Nancy Drew: Danger by Design

81%
Game Brain Score Based on 131 reviews
  • story
  • humor
  • grinding
Nancy Drew: Danger by Design Game Cover
Platform Tested: PC Genre: Role Player Game (RPG) Rating: E (Mild Violence) Nancy Drew is sent to Paris on an undercover assignment to investigate the actions of Minette, an eccentric fashion designer who has been wearing a mask for months and behaving erratically. Along the way, she learns quite
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In "Nancy Drew: Danger by Design," players assume the role of detective Nancy Drew as she investigates strange behavior from famous fashion designer Minette in Paris. Explore the city, interrogate suspects, and solve puzzles related to fashion, photography, and more to uncover the truth. With the 'Second Chance' feature, players can correct mistakes along the way for a more enjoyable experience.

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Reviews

81%
Audience ScoreBased on 131 reviews
story17 positive mentions
grinding8 negative mentions
  • The Parisian setting and atmosphere are well-executed, immersing players in the fashion world.
  • The game features a variety of enjoyable puzzles, with some being challenging yet satisfying to solve.
  • The characters are quirky and memorable, adding humor and depth to the overall experience.
  • The plot is convoluted and lacks cohesiveness, with many loose ends and an unsatisfying ending.
  • Several puzzles are tedious or poorly designed, leading to frustration and confusion during gameplay.
  • The game suffers from bugs and technical issues, which can disrupt the experience and require frequent saving.
  • story57 mentions

    The game's story is a mixed bag, with some players finding it intriguing and atmospheric, particularly in its Parisian setting, while others criticize it for being convoluted and lacking cohesiveness. Many reviews highlight interesting characters and side plots, such as that of Noisette Tornade, but also point out significant plot holes and an unsatisfying ending. Overall, while the story has its merits, it often feels disjointed and fails to deliver a compelling narrative arc.

    • “Beautiful backgrounds, an intriguing story, and enjoyable, challenging puzzles make it an excellent game for players who want to explore an atmospheric mystery set in Paris.”
    • “The story and mystery is also a bit muddled, with the game providing an endgame exposition dump to tie the whole thing together.”
    • “I really liked the overall story.”
    • “The plot is convoluted and, without spoiling, you spend a majority of your time doing something other than solving the mystery at hand.”
    • “The story really makes no sense at all.”
    • “The game has good puzzles, solid characters, a great setting, and some genuinely funny moments, but there is plenty of padding, the plot is a disjointed mess, and there are some genuinely annoying and tedious sections throughout.”
  • humor13 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by its quirky characters, funny accents, and bizarre situations that often elicit genuine laughter, particularly during climactic moments and character interactions. While some sections can be tedious or frustrating, the overall comedic elements, such as the over-the-top antics of characters like Minette, provide memorable and entertaining experiences. However, the humor is sometimes overshadowed by a disjointed plot and annoying gameplay segments.

    • “I loved the concurrent plotlines going on in this one and it's also extremely funny.”
    • “The climax and 'final boss' are one of the most hilariously bizarre I have ever seen in a video game.”
    • “Never heard anything like it, it's just so crazy and over-dramatized (she nearly took Nancy's head off with a flower pot at one point, lol), it was hilarious, and had me in tears!”
  • grinding8 mentions

    Overall, players find the grinding aspects of the game to be tedious and repetitive, with certain puzzles and mini-games feeling like chores rather than enjoyable challenges. While there are moments of humor and solid character development, the padding and disjointed plot contribute to a frustrating experience, particularly towards the end.

    • “The whole painting thing was a tedious chore.”
    • “Helping Dieter develop photos in his dark room was particularly tedious and irritating.”
    • “I found the storyline tedious, the mini game to make money too repetitive, and the conclusion very unsatisfying.”
  • graphics7 mentions

    The graphics are generally considered outdated, reflecting the game's age, but they are still appreciated for their charm and ability to enhance the storytelling and atmosphere. While not on par with modern standards, many players find them acceptable and nostalgic, contributing positively to the overall experience.

    • “I truly loved seeing Sonny's trail of notes and artwork again!”
    • “It's not a particularly scary game, but the graphics in some scenes (the windmill, the park, the catacombs, etc.) really make the game!”
    • “The graphics are very outdated, of course, but the story and puzzles are still great.”
    • “The graphics hold up too - obviously they're not state of the art by today's standards but don't hold back out of fear that they'll hurt your eyes.”
    • “Not as new as other indie games, so the graphics and interface are outdated in comparison (not necessarily a con).”
  • gameplay3 mentions

    The gameplay is generally engaging, with enjoyable and satisfying puzzles that avoid repetition or boredom. However, some players find the mystery aspect lacking, and there can be frustration stemming from reliance on character dialogue for gameplay direction.

    • “The puzzles and gameplay are solid and fun.”
    • “The gameplay is engaging and keeps you on your toes.”
    • “This is frustrating, especially for those of us who get direction in gameplay from dialogue with other characters.”
  • stability2 mentions

    The game suffers from significant stability issues, including critical bugs that can prevent essential dialogue from triggering, necessitating replaying sections. While there are some minor glitches in puzzles, they are generally manageable and do not severely impact gameplay.

    • “Unfortunately, the game is very buggy; we had to replay most of it because one essential piece of dialogue wouldn't trigger.”
    • “There are a couple of glitches in the puzzles, but they are not showstoppers, and you can easily just guess the missing elements.”
  • atmosphere1 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is enhanced by its beautiful backgrounds, an intriguing story, and enjoyable yet challenging puzzles, creating an immersive experience for players exploring a mysterious setting in Paris.

    • “Beautiful backgrounds, an intriguing story, and enjoyable, challenging puzzles make it an excellent game for players who want to explore an atmospheric mystery set in Paris.”
  • music1 mentions

    Users report issues with the game's music functionality, noting that while the music plays, the game itself fails to run properly on Windows 7.

    • “I have Windows 7, and it just won't run; I can only hear music.”
    • “The soundtrack is repetitive and lacks variety.”
    • “The music doesn't fit the game's atmosphere and feels out of place.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

80% average critic score

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