This fourth Nancy Drew mystery on CD-ROM finds the super sleuth in the elegant and mysterious Wickford Castle in Wisconsin. A major storm has rendered Nancy snowbound in this vacation resort, left to focus her attention on the castle itself. It doesn't take Nancy long to discover that the castle has an intriguing history and that its current occupants are equally as interesting. What's more, the historic library has been vandalized, and some strange behaviors pique Nancy's curiosity.
Each character that Nancy encounters seems to be hiding something. Through interactive conversations with them and Nancy's sleuthing skills (there are letters, pages of books, and pamphlets to examine at almost every turn), players begin to get a feel for the history of the castle and their job to uncover a royal secret. Characters include the eccentric Professor Hotchkiss, whose seemingly endless typing can be heard in the hallways, the disinherited adopted son of the castle's original owner, and a French ski instructor whose past includes a humiliating experience as an Olympic athlete and who now has a mission to find a valuable French historical document in the castle.
The castle has many dead ends (the original owner, Ezra Wickford, had been paranoid about being robbed) and secret passageways, making it all the more interesting. Players explore the basement and two floors of the castle, navigating as Nancy in first-person perspective. Plenty of retracing steps are necessary as players use the elevator, stairs, and even secret tunnels to move around the grounds. Eventually, the mystery leads them outside to a secret garden and the Queen's Tower.
Players need to poke around everywhere — reading posters, papers, and pamphlets. Important clues can be found in drawers, bookcases, and on tables. Often players will find items they need to store and use later in the game, such as a paintbrush that allows Nancy to dust a keypad for fingerprints in order to determine the access code that deactivates an alarm. Interrogating suspects is great fun — players control the conversations to some degree by scrolling through a list of possible responses and selecting the questions Nancy asks. Throughout the adventure, players will need to jot down codes, coordinates, locker combinations, and other clues in the notepad provided with the game. This helps contribute to a real sense of fun and adds to the fantasy of playing detective.
A few liberties granted to players include the ability to phone Nancy's friends for some game hints and the chance to return to Nancy's room to set the time via her alarm clock. This latter option is particularly useful for skipping ahead to a particular time of day — for example, if Nancy wants to snoop around at the front desk, setting the clock to midnight will ensure that no one is there to stop her.
The graphics of the game are stunning, and the original music soundtrack heightens the sense of mystery. Even the ambient sounds, like blowing snow, are realistic. The end result is an atmosphere that, along with the intriguing story line, makes the game so thoroughly addictive.
Players get to spy on people through vent shafts, climb through gratings, and solve a series of puzzles in order to advance in the game. Some of the puzzles are tough, but none are overwhelmingly so. Puzzles include an intricate leaf jigsaw with rotating pieces and a ricochet puzzle that requires plenty of strategy to complete. From Nancy's introductory letter to George all the way to the final wrap-up letter to her father and the words "Another mystery solved," this game is enthralling and addictive — an all-around good time.
The hint system is well done, though it is not always smart. It didn't always "remember" a player's progress, with characters suggesting actions that had already been taken.
Testers' complaints were minor — they felt the clicking involved in order to get around the castle was tiresome at times, and though the dark screens contributed to the mysterious atmosphere, they were sometimes too dark.
For those girls who haven't yet been turned on to the Nancy Drew mystery novel series, this program may just kindle an interest. Those who are already fans will find this game as addictive as the page-turning novels. Nancy Drew Treasure in the Royal Tower is quite challenging, yet doable. Besides their powers of observation, kids need to exercise patience and perseverance in order to make it through to the dramatic conclusion. Our 10-year-old tester quickly became frustrated with the game, but our 13-year-old persevered to the end, completing the adventure in approximately the time estimated by Her Interactive — 20 hours.
