- September 15, 2011
- HeR Interactive
- 20h median play time
Nancy Drew: Shadow at the Water's Edge
Platforms
About
Nancy Drew: Shadow at the Water's Edge is a point-and-click adventure game where players assume the role of the detective to solve a mystery. While on vacation in Japan at a traditional ryokan, guests have been scared away by reports of a vengeful ghost. Explore the environment, interrogate suspects, and solve puzzles to uncover the secret behind the ghost before it takes revenge. This first-person perspective game requires players to use their detective skills to solve the mystery.











- The game features a compelling and spooky storyline that keeps players engaged.
- The puzzles are challenging and varied, including fun mini-games like making bento boxes and solving nonograms.
- The atmosphere is beautifully designed, immersing players in a Japanese setting with a mix of cultural elements.
- Many players found the number-based puzzles, particularly Sudoku and nonograms, to be tedious and overly complex.
- The voice acting for some characters, especially the Japanese ones, was criticized for being insensitive and poorly executed.
- The game has navigation issues and can feel repetitive, with some players getting stuck due to unclear objectives or dialogue.
- story124 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
The story in this game is generally praised for its intriguing plot, rich character development, and immersive setting, particularly with its haunting themes and emotional depth. While many players found the narrative engaging and well-crafted, some noted that it could be overshadowed by challenging puzzles or predictable elements. Overall, the combination of a compelling storyline and interactive gameplay keeps players invested, despite occasional criticisms regarding pacing and complexity.
“The storyline in this game is top notch, investigating the mysterious 'haunting' and the lore behind the mother's death.”
“The story was interesting and the mini-games, like making the bento boxes, were amazing!”
“The story sticks strong throughout the entire game and the ending is satisfying as always.”
“The downside of this particular game (compared to other Nancy Drew games) is that the motive of the 'bad guy' and the story don't really match.”
“Overall, for a story-focused game, it does suffer from its rather predictable plot, and it does leave things unexplained here and there, plus the ending of the game feels too happy.”
“If I played Nancy Drew solely for the storyline, I would be really disappointed.”