Rating: 
Summary: Not suitable for young children
Review: Amazon says it is okay for 6 and up. The cover says 10 and up and that is probably about right. I bought it for my seven year old daughter and it was too scary for her to play. Other than that, it is a high quality game and appears to be challenging.
Rating: 
Summary: Keep 'em coming!
Review: Finally! A really fun, exciting, game for girls -- that DOESN'T come in a pink box, for heaven's sake. As a video game fan growing up in the 80s, I noticed that there were very few "girl-oriented" games out there. There were plenty for boys; and a few for both sexes, like "Tetris" and "Wheel of Fortune", and, of course, the ever-popular "Mario Bros." series. But even the Mario games favored boys. There were always more male characters to choose from than females (there'd be, maybe one girl, the Princess, who sported a pink dress.) And the games JUST for girls would be, like, Atari's "Strawberry Shortcake" game, where you'd get to switch around everybody's outfits. Now, in the year 2001, there's plenty of girl software out there, but I'm not interested in PC Diaries, where girls can record their innermost secrets and keep them locked up with a voice-activated password. I've outgrown being interested in designing clothes for Barbie. (They need a game where you can design a Barbie house! Now that would be cool.) Not that there's anything wrong with those games; it's just that they're very tame, and some girls, like myself, want adventure. Believe it or not, the box for this Nancy Drew game sports the phrase "For adventurous girls, ages 10 and up." That's me! (A bit over 10, but who's counting?) But enough with the introductions -- let me describe the game. It's an adventure game; "Choose Your Own Adventure"-esque. Nancy is staying in a mansion that's someday going to be a Bed & Breakfast. There's a problem though -- a bunch of accidents have been happening. Your job, as Nancy, is to find clues, solve puzzles, talk to people, and solve the mystery of who's responsible for the accidents. But you soon discover that you have a SECOND mystery to deal with. This game requires logic, patience, and a curious mind. What amazed me was how long the game took to complete; there's really a lot to do. But after about 14-16 hours of game play, I have finished the game, and I'm sad. So -- I think I'll order the other two Nancy Drew games that are on amazon! ;) Please, DreamCatcher games and Her Interactive -- keep these coming! I want more Nancy Drew games. I've always loved the books; and fans of the books might even laugh at how closely the game resembles the books in some instances. Just like the Nancy Drew books changed the world of adventure books for girls; this game is a true icon of the progress in Girls' Games that's come along in the last decade. Nancy is smart, intuitive, and strong -- and best of all, she doesn't wear a pink dress!
Rating:
Summary: Rich Graphics, Fun Gameplay, and Spooky Suspense
Review: Let me preface this review: I am 22 years old. I am not a "gamer". I love to play computer games now and then, but it seems that 99% of those games are impossible to solve (or at least they aren't solved before I become frustrated enough to quit). I thought I would try this game out, as I love the Victorian age, and I grew up on Nancy Drew. Fantastic!The player wanders around a richly done up Victorian mansion. Oil paintings and fine tapestries adorn the walls. There are plenty of secret passages and other neat "finds" along the way. Stuck? Just go down to the parlor, pick up the Victorian reproduction phone and dial Bess and George, your trusty friends. You can also dial home to talk to Hannah, your housekeeper, or call in a favor with a local journalist. I am certainly not in the age range of this game's target audience, and I still needed to refer to the parlor phone to get through a few binds. The background music is suspenseful and appropriately creepy. The sound effects will raise goosebumps. This game was a 6 hour immersion for me, and I was thrilled with it. The only problem? It was 6 hours. Now? The game is over and I know all the puzzles, I know where to find what I need to get through the game again. This game will be great to watch others play, but I don't know that I will get the same joy again. I just wish that there was some other "after you win" features. Maybe a chance to explore the mansion further? How about getting to decorate my own Bed and Breakfast? I guess its too much to ask. Regardless of its short gameplay, this software is phenomenal! I only wish this sort of treat was available ten years ago, when software for girls was almost unheard of!
Rating:
Summary: Mom From California
Review: My daughter who is 12, received this game as a gift for Christmas. Well as I installed and reviewed the game. I became so engrossed with the challenge that I spent most of my spare time off playing this game. I could not leave it alone. It s fun, mysterious and obviously hard to put down. Excellent family game.
Rating:
Summary: The Hardest Game
Review: This was a really hard game to find out! I was so much wanting to find out who did it I kept playing for hours. The most I ever played was 5 hours in a row! I finally won it! I think you should really try this one! I think that you should be at least 12 though because it is really hard.
Rating:
Summary: Looking for some quality family time?
Review: My two daughters (ages 7 and 9) and I just finished playing this wonderful computer game. We all contributed to the successful conclusion of the game, too; each of us noticed different clues, or remembered certain details. The game is "G" rated, and definitely appropriate for school-age children, yet exciting enough to keep adults involved, and not at all babyish. It was hard to tear ourselves away from the game at the conclusion of each day! We are anxious to try the other two games in this series, and I sincerely hope that the company makes many more.
Rating:
Summary: A GREAT GIFT
Review: I just got this game for Christmas and even though I am only ten, and wasn't sure if I could do this game, it turned out to be my favorite computer game. This game is full of realistic looking people, puzzles, clues, tools,and much more It's hours of fun. My friend Lindsay and I enjoy the challenge and endlessly try to solve the mystery. After I solve this mystery I hope to get the whole collection of Nancy Drew games. I recommend this game for anyone over the age of ten. It is a fun game, but also a bit of a challenge. I think that you will be very satisfied if you order this game. It is a very fun game to play.
Rating:
Summary: Great software for young girls
Review: Our eight-year-old daughter is positively entranced with this software, coming back again and again to try to figure out the next steps. It's intellectually quite challenging, and the "story" evolves in a way that even has us parents eager to learn what comes next. Our daughter loves puzzles and mysteries, and this hits the target perfectly. The graphics and sound are superb, and installation was a snap.
Rating:
Summary: Message in a Haunted Mansion review by Christina
Review: I thought this game was pretty good. I thought the stuff about the seance, ghosts, and "spirit of Valdez" was kind of goofy, becuase I don't believe in the occult or anything. But other than that it was a good game, although easy to solve.
Rating:
Summary: BUY THIS GAME!
Review: My kids say, "We have played every Nancy Drew game. This is by far our favorite one. It was challenging but not frustrating. It even had spooky moments! Graphics were awesome, never ending sluthing, and excellent ending climax. Overall PERFECT game!" WE BOTH RECOMEND IT
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