There are multiple ways for the protagonist to tell his story. Most standard storytelling focuses on the present, letting the action play in the current time. Others use more ambiguous methods, like threading multiple storylines together to reveal different perspectives from the main party. Another method involves dealing with what happened.
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What’s more interesting about memories is how they bring familiarity. Some stories can start far ahead in a dire situation before the protagonist flashes back to reveal how they came to be. Other stories tend to make the protagonist revisit known locations to discover new secrets or perspectives. One of the more interesting uses of memories is making them the main feature, letting memories become different worlds to explore and analyze.
9 Kingdom Hearts Re:chain of Memories
Memorized Through Cards
Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories
- Released
- December 2, 2008
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix
- Publisher(s)
- Square Enix
- Franchise
- Kingdom Hearts
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG, Digital Card Game
Kingdom Hearts Re:chain of Memories makes Sora revisit familiar worlds to solve the mystery behind Castle Oblivion. Exploring the unknown building slowly erases Sora’s memories, making it hard to remember even his two trusted partners. With no other choice, he’s forced to venture for a solution to regain his lost memories and avoid becoming a blank slate.
Not only is Sora forced to travel through worlds from his previous journey, but also Riku. Both keyblade wielders dive within different sections of the castle by using different card combinations to unlock doors for progression. They even have to use cards during battle, challenging enemies and bosses in strategic action battles.
8 Sly 3: Honor Among Thieves
Cooper Gang Development
Sly 3: Honor Among Thieves
- Released
- September 26, 2005
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Sucker Punch
- Publisher(s)
- Sony Computer Entertainment
- Franchise
- Sly Cooper
- Genre(s)
- Platformer, Stealth
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
Sly 3: Honor Among Thieves jumps forward into Sly's last mission to retrieve the treasures in the Cooper Vault. The start of the mission let Sly debrief not only with his iconic partners, but new mysterious teammates. They used their excelling skills and gadgets to help Sly maneuver through the dangerously trapped island very easily.
When Sly was caught in a life threatening dilemma, his life flashed before his eyes before reverting back to the end of his second adventure. This moment continued the overall story and how the Cooper gang grew with new teammates before Sly's fatal predicament.
7 Persona 5
Confessing Phantom Thieves
Persona 5 Royal
- Released
- March 31, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Atlus, P-Studio
- Publisher(s)
- Atlus
- Franchise
- Persona
- Genre(s)
- JRPG
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
Persona 5 starts with Joker failing a large heist. Some traitor caught him by surprise when stealing some treasure in a casino, which ended with him handcuffed and taken to the police. Once the investigator appeared to question him, Joker's confession would begin the game from the beginning.
He explained his whole journey from delinquent criminal records to bonding with Phantom Thieves acquaintances. Whenever he unlocks a confidant, the investigator would respond as hints to the person's utility for the Phantom Thieves.
6 Kingdom Hearts Melody of Memories
Kingdom Hearts Recap
Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory
- Released
- November 13, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix, indieszero
- Publisher(s)
- Square Enix
- Franchise
- Kingdom Hearts
- Genre(s)
- Rhythm
- Platform(s)
- Xbox Series S, PS5, PS4, Xbox One X, Xbox One S, Switch
Kingdom Hearts Melody of Memories focuses on Kairi's investigation of her lost friend. After the events of Kingdom Hearts 3, Kairi is strongly encouraged to look through the previous adventures for any clues about Sora’s current whereabouts.
This adventure involves playing through different familiar songs in a rhythm game. The game even allows players to play as Sora's iconic trio, Roxas’ comrades, or Aqua's close friends. It's a huge opportunity to catch up on every major arc within Kingdom Hearts while setting up for the upcoming game.
5 One Piece Odyssey
Revisit Of One Piece Arcs
One Piece Odyssey
- Released
- January 13, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- ILCA
- Publisher(s)
- Bandai Namco Entertainment
- Franchise
- One Piece
- Genre(s)
- JRPG
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Nintendo Switch
One Piece Odyssey is a straightforward story that focuses on Straw Hat’s past. When they fall into amnesia, they're forced to go through each memory to witness their main conflicts through different familiar locations like Arabasta and Marineford.
Completing each memory grants the pirate crew new rewards, including their old techniques. While they do play out their memories, they don't always play the same since Luffy has his entire crew to witness even the earlier arcs.
4 Katana Zero
The Dragon's Plans
Katana ZERO
- Released
- April 18, 2019
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Askiisoft
- Publisher(s)
- Devolver Digital
- Genre(s)
- Platformer, Action
Katana Zero is played in a unique way that coincides with the protagonist's abilities. When starting the mission, the protagonist doesn't immediately act, but instead uses his supernatural precognition. He plays his actions through his head for the best solution to progress in each area.
His deaths result in resetting his strategical plans until he finally reach the destination. He can use his trustworthy sword and environmental surroundings to take down multiple combatants. Confirming the plan will allow him to play out his strategy from memory, letting him swipe through foes with inhuman speed. Some plans aren't always perfect though.
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3 Assassin's Creed
Linking With Ancestors
Assassin's Creed
- Released
- November 14, 2007
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Ubisoft Montreal
- Publisher(s)
- Ubisoft
- Franchise
- Assassin's Creed
- Genre(s)
- Open-World, Stealth, Action
Assassin's Creed simulates the lives of related ancestors through the host's DNA. The animus allows the user to incorporate themselves into the ancestor to control and witness their actions. Learning more about their lives and secrets requires synchronization.
Synchronizing with ancestors involves completing the main objectives. For perfect synchronization, it’s required to complete every goal and side activity. Doing anything like killing innocents, dying, ignoring main objectives, or going beyond the boundaries can result in desynchronization.
2 Remember Me
Memorable Worlds
Remember Me
- Released
- June 3, 2013
WHERE TO PLAY
Remember Me focuses on Nilin, a Memory Hunter who’s been stripped of her life-long memories by the Memorize corporation. She works with the Errorists resistance to fight back the powerful corporation while recovering her past identity. While she may be a blank slate, she hasn’t completely forgotten her memory hunter capabilities.
Nilin’s journey requires the use of her Memory Remix, the power to witness and manipulate memories. She can go into her target’s mind to change any details within the memory, making the target believe the modified changes. She can even steal the memories to play them in actual reality to progress through different obstacles.
1 Psychonauts
Mental Agent
Psychonauts
- Released
- April 19, 2005
WHERE TO PLAY
Pyschonauts is a title given to those with the capabilities and skills to delve into people’s minds. They work with the government to thwart any evil that desires any harm that could affect people’s minds, especially children. One child that wishes to become a psychonaut the most is Razputin.
Being a Psychonaut requires training, so Raz sneaks his way into Whispering Rock Psychic Summer Camp to learn the ropes. His journey involves jumping into various mental planes that hold various memories, including the most sensitive. Every mental world is memorably different with hidden secrets that could reveal both the target's personality, sanity, and backstories.
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