Platform: PC
ESRB: E
Number of Players: 1
Publisher: Her Interactive
Release Date: November 2008
Official Website

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Nancy Drew Dossier: Lights, Camera, Curses

Basic Idea as I See it:
Marketed as “Fast fun for busy Detectives,” this first title in the new Dossier series offers a quick, casual experience while still holding true to the Nancy Drew Mystery feeling. The game is challenging, but not to the point where frustration sets in. It combines a seek and find feel with an added element of thought – matching found items to either each other, or to larger items in the room. There is also the clue gathering and character interviewing – during which players have to remember things seen during play.

Graphics: :
The graphics in this game ring true to the Old Hollywood theme park setting and have an artistic quality that I enjoyed, more hand drawn than realistic, which is appealing, and in a darker palette that enhances the mysterious feel quite well. The key items are obvious and accessible. There was one mini game that I actually ended up playing a few times through, which I attribute partially to the fact that the screen was a bit dark to see all the items to match up, otherwise the graphics are a major plus in the game.

Sounds:
Voices are distinct and add to the sense and personality of the characters with accents and intonations, bringing an important dimension to each one. The music also adds to the Old Hollywood detective experience, and heightens the suspense, making players want to look over their shoulder. The sound effects and background sounds are fitting and the player’s signals and indicators clear.

Controls:
Mouse controlled, pretty straightforward. Easy to understand, clear objectives in all aspects.

Flow:
The flow of the story – which is the major backbone of the game, drives quite smooth, with some fun twists and turns… not predictable like I thought it might be – kudos! There isn’t a lot of busy work just to give the game substance – it carries itself nicely from start to finish. Even the mini games are seamless transitions either from one room to the next or one task to the next. They take a manageable amount of time and appropriately fit the point in which they fall in the story.

Fun Factor: This game offers a lot more fun than first expected. Of course there is the draw of a good, classic whodunit, and for many of us puzzlers, that is definitely our kind of fun, but the mini games of lock picking and security hacking do add their own flavor of fun ness to the game. Add that to the seek and find AND match challenge aspect, and I enjoyed myself the whole way through.

Female Aspect:
Players play as Nancy Drew, a smart female detective – hooray. There are several other characters in the story, both female and male, and all as likely to be the “bad guy” or the “victim,” so I would say they hit the mark with their target audience for sure, but is enjoyable to all.

Replay Value:
Well, I didn’t get the secret bonus ending the first time through, so I am apt to play it again. Also, there is an arcade mode to practice the mini games or play them on their own as a quick pick me up in the day.

Final Thoughts: Pick this one up. I wanted to play it through without putting it down. It’s intriguing, fun, smart, witty, and allows nicely for short intervals of play, or a long, intriguing story playthrough.

Thanks for reading!
Dawn