Nitpicks: The game tries pretty hard to explain why Hilda Swenson is being so weird and cryptic, which I donРІР‚в„ўt really think was necessary. I found the game to be relatively intuitive - I only got stuck a couple of times. The kayaking was irritatingly difficult to navigate (and you have to kayak a lot) but I thought most of the puzzles were good and diverse. Puzzles and Gameplay:Р’В Pretty good! There are a few duds, here - walking around and counting things is rather boring, but there wasnРІР‚в„ўt too much of that. I would complain about the culprit being the most obvious culprit from the start, but since these games tend to follow theР’В РІР‚Сљperson you least suspectРІР‚Сњ model, I was actually surprised! I also liked the small-town controversy they all have opinions on - itРІР‚в„ўs not overly simplistic, and adds some fun flavor and drama. TheyРІР‚в„ўre all entertaining without being over-the-top (not that thatРІР‚в„ўs a bad thing), and in this game actually feel like theyРІР‚в„ўre doing things when youРІР‚в„ўre not looking at them. The gloomy sky and lonely beaches are very well done, and the Hot Kettle cafe feels as real as can be.Р”В¬haracters: This is a really solid set of characters. But here are some of my thoughts:Р”Р„tmosphere:Р’В One of the reasons that I keep coming back to these strange, nostalgic point-and-click puzzle adventures is that they are bizarrely good at imparting an atmosphere, and this game is one of the better ones. I donРІР‚в„ўt have any gushing praise for it, but I donРІР‚в„ўt really have anything bad to say about it (which is relatively rare for a Nancy Drew game!). I just finished this game so IРІР‚в„ўll review it first, but IРІР‚в„ўm afraid that itРІР‚в„ўll be a relatively boring one because this game is justРІР‚В¦good. Warning: This post has spoilersР’В for the plot! If you want a no-spoilers review, IРІР‚в„ўll link to it as soon as I post it! Not recommended if: You hateР’В РІР‚СљchoreРІР‚Сњ tasks, you want a cohesive tone and plot, youРІР‚в„ўre irritated by Nancy having to earn and spend money Recommended if: YouРІР‚в„ўre mostly into the puzzles and/or atmosphere, you like some ridiculousness Other thoughts: What was up with JaneРІР‚в„ўs Game Portal? What even was that? Also I love that international fashion model JJ Ling spends her entire life begging to play hangman. There is so much stuffР’В you have to buy and the money goes quick.

I tend to dislike games where Nancy can sleep and trigger the next day, because I get this weird feeling where time has no meaning. I really like that the game chooses when the day ends for Nancy.

There were a lot of РІР‚СљchoreРІР‚Сњ type puzzles, but I never mind those as long as theyРІР‚в„ўre fun. Gameplay/Mechanics:Р’В The puzzles were pretty good and the game was relatively intuitive.

They seem rather irritated that theyРІР‚в„ўre stuck in this weird game instead of one of the normal ones. The rest of them are fine, if not a bit forgettable. I always half expect them to start reciting a prophecy while theyРІР‚в„ўre asking if there isР’В РІР‚Сљsomezing I would like to buyyyyyyyyРІР‚Сњ. The shopkeepers at Pont Neuf seem to come from some bizarro fantasy universe. He already thinks youРІР‚в„ўre too stupid to know thatР’В РІР‚СљeurosРІР‚Сњ in French meansР’В РІР‚СљeurosРІР‚Сњ in English. ItРІР‚в„ўs fun to imagine Traquenard judging you as you visit him solely to scarf down every item the cafe has on the menu. What canРІР‚в„ўt these games do?Р”В¬haracters:Р’В An odd mix (what isnРІР‚в„ўt in this game?). At this moment IРІР‚в„ўd like to point out that in the game I played right before this, Nancy was solving an actual murder. The best part is that it turns out things are higher stakes than the game even ever slightly lets on - wiretapping a dress to spy on the first lady? - but before you can process this bizarre shift, youРІР‚в„ўre faced with the designer performing clumsy martial arts movements on you until she tires herself out. Plot: So get this: a frustrating and erratic fashion designer starts acting a little more frustrating and erratic, so Nancy flies to Paris to become an undercover intern toРІР‚В¦find out what her deal is? ItРІР‚в„ўs so absurd that the usually earnest Nancy nopes out to find a random historical mystery, solves that for fun, and in the process accidentally solves the main mystery. By pretty much every metric this game is a mess, but I loved it.

Nancy drew game reviews