Nancy Drew: Ghost of Thornton Hall
- May 14, 2013
- HeR Interactive, Inc.
In Nancy Drew: Ghost of Thornton Hall, players assume the role of the famous teen detective as they investigate a mysterious disappearance at a historic mansion. Players explore the haunted estate, gather clues, and solve puzzles to uncover the truth behind the ghostly happenings. With multiple suspects and a spooky atmosphere, it's a challenging and engaging mystery game for all ages.
Reviews
- The game features a creepy atmosphere with beautiful pre-rendered art and a haunting soundtrack.
- Puzzles are engaging and challenging, providing a satisfying experience for players.
- The story is intriguing with well-developed characters, and the dialogue is enjoyable, showcasing the writers' creativity.
- Some players experienced technical issues, including crashes and difficulty seeing items due to the game's dark lighting.
- The game can feel short and some puzzles may be overly complicated or not intuitive, leading to frustration.
- While the story is compelling, some players found it hard to get invested or felt it lacked depth in certain areas.
- story91 mentions
- 52 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players praising its depth, engaging characters, and intriguing plot twists, particularly in the context of a spooky mystery. However, some found the narrative hard to follow or lacking resolution, and a few noted that the game could feel linear or overly reliant on side quests. Overall, while the story is often described as compelling and atmospheric, opinions vary on its execution and emotional impact.
“This game has easily the strongest cast of characters, engaging mystery and backstory, plethora of damn good puzzles and memorable locations to explore.”
“The story of this family and the tragedy of Charlotte is very engaging and fascinating.”
“From the southern gothic aesthetics to the multi-generational family melodrama to the complex and mysterious characters, the story and artistic direction of this game is possibly the best of the series.”
“However, I just couldn't get into the story with this one.”
“Definitely not my all-time favorite, as I found the story hard to understand at times, and the final puzzles to get to the resolution are annoyingly difficult.”
“I was bored with this game; too many puzzles and the story didn't captivate me.”
- atmosphere25 mentions
- 72 % positive mentions
- 28 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in this Nancy Drew game is widely praised for its haunting and spooky qualities, enhanced by beautiful pre-rendered art, effective sound design, and a Victorian setting. Reviewers highlight the game's ability to create a genuinely creepy mood, with many noting the successful integration of jump scares and immersive background sounds. Overall, the atmosphere is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's appeal despite some critiques regarding the story and puzzle difficulty.
“Exactly what I want in a Nancy Drew game: beautiful pre-rendered art, a haunting atmosphere, methodical puzzles, and an intriguing mystery.”
“I enjoyed the spooky atmosphere and the Victorian vibes the mansion gave throughout.”
“Perfect atmosphere, just the right amount of spooky.”
“Not only were there quite a few jump scares, but the atmosphere and background sounds definitely put it over the edge!”
“I will say this one was definitely more focused on the characters and their personalities than on a mysterious atmosphere.”
“I craze this game for its atmosphere and puzzles.”
- graphics19 mentions
- 53 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Overall, the graphics in this game have received positive feedback, with many players noting a significant improvement over previous installments. The visuals are described as detailed, atmospheric, and effectively contributing to the game's spooky ambiance, although some users expressed mixed feelings about character rendering. While the graphics may not match the standards of more advanced titles, they are considered well-crafted and engaging within the context of the game.
“I loved the graphics in this installment and it felt more detailed with a spooky ambiance.”
“The visuals are scary but beautiful at the same time.”
“Great aesthetic, and super creepy to play alone at night.”
“Didn't care for the graphics; I'm not sure why some of the new games have such good rendering on the characters while in some, like this one, they all look like paper dolls who have been pasted onto a slightly more realistic looking picture of the setting.”
“If you are a serious gamer, you can't expect these games to have the kinds of graphics and interaction that other games have (i.e. Portal), but for what they are, they are very well done and fairly entertaining.”
“The graphics are also pretty neat.”
- music10 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 30 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its ability to enhance the spooky atmosphere, with many reviewers noting it as one of the best soundtracks in the series. The soundtrack effectively contributes to the game's tension and immersion, making it a standout feature that complements the puzzles and storyline. Overall, players recommend experiencing the game in a dark setting to fully appreciate the chilling effects of the music.
“This tops the rankings for music & atmosphere.”
“I recommend playing this game at night with the lights off, you'll get some delicious scares and the music makes everything perfectly spooky.”
“The music in the game is top notch as well; definitely one of the best Nancy Drew soundtracks to date.”
“Also, that soundtrack scared the hell out of me; I felt like someone was following me.”
“While there are a lot that I have not played (since I have a Mac), the music and atmosphere of this game are not enjoyable.”
“The graphics, voices, and music are subpar.”
- gameplay7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The gameplay is praised for its solid mechanics, engaging puzzles, and a genuinely creepy atmosphere, enhancing the overall experience. Players appreciate the unique communication features and the interesting characters, while the updated format allows for a more streamlined experience, including the option to skip conversations. Overall, the combination of story, humor, and innovative gameplay elements resonates well with fans of the genre.
“Excellent gameplay, fantastic puzzles, and scary!”
“The good points were a genuinely creepy atmosphere, and the mechanic of being able to talk to people (in person and by phone) which shouldn't be a big deal, but which is weirdly rare in first-person puzzle and detective games.”
“They are totally my kind of game - the gameplay, the puzzles, the stories, even the humor (yeah, it's there ;)) is exactly my preference.”
“The location itself doesn't really pertain much to the game, which in my opinion, makes the gameplay so much more realistic.”
- humor3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by its hilarious dialogue and entertaining character interactions, particularly with the character Harper. Players appreciate the blend of spooky elements and enjoyable puzzles, which complement the comedic aspects, making it a well-rounded experience that aligns with their preferences.
“The dialogue is absolutely hilarious! I really enjoyed that there was a good amount of spooky ghost appearances, and the puzzles were enjoyable!”
“They did my girl Harper dirty, but she was really funny, to be honest.”
“They are totally my kind of game - the gameplay, the puzzles, the stories, even the humor (yeah, it's there!) is exactly my preference.”
- character development2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviewers praise the game for its strong storyline and excellent character development, highlighting the depth and animation of the characters that contribute to an eerie atmosphere.
“Great storyline, excellent character development, and it definitely gives you an eerie feeling.”
“Also, great character development and animation!”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious due to the difficulty of some puzzles, but those seeking a challenging, atmospheric experience may still enjoy it.