Nancy Drew: The Captive Curse
- July 25, 2011
- HeR Interactive
- 18h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on Apple StoreIn Nancy Drew: The Captive Curse, players become the famous detective to uncover the truth behind a centuries-old curse. Explore a castle and its vast grounds in Italy while solving puzzles, interviewing suspects, and avoiding obstacles. Can you save the townsfolk from the supposed curse or will you become its next victim? Delve into a thrilling mystery and experience an unforgettable adventure in this captivating game.
Reviews
- The game features a captivating story with well-developed characters and an intriguing mystery, making it a standout in the Nancy Drew series.
- Puzzles are enjoyable and balanced in difficulty, providing a satisfying challenge without being overly convoluted.
- The atmosphere of the game is enhanced by its spooky castle setting and engaging mini-games, which add to the overall fun experience.
- Navigation can be confusing and tedious, often leading to frustration as players may get lost or struggle to find the next objective.
- The game is dialogue-heavy, which can slow down the pacing and detract from the overall experience for some players.
- Certain puzzles may feel too easy or obvious, reducing the sense of accomplishment when solving them.
- story53 mentions
- 47 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The story in this game is generally well-received, featuring developed characters and an intriguing plot that incorporates elements of German folklore, though some find it a bit silly or lacking in logic. While the pacing and atmosphere are praised, with engaging dialogue and a mix of lightheartedness and suspense, there are criticisms regarding side plots and unresolved mysteries. Overall, players appreciate the captivating storyline and enjoyable puzzles, making it a fun experience despite some narrative flaws.
“The characters, atmosphere, story, and music are absolutely amazing!”
“The story line of this game is completely captivating.”
“I was hooked from the start and immediately loved the spooky setting and the story.”
“The story is okay, but the game overall is so slow and dull.”
“However, it falls flat in the actual logic of the story a bit, which is a big flaw in a mystery game.”
“While there are some thrilling aspects, and I enjoy the setting of an old German castle, the rest of the story is lackluster.”
- atmosphere10 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 30 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its spooky and immersive qualities, particularly within the large, eerie castle setting that enhances the mystery. Reviewers highlight the effective use of sound and visuals, creating a captivating ambiance that complements the engaging story and characters. The blend of cozy and unsettling elements, along with references to folklore, further enriches the overall experience, making it a standout feature of the game.
“Great atmosphere and the large empty halls of the castle provide the perfect setting for a spooky monster mystery.”
“I found the locations and sounds to be the spookiest part of this game; the atmosphere is very well done.”
“The castle, as a location, is very atmospheric and creepy.”
“Sure, the deep red and maroon of the hallways can be a bit unsettling, but it's at least more cozy than the dark and foreboding atmosphere of the outdoor courtyard.”
- music6 mentions
- 83 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is highly praised for enhancing the atmosphere and complementing the story, with many users highlighting the soundtrack as a standout feature that effectively sets the mood. Overall, the combination of great character dialogues and engaging music contributes significantly to the immersive experience.
“The characters, atmosphere, story, and music are absolutely amazing!”
“Love the music, the story, the game design.”
“I liked the puzzles as well and the music was really good to set the mood of the game.”
- humor6 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by witty dialogue and charming characters, making the experience entertaining and engaging. Players appreciate the comedic elements, including absurd scenarios and quirky interactions, though some noted plot holes that could have been explored further. Overall, the humor adds a delightful layer to the gameplay, keeping players amused throughout.
“The dialogue is so funny and witty; all the characters are super charming and unique. The controls are fairly easy to grasp, and the story is a lot of fun to play through - I never got stuck for too long and never got bored.”
“It was entertaining, frustrating, and funny... a lot of screaming at the monitor, a lot of pleading, giving cake to old ladies, being mean to small children, taking pictures of sleeping people, and spying on cameras.”
“Lukas and Karl are very funny.”
- gameplay5 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 40 % negative mentions
Gameplay is a mixed experience, with some players appreciating the blend of suspense and creepiness reminiscent of classic Nancy Drew titles, while others find certain puzzles poorly explained and frustratingly glitchy. The reduction in social interactions is noted as a downside, but the experimentation with game mechanics is acknowledged. Overall, the gameplay offers intriguing elements but suffers from execution issues.
“There is a perfect mixture of suspense and creepiness, something true (yet sometimes missing in newer versions) to Nancy Drew gameplay.”
“Puzzles - I found some of these badly explained; I often had no idea what to do and ended up having to Google a few times to get an explanation for the mechanics.”
“The ones I found were not integral to gameplay and progression; however, it would've been nice to see them.”
- graphics5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
Overall, the graphics are generally considered good, especially for a game made in 2011, though some users note that they are not optimized for widescreen. While the visuals are appreciated, there are mixed opinions on the quality of voice acting, and some recommend exploring older titles in the series for better narratives despite their dated graphics.
“The characters are well developed, and the graphics are quite good.”
“All amazing parts of the game, and that's not even taking the graphics and scenery into account!”
“Graphics are good (made in 2011; Her Interactive's more recent games have improved graphics), but my main complaint is that the game is not formatted for widescreen.”
“If this is your first time looking at the Nancy Drew game series, I tend to recommend some of the more classic titles, which are, in my opinion, of higher quality and contain better narratives. Keep in mind though that their graphics and game engines may be a bit more dated, being from the earlier 2000s.”
- grinding4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be extremely tedious and often reliant on chance, though some appreciate the inclusion of puzzles that provide a slight reprieve from the monotony. Overall, the grinding is viewed as a significant drawback, detracting from the overall experience.
“Extremely tedious and completely chance-based.”
“There are some good puzzles, and it's not the worst setting, but I find this one pretty tedious.”
“Quite tedious.”
- character development1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviewers highlight that the game features strong character development alongside engaging puzzles and clues, suggesting a well-rounded narrative experience.
“Great puzzles and clues, with excellent character development.”
