Released in 2009 by Cing (RIP), Another Code: R is a sequel that follows the story and improves everything from the first part.

Obviously, the scope is bigger and the graphics are better than the DS title. Still, aside from that, the characters, the puzzles, the scenarios, and the story are more complex, including many side characters that are relevant throughout the entire game.

They are easily the best part of the game. Most of them have interesting personalities and backstories and talk like real people. They have worries, dreams, and personal issues that affect their mood, and even without any voice-acting, you can feel their emotions and pain. The script here is amazing, and thanks for that it's always exciting getting to know a new character.

Another part that I loved was the puzzles. Most of them are just moving the Wii in a certain way, but they were very well-designed and immersive. I didn't have any problem with the motion controls, which isn't something you can say about most games from the console, and having to unlock locks, crush herbs, use a saw, and many more actions with the Wii Mote was extremely fun. Few Wii games use this gimmick in a natural and non-intrusive way, and this is one of them. Of course, if you hate this kind of gameplay I doubt your perception will change, but if you don't mind them, you'll probably love them as much as me.

And the story is just as good. The motivations of the antagonist and the inspiration behind everything are way more complex than the ones from the first game, you can empathize with them even when they are awful human beings, and seeing how the events from five and thirteen years ago still affect people that weren't even born or don't have anything to do with them not only is intriguing, but realistic. Family ties and tragedies can affect you in many ways even when you aren't responsible for them, and sometimes the only thing you can do is adapt to the situation and try to understand it. It's not fair, but life isn't always fair, and Another Code shows that perfectly.

However, the game isn't perfect. The map is big and there isn't any way to fast travel, so you have to run from point A to point B most of the time, which can be time-consuming and frustrating when you don't know where to go, and I'm sure a big part of the length is just you pressing the D-Pad to arrive at the place the story is happening at the moment.

Also, the beginning is extremely slow, you'll spend like 3 hours doing mundane chores until the story finally starts, and this is a game that can be completed in under 15 hours the first time around without any kind of guide, so you'll have to endure a lot of nothingness until the interesting part starts.

In conclusion, Another Code: R - A Journey into Lost Memories is an excellent sequel, and if you played the original DS game there is no excuse to not play this one, just be warned: This is a slow burner, and the best part is the second half.