Nancy Drew: Trail of the Twister
- July 25, 2011
- HeR Interactive
- 42h median play time
In "Nancy Drew: Trail of the Twister," assume the role of detective Nancy Drew, investigating sabotage within a storm-chasing team competing for a $100,000,000 prize. Immerse in meteorology, study Doppler data, survive tornadoes, and drive the Doppler truck. Play arcade games to collect pennies and purchase goods from the store. This game is not compatible with Mojave, Catalina, Big Sur, Monterey, Ventura, or higher Mac operating systems.
Reviews
- The game features fun gameplay and enjoyable puzzles that challenge the player.
- The nostalgic elements and unique setting provide a comforting experience for long-time fans of the Nancy Drew series.
- Despite its flaws, the game offers a decent amount of content and can be a good entry point for new players.
- The story is weak and feels more like a series of chores rather than a compelling mystery to solve.
- Many puzzles are tedious and repetitive, leading to a lack of engagement and excitement.
- Character development is lacking, with most characters being unlikable and the overall atmosphere feeling dull.
- story43 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 51 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The story in this game received mixed reviews, with many players finding it lackluster and poorly executed compared to previous Nancy Drew titles. Critics noted that the narrative felt disjointed, lacking depth and character development, often overshadowed by repetitive tasks and puzzles that did not effectively tie into the plot. While some appreciated the setting and found the story intriguing, the overall consensus is that it fell short of the engaging storytelling expected from the series.
“The story is just full of suspense, it's so exciting!”
“Yes, there's a lot of puzzles, but the story is super rich too!”
“The story of this game and the scenery is the best I've ever seen out of all the Nancy Drew games I've played, though, and, as I said before, the soundtrack is beautiful, sounds almost Celtic.”
“The story was not fleshed out at all, the characters were flat and boring, the investigation was borderline non-existent, and the games swung from repetitive and monotonous to so vague and confusing I had to look up what was even happening before I could attempt them.”
“The story just... starts, and while it does make enough sense, it feels like part of the exposition was cut for one reason or another and the immersion is a little more lackluster than other games.”
“The story and the pacing is what makes it clunky, the story is a little not interesting and does not dwell on the mystery aspect as much as it is with the 'Nancy helps out a group' trope, which feels kind of grating at one point.”
- music11 mentions
- 64 % positive mentions
- 9 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its beauty and upbeat nature, with many reviewers noting its enjoyable blend of country and Celtic influences. However, some critics feel that while the soundtrack is a highlight, it contributes to a lack of suspense and energy in the gameplay. Overall, the music enhances the game's atmosphere, making it a standout feature despite some mixed feelings about its impact on the game's tension.
“But if you want a fun game with a bit of mystery on the side, great music, fun characters, and a nice feel to it, get it.”
“The music was amazing, as well!”
“And the soundtrack of this game is just beautiful, sounds like a mix between country and Celtic.”
“Even during the villain reveal, I didn't realize the villain reveal was happening until the 'villain' music started up halfway through.”
“The music was generally upbeat and, while as music it was fine, definitely played a part in the lack of suspense and energy the game had.”
“The soundtrack is the only redeeming quality about this game.”
- gameplay8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game is described as fun with engaging puzzles, though some players find it lacking in storm chasing elements and have criticized the driving mechanics as cumbersome compared to previous titles. While some enjoy the variety of vehicles and overall experience, there is a call for improved quality in gameplay and storytelling. Overall, it remains a favorite among certain fans of the Nancy Drew series despite its flaws.
“Fun gameplay and even better puzzles.”
“After 481 hours of gameplay, I can confirm that I like this game.”
“As for the gameplay, it's one of my more loved Nancy Drew games.”
“The trail of the twister is a long, drawn-out, boring game with almost no storm chasing. The driving mechanics are stubborn in this game, which is weird because 'Secret of the Old Clock' is older and yet was much easier to control the car in that game.”
“I mean, it was cool you could pick between three vehicles, but it didn't have the good mechanics that were used in 'Secret of the Old Clock.'”
“From the description, I imagined learning about storm chasers, solving electrical or mechanical-related puzzles, and chasing after tornadoes in the wide Oklahoma plains.”
- humor6 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by its quirky characters and their amusing interactions, particularly the hilarious reactions of Frosty and Scott to a mouse, which evoke comparisons to Sid from "Ice Age." Players appreciate the awkward yet funny dialogue and find the character dynamics, especially Frosty's scream, to be a standout comedic element that adds to the overall enjoyment.
“Some of the dialogue can be funny, in an awkward way, and I have come to really enjoy that aspect too.”
“This game has a couple of really funny parts, like when Scott and Frosty get a fright when they see a mouse.”
“Scott was really funny, but Frosty, lol, his scream was absolutely hilarious!!”
- atmosphere3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -67 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The atmosphere is noted for its strong visuals and engaging puzzles, but it also carries a somewhat lonely and bleak tone reminiscent of Castle Malloy, which may detract from character memorability and overall enjoyment.
“Great puzzles, good atmosphere and visuals.”
“It reminds me of Castle Malloy in that it's kind of a bleak, depressing atmosphere.”
“The generally somewhat lonely atmosphere adds to the overall experience.”
“The biggest flaws in my eyes are the villain, the mystery box being like a hundred dollars, and the generally somewhat lonely atmosphere.”
“It reminds me of Castle Malloy in that it's kind of a bleak, depressing atmosphere and I don't remember the characters that well after the fact.”
- grinding3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find certain puzzles, particularly the mice-related ones, to be repetitive and tedious, detracting from the overall enjoyment of the game. While some aspects are fun, the frequent reappearance of easier puzzles like the mouse trap chore can lead to frustration.
“The mouse trap chore/puzzle appeared a few times too many; it was one of the easier and more tedious puzzles, so it was annoying that it appeared so often.”
“However, it's not one of my more favorite games because it's honestly pretty tedious.”
“Some puzzles, like the mice puzzles, start to become a bit tedious, but overall it was very fun!”
- graphics2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics are generally praised for their appealing visuals and atmosphere, although some users feel they appear somewhat dated. Overall, they complement the game's engaging puzzles effectively.
“The graphics look really nice, though they feel a bit dated.”
“Great puzzles, good atmosphere, and stunning visuals.”
- character development2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that the characters are perceived as mean and lacking depth, leading to a sense of boredom among players. There is a strong desire for more focus on character development rather than on repetitive tasks, such as catching mice.
“The characters were mean and lacked character development or any redeeming qualities; honestly, I was quite bored.”
“I wish they spent a little more time on character development and a little less time forcing me to catch mice.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Users have reported occasional speaking glitches, indicating that the game's stability may be compromised in certain areas.
“There were several speaking glitches.”
“The game frequently crashes, making it unplayable at times.”
“I experienced constant lag and frame drops during gameplay.”