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| From: Her Interactive
List Price: $19.99
Buy New: $16.99
You Save: $3.00 (15%)
New (19) Used (6) from $14.98
Rating:  30 reviews
Sales Rank: 381
Format: Cd-rom
Platforms: Windows Vista, Windows Xp
Genre: adventure_games
ESRB: Everyone
Media: CD-ROM
Batteries Included: No
Age: 5 - 20 years
Operating System: Windows Vista
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.3
Dimensions (in): 0.1 x 0.1 x 0
MPN: 767861000685
Model: 767861000685
UPC: 767861000685
EAN: 0767861000685
ASIN: B0018XU9SQ
Release Date: July 8, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 6-10 of 30
 Not bad, but could be better July 20, 2008
ThatPoshGirl (Reno, NV)
7 out of 11 found this review helpful
I've played a few of the Nancy Drew games and I have to say that this one is not as fun as the other ones I've played. The plot was interesting and I enjoyed the scenery. The problem, though is in the puzzles. The puzzles are not challenging, just tedious. The game also seemed a little rush. There wasn't as much detail as I have seen in other games and it was fairly short. The final challenge was boring and probably lasted less than a minute.
If you like the Nancy Drew mysterys I am sure you will enjoy this game. It's a fun game. It just doesn't rank when compared to previous titles.
 Nancy's Most Exciting Mystery Yet! August 27, 2008
A. Gooding
4 out of 5 found this review helpful
Nancy Drew 18: The Phantom Of Venice
-Before I Begin...
My review will be spilt up into sections and have a in-depth look at that topic. If you hate reading medium/long reviews or just don't have the patience I would not continue reading, but if you want to learn the most about the product before you buy it you'll continue.
-Interface
The game uses a point-and-click interface (meaning you click in a direction to move from environment to environment), which is easy to use and has been the preferred way for all eighteen games. On the bottom of the screen are the inventory, checklist, notebook, PDA (new icon for this game), save, load, settings, and exit icons. On the top of the screen there is Nancy's purse and her fashion icons. The fashion icon shows an outline of Nancy and what she is currently wearing. The PDA icon opens Nancy's PDA which has three features which come in handy with her undercover mission. I like this interface and I find it easy to use and the "Second Chance" option is great because you don't have to restart the whole game if you don't want to.
*****
-Plot
Nancy is off to Venice, Italy, where she has been hired by the Gdif (Italian Police) to stop Il Fantasma (Phantom) dead in its tracks. This game has by far the most detailed plot in the series. The story has many twists and turns and leaves you guessing until the very end. It is so detailed and intriguing that you never want to stop playing the game. The plot flows along nicely and you don't come to an unexpected abrupt end like some past games (Usually leaving you with many questions instead of answers). Kudos to the writers at Her Interactive because the story is so great!
*****
-Characters
There are five characters, each with different personalities, in this game. There are three main characters who preside at the Ca' Nascosta: Colin Baxter, Margherita Fauberg, and Helena Berg. Colin is an art restorer (with a rather noticeable crush on Nancy) who is working for Margherita. Margherita is a snooty Venetian socialite wannabe who owns the Ca'. Other characters include Enrico Tazza, the owner of Casa Di Giochi (House Of Game), and Antonio Fango, the electronics engineer and possible criminal Nancy is sent to spy on. Phone characters include Ned, and Prudence Rutherford, from Secret Of The Scarlet Hand (her voice can get very annoying after a while though!) All in all these characters were great. However one of the characters you do not even talk to at all in the game, but still a very important character. There was more character interaction than previous games but still not as much as I would have liked.
****
-Setting & Graphics
The setting was absolutely beautiful! It was so incredibly lifelike, from the glittering water to the old architecture in the squares and palazzos. It really was top notch. There were people talking in the background in Italian and although you couldn't see them it made the environment come to life with the rich Italian culture. There is even an activity in which you must know basic Italian to complete a mission. The graphics were also very beautiful and detailed. Each game progresses more and more with the graphics. Overall the Setting & Graphics were one of the best features of the game and really boosted the experience.
*****
-Puzzles/Activities
There was a good mix of puzzles and activities in this game, and there were no filler puzzles. Also a good thing is absolutely NO chores unlike ICE, which included constant cooking & cleaning. There were a lot of new puzzles, plenty of codes and numbers and a lot of snooping & spying. The "Nancy Undercover" idea is really stressed in this game. You have to wear disguises, you have to plant bugs in people's everyday items, spy on someone and eavesdrop a couple times. Nancy was definitely on a mission in this game! On a difficulty level there is a good mix of easy, medium, and a couple of hard puzzles. None of the puzzles were overly frustrating.
*****
-Ending
Sensibly the ending is the hardest part of the game. You have to navigate your way through a very different take on a maze. I don't want to spoil the ending, but I definitely found the ending pretty tough because it also includes a timed puzzle. Anyways, the ending made sense and everything clicked without a hitch, so you won't be like "What the heck?" when you get to the end. Also all your questions are answered at the very end, so no worries.
