Legend of the Crystal Skull
Encyclopedia
Legend of the Crystal Skull is the seventeenth installment in the Nancy Drew
computer games series created by Her Interactive
. Nancy goes to New Orleans with Bess and to check on a friend of Ned's, Henry Bolet, Jr and becomes entangled in the legend of Crystal Skull
and mostly point-and-click
.
The player can question suspects face-to-face or by the phone, solve puzzles crucial to the game, explore locations such as a curio shop and mansion, and try to distinguish the murder weapon.
awarded 7.5 out of 10, highlighting the detailed environments, well-modeled characters and good voice acting, with interesting but hard puzzles. However, the movement system (clicking on arrows) and jerky turning animation was criticized, and it was not rated highly for lasting appeal.
Nancy Drew
Nancy Drew is a fictional young amateur detective in various mystery series for all ages. She was created by Edward Stratemeyer, founder of the Stratemeyer Syndicate book packaging firm. The character first appeared in 1930. The books have been ghostwritten by a number of authors and are published...
computer games series created by Her Interactive
Her Interactive
Her Interactive is the leading mystery-maker and pioneer of fun and inspiring interactive entertainment. The company, with 24 awards to its name, designs, develops and publishes high-quality, mystery adventure games and apps, and is the world leader in the mystery games category. Her Interactive's...
. Nancy goes to New Orleans with Bess and to check on a friend of Ned's, Henry Bolet, Jr and becomes entangled in the legend of Crystal Skull
Crystal skull
The crystal skulls are a number of human skull hardstone carvings made of clear or milky quartz rock, known in art history as "rock crystal", claimed to be pre-Columbian Mesoamerican artifacts by their alleged finders. However, none of the specimens made available for scientific study have been...
Plot
While in New Orleans on vacation with her good friend Bess, Nancy goes to check up on Ned's friend, Henry Bolet, Jr in his late uncle's mansion. As soon as she arrives, she encounters a couple of interesting and odd characters, and has to stay at the house because of a bad storm. Once she finds out that Henry Bolet is less than stable after his uncle's death, and there are seemingly sinister things going on in the house, Nancy becomes entangled in a mystery. There are multiple places to explore and visit, including a graveyard on the grounds of the mansion, a bizarre oddities shop, and a gumbo stand. Nancy and Bess work together in order to untangle the mystery of the Crystal Skull.Gameplay
In this installment of the Nancy Drew PC series you can assume the role of Bess to help Nancy solve the mystery. The game is 3D3D computer graphics
3D computer graphics are graphics that use a three-dimensional representation of geometric data that is stored in the computer for the purposes of performing calculations and rendering 2D images...
and mostly point-and-click
Point-and-click
Point-and-click is the action of a computer user moving a cursor to a certain location on a screen and then pressing a mouse button, usually the left button , or other pointing device...
.
The player can question suspects face-to-face or by the phone, solve puzzles crucial to the game, explore locations such as a curio shop and mansion, and try to distinguish the murder weapon.
Characters
- Bess MarvinBess MarvinElizabeth "Bess" Marvin is a character in the Nancy Drew Mystery Stories series. She is one of Nancy Drew's best friends, along with George Fayne, who is Bess' cousin. Bess and George are introduced to readers in the 1931 novel,The Secret at Shadow Ranch. Bess was originally described as having...
– One of Nancy's best friends, fun-loving Bess has always been helping Nancy solve