Over before it really begins.
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.