'm reading a book, which is a good thing by the way, to balance out all the other games I play. You will meet a ghost who died 57 years ago when he was a boy, who has completely forgotton why he died and who he is. D, the ghost, is trying to solve his own mysteries as well.

Most of the game is used with the touch screen and it's filled with puzzles and searching for clues. It's one of those games that you want to play either at night or just when you don't want a whole lot of action. I personally love it!! And I haven't even finished it yet. There are two different endings to get so after I beat it once, I will play it again and probably more times after that. It's kind of like watching a mystery and reading a mystery book with very little or no actual enemies. As far as I can tell, there are no enemies but that's what makes this game so intriguing. You are trying to find out what happened to Ashley's parents, aunt (who also disappeared after arriving at the island) and the ghost.

It really is a nice change from the regular games I usually play like Castlevania, Silent Hill, Resident Evil, and Final Fantasy. I really believe that there should be more games made like Trace Memory because it's kind of like nothing else ever made and Nintendo has always been like no one else and Trace Memory is another example. I am a 26 year old female who loves many different kinds of games and if you like creepy and psychological stories without violence, Trace Memory is the best there is! Way to go Nintendo!

Review Page: 1 2 3 4 5 6 Next 

Actions