*****
-Overall
I can honestly say this is the most exciting Nancy Drew game to date. The setting was magnificent, the puzzles weren't overly challenging but some were, and the plot was simply outstanding. You will not be disappointed with this game at all, it really is a incomparable to previous games like ICE, DAN or CRE. Her Interactive did a fantastic job on this game, I can't wait for the next one! The Haunting Of Castle Malloy
Add all these up and divide by 6...
5 *'s (Interface)
5 *'s (Plot)
4 *'s (Characters)
5 *'s (Setting & Graphics)
5 *'s (Puzzles/Activites)
5 *'s (Ending)
= 29 Stars Divide By 6 (Categories) = 4.8 = Rounded to 5 Stars
-Recommended Games
Danger On Deception Island
Last Train To Blue Moon Canyon
The Secret Of Shadow Ranch
The Haunted Carousel
Thanks for reading my review!
Not as good as the demo July 26, 2008
Amazon Lady (New York, NY)
3 out of 8 found this review helpful
I bought this game as I was completely enthralled with the demo, expecting that this game woudl emerse me in European culture and would be endlessly intriguing in the style of classic Nancy Drew. Boy, was I ever disappointed. I believe there is a lot of false advertising with this game. For example, the game advertises that the thief gets bolder and bolder....and that you must stop him/her before it gets too late. Actually she really doesn't. A few more thefts happen and then you catch her.. Also the flash back which is shown at the beginning of the game does not correspond to what actually happens. In fact Nancy doesn't randomly get locked into a room which fills up with water. Instead, she enters the room, opens up a crate, sees an artifact, identifies the culprit, and then the water fills. Why show a flash back if it isn't even accurate? At least the player could have opened the crate and seen the statue -- before the water filled, giving the actual statue in the house, more significance and flair in the actual game.
The rest of the game was ok. I didn't really get the crush the contractor had on Nancy. Rather he just seemed needy and disturbed. I didn't really notice any flirting per say, certainly nothing which woudl charm. The other characters were not well developed -- in fact, you couldnm't really speak to them or ask many questions. Prudence, whom you call, was given a contrived voice, which really grated. I also didn't get much from calling Ned/Hardy's. They spoke about car problems, but the dialogue didn't interest me much.
Nancy is also back to babbling to herself in the bathroom, which I expect is an effort to make the game clever and charming, but just makes Nancy appear insane. There is also a sequence in which Nancy must dance on stage to get a suit for a task she needs. This task made her appear to be a stripper on the stage, shaking her booty for the audience. Yes, she doesn't strip, but it felt like a strip/sexual tease of sorts to make the crowd go wild for you. Gross. Just gross.
The game was clever overall. I enjoyed spying of Fango and breaking into his office for information. The mystery was well constructed -- and all pieces fit into the whole. I also liked the fact that there were several interesting challenges in the game - such as the stake out, playing scopa, and chasing the thief through the metro system.
Overall, the game was ok. I enjoyed playing it. I believe $19.99 was way too much and I regret not waiting for its price to have dropped on Amazon to $9.00 or less before purchasing it. The mystery was fun, but not engrossing. The magic of the NAncy Drew series has not returned.
Some of the puzzles were a bit ridiculous, including the one in which water fills the room. You are not given enough time to tinker and solve before you drownd. In another, you cannot solve the puzzle until you listen to all extensions of a long automated phone system which was reminiscent of calling a phone number...in which youa re given five options to press -- and then given five options within those options ...and you have to painstakingly listen to each one...and only then Nancy will suddenly get an intuition which tells where the location of a site, which you have already found before that revelation but can't activate until you listen to all the options.
The blooper reel at the end was cute and clever -- but just an ego-stroking gesture on the past of Her Interactive, to make stars of its sdevelopers by h aving you sit through all the credits to get to them....
One of the good things about this game is that Nancy is treated as a professional as opposed to the usual condescdending manner in which others engage her.
Would I recommend buying it? No. You're not missing out by letting this one go. But if you are a die hard Nancy fan, go for it. You will engage the classic Nancy Drew fare.
This game was clever, and good, but not brilliant.
Another good Nancy Drew August 14, 2008
Karen Patelunas (Haines City, FL USA)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
I really enjoy the Nancy Drew Nancy Drew: The Phantom of Venice games and just wish there were more of the series compatible with Windows Vista. I am 57 and enjoyed this game as much as my 15-year old granddaughter does. Am anxiously awaiting the next one.
Best Nancy Yet August 22, 2008
Jane Dough (Ohio)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
This is definately the best Nancy Drew yet. This game is TWICE as long as the other games. This has to do with some puzzles that are very long to get through. (such as a card game that you have to win twice). Very fun puzzles, many surprises throughout the game. The animations are more detailed, just a great game!
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