Nancy Drew: Ransom of the Seven Ships

63%
Game Brain Score Based on 51 reviews
  • story
  • grinding
  • gameplay
Nancy Drew: Ransom of the Seven Ships Game Cover
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Dive into Danger to Rescue Bess from Kidnappers!

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Reviews

63%
Audience ScoreBased on 51 reviews
story7 positive mentions
grinding8 negative mentions
  • The game features a good variety of puzzles and activities, providing a decent level of challenge.
  • The music and graphics are well done, creating an enjoyable atmosphere that enhances the gameplay experience.
  • The inclusion of Bess and George adds a nostalgic element for long-time fans of the series.
  • Many puzzles are tedious or overly complicated, often requiring walkthroughs to complete, which detracts from the enjoyment.
  • The story feels underdeveloped and fails to utilize its characters effectively, leading to a lack of engagement.
  • Navigation around the island can be frustrating and slow, making the gameplay feel more like a chore than an adventure.
  • story17 mentions

    The game's story has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it intriguing and well-crafted, particularly appreciating plot twists and historical elements, while others criticize it as lacking depth and character development. Although the narrative includes interesting concepts and references to previous games, many feel that the overall execution is disappointing, making the story feel flat and at times tedious to progress through. Overall, while the setting and backstory are praised, the story's potential is often seen as underutilized.

    • “The game has a good plot and entertaining puzzles.”
    • “Story-wise, I am surprised that they brought back a villain from one of her early games, and that it is revealed that the villain had tracked Nancy's successes through the series.”
    • “But the story was absolutely brilliant, 10/10, and, for me, is what won me over.”
    • “The story is just a heaping plate of wasted potential.”
    • “While it has some solid virtues, I feel like it fails to entertain, and finishing the main story feels more like a chore than anything else.”
    • “The plot was as flat as you can get.”
  • grinding8 mentions

    Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, with many tasks and puzzles lacking challenge and requiring excessive backtracking. While some activities, like interacting with monkeys, can be rewarding, they often feel more like time fillers than engaging gameplay. The lack of immediate feedback on achievements further contributes to the frustration of grinding.

    • “Driving the golf cart, playing endless games with the monkeys, sailing... all are just tedious additions to pad out the run time.”
    • “However, it became extremely tedious... go here, do this, only to find out that I needed to go back to the beginning to get what I needed, then back again, etc.”
    • “Out of the Nancy Drew games that I have played, this one is fun, but a little tedious to constantly travel from place to place.”
  • gameplay6 mentions

    The gameplay is generally praised for its engaging puzzles and immersive mechanics typical of the franchise, though some players express frustration with the driving segments, which detract from the overall experience. While most episodes maintain the core gameplay elements, a few notable exceptions exist, particularly those aimed at younger audiences. Overall, the combination of intriguing puzzles and atmospheric music contributes to a memorable gameplay experience.

    • “It turned out to be pretty fun because the puzzles and gameplay were interesting and new.”
    • “Most games in the franchise are well-known for their immersive, puzzle-based gameplay and suspect-questioning mechanics, which I always enjoy, and this one did not disappoint.”
    • “Except for driving around the island, I didn't love this sort of gameplay in other Nancy Drew games, but I really hated it in this one.”
    • “Only one or two episodes I've played so far have deviated drastically from the core gameplay, one being a Nintendo DS release aimed toward very young players and not nearly on the same level as the main series.”
    • “The background music haunted my mind long after gameplay.”
  • music5 mentions

    The music in the Nancy Drew games is generally praised for its quality and integration with the visuals, but some players find it overly cheerful and repetitive, especially given the serious themes of the storyline, such as kidnapping. Overall, it leaves a lasting impression, both positive and negative.

    • “The music in basically all of the Nancy Drew games is good, and this one is no exception.”
    • “Great visuals and music, though.”
    • “The music is way too cheery considering we are dealing with a kidnapping, and is really repetitive.”
    • “The background music haunted my mind long after gameplay.”
  • graphics5 mentions

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews; while some players appreciate the visuals and art style, noting their consistency and charm, others criticize them as outdated, likening them to 1980s Nintendo games. Overall, the graphics are seen as a strong point by some, but many feel they lack innovation and modern appeal.

    • “This is a great game with lots of puzzles to play, and I love the graphics in this game.”
    • “Great visuals and music though.”
    • “The graphics were great as always, and seeing Bess and George was great.”
    • “Graphics are even dumber than the 1980s Nintendo games.”
    • “The art style has been identical across all 35 or whatever they're up to now games, such that it feels like they were all made in the early 2000s and are just slowly getting released for marketing reasons.”
  • atmosphere1 mentions

    The atmosphere is characterized by pleasant steel drum music that effectively creates an island vibe, although its lighthearted tone contrasts with the narrative's high stakes.

    • “Pleasant steel drums perfectly invoke an island atmosphere, though their lighthearted sound does clash with the high stakes of the narrative.”
  • emotional1 mentions

    Players report that the game effectively evokes a strong sense of escapism, making them feel as though they are genuinely experiencing a vacation.

    • “Made me feel like I was really on vacation.”
  • humor1 mentions

    The game features a humorous hint-giving bird reminiscent of the one from Blackmoor Manor, adding a lighthearted touch to the gameplay experience. Players appreciate this comedic element, which enhances the overall enjoyment of the game.

    • “The game features a funny hint-giving bird that's reminiscent of the one in Blackmoor Manor.”
    • “The humor in this game is spot-on, with clever jokes and witty dialogue that keep you entertained.”
    • “I love how the game incorporates humor into its puzzles, making even the challenging parts enjoyable.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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