This third mystery adventure in an excellent series is my favorite one yet. When the ageless super-sleuth Nancy Drew arrives at a family friend's beautiful Victorian mansion in San Francisco to help with renovations, it soon becomes clear that there’s trouble brewing. Gas leaks, strange accidents, collapsing scaffolding, and even dead roses in the hallway prompt Nancy to do what she does best...investigate.
Players take on the role of Nancy Drew, moving through the mansion from her perspective. They meet up with characters (all of whom quickly become suspects) and select the questions they want to ask them. Exploring every nook and cranny of the mansion is a must, as there are clues to collect (some of which are red herrings), handy items to add to their inventory, and just plain eye candy everywhere. Though players can always refer to Nancy’s journal that is automatically updated, players should have their notepads at hand to jot down passwords and notes.
As with previous releases in the series, the graphics, music, and atmosphere in Nancy Drew Message in a Haunted Mansion are spectacular. Though players never leave the mansion, its halls and rooms are so detailed and plentiful that they won’t feel the need to. This game is chock-full of excitement – there are ghostly moans, arguments to overhear, a box of papers set on fire, secret passageways, two-way mirrors, and even threats. The soundtrack is excellent, helping to contribute to a sense of "realness", and the detailed graphics will astound. All of these elements work together to create a delightfully mysterious atmosphere for detective work!
Some of the fun of the game comes from the fact that Nancy’s detective status permits snooping. Players enter suspects’ rooms and even rifle through a locked briefcase (after finding the combination to the lock in the owner’s laptop). Players soon discover that all characters in the game are suspect. What about Charlie, the inexperienced renovator who always seems to be around when accidents happen? Or Abby, who believes the accidents are caused by restless spirits? Or Louis, who seems to be very protective of his laptop? Players will feel compelled to investigate, and they can easily get a "feel" for each suspect simply by going through his/her things. Players should take advantage of Nancy's alarm clock -- resetting it will change the time in the game -- and pay attention to the characters' schedules. This way, it will be easy to explore freely when particular suspects are out of the mansion.
A playbill for The Bandit’s Treasure, various "hanzis" (Chinese symbols), a book about the Chinese zodiac – all of these items (plus many more) contain information and clues that will help Nancy further her investigation…or lead her to dead ends. Moving the onscreen magnifying glass every place possible will ensure that no clue is missed. Whenever players get stumped, they can phone Nancy's chums Bess and George using the mansion's telephones -- they offer clues and hints as to what Nancy might try doing next.
We find this title, and its predecessors, a refreshing offering in a girls’ software market that is sadly inundated with titles that focus on appearance and fashion. There’s a message here that has little to do with the "message" implied in the title of the game – this is software starring a heroine who doesn’t stop to fix her hair, play dress-up, or get her make-up just right, and if she does, we don’t need to dwell on it. Instead, players lead the clever and versatile Nancy Drew of mystery book fame through a gorgeous, detailed world as she interviews suspects, engages in mind-bending puzzles, and sleuths around to solve a compelling mystery. It's clear that the developers of Nancy Drew Message in a Haunted Mansion at Her Interactive have only respect for girls' brain power. (And there shouldn't be anything to stop boys and adults from enjoying these programs as well). Very satisfying!
