On the surface it sounds reasonable for HI to --now-- make games with more emphasis on arcade-play, based on sales... sales which make it appear that this style is more popular than the old adventure/story-rich style.

But other factors to consider: When the games first came out, not many knew about them; not many had computers for game-playing... nor even for shopping online. FaceBook, Amazon, Twitter, Google... none of these existed in the early- to mid-nineties. Seems to me that the basis for lower sales might have been due to a lack of exposure to a wide audience.

Now, kids have been exposed early on to computers, social networking, online shopping... communication. Nancy Drew games have stood the test of time and are well-known. In this environment, if HI tries something that might be more cost-effective (more arcade, less story), then sees better sales as a result, some might say it's because today's young players prefer the arcade-style over story. But if that's all HI is putting out there, that's what's going to sell. IMO, if HI put out games using its old formula (with less arcade-type games) as well as taking more time for each (maybe releasing 1 instead of 2 per year), I bet sales would be just as good. I still think it's a matter of what is on the shelves.. and the popularity of the name brand.

I think having just played Water's Edge that it was an improvement, or at least an attempt to remedy some aspects that had been criticised. Nancy Drew very often features insane-making puzzles but at least they seem to have done away with the panic endings of chasing through mazes to get away from the bad guy etc, I always hated those bits! I think with the latest game that it was quite spooky in places, the storyline was pretty interesting, there was some comedy, the chores were reduced (the marking was hardly a chore at all was it) and the characters were pretty well developed. Also, the game seemed longer to me than some of them have been.

My least favourite aspect is always the killer puzzles that rapidly become completely fun-free and brain draining in a not very entertaining way. However I still really like the look of the games, the atmosphere, music and the interesting snippets you learn about people, places and cultures. The games are also very well behaved and run without glitches or crashes, why can't other games makers follow their example!

That was a nice analysis of Shadow at the Water's Edge, Vegpot. I could have done without the escape-the-room puzzle and the large sudoku and nonogram puzzles, but otherwise I thought the game was very enjoyable and that Her Interactive did appear to have tried to address some of the complaints that have been made of the last several games. I'm very much looking forward to seeing what they do with The Captive Curse.

Thanks Marian, I think different people find different puzzles more or less challenging of course. Some for me, although frustrating, are interesting or motivating enough to make me try and try again - I did that with the escape the room stained glass puzzle because I knew I could do it if I persevered - it was my type of puzzle. I agree totally with the sudoku and nonograms comments, I just didn't bother with any more of them after the initial puzzles in the book, not my cup of tea at all. I resorted to walkthrough help with the gigantic sudoku and nonogram puzzles but I am sure there are people who do like to solve these things and get enjoyment from the challenge, we just all like different ones!

Vegpot,

I also think that the puzzles in the ND games are too difficult. I am not a "puzzle person" but some people really like them. In a perfect Nancy Drew game world, they would put in a "skip puzzle" option. I am loving that feature in Black Mirror 2. It really helps keep my frustration level low and makes the game much more enjoyable IMO.

I posted a link to vote on a poll on adding skip buttons to the mini games on Nancy Drews that Her Interactive posted. It was a huge outcry from their majority of players to not add them.

Ana

Wow! That surprises me. Why would they care since they don't have to use that feature if they like to work through the puzzles. Did HER post any of the comments from the gamers who didn't want a skip button? I would be interested in reading why people didn't want it.

All comments were public. It was on Facebook, it may still be there.

Ana

I agree with everyone who says that the Nancy Drew games are not what they use to be. It sad to me because I have always been so excited when a new one was released.I will continue to buy them but I hope HER listens to the customers too and go back to the way the older games were.

i had to use five walkthroughs to almost finished and get the awards. thank you.

I enjoyed Water's Edge a lot more than Twister. I actually liked the sudoko and nonagram puzzles. Sure, they were tough and sometimes tedious, but I knew I could eventually solve them with enough patience. Unlike that @#%++&& monkey and coconut game in 7 Ships.

I think the first game that had a killer arcade game that turned me off was Haunted Carousel - Barnacle Blaster. That was the first time, but not the last, I had to ask for a save to get through a ND.

Something, that I miss from the earlier games (probably counted as paltry by others though ) is the old opening music and the "bookshelf" - that was used to start every game.

I thought they set the atmosphere for a mystery adventure SO well

I miss the old logo of Nancy with her magnifying glass.

I'm not a fan of skip buttons. I'm quite a lazy person and when I'm playing casual games with skip buttons I tend to hit them as soon as I start to get frustrated and then regret it. It's so satisfying to complete a particularly fiendish puzzle that you thought you would never manage. The ND games are so puzzle-driven that skipping even a few would leave you with very little to do. Where's the fun in that?

An obvious compromise would be to add skip buttons to the Junior Detective puzzles and leave the Senior as they are.

I miss those to Mad and Jenny100.