Memory's Dogma CODE:01
- November 4, 2016
- Liz-Arts
Get on Steam"Memory's Dogma CODE:01" is a sci-fi visual novel set in a futuristic society where memories can be shared and relived. The story follows a man named Hitomi, who along with his companions, delve into the memories of the past to uncover a conspiracy and save a friend. Through interactive dialogue and exploration, players uncover a complex narrative with multiple endings.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features beautiful artwork and a captivating soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
- Voice acting is well-executed, adding depth to the characters and their emotions.
- The initial world-building and sci-fi premise are intriguing, drawing players into the story.
- The plot suffers from a significant genre shift and leaves many loose ends, making it feel incomplete.
- Character development is inconsistent, with some characters introduced early on becoming irrelevant later in the story.
- The writing is often criticized for being poorly executed, with clichéd dialogue and a lack of meaningful choices.
- story72 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 71 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The story of the game starts strong with intriguing world-building and character development, but many reviewers note a significant decline in quality as it shifts from a sci-fi mystery to a more fantastical superhero narrative, leading to inconsistencies and a lack of depth. While some appreciate the initial setup and plot twists, the overall execution is criticized for being poorly written, clichéd, and ultimately unsatisfying, especially given its one-route structure and abrupt endings. Despite these flaws, the art and music receive praise, and some players express hope for future installments to resolve the story's unresolved elements.
“The initial world-building and the beginning of the story are good.”
“The plot was complex and yet satisfying; although I do wish the game had gone into a little bit more depth on the supporting characters.”
“Every time I felt like I was getting bored of the story, it would throw a curveball and instantly regain my attention.”
“The game was cancelled, and I cannot, with a clean conscience, recommend the beginning of a story that will never see an end.”
“Unfortunately, the game has a one-route storyline (if you're familiar with the term 'kinetic visual novel', this is it) with any bad ends being extremely abrupt, no alternative endings, and the few choices that don't end the game having no significant impact on the story or the reader's perception of it.”
“The story's start was its strongest point, but I believe that it falters towards the middle due to the excessive cast of characters, some of which felt horribly jarring in the setting provided and the jarring shift between the original, believable sci-fi plotline and a second one involving supernatural abilities.”
- music23 mentions
- 57 % positive mentions
- 30 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received largely positive feedback, with many reviewers praising its quality and ability to set the tone effectively. While some noted that the soundtrack may not be particularly memorable or stand out outside of the game context, others highlighted its range and emotional impact, describing it as a strong aspect of the overall experience. Overall, the music is considered one of the game's highlights, complementing the visuals and voice acting well.
“Now, the best part of this visual novel is the audio overall; music and sound effects are very well done and implemented.”
“The music ranges from acoustic guitars and pianos creating very ambient sounds to orchestral strings and dubstep in the action scenes.”
“The soundtrack is also pretty awesome, with some quite memorable tracks to be found.”
“In this regard, it feels far more like an endless wall of text with some soundtrack in the background, as opposed to a voice-acted visual novel.”
“It sets the tone and sets it well, but there are not many songs (exceptions being the OP and OST 13 - Day to Day) that stood out to me in particular.”
“It's awful, bad history, bad character development, bad dialogue, forgettable soundtrack and while the art is pretty good, there's nothing else to praise the title.”
- graphics13 mentions
- 62 % positive mentions
- 15 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The graphics of the visual novel are widely praised for their clean and beautiful art style, which closely aligns with the promotional images. While the character designs and overall artwork are considered amazing, some users noted a low frequency of CGs and lengthy battles that can detract from the visual experience. Overall, the visuals contribute positively to the game's atmosphere, though prolonged reading may lead to visual fatigue.
“The visual novel has a clean art style that very rarely strays from the images you see on the Steam store page; exceptions tend to be deliberate artistic choices rather than incompetence.”
“The novel's visuals are beautiful, and the scenarios are really amazing.”
“The characters look great from an art style point of view.”
“The visual novel has a clean art style that very rarely strays from the images you see on the Steam store page; exceptions tend to be deliberate artistic choices rather than incompetency.”
“My initial reasoning behind buying the game was its plot and the art style.”
“Props to whoever made the art style.”
- character development4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Character development in the game has received mixed reviews, with some users criticizing it as poor and forgettable, while others found it to be decent, rating it a 6/10. Overall, the feedback suggests a lack of depth and engaging storytelling, overshadowing the game's appealing art style and character design.
“Since release, I've been quite interested in this one as its premise, general art style, and character design are to my liking.”
“Good character development.”
“It's awful; bad story, bad character development, bad dialogue, forgettable soundtrack, and while the art is pretty good, there's nothing else to praise about the title.”
“Character development: 6/10”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the visual novel is generally considered decent, bolstered by good graphics and voice acting, though it may not stand out significantly.
“This visual novel has pretty good graphics and voice acting, but the atmosphere is just okay.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The episodic nature of the series limits its replayability, as players may find less incentive to revisit the game after completing it.
“This takes away some of the replay value, though it makes sense as it has been stated that this series is episodic.”
“Once you've completed the game, there's little incentive to go back and play it again.”
“The lack of meaningful choices and consequences means that replaying feels more like a chore than an enjoyable experience.”
