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Nancy Drew PC Game - The Phantom of Venice

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: August 31, 2008
Author: Amazon User

Another great PC game from "Her Interactive". Parents and grandparents can
feel safe when their children are playing these games -- they provide fun
and skill to PC game players of all ages.

Nancy's Most Exciting Mystery Yet!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: August 27, 2008
Author: Amazon User

Nancy Drew 18: The Phantom Of Venice

-Before I Begin...
My review will be spilt up into sections and have a in-depth look at that topic. If you hate reading medium/long reviews or just don't have the patience I would not continue reading, but if you want to learn the most about the product before you buy it you'll continue.

-Interface
The game uses a point-and-click interface (meaning you click in a direction to move from environment to environment), which is easy to use and has been the preferred way for all eighteen games. On the bottom of the screen are the inventory, checklist, notebook, PDA (new icon for this game), save, load, settings, and exit icons. On the top of the screen there is Nancy's purse and her fashion icons. The fashion icon shows an outline of Nancy and what she is currently wearing. The PDA icon opens Nancy's PDA which has three features which come in handy with her undercover mission. I like this interface and I find it easy to use and the "Second Chance" option is great because you don't have to restart the whole game if you don't want to.
*****

-Plot
Nancy is off to Venice, Italy, where she has been hired by the Gdif (Italian Police) to stop Il Fantasma (Phantom) dead in its tracks. This game has by far the most detailed plot in the series. The story has many twists and turns and leaves you guessing until the very end. It is so detailed and intriguing that you never want to stop playing the game. The plot flows along nicely and you don't come to an unexpected abrupt end like some past games (Usually leaving you with many questions instead of answers). Kudos to the writers at Her Interactive because the story is so great!
*****

-Characters
There are five characters, each with different personalities, in this game. There are three main characters who preside at the Ca' Nascosta: Colin Baxter, Margherita Fauberg, and Helena Berg. Colin is an art restorer (with a rather noticeable crush on Nancy) who is working for Margherita. Margherita is a snooty Venetian socialite wannabe who owns the Ca'. Other characters include Enrico Tazza, the owner of Casa Di Giochi (House Of Game), and Antonio Fango, the electronics engineer and possible criminal Nancy is sent to spy on. Phone characters include Ned, and Prudence Rutherford, from Secret Of The Scarlet Hand (her voice can get very annoying after a while though!) All in all these characters were great. However one of the characters you do not even talk to at all in the game, but still a very important character. There was more character interaction than previous games but still not as much as I would have liked.
****

-Setting & Graphics
The setting was absolutely beautiful! It was so incredibly lifelike, from the glittering water to the old architecture in the squares and palazzos. It really was top notch. There were people talking in the background in Italian and although you couldn't see them it made the environment come to life with the rich Italian culture. There is even an activity in which you must know basic Italian to complete a mission. The graphics were also very beautiful and detailed. Each game progresses more and more with the graphics. Overall the Setting & Graphics were one of the best features of the game and really boosted the experience.
*****

-Puzzles/Activities
There was a good mix of puzzles and activities in this game, and there were no filler puzzles. Also a good thing is absolutely NO chores unlike ICE, which included constant cooking & cleaning. There were a lot of new puzzles, plenty of codes and numbers and a lot of snooping & spying. The "Nancy Undercover" idea is really stressed in this game. You have to wear disguises, you have to plant bugs in people's everyday items, spy on someone and eavesdrop a couple times. Nancy was definitely on a mission in this game! On a difficulty level there is a good mix of easy, medium, and a couple of hard puzzles. None of the puzzles were overly frustrating.
*****

-Ending
Sensibly the ending is the hardest part of the game. You have to navigate your way through a very different take on a maze. I don't want to spoil the ending, but I definitely found the ending pretty tough because it also includes a timed puzzle. Anyways, the ending made sense and everything clicked without a hitch, so you won't be like "What the heck?" when you get to the end. Also all your questions are answered at the very end, so no worries.
*****

-Overall
I can honestly say this is the most exciting Nancy Drew game to date. The setting was magnificent, the puzzles weren't overly challenging but some were, and the plot was simply outstanding. You will not be disappointed with this game at all, it really is a incomparable to previous games like ICE, DAN or CRE. Her Interactive did a fantastic job on this game, I can't wait for the next one! The Haunting Of Castle Malloy

Add all these up and divide by 6...
5 *'s (Interface)
5 *'s (Plot)
4 *'s (Characters)
5 *'s (Setting & Graphics)
5 *'s (Puzzles/Activites)
5 *'s (Ending)
= 29 Stars Divide By 6 (Categories) = 4.8 = Rounded to 5 Stars

-Recommended Games
Danger On Deception Island
Last Train To Blue Moon Canyon
The Secret Of Shadow Ranch
The Haunted Carousel

Thanks for reading my review!

Best Nancy Yet

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: August 22, 2008
Author: Amazon User

This is definately the best Nancy Drew yet. This game is TWICE as long as the other games. This has to do with some puzzles that are very long to get through. (such as a card game that you have to win twice). Very fun puzzles, many surprises throughout the game. The animations are more detailed, just a great game!

nancy drew :the phamton in venice

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: August 17, 2008
Author: Amazon User

i love all of these games,but this one was not as good and as long as some of the others.

Nancy Drew does it again!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: August 17, 2008
Author: Amazon User

If you are a Nancy Drew fan this is a great game to add to your collection. Again you play as Nancy Drew to help solve a mystery. Although this isn't my favorite Nancy Drew game, it comes a close 3rd best in my opinion. The only thing different about this game is you can't call home for clues like all the previous games.

Not up to par

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: August 16, 2008
Author: Amazon User

The Nancy Drew games up to now have been excellent with many enjoyable puzzles of varying difficulty, but this one doesn't meet those high standards of game playing. I had the feeling that the creators rushed this one into production to meet a deadline because it had the usual good voice acting, scenes,and navigation, and the usual "get out fast" at the end, but added silly stuff (changing clothes for points??) and sooooo much dialogue at the expense of fun puzzles. I hope this doesn't mean that the games are going downhill.

Another good Nancy Drew

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: August 14, 2008
Author: Amazon User

I really enjoy the Nancy Drew Nancy Drew: The Phantom of Venice games and just wish there were more of the series compatible with Windows Vista. I am 57 and enjoyed this game as much as my 15-year old granddaughter does. Am anxiously awaiting the next one.

Phantom or not?

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: August 12, 2008
Author: Amazon User

I love Nancy Drew games, but I found this one to be lacking in the Phantom department. You only see the Phantom once during the whole game, which is very disappointing to me as I played the game. But overall the game play was wonderful as usual. Her Interactive really put a lot of mini games in here and some cool little hidden things to do also. So even though you only get to see the Phantom once the game, overall, really is GREAT!

Phantom is Phantastic

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: August 12, 2008
Author: Amazon User

Loved this game. We love Nancy Drew and have to have the games as soon as they are released. This one was no disappointment. If you are a mystery fan and like a good story to your game this is the one for you It was Great!!! Looking forward to the next one!!!

not bad

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: August 09, 2008
Author: Amazon User

The last few Nancy Drew games are "missing" something. This was fun but it was short and not as challenging. The excitement of "mystery" just wasn't there. The adventure was lacking. The graphics are wonderful. Story line was good. Maybe I am just spoiled from previous games? This is still fun and i am anxious for the next one.

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