Nancy Drew Dossier: Lights, Camera, Curses!
- July 17, 2009
- HeR Interactive
Get on SteamIn "Nancy Drew Dossier: Lights, Camera, Curses!", players take on the role of Nancy Drew as she investigates suspicious events on the set of a controversial film remake. As a fast-paced and fun casual game, players will search for hidden objects, pick locks, and decipher codes to uncover the truth behind uncanny accidents and press leaks. With a variety of puzzles and challenges to solve, players must catch loose reptiles, a cursed black cat, and uncover the alternate ending to the original film in this immersive and engaging detective adventure.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features a fun and engaging storyline with interesting characters, making it enjoyable for both younger audiences and fans of the Nancy Drew series.
- The mini-games, particularly the smoothie-making arcade, are entertaining and add replay value, despite some being tedious at times.
- The gameplay mechanics, which involve pairing objects to solve puzzles, provide a unique twist on the traditional hidden object format, making it a refreshing experience.
- The game is relatively short (4-6 hours) and may feel too easy for players seeking a more challenging experience, especially those familiar with the original Nancy Drew games.
- Players are required to achieve a high score to unlock a special ending, which can be frustrating as it limits replayability and can lead to missed opportunities due to minor mistakes.
- Many mini-games can become repetitive and tedious, detracting from the overall enjoyment of the game, and some mechanics, like timed events, can be annoying.
- story28 mentions
- 61 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game is generally well-received, with many players appreciating its engaging narrative, colorful setting, and interesting characters. While some found the plot to be predictable or derivative, others highlighted its suspenseful twists and entertaining elements, making it a recommendable experience for fans of the genre. However, a few critiques noted that the gameplay could become repetitive and that the story might not stand out compared to other titles in the Nancy Drew series.
“The story-line is fascinating!”
“The story is excellent, full of suspense, and has major twist endings and turns, just as you think you know who the culprit is, something happens that makes you suspect it's another person, then another person, very entertaining!”
“The storyline and plot are clever and immersive, with several twists and turns.”
“This one's story is quite derivative too.”
“The story is pretty boring and the ending is a rip-off of 'Blue Moon Canyon' from the main Nancy Drew series.”
“It's a stupid, not interesting story with boring gameplay.”
- gameplay10 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
Gameplay in this title offers a mix of traditional hidden object mechanics and unique match-object puzzles, which some players find refreshing while others feel it deviates too much from classic Nancy Drew games. While the main gameplay is generally considered fun and improved from previous entries, the mini-games are often criticized as tedious, and some mechanics feel rushed or poorly executed. Overall, the experience is polarizing, appealing to those open to change but potentially disappointing for long-time fans of the series.
“Way better than Scarlet Hand and Final Scene, the first two games I played of the Nancy Drew series... gameplay mechanics are vastly improved in a very good way and the story is okay.”
“I like the match object A with object B to do things mechanic of this game; it's somewhat unique.”
“The 'dossier' entries focus heavily on hidden object game mechanics compared to the mainline entries in the franchise.”
“It's a stupid, not interesting story with boring gameplay.”
“It feels like the creation of this game was rushed, so the controls aren't polished, the mini-games could have a tweak here and there, and the game mechanics cause some absurd things, like a photo camera requiring the batteries to take the negatives out, and, right after that, Nancy taking out the negatives and putting them onto the table in direct white light (in real life that would ruin the picture, that's why we needed that red light bulb in the first place).”
- grinding4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, particularly in arcade mode, where mini-games become more of a chore than enjoyable. While some users note that the mini-games can be manageable after a few attempts, the overall sentiment leans towards a lack of excitement as the game progresses.
“Unfortunately, there are many aspects of this game that become tedious or annoying.”
“While at first it was pretty fun to play, it later got tedious and repetitive towards the end; minigames were more of a chore than fun.”
“Mini games in story mode are okay, but in arcade they become boring and tedious.”
- replayability4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The game is highly regarded for its replayability, particularly for newcomers to the Nancy Drew series, thanks to its engaging mini-games and hidden object elements. Players are encouraged to replay to achieve special endings and improve their scores, enhancing the overall experience.
“In a way, there is a bit of replay value to the game for those who want to get the special ending since it can be a bit difficult to get the number of points necessary.”
“It's a great introduction to the Nancy Drew video games; it's fantastic for beginners. The arcade games give it more replay value, and the 'hidden object' aspect of the game is clever.”
“LCC has a lot of replay value for these mini-games.”
- graphics4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The graphics are polished and colorful, featuring an impressive Edward Gorey-inspired opening title sequence and well-executed artwork throughout. However, the game offers limited movement and relies heavily on finding hidden objects and answering prompts, which detracts from the overall mystery experience.
“Colorful graphics and other art.”
“The Edward Gorey-esque opening title sequence is brilliantly done, as is all the artwork throughout.”
“It has more limited-movement graphics.”
“It's only vaguely a Nancy Drew game - the graphics are a bit more polished, but everything is laid out for you step by step and the 'mysteries' that you have to solve are simply finding hidden objects in large rooms and answering prompts to show that you were paying attention.”
- music2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The music in Lcc is praised for its quality and consistency, reflecting the familiar style of the adventure series fans have come to appreciate. It complements the game's engaging settings and characters, enhancing the overall experience.
“Lcc has many great aspects, including the music, voice acting, cool settings, fun mini games, and suspicious characters.”
“The music, voice acting, sound effects, etc. are all still by the same people as the adventure series you may have already come to know and love.”
“The music feels repetitive and lacks variety, making it hard to stay engaged.”
“While the sound effects are decent, the overall soundtrack is forgettable and uninspired.”
“The voice acting is inconsistent, which detracts from the overall experience of the game.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its smooth performance and lack of bugs, indicating strong optimization.
“Another fact in its favor is that it runs smoothly and without bugs.”
