Rating: 
Summary: "Haunted Carousel" an entertaning ride.
Review: In "The Haunted Carousel," teenage sleuth Nancy Drew is on her eighth case: investigating amusement park "hauntings" in Captains Cove, NJ. One of the park's famed carousel horses has been stolen, and the carousel has been mysteriously starting and stopping on its own. Also, the park's roller coaster stopped suddenly, causing a rider to injure his neck. With the park shut down, Nancy must interview the employees and explore the park to find clues."Haunted Carousel" has some nice improvements over past games: the addition of the "to do" list, journal, and cell phone (no more endless running back and forth to Nancy's hotel to call). If Nancy gets stuck, she can call her friends Bess and George and the Hardy Boys. The game has two levels, Junior and Senior Detective, and there are plenty of built-in tips and hints, including a park operating manual with an overview of most puzzle components. "Haunted Carousel" seemed to be one of the easier ND games. "Haunted Carousel" really draws the player into the park's atmosphere, complete with hotel room service, arcade games, a ride on the carousel (and chance to grab the brass ring), and more. The storyline flowed smoothly, the puzzles were organic (programming an arcade game, switching roller coaster tracks, repairing the carousel's band organ, reading invisible ink), the voice work was above average and the characters had distinct personalities. Music was pronounced, including carnival music for the carousel and ominous creepy tunes for the haunted house. Nancy must watch her step as always, since someone wants to stop her from finding out the truth behind the hauntings. Along the way she helps someone come to terms with the past, sniffs out an insurance fraud, and digs up long-lost truths and secrets about the park and its employees. This is a lovely adventure with a unique atmosphere that will delight young sleuths.
Rating: 
Summary: Could I give it anything less than 5 stars?
Review: Like the other Nancy Drew games, "The Final Scene" was great. In each Nancy Drew game, you get to be the famous detective and solve a mystery. It's not easy, though. You have to search for clues and find secret passageways. You maneuver through the game with your mouse, using arrows and magnifying glasses on the screen -- and sometimes, trinkets and trapdoors can only be found by viewing them at a particular angle. This allows for hours of fun -- or hours of being stuck, whatever. (This is what the HerInteractive site's message boards are for!) The graphics in this game are incredible. The people look 3-D and although they do look a bit robotic, they're realistic and believable. The attention to detail is amazing as well. The scenery is beatiful -- there are cool things to look at that don't really pertain to your mystery, but then again, you don't KNOW for sure if they do or not -- it's always good to keep your eyes open and remember where certain things are. The dialogue is clever and witty, and often funny and silly (but in a good way). My only complaint on this subject is the fact that sometimes the dialogue doesn't make sense -- sometimes a character speaking to you will tell you to try doing something you've already done, and Nancy (you) will say "OK, I'll try that" -- when in fact you've already done it! Obviously the game's programming can't handle ANY eventuality. But whatever. This is a small thing and it is a small annoyance at the most. "The Final Scene" is so fun. All I can ask for in the next Nancy Drew game (and please, PLEASE keep making them!) is more puzzles (there were about five in this game; all pleasantly challenging) and, also, give us more game time! The box says it can take over 20 hours. I did the senior level and had it completed in 6 or 7. Then again, I'm in my twenties. (Yes! Adults, do not be ashamed to play this! I have gotten several of my friends hooked! However, I've also played one of the other games with a 10-year-old... she needed a little help but did pretty well on her own, so this is for all ages!) Also, like many people, I've played the other four games -- so I guess after awhile you get the hang of the games and that makes them go faster. Synopsis: if you want many hours of good, mind-boggling and exciting fun, buy this game. Nancy Drew rocks!
