Nancy Drew: The Creature of Kapu Cave
- July 17, 2009
- HeR Interactive
- 5h median play time
Platform Tested: PC Genre: Strategy Rating: E Nancy Drew joins the Hardy Boys on Hawaii's Big Island and they all get more than they bargained for. She's there to help a local entomologist study bug habits, but she stumbles upon a mystery encompassing local mythology, petty crime, and a scientist
Get on SteamIn Nancy Drew: The Creature of Kapu Cave, players assume the role of detective Nancy Drew or the Hardy Boys to investigate strange occurrences at a Hawaiian research compound. As they explore lush environments, interrogate suspects, and solve puzzles, players can design shell necklaces and use a GPS system to navigate the island. The mystery revolves around protecting the island from a destructive force, either a mythical creature or unfriendly rivals.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Beautiful environments that evoke a strong sense of place, particularly the Hawaiian setting.
- Relaxing soundtrack and enjoyable minigames, such as making necklaces and fishing, contribute to a cozy vibe.
- The ability to switch between Nancy and the Hardy Boys adds variety and showcases their distinct personalities.
- The story is weak and predictable, with a lack of engaging suspects and a rushed ending.
- Many characters are unlikable and rude, detracting from the overall experience.
- The gameplay involves tedious tasks and chores rather than meaningful puzzles, making it feel more like busywork.
- story60 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The story in this game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it lacking in depth and coherence, often describing it as convoluted and rushed. While some appreciated the interesting characters and setting, they noted that the plot felt disjointed, with unresolved plot points and a lack of engaging puzzles that detracted from the overall experience. Overall, the narrative is seen as a missed opportunity, with potential that was not fully realized, leaving players wanting more from the mystery and character development.
“I'm also glad that the villain of the story wasn't all that evil; I still liked them after finding out who they really were.”
“I actually found the story really interesting, and enjoyed all the characters a lot.”
“The story line is good, with a few nice twists, and science themes.”
“The story is convoluted and confusing, and the motives and basically the entire mystery surrounding the culprit are only revealed at the very end.”
“It's obvious some corners were cut during the production - most minigames were designed to just eat time and make the game look longer, the characters are underwritten and the story ends abruptly, requiring Nancy to provide exposition in the ending narration to fill in the gaps.”
“The plot is not well done; it's like three weak subplots smooshed together to make the 'mystery'.”
- grinding13 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being tedious and repetitive, with many tasks feeling more like chores than engaging puzzles. Players noted that earning in-game currency for puzzles often felt like an uninteresting grind, and the side activities lacked incentive, contributing to an overall sense of monotony. While some found enjoyment in the puzzles, the majority felt they were either boring or overly simplistic, leading to a disappointing experience.
“There's a fair bit of backtracking, and some of the tasks can be quite repetitive and tedious.”
“However, earning the money needed to get to the puzzles became a bit tedious throughout the game, and the whole wrap-up at the end seemed to come about very suddenly without much actual mystery solving on my part at all.”
“There's no incentive to do the side activities, especially since they're tedious and monotonous.”
- gameplay12 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 75 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The gameplay in this Nancy Drew installment is a mixed bag, featuring an interesting mechanic that allows players to switch between Nancy and the Hardy Boys, though it feels underutilized compared to later games. While the puzzles are intuitive and plentiful, the overall mystery lacks depth, and some players found the moment-to-moment gameplay tedious and filled with busywork. Despite its shortcomings, the game still offers enjoyable puzzle-solving elements for fans of the series.
“It did feel shorter, but the puzzles and gameplay felt intuitive to me!”
“The main gimmick for this game is being able to switch between Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys, a mechanic that later games would expand on even further.”
“There is a lot (like 80% of the gameplay) more puzzles than dialogue and characters, so if that is what you like, then go for it!”
“There isn't a compelling mystery, the voice acting is grating, and the moment-to-moment gameplay is all busywork.”
“I liked the back and forth with the Hardy Boys, but some of the gameplay on their side could be a bit boring and time-consuming (I stuck to fishing for making money).”
“I don't hold it to the same standard as the others in this series, as the mystery factor turned out a bit disappointing and the gameplay could've been better, but I didn't dislike the game.”
- graphics8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
Overall, the graphics in this game received mixed reviews; while some players praised the visuals as outstanding, particularly in specific scenes, others noted issues with janky animations that detracted from immersion. The graphics were generally considered enjoyable and fitting for the game's era, though not groundbreaking, and many appreciated the aesthetic despite some criticisms of character designs.
“The visuals in this installment of Nancy Drew were outstanding - especially the underwater scuba scenes!”
“I love the graphics and the storyline is enjoyable, and the puzzles are not too difficult.”
“Plus, the graphics were nice, and I could appreciate the fact that when this game came out, the graphics would have been fairly cutting edge for a Nancy Drew game.”
“The story is quite nice actually with interesting characters and nice voice acting, but the somewhat weird jank of the graphics and animations in this game specifically kind of takes the immersion out of it.”
“The graphics and acting quality are typical of early interactive standards: certainly not award-winning, but enjoyable nonetheless (although I do have some words about what they did to the poor Hardy brothers' faces).”
“Sadly, this was the first time I ever felt cheated out of my money on a Nancy Drew game, so I'd give it 1/5 stars for worth but 4/5 for visuals.”
- music6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally described as relaxing and enjoyable, enhancing the calming atmosphere of the environment. While some players appreciated the soundtrack, noting it as a positive aspect, others felt it was merely adequate, typical of Nancy Drew games. Overall, the music contributes positively to the gaming experience, though some players desired more depth in the story.
“The relaxing music, fishing, and collecting shells... it's very calming for me.”
“I also enjoyed the relaxing music, and the computer in Big Island Mike's where you can learn a lot about Hawai'i.”
“Nancy Drew games usually have fairly decent music.”
“The music was all right.”
“Nancy Drew games usually have fairly decent music.”
- humor4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game features genuinely funny moments, particularly through characters like Malachi Craven, despite limited dialogue options. Players appreciate the kooky sense of humor, engaging minigames, and clever puzzles that enhance the overall comedic experience.
“He has some genuinely funny bits in this game.”
“Despite the limited character interactions, Malachi Craven is hilarious.”
“They're excellent point-and-click adventure games with a kooky sense of humor, fun minigames, and great puzzles.”
- atmosphere3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is generally praised for its pleasant and intriguing qualities, particularly highlighted in the Kapu Cave, where players express a desire for more time to explore. The chill island setting at the beginning also contributes to a captivating overall ambiance.
“I absolutely loved the atmosphere of the puzzles in Kapu Cave, and found myself wishing that we could spend much more time in the cave itself.”
“I was, at first, intrigued by the setting of the game and by the chill island atmosphere at the start.”
“The atmosphere is pleasant.”
“I was, at first, intrigued by the setting of the game and by the chill island atmosphere at the start.”
- character development2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Character development in the game has received mixed feedback; while some players appreciate the inclusion of familiar characters like the Hardy Boys, they express disappointment over the altered character designs. Additionally, there is a desire for deeper character exploration and development to enhance the overall narrative experience.
“9/10 -> more sleuthing and character development would have made this mystery perfect.”
“I also love any game with the Hardy Boys (although they sure look weird in this one; I'm not sure why they totally changed the character design for this game).”
“I also love any game with the Hardy Bros, although they look really weird in this one. I'm not sure why they completely changed the character design for this game.”
“The character development feels shallow and uninspired, making it hard to connect with anyone in the story.”
“I was disappointed by how little the characters evolved throughout the game; their arcs felt predictable and unengaging.”
