#nd games

I swear, Deirdre scared me more that the ghost

THREE MORE NANCY DREW POSTERS AVAILABLE!

Hello, everyone! I know my presence on Tumblr has dwindled a bit over the last few months (real life has been a wild ride and a half lately), but I’m happy to announce the addition of another bundle of ND Notes Posters to My Etsy Shop! Digital posters for Treasure in the Royal Tower,The Final Scene, and Danger on Deception Island have now been added to my listings!

[click images for better quality]

I once again want to thank everyone for taking the time to like and reblogmy posts promoting this shop! Anything and everything is greatly appreciated.

At this time, I am still only able to provide digital copies, but once again, please check out the shop listings for additional information regarding digital downloads!

Please spread the word! Even a reblog or referral to a friend provides tremendous support to my shop at this time. I appreciate you all so much!

Happy sleuthing!

ANOTHER BIG ETSY SHOP UPDATE!

I’m happy to announce the addition of another bundle of ND Notes Posters to My Etsy Shop! Digital posters for The Haunted Carousel,Secret of the Old Clock, and Alibi in Ashes have now been added to my listings!

[click images for better quality]

I once again want to thank everyone for taking the time to like and reblogmy posts promoting this shop! Anything and everything is greatly appreciated.

At this time, I am still only able to provide digital copies while I’m unemployed, but once again, please check out the shop listings for additional information regarding digital downloads!

Please spread the word! Again, even a reblog or referral to a friend provides tremendous support to my shop at this time. I appreciate you all so much!

Happy sleuthing!

The Haunted Carousel is the first Nancy Drew game that I ever completed in one sitting. (Thank you HeR Interactive Physical Guides! They truly were fun to have with you while you played.) It therefore stands in my hall of fame. Let’s get down to business. 

So begins the idea that we get hired by real adults to solve their business’ problems. Paula Santos, who knows nothing about her own business, has hired us to figure out why mysterious accidents keep happening. 

A few things I love about this game:

1. The cast of characters is part comical, part tragic, definitely dark. 

2. This theme park is actually haunted. Just saying. 

3. Procrastination is a literal plot point. 

The characters in this game are a solid line up. Sure, Joy is the most annoying, but she has the tragic backstory that could easily get her on an episode of Chopped. Ingrid pretends to be all new-aged, but really is in it for the $$$$. Respect. Elliott is pretty unassuming, until he turns into a creepy asshole. And Harlan is the lovable convict and face of rehabilitation. At least Paula knows how to get a good tax break. Phone characters are all perfect, including but not limited to, the famous Tink. How can we get that guy back? Finally, we have the wonder that is Miles the Magnificent Memory Machine, that makes no literal sense as a concept and leads to the only reasonable conclusion that Joy’s dad was a wizard…or from the future. Bring back MMM. 

Theme parks really are spooky and I think the concept was executed incredibly well. I only wish we got to see it at night, though I realize it wouldn’t make sense for the employees we’re investigating to be there then, they needed to use the hotel and time to make us have to explore then. 

This game is pretty puzzle light. You really are trying to solve a mystery and doing more practical chores in order to solve the riddles the Miles gives you. I LOVED the stenography lesson, and that calling Bess and George is a requirement to get you what you need. Playing the carnival games in order to progress was a great tie in.   

The story line of this game is maybe its only flaw. Yet again, Nancy gets side tracked by some treasure hunt, both literal and one left by a dead parent (Nancy really can’t help herself) instead of actually solving the mystery she was hired, and ostensibly paid, to solve! It was a total accident and Joy just confesses to the actual mystery. Joy doesn’t go to jail, but forgery boy does? Seems…unfair. Joy could’ve actually hurt someone. 

9/10

Regardless of how relentless Nancy can be about mysteries that people really DON’T want her to solve, this is a classic game with a great theme, a great set of characters, and enough actual sleuthing to keep you happy. I only wish it were creepier.

Wow, three games in one day. I too have surprised myself. I forgot how beautiful Moon Lake is, and I regret that I’ve underplayed this game in the past. Onward. 

We are brought to Moon Lake by Sally. Sally is the least competent boss that we have, or will ever have in these games. Sally wants us to take off in the middle of the night on her boat. Sally does not, or maybe does???, have locks on her door in her cabin in the woods. Sally has done zero work on her death trap of a house. Sally hasn’t even tested the well water. Anyways, Sally is scared because of some dogs with glowy eyes keep attacking her house. Fair. 

A few things I love about this game: 

1. The location is gorgeous. Seriously, the moon? Gorgeous. The speakeasy? Gorgeous. 

2. I like the gangster story. 

3. There are lots of dogs. And people love that crap. 

The characters in this game are a pretty good group. I don’t ever believe that anyone has a motive other than the actual culprit (whose name I literally just forgot, which says a lot!) Less characters than normal in this game as well. Only 3 suspects total, which sort of sucks. Ranger Akers? Another annoying thirst trap. But he is pretty nice and helpful. Red Knott? Annoying yet cute old man. Emily? An annoying podunk lady who runs a pretty neat looking shop and likes skimming for old treasures to make monies. Respect. Let her do what she wants Jeff! Sally is bonkers, but that’s ok. Mickey Malone seemed like a cool dude who just wanted to drink and rob banks, and had a pretty fun girlfriend who hangs out with Harry Houdini’s relatives! Fun callback. Too bad we never hear from them again. 

As I mentioned at the top, Moon Lake is beautiful. And the speakeasy is easily one of the best secret rooms we’ve ever discovered. The woods maze does get annoying after awhile, but I like exploring and looking for birds at the top. And while the boat rides are way too long, the other locations fit into the game super well (looking at you SSH!).

The puzzles in this game work really well. I love the dog poem! And Roman Numerals make an appearance. HeR fucking loves Roman Numerals. I think the soda puzzle is pretty fun and again, they all fit within the context of the game. 

The story line of this game is actually linear. There’s not really a side quest since everything is legitimately tied to the investigation. I wish that we got a bit more about Mickey’s past, but I like the Akers tie in. And while the culprit and her motive is SO obvious and boring, I respect someone after cold hard cash. But seriously, she was so forgettable. Scary for 5 seconds. Animal abuse. Sigh.

7/10

This was the first game that I’ve replayed in order so far where I liked it a lot more than I remembered. The puzzles all fit into the game, the case, while lacking in numbers is fun to interact with. I love the phone characters and the story line is linear. A solid ND formula game.