Trace Memory

 DS
Metascore
70

Mixed or average reviews - based on 51 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 20 out of 51
  2. Mixed: 30 out of 51
  3. Negative: 1 out of 51
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  1. Boomtown
    40
    The puzzles (if that’s what you want to call them) are either ridiculously easy or they are completely devoid of logic and impossibly hard.
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Awards & Rankings

31
#31 Best DS Game of 2005
16
#16 Most Discussed DS Game of 2005

User Reviews

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User Score
8.1

Generally favorable reviews- based on 54 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 36 out of 54
  2. Mixed: 16 out of 54
  3. Negative: 2 out of 54
  1. BeeSting1
    Jan 1, 2021
    8
    A Bitter sweet story.

    Good - being able to take pictures is very useful for remembering where items are. And for solving puzzles. -    A Bitter sweet story.

    Good

    - being able to take pictures is very useful for remembering where items are. And for solving puzzles.

    - the plot starts as a mystery that draws you in

    - you run into a ghost at first, which really gives an ominous tone to the game. There are also a lot of deaths involved right off the bat which adds to the mystery.

    - I like how's the game chose a bright Island, paired with peaceful music, despite the plots being quite morbid. It was an interesting dichotomy.

    - I couldn't pick up key items until Ashley was aware that she needed them, which made sense because she couldn't carry around too much stuff, since she was a kid.

    - it's cool being able to stack images together forming a full picture, or a full set of numbers, which helps solve a puzzle. This gave a very strong purpose for using the DTS.

    - during conversations sometimes, Ashley may bring up a random picture that she took that relates to the topic at hand. These pictures weren't mandatory but it added some extra dialogue.

    - great use of the folding screen for puzzles. (Picture frame, wood printing). Even though I got stuck on some of these puzzles, I respect the full utilisation of the hardware.

    - The story, build up, and the ending were so beautiful. Bitter sweet. D's story that went along with the plot worked out so well. Ashley was alone, but not alone because of D's company. They were both in search of answers. In the end, D saved Ashley's father's life, which was an interesting climax to the whole story. Even though it was a happy ending, it's also really sad that I knew D was dead the entire time. Simply finding out the truth for him would only release him from this world. But he needed it, and would be free. I really felt the bond between Ashley and D, despite the overall journey being quite short. Adding to that effect, they were only children, so I felt extra sorry for them. No child should have to go through the things they went through.

    Bad

    - not being able to pick up items before I encounter the puzzle is an issue. It forces me to have to backtrack areas and re-examine objects to see if there is something useful there. For example, I encountered a fireplace but could not pick up anything from it. I later encountered a notepad with indented pencil marks. I know I needed a pencil to shade over it in order to see the writing, but there was no pencil around. So I tried backtracking and re examine everything. Turns out there was some charcoal in the fireplace, but that was not indicated to me until I encountered the notepad. Had I been able to pick up the charcoal when I first examined the fireplace, this would not have been an issue. The puzzle in the research lab had the same issue. I had to re-examine two pictures to get different textboxes. D didn't notice the cut in the teddy the first time, but he did the second time?

    - it's a little weird how the characters are in anime style, but the photos and drawings are realistic looking.

    - I feel the pace of the story is a little bit too slow. I like the mystery, but too little is given to me for the amount of time play. Sure, I find Jessica and the father in chapter 5, but almost none of the questions have been answered. Like who is Franny? Why is the Edward family significant? Why is D here? Why is father being so suspicious?    … Full Review »
  2. cloudydays
    Jan 18, 2023
    10
    My very first ever DS game, the story is touching and the puzzles are interesting. Putting together pieces of the mystery, it's fun to unravel!
  3. hector_bcn98
    Nov 7, 2022
    7
    La primera aventura gráfica que jugué en mi vida. En su día me voló la cabeza. Recién acabado estos días otra vez, me ha parecido demasiadoLa primera aventura gráfica que jugué en mi vida. En su día me voló la cabeza. Recién acabado estos días otra vez, me ha parecido demasiado sencillo y pocos puzzles para lo que recordaba, por no decir que te lo puedes acabar en una tarde. Lo que me parece imperdonable es que acaba el juego y deja totalmente abandonada una línea argumental. ¿Qué leches?… Full Review »
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