Nancy Drew: The Final Scene
Her Interactive/Dreamcatcher
PC
Nancy Drew was the original poster child for grrrl power. Not only did this teenage super-sleuth solve mysteries that would stump even Sherlock Holmes, she did it with style — remember the Roadster? And unlike her wimpy male counterparts the Hardy Boys, Nancy was all about going solo, embodying all those characteristics — like patience and self-reliance — that well-meaning parents still try to impart to their daughters. And while to love Nancy is to buy Nancy, whether it’s lunch boxes, magazines, and now PC games, The Final Scene would probably get on the nerves of even our favorite sleuth. Sure, the setting of an old-fashioned movie theatre filled with puzzles is fun to explore (for a while), but in the end, a less-than-helpful menu and clunky navigation might just send Nancy back home to River Heights. Junior sleuths will spend several frustrating hours just figuring how to find clues in the theatre filled with hidden passageways, which requires a mix of luck and extreme patience. The Final Scene should appease fans of the other four Nancy gaming titles, but it’s easy to become discouraged before ever getting to the awesome randomness of the Harry Houdini plot line (too bizarre to even get into here). Nancy’s good name would have been better served by shelving this game awhile longer in order to work out the logistical kinks and draw up better directions for aspiring sleuths. Pass on this one and buy the classic ND tome The Secret of the Old Clock instead; Nancy would be impressed with your $20 savings and your ability to get right to the sleuthing.
This article appears in December 21 • 2001.