Rating:
Summary: Fun and Engaging
Review: Ok, Ok.... I am 50+ years old and I bought this game because I like to watch old Nancy Drew movies on TV. This is the first one of these games I have played. The rules are very easy to understand so the game starts very quickly and moves along at a good pace. I am very poor at spatial relations so putting the books back into the drawer and assembling the broken pipes was just plain hard. I still don't have the books in. So there are spots that are just a pain and end up causing a lot of frustration. Why should I be stopped because I am bad at something such as putting books into the drawer? But that doesn't matter at the moment. I have played the game off and on for several days and it is fun. The atmosphere is spooky, the noises are pretty good and the mystery is deep enough to hold your interest. I keep making dumb mistakes and getting killed off, but the game is kind enough to let you keep going with the second chance button. So you don't have to start over time after time. I am certain true hard core game players will think the game is beneath them, but I just want to relax a bit and have some fun thinking about something other than work or responsibilities. This game fills the bill. Interesting and a challenge for me but not something I get all worked up over if I get stuck. The game is filled with what I will call educational material. Whales, nautical terms, et al are built into the game in such a way that reading the information is interesting and part of the game play. A person can get a lot of just fun information about all kinds of subjects playing the game. I don't like to say it is an educational game because that doesn't seem to be the point. You learn this stuff to help you solve the mystery. I think the term educational turns people off. That shouldn't be the case here because the game play and the information are seamlessly tied together. As I stumble along in the game, solving nothing really, I am having fun and as long as I can keep going and gathering clues I am a happy camper. I have ordered the $10.00 guide which should help me extend the game play. The on line help would be a lot better if I was as far along as those players. I get stuck so far down the line that no one even talks about the problems I am having. So I hope the game guide will help. As you can tell, I am generally bad at solving puzzles. I would hope the game writers would put more help into the games themselves but I think they make a lot of money selling the game guides (no mystery there) so they just go ahead and stump people and then the game guide is a sure sell. I think it is a rip off but I guess that is life in the gaming world. I noticed there are a LOT of these games. The series is actually very long. Thus, the games are selling and people like them. They are seldom reviewed on the PC gaming sites, so a person just has to take a chance and buy one to see if they like it. I think you will. Lots of fun.
Rating:
Summary: Secrets Can Kill
Review: Well, here we go. Secrets Can Kill is the start of an extraordinary series of Nancy Drew games made by Her Interactive teamed up with Dreamcatcher. This wonderful game has great graphics, a challenging mystery, and difficult yet solvable puzzles. Many people who do not play many PC games will be delightfully surprised. The game starts out with an introduction of Nancy writing a letter to her father (I find the voices of the characters very intriguing to listen to). Nancy is visiting her Aunt Eloise, but they find out a murder has been committed at Paseo Del Mar High School. Of course, Nancy is asked to solve the case. The original music and captivating sound effects keep you glued to the computer screen the whole time you're playing the game. This game will really surprise you. You'll be motivated to get every other game in the series after you play this one. Secrets Can Kill is wonderfully challenging, yet easy enough for younger players to solve all the puzzles, figure out what comes next in the game, and then finally crack the mystery. In my first couple of hours playing the game, I had to explore Aunt Eloise's house, figure out the combination to a safe, solve a flower slider puzzle, and poke through a diner. What I found intriguing in the game was that there were lots of little clues scattered about, and you really have to be a good detective and search to find them. Most of the items and clues you pick up are meant to help you beat the game, but always be on the look-out for 'hidden' things that help you to come to the conclusion that so-and-so is innocent, or there could be something that you find in a book or laying on the ground that makes one of the suspects seem very suspicious...are they the suspect, or someone else? You never can tell unless you have good sleuthing skills! Whatever the case, each suspect has some secret to hide, and it's your job to find out these secrets and the real murderer. I recommend this game. You will not waste your money or regret getting the game!
Rating:
Summary: Who Knew? I'm Hooked on Nancy Drew!
