Despite the fact that she's been around for nearly 80 years now, Nancy Drew hasn't aged a bit. She's still a hip 18-year-old with a boyfriend named Ned, a devoted single father, and a remarkable knack for solving mysteries. The character has a timeless appeal, and the concept of creating adventure games around her is a natural fit. Unfortunately, Nancy Drew: The Mystery of the Clue Bender Society is an overly simple, tedious product that doesn't do the old girl proud by a long shot.
The Good:
* Vivid artwork helps bring story to life
* Elements of a good, kid-friendly Nancy Drew story are here.
The Bad:
* Story is disappointingly short
* Same few simple minigames repeat
* Tedious, overly simple gameplay
* Occasionally horrible graphics.
When you finally get to check out those doors you were eying or the lower room in the library, you find yourself feeling a little dissatisfied with the secrets. Difficulty is never an issue, and the time-consuming back and forth through the mansion leaves you wanting to put the game away. Modojo realize that Mystery of the Clue Bender Society is made for younger players, but most kids today are computer literate at increasingly younger ages. Don't insult them with a gift of self-solving puzzles and the overall poor reincarnation of a literature legend.
GameZone writes: " Nancy Drew Clue Bender Society is one of those games that at first appears to have a lot going for it, but unfortunately, ultimately fails to deliver. The story is promising, the visuals look good, there are mini-games that can be played over again, and there are even snowmobiles to ride, but the total package is less than its parts.
In the beginning of the game, it all looks great. We actually get to see Nancy this time, and she looks really cute. She has been invited to join a puzzle society, and has to prove herself worthy of the invitation. Cool, solve puzzles and beat out the other invitees! And, of course, there is a mystery to solve. It seems that the cornerstone of the ultimate puzzle is missing, and the society needs Nancy's help to find it."
The Mystery of the Clue Bender's Society would make a pretty good Nancy Drew novel, or comic book. It's a silly story regardless, but with some crafty writing it could come off exciting and believable. As a game, Nancy Drew on the DS is a train wreck. The real puzzle here is how this game got this far with nobody bothering to put in any real gameplay. There are over a dozen better Nancy Drew games on the PC that incorporate real mysteries and much longer gameplay. Plus they aren't patronizing and asinine. And Gorilla, here's a clue bender for you. Next time you make a game based on a hugely famous mystery series, actually let kids solve a mystery.
