Nancy Drew: Crystal Skull Questions

Hi everyone. I was wondering if this game is out yet and also I have a few questions about it if it is out.
I'm wondering if it has timed puzzles or actions that you must take at certain times of the day, if it has the changes that I didn't like in WW such as no notebook, no cell phone, etc., and if in general it's better than WW overall?

I appreciate all your feedback!

Thanks so much,
Cat

I don't know how far I am in into the junior game or how long this game is; but I already encountered 3 arcadey puzzles. I did 2 and left the other one til later - my jaw was hurting from holding in my screeching.

Ack! No! sigh.....

When will these guys go back to the old forumula? I miss games like Haunted Mansion and Royal Tower so much.

Thanks MaG,
Cat

Hi MaG. Me again. I just wanted to let ya (and everyone else) know that I just emailed HER Interactive and finally expressed how I've felt about the changes in their games over the past couple of years. I can't tell you how good that feels! I don't know if anything will change, but at least I let them know how I feel and that some other adult gamers feel the same way.

One of my suggestions was for them to make two different ND games each season: one for kids, one for adults. Both would be playable by anyone, but the kid ones could contain more puzzles, cooking, etc. while the adult ones might have more mystery, be longer and not have so many mini-games. (also, I mentioned that I'd love to have the little clock in the left hand corner back, the "books" that were used for saving slots, being able to call Ned, Bess, and George, and having the notepad to check things off)

I don't know if they'd ever do something like that, but it could potentially earn them twice the money, so maybe they will. You never know!

Anyway, I just miss the old ND's so much and I'm glad that I found a way to let them know.

PS I'll let ya know if anything happens. lol

Cat

I'm enjoying this game very much so far, playing on senior detective. I've only done one arcade-y thing so far. What I can't believe is how rapidly I have become "stuck" and entirely "stumped" as to what to do next--I have never made so little progress in a Nancy Drew game in two days' worth of play as I have in this one. Maybe I'm just tired.

Cat, I wrote them after playing White Wolf. This is the first ND I didn't purchase sight unseen. I have not really enjoyed one of them since Blackmoor Manor. I did not get a response to my email to them.

I am curious to hear their response to you, I am glad you expressed your opinion.

Ana

Thanks for speaking for me, Cat and Ana, and for others, as well. I hope your messages didn't fall on deaf ears. If the HerInt. staff is under 30 years old, it's possible that no one there cares all that much about older gamers' 'druthers'.

But we can hope. I gave White Wolf a try... haven't cared to finish it. Have not bought Crystal Key, and may be done with this series.

The Carol Reed Mysteries give me exactly what I want from a game, so I'm having absolutely no ND withdrawal pangs, and am enjoying my Swedish visit. Same holds true for the Capri games... Perfect! Someone here mentioned that Sydney Mystery is similar, so I may be gaming in Australia soon. Bye Nancy... for now.

Carrie -- the people at Her Interactive are not -- how do I say this -- some of them look more mature than age 30. I won't say they're old and I won't speculate as to their exact ages.

Clearly, they want older gamers to enjoy their games. But I get the impression that they have a "mission" to get young girls interested in computers and gaming, which probably comes first on their list of priorities.

Thanks guys. I hope I'll hear back, Ana, but if not at least I got to get it off my chest. (in a respectful way, mind you!) btw---you're welcome, Carrie and I hope that they'll take what Ana and I and other gamers have said in our emails to heart.

You never know!

btw---I'm glad you're enjoying the game, Marian! I went ahead and ordered it yesterday and am going to give it a try. Maybe I'll end up enjoying it as well--I hope so!

Cat

Hey guys, I have an account over at the Herinteractive forum and we're not the only ones who are displeased. I've read posts from people there who say the exact same things, so hopefully they'll pay attention. I don't mind some minigames, but I don't like when you have to play a game over and over again to get something you need.

Couldn't agree more that they seem to want to focus more on younger players. But just because the players are younger, doesn't automatically mean that all of them want Change. I'll bet there are just as many young players who'd like ND to remain unchanged. Nice to think that HerInteractive might still be keeping older gamers in mind... but who's to know for sure?

Good Good Good. I hope so, too mysterylover.

After finishing the game, I came out with a feeling like this is more like an adventure game than a hodgepodge of arcade and some sleuthing thrown in.
It's more like the other way around- more sleuthing and with oh - this might work well for an arcade puzzle. It feels different than other ND games.
Try it, you might like it.

Thanks MaG, I needed that. I guess I just can't resist a Nancy Drew. I'll be picking it up soon.

Ana

That's great to hear, MaG, because I'm really liking the game so far. It's nice to know that my initial impressions will probably be sustained.

Hi guys. I've been reading this thread and thought I'd add my 2 cents since I just finished the game. Overall, I liked the game. I just miss the old Nancy Drew game music that you have when the game starts up and when you're installing it. Maybe it's just me. And I miss the old layout of the game screen, but I guess that's minor.

In this game, the arcade stuff was really irritating...like the pinball game. That one drove me absolutely nuts because all it tool was a one micron difference in ball placement for the wrong spot to be hit. At least, that's the way it seemed to me.

Also, there were times when I really couldn't understand the puzzle at all, even when reading and re-reading the walkthrough - like the balls puzzle at the end of the game, and the numbers puzzle with the books...and there was another numbers puzzle but I cam't remember what it was.

Is it just me?

Melia,

If you want to know more explanation about the last puzzle or any puzzle - please post at Hints. Also, I will explain it more in the walkthrough.

What in the numbers in the book catalogue did you not understand? Please explain at Hints forum. I already edited the walkthrough for the last puzzle.

Hi

I just finished White Wolf and found it more fun than I had expected, considering the load of negative player comments I had read beforehand.
Certainly wasn't impressed by all the chores again, of course .... even though I set to and did them all. And can't think that teenage girls would be very keen either !!


And although I could equally well have done without the dratted arcade stuff, I did manage to get through that too

So, after reading the slightly more favourable comments in this thread, I will no doubt cave in and buy the Crystal Skull game

Dreadful as to what lengths BAAGS can drive a person

Cheers.

Mad

Hi, Mad!

I really enjoyed "White Wolf" as well but, like you, could have done without cooking 3 meals a day. We had an extremely hot and dry Summer so all that snow helped to cool me off <VBG>!

"Crystal Skull" was shipped from InteractCD last Tuesday, so I'm looking forward to playing that when it arrives. We don't get any mail tomorrow because it's our Thanksgiving so, hopefully, it will show up in my mailbox either Tuesday or Wednesday.

Susan

If HI just HAS to include so many repetitive arcadey games in our favorite ND's why can't they build in a "cheat" like some games do so one can just get past it/them after about a thousand hand-crippling tries? and one has gone almost bald in frustration! Yeah, and what happened to the old notebook for notes and speculations about the storyline? Now it is just a couple of lists - totally useless (?)
Love, Betty Lou

Hi...

After reading so many reviews on this game...
I for one will not buy or look to trade for any Nancy games, until HI goes back to the way it use to be...

If I want arcade games I will buy Pac man
If I want cooking chores I will buy Barbie games...


My Opinion

I dunno, the screaming boss in the Paris setting and the ridiculous tea making puzzle right at the start had my teeth so on edge,I ripped out the game and have been debating on them ever since....I think the chore thing may have gone a bit over...but I don't think updating the look is bad , and some of the little stuff is no different from other games...sigh...what to do ?

Geez Louise!

Am I one of the few who really enjoyed this adventure? I thought the puzzles and enigmas were wonderful and the game seemed to flow for me. I only saw one true arcade type puzzle, which I agree that the third time repeating it (according to the story line) became annoying... but then --- the subject matter of the puzzle would be annoying in reality.

I was happy that you get to play for a time as someone other than Nancy... and found the dialogue quite funny. I liked that there was no housework to perform.


inferno

I liked the game, too, inferno---and it had my favorite puzzle so far out of all Nancy Drew games I have played---and I have played almost all of them.

I thought the game was very good!

I've got it! Played a little bit of it so far and it is creepy! There's even a suggestion to play the game in the dark at the beginning, plus a warning from one of the characters.

I just found this game at Target last week-end, and am looking forward to playing it. I did about half of White Wolves and got fed up with the cooking chores (I hate to cook in real life, too) so I uninstalled it. I may go back to it someday.

The Crystal Skull seems like it has a much more spooky atmosphere, and as soon as I finish Deamfall TLJ (which I love, BTW) I'll get going with Nancy again.

I just finished this game and it was ok. I can hardly wait for my grandsons to play it and give me their opinion.
I like more searching for clues and less play this mini-game for a clue.
At least there were no slider puzzles or timed puzzles that is a Big Plus for me!

Yes, Melia, I agree with you about the skiball/toss-across game.
It was very sensitive.

The game I hated the most was the wasps. The more times you had to play it got harder and very tiring. I thought my hand would fall off LOL!

As for the coffee table game - it took me forever to figure how to do it (I kept trying to get the wrong piece to the end)so I was very happy it was not timed.

I have to say that this was the best Nancy Drew that I have played since Blackmoor Manor. It was a true, pull out your notepad and pen and slueth for clues game. I loved it!

Ana

I'm really glad you liked it, Ana. I certainly thought it was a definite step in the right direction for Her Interactive.

Playing Crystal Skull & mainly enjoying it - but I had to get my son to do the lips to eyes pinball type game. Maybe after so many minutes they could give us a get out of jail free card with a solve this puzzle now option .......

I thought the wasps were pretty cool, at least they didn't look life-like, unlike the nasty spider in the hole and the spider in the box! *shudder* I liked the skeeball game but it did remind me of the golf game in Secret of the Clock, you have to be very precise with your aim!

Cat I will be very interested to hear what Herinteractive has to say. I too like more adventure and exploring to find clues and solve mysteries. I loved the Nancy Drew game called The Scarlet Hand. They should do more like that.

Secret of the Scarlet Hand is on top of my list, too!

I am playing Crystal Skull now and agree with Ana--this is the best since Blackmoor Manor.

I have enjoyed this game except for the pendulum game. I always have trouble with that type of thing. I have played everyone of ND and I agree this is better than the last three games.
Like everyone else I think they should give us a get out free on some of the games.