Customer Reviews:
  Too tedious and poorly designed July 17, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
One of the key things about a good adventure game is that it doesn't bore you by making you repeat the same things again and again. In Shadow Ranch, that's exactly what you have to do, and everything is so exact - no give and take so you can continue if you don't find this or that item. The inventory system is shockingly bad, so you have to go into the inventory, and having chosen an item close the window afterwards.
What's always good in Nancy Drew games are the artwork and the voice acting - no complaints there, but it's the gameplay that's a problem. Even with a walkthru, it's just all to fiddly and serial - and on two occasions I simply missed an item and had no clue what that item might be or where it might be.
In short, although the game has some merit, I just gave up after half of it, because it became too tedious preparing the horse, and searching and re-searching the same areas for something I missed.
 Not your average OAP!! May 26, 2007
4 out of 5 found this review helpful
Liked a review from some 14 year-old about 'black moor manor', when he could not even work out that the title was 'Blackmoor Manor' as written on the box! But, he did say that, and I agree, that some titles should be for the under 10's and over 75's cos they are sooooo simple.
I have just finished playing this game and as a gamer of the Nancy Drew series, it had just enough of what kids want - no violence....no naughty words...no blood, but enough learning for young and old alike that makes it interesting. I learned a lot about the desert parts of Arizona including Sargasso Cactus. Did you know.....? No, I'll let you play the game and find out, ok?
 Brilliant! January 7, 2007
10 out of 10 found this review helpful
Having played all the Nancy Drew titles with the exception of Danger by Design, I can honestly say that Shadow Ranch is the best title in the series thus far.
The storyline, based on the book of the same name, is excellent - lots of secret passages and very spooky in parts - the puzzles are interesting, the characters amusing, graphics are brilliant and the ending is absolutely spectacular.
I loved it so much, I played it twice!!
I think they should base more of the games on the original books as they have done here along with Secret of the Old Clock, which was also fantastic. The Hidden Staircase/Secret of Redgate Farm would be brilliant interactive games.
The best so far September 9, 2006
10 out of 10 found this review helpful
If you have played Nancy Drew games before or not this is one of the best, I thoroughly enjoyed it throughout. One of the great things about these games is the amount of information you gain along the way. You are on a ranch, so learning to ride and picking ripe vegetables, reading petroglyphs and, as usual, solving riddles and puzzles are among some of the things you have to accomplish. There is an opportunity to choose junior detective for the younger ones among us! I recommend you go for the senior detective which cuts out the hints leaving it all up to you. Enjoy!
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