Another Code series fan Sam Gittins takes a look at this new Wii sequel...

When the first Another Code was released on the DS its original premise and tactically placed release date around summer games-drought time meant it was reasonably well received. It was a breath of fresh air as developers Cing - also of Hotel Dusk fame - brought a beautifully rendered, well polished and engaging adventure title to Nintendo's portable.

For the uninitiated, the first game followed the adventure of Ashley Mizuki Robins who travelled to Blood Edward Island in search of her father; it was essentially a point and click game with a lot of dialogue and a whole host of ingenious puzzles which made the game truly unique, with impressively rendered, static scenes and subtle yet well suited music too.

Advancing four years in real-time and a mere two where the games plot is concerned, Ashley is now a more grown-up sixteen year old, the locale has changed to the more scenic but ever mysterious Lake Juliet and perhaps most notably a shift in platforms has taken place as this direct continuation of the original underrated classic now takes its pride of place on - and takes advantage of - the Wii. This was a wise choice given the reasonable wait fans have had to wait for a sequel and the fact that everything that could be done on the DS was achieved; this shift in platform brings with it more creative freedom and the chance for the title to work wonders on Wii just as its portable predecessor did for the little dual-screened wonder.

The game's graphical style looks gorgeous. Also, yay for red Converse!

Let me belay peoples potential fears about the game not living up to expectations - it matches its prequel in many a good way, even if some aspects do feel slightly altered somewhat. For a start the change in locale brings with it a slight change in the feel and pacing of the game. Where on Blood Edward Island you would feel mostly alone, in the case of Lake Juliet you're never too far from your next encounter with civilisation and for a good portion of the game you will even have a partner of sorts...

That doesn't mean that the game feels any less engaging, but it's good to be aware when delving into this sequel that at least for the first few scene-setting chapters the pace is somewhat sedate. After that the plot soon picks up and then doesn't let up for the entire game. You will end up exploring the very length and breadth of the lakeside resort, research facility and beyond as you search for clues on your journey into lost memories.

Everything is beautifully rendered as you travel in a somewhat linear fashion moving mostly using left and right on the d-pad and up when applicable. It sounds like a strange set-up but it's perfectly suited to the experience. When you enter an area that can be investigated this is where the game will feel familiar for veterans as you get to look into almost every detail of the environment; as a general rule you can investigate anything that you can highlight and there are many of these context-sensitive objects.

Ashley gets caught by the fuzz...

To start with you will encounter small tasks such as using can recycling machines, lighting a barbecue and utilising the more basic functions of the DAS - Dual Another System - which is an upgraded version of the same DS-like module that you had in the first adventure. But there is another device that you'll be using to progress through a lot of areas and this is where the TAS - True Another System - a hand-held unit with a resemblance to the Wii-remote that will assist you with many tasks such as unlocking various security systems; of course there are other uses for it as well but I'll let you discover those for yourself.

Many other puzzles feature throughout the game and without ruining anything I'll just say that what Cing did with the DS version they have achieved here as well by utilising motion control in ways that hadn't even been thought of until now. In some ways it is a shame that development of this title hadn't come at a slightly later date because it would have been exciting to see what the developers could have done with Wii MotionPlus but rest assured that what they have come up with in this title is nothing short of genius in places.

Of course the puzzles still only make up around half the game, this title is very dialogue heavy which veterans of the original will relish but newcomers may be off-put by. Still, it's all structured in such a way that keeps things interesting though as there are sections which give you the option to investigate further or not and memory sections which test your powers of observation just like the first game.

Your Easy Water Analysis kit - never leave home without it.

There is a lot to love about how the characters and surrounding story are built up too, as Another Code R has a well narrated story with many surprises throughout; it is to the title's credit as well that it's so different from almost anything else on the market right now. If you are by chance looking for something of an alternative genre to what you might be used to give this a try. However to those considering obtaining this as their first AC title I would strongly advise that you hunt down the DS game first otherwise you won't get as much out of the experience being left in the dark about certain aspects.

For anyone who enjoyed the first title you will surely find even more to love here, the main story may last you around twenty hours if you skip bits or up to thirty if you're thorough and check out all that the title has to offer. Plus there's the 'New Game +' feature that has been retained from the original. The game answers a lot of questions and ties everything together in a logical way that will satisfy fans. The ending gives closure, though I wouldn't necessarily rule out a sequel or spin-off some time in the future. For now be assured that this is indeed the true sequel that many have waited patiently for. Enjoy it!

Sam Gittins
- N-Europe Staff Writer

Head over the page for a second opinion from Steven Penny and the game's final scores...

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The front cover says you'll be reading and solving your way through this game - just like a mystery novel. So if you aren't prepared for reading through endless reams of text and conversation trees then this probably isn't the game for you. For those of you who have played the DS prequel or are familiar with the point and click genre in general, then Another Code: R is a title that will have you addicted until the very end.

If you have played the DS game then you will be familiar with the story and gameplay conventions, however don't let that put you off if this going to be your first experience with Ashley Mizuki Robbins. The game brings you up to speed with everything that transpired before, as it sets you on your way to uncover more of Ashley's memories of her mother. This time instead of being confined to a mansion and its surrounding grounds, you have Lake Juliet and its inhabitants to investigate. Where on the DS you looked at static 2D portraits of any characters you came across, on the Wii you have fully 3D models whose animations add subtle layers of personality and expression to the accompanying text. Cing have bumped everything up a few notches in the move from DS to Wii and understandably so.

The blend of investigating each environment and locale, puzzling and talking with characters to move the story on needs to be finely balanced in these sorts of games and the title pulls it off effortlessly. It's much longer than the DS title but it's still over much too quickly which is a testament to how gripping the game is. I definitely want to see a sequel, but I'm not sure where Ashley's adventures could go from here. Surely a third foray into uncovering her childhood memories would be a step too far?

Steven Penny
- N-Europe Forum Mod & Staff Writer

N-Europe's final scores lie below!