YvoCaroPlays-LadiesGamers

YvoCaro Plays: The Legacy of Cing

About Games, Thoughts in gaming Leave a comment

Welcome to another YvoCaro Plays! As always, these blurbs are mainly about the video games I’m currently playing, and this time it was Another Code: Recollection that inspired me to write about the developer that made the game.

The name of Japanese video game developer Cing conjures up mental images of some game titles that still have an avid fan base to this day. Do you remember Hotel Dusk on the DS? I think for me it was the first game I played that made me realise that both my passions for reading and playing video games could combine in a very good way.

Promotional artwork for 'Another Code: Recollection' featuring a close-up of a young woman with white hair and a tear running down her cheek. Her gaze is directed towards the viewer, conveying a sense of melancholy. Surrounding her face are translucent floating images: a teddy bear, a young girl with pink hair, a man, and a couple embracing, all hinting at memories or significant moments. The game's title is written in a stylized font at the bottom right.

I was reminded of that when I reviewed Another Code: Recollection a couple of weeks ago. At the time a game with novel gameplay mechanics combined with excellent storytelling. The only reason I didn’t give this remake on Switch our highest score is that I felt the puzzle elements and the movement of the camera felt a bit outdated. Still, even this early in the year, this is a serious contender for my Game of the Year 2024!

The fans of Cing Games will also remember the sad fact that the company, established in 1999, faced bankruptcy in 2010.

The Birth of Cing and the Advent of Another Code

Cing was founded with a vision to create video games that prioritize storytelling, character development, and player immersion. They realized this vision with the release of Another Code: Two Memories for the Nintendo DS in 2005, known as Trace Memory in North America.

This game introduced us to Ashley Mizuki Robbins, a young girl dragged into an adventure to uncover the mysteries of her past and her family. The sequel, Another Code: R – A Journey into Lost Memories, delves deeper into Ashley’s story, providing fans with a richer, more immersive experience on the Nintendo Wii. The Switch game that you can play now is both stories in one with revamped 3D visuals, new voice acting, puzzles and music. Important for me to enjoy the story itself to its fullest was the hint and navigation system that was added.

The image of in Another Code: Recollection shows a brightly lit, serene village scene from a video game. In the center is a circular plaza with a cobblestone design and a small round garden. Surrounding the plaza are various houses with distinct architectural styles, lush green trees, and well-maintained lawns, with a larger house prominently placed in the background. The atmosphere appears peaceful and idyllic, typical of a cozy, rural setting in a game world.

What set Cing’s games apart was they were a master of using the platforms they were developed for. The first Another Code made good use of the dual screens of the Nintendo DS. The interaction with the Wii engaged players in yet again new ways. To solve the puzzles, you had to use the touchscreen and the motion controls, making the gameplay more interactive.

A screenshot from Another Code on DS, developed by Cing. It shows the DS dual screen. In the upper half, a character with short white hair and a red shirt appears in a dialogue box, expressing surprise with the text 'The path is blocked by all these rocks.' Below, an in-game scene depicts a dirt path obstructed by large boulders in a natural, outdoor environment. The bottom image is from the player's point of view, looking down on the path which turns to the right, where the obstruction lies.

The Impact and Legacy of Cing

Although the Another Code series wasn’t a massive commercial success, it did create a dedicated fanbase and got good reviews for the emotional depth, intricate plot, and the way it blended gameplay with storytelling. Exactly what I experienced now playing the remake, and never having played the original games. I simply couldn’t stop playing to see what would happen next. And the Another Code series wasn’t the only one that Cing treated us to.

A split-screen image from a video game. On the left side, a stylized black and white drawing of a man with stern facial features, sporting a beard and a suit, looking to the side with a serious expression. On the right side, a three-dimensional rendered scene of a room corner with warm lighting. There's a wooden desk with a lamp turned on, casting a glow on the wall, and an old-fashioned black telephone with buttons on it. The game interface at the bottom displays a few colorful command buttons and an inventory bar, suggesting interactive gameplay elements.

Hotel Dusk: Room 215 is a game that I played on the DS, featuring Kyle Hyde, a detective uncovering the secrets of a mysterious hotel. The game had a unique visual style and interactive puzzle-solving mechanics, proving that Cing was also able to create immersive noir narratives. The sequel, Last Window: The Secret of Cape West on the DS, deepened the narrative intrigue and further explored themes of mystery and redemption. This game wasn’t released everywhere, though; it never made it to America.

Promotional image for 'Little King's Story' featuring a vibrant and colorful backdrop with various whimsical elements and characters. In the foreground, a cartoon-style young king with a shocked expression, donning a red royal outfit and a large golden crown, is holding a scepter with a shiny orb. The background displays a bustling kingdom with a diverse cast of characters in different activities, including a knight, a cow being lifted by a balloon, and various whimsical buildings, all under a bright and clear sky. The game's title is prominently displayed at the top in a playful, bold font with a crown motif.

Another title I enjoyed a lot was Little King’s Story on the Wii. It demonstrated Cing’s versatility, with this title they treated us to a game based in fantasy and strategy. You had to build your kingdom by giving orders to your citizens. Explore the lands beyond your borders, battle threats to the kingdom, and gather material to expand. Even now, many years after playing it for the last time, I smile, thinking back to the fun I had. Don’t confuse it, by the way, with the title with the same name that was released later on the PS Vita. This was a ‘reimagined version’ of the original, but to me, it didn’t have the same charm.

An in-game screenshot from a vibrant, top-down perspective video game, displaying a colorful village scene. A character named Alice, indicated by a hovering name tag, stands out in the center, dressed in royal attire with a yellow crown. They are surrounded by several other characters in various costumes, each with heart symbols above their heads, suggesting positive interactions or health status. The village features quaint houses, lush green grass with patches of purple and yellow flowers, and a windmill. To the side, there is an inventory bar with icons of a medal, a helmet, and food items, as well as a minimap in the top left corner showing a layout of the terrain

Celebrating Cing’s Contributions to Video Gaming

Cing’s dedication to creating narrative-rich experiences has left a lasting legacy in the adventure game genre. Through titles like the Another Code series and Hotel Dusk: Room 215, Cing not only pushed the boundaries of storytelling in games but also showcased the potential for video games to offer deep, immersive narratives. We might be used to games having a strong storyline nowadays, but looking back on Cing’s contributions, it’s clear that their innovations in video games have inspired today’s developers!

 
           

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *