Windows

Nancy Drew: The Haunting of Castle Malloy

This game was beautifully done, fun to play, and gorgeous to look at. With only a few minor quibbles such as the darkness and the movements into 3rd person, I really loved this game. Sometimes you just can’t put your finger on why a game works when another might not have (for example, this Nancy-lover didn’t care much for White Wolf). But for me I don’t always need to know. If I can sit down, pop in the cd and get lost for a few hours or days, feeling completely absorbed, then I know it’s a good game. That’s what happened for me with The Haunting of Castle Malloy and I think it will happen for you too.

Kids will really enjoy this game, and adults, as well. A great choice for a family game that everyone can play without worrying about inappropriate content. Probably best played as a cooperative effort between older and younger family members and friends. Thanks Her Interactive, for continuing to design great games for teens. I have the new Hardy Boys mystery on my desk, and am looking forward to seeing how it compares to Nancy Drew. It has a lot to live up to, though!

The Haunting of Castle Malloy was certainly the best experience I have had with Nancy Drew. If you haven’t played one before, my advice is start with this. If you have played before and have become a little jaded with the offerings, you (like me) might be pleasantly surprised. And for all those fans who have played all previous eighteen and can’t wait to get to the Bahamas in the next instalment, you probably didn’t need any of this.

Not that The Haunting of Castle Malloy should drive anyone to drink. In fact, it isn't completely unforgiving. There are instances where Nancy is in real danger. If you happen to drown her in the bog or walk her off a sheer cliff into the icy ocean below, the game will automatically return you to the point preceding your fatal error. Removing the frustration of lost progress keeps the player moving towards an ultimately creative ending, one that blends the science and superstition surrounding the old castle. Starring in high-quality adventures like this, Nancy Drew will have a lot of interactive mysteries in her future. But hey, she can manage it. The girl can do everything, after all.

In spite of these issues, Nancy Drew: The Haunting of Castle Malloy is a solid adventure game. After all my doubt and skepticism, I'm having to eat my words. Nancy Drew isn't a "girl" game; it's a title all adventure gamers will enjoy.

Issues aside, fans of Nancy Drew games will no doubt find this latest one on par with the rest, if not a little bit better. The Irish folklore theme is a great one for a mystery like this, and adventure gamers will also enjoy the character interaction, puzzle solving and memorable locations.

While I’m the kind of gamer who enjoys a lot of hot-blooded action in my games, I do also enjoy my puzzles and plots, and the Nancy Drew series deserves recognition for delivering a number of solid adventure/puzzle titles to complement a gaming market brimming with violence and gender typecasting. Given the state of adventure gaming these days, it’s definitely heartening to see any successful attempt at revitalizing the genre. With its constantly improving game mechanics, light-hearted yet creepy atmosphere, and creative selection of puzzles, Nancy Drew: The Haunting of Castle Malloy is one of the more enjoyable Nancy Drew titles that I’ve played to date, and I’d recommend it to any of you who collect the series or enjoy a good mystery.

Nancy Drew: The Haunting of Castle Malloy is an enjoyable adventure game in the classic mold. It does nothing new but with an engaging story, well acted and intelligent dialogue, immersing graphics and a range of enjoyable and challenging puzzles, it's a worthwhile pursuit for any adventure game enthusiast, as well as a good introduction to the genre for older children and adults alike. Just don't make the mistake of underestimating this game or assuming that it's for kids; unless you're nothing short of a genius, you're going to encounter plenty of head-scratching moments along the way!

Despite a challenging selection of puzzles, The Haunting of Castle Malloy is one of the weaker entries in the longrunning series that will appeal mainly to dedicated Nancy Drew fans.

While I have spent a lot of time nitpicking the game’s flaws, Nancy Drew: The Haunting of Castle Malloy is not, by any means, a bad adventure game. The game simply needs a few minor tweaks for it to reach a much higher level of enjoyment. Longtime fans of Nancy Drew will nonetheless find plenty to enjoy on this trip. If you are a newcomer to Nancy’s exploits, I still recommend that you pick up this game, but only after trying out some of the series’ earlier (and stronger) titles, such as the superb Nancy Drew: The Phantom of Venice. The production values are as strong as ever, and most of the puzzles are of excellent quality. I hope Nancy visits Ireland again in a future case, but next time, I hope she remembers to turn on the lights once in a while!

Avec Le Château Hanté de Malloy, Nancy Drew nous entraîne dans une enquête intéressante (à défaut d'être captivante), hélas plombée par une surabondance de puzzles qui ont pour effet de casser le rythme et l'immersion. Qui plus est, si on s'est fait une raison concernant l'incapacité de la série à évoluer, on peut toutefois se montrer déçu de l'aspect technique de ce nouvel épisode, encore plus faiblard que de coutume. Pire : un fâcheux bug de progression nous contraint cette fois à ne même plus pouvoir conseiller cette aventure aux fans de Nancy, du moins dans sa version française.