Review: I realize that the software geniuses at HerInteractive originally created the Nancy Drew mystery games for girls...but, uh...even though I'm over 30, I just can't help myself! Stay Tuned for Danger is completely amazing! It's such a thrill to pretend you're Nancy Drew and try to think like a master detective. There's endless puzzles to solve and clues to look for. But watch out for mind-boggling twists, turns and surprises--they'll keep you occupied for hours! You truly have to see the dynamite 3D graphics to believe it! Each room you enter is designed and decorated with exquisite detail. You'll also love the music and captivating dialogue between the characters. Beware of only one thing: you may get hooked! Everyone will LOVE this game! (I'm trying to tear my husband away from it as we speak...he's been playing the game now for 8 straight hours!)
Rating:
Summary: Hours of Fun On the Computer
Review: This is my favorite game of all time! It is great for girls who want a game that is challenging but not too difficult. It's wonderful for all ages, because it lets you adjust the level of difficulty. At times it can be difficult, but once you've solved the mystery, it's well worth the wait. Out of all the games I've ever played, this is the absolute best!
Rating:
Summary: Nancy Drew does it again!
Review: Ghost Dogs was a great game. You get to do several things, some frightning. It is puzzling and takes a lot of thinking so you must act fast! In this game Nancy goes to see her friend Sally at Moon Lake. But once Nancy gets there, Sally is gone because she says so called "ghost dogs" are haunting her. Nancy must act quick and figure out if this is a houx or are there real gho-o-o-o-s-s-st dogs. *Gulp* This game is amazing and as well as the main story line, there are many other small activities such as bug hunting, helping the shop owner, and working in the ranger station. I'd reccomend this game to anyone, boy or girl, any age! My friends have played these games too! I'd also reccomend the other games: Secrets Can Kill, Stay Tuned For Danger, Message In The Haunted Mansion, Treasure in The Royal Tower (My personal favorite) and Secret of The Scarlet Hand. Another case solved with Nancy Drew! Happy Sleuthing!
Rating:
Summary: Can't go wrong with Her Interactive Games!
Review: I have played every single Nancy Drew Her Interactive game, and I absolutely love all of them. Nice graphics and storyline. These games can be pretty suspenseful, too. There are two levels: Junior Detective and Senior Detective, so even adults can play. And, believe me, at times it can be a little tricky... Basically, you are Nancy Drew and you need to pick up objects, analyze clues and talk to suspects in order to solve a mystery. It's a lot of fun and educational, even for adults. In this particular story, you learn a lot about oceanlife, while at the same time having fun and trying to solve a mystery...
Rating:
Summary: Indeed a 'Treasure'!
Review: It seemed like a long period between NANCY DREW MESSAGE IN A HAUNTED MANSION and 'TREASURE', but the wait was worth it! This adventure finds Nancy on a ski vacation where the hotel is a former old castle. That setting and the fact a snow blizzard has forced everyone to stay inside means lots of mystery and intrigue going on within the stone walls of this gigantic building. Hallways that lead nowhere, walls that have been enclosed and a history crying to be discovered! As any Nancy Drew fan knows...discovering anything is what she does best! As with the other Nancy Drew games, this one provides hours of fun for the whole family. We didn't hurry through it...just took our time and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. What do we do with the Nancy Drew games when we're done? Send them on to other family members to enjoy as well, and it's not just girls and their parents that solve the mysteries but, even older boys in the family love each and every Nancy Drew (though I doubt they would admit it to their friends.) As always, now we sit back and wait for "Her Interactive" to come up with a new game for those of us addicted to the Nancy Drew mysteries.
Rating:
Summary: Danger on Deception Island is the best!
Review: This 3D Interactive PC game with great background music and sound effects is probably my most favorite one thus far! I read that another reviewer had to order the guide book, but you can also go online to - go to the messages boards for hints & tips. I love the setting of 'Danger' - the island beaches, kayaking in the cove, bicycling with your helmet on, exploring hidden tunnels and the lighthouse, eating chowder at the restaurant, etc. Younger detectives may need help and even older ones may need to check the web site I mentioned. I think it's fun to play the Nancy Drew PC mystery games again down the road. A NEW ND game is suppose to be released this summer: "The Secret of Shadow Ranch". I hope it's as interactive and interesting as "Danger on Deception Island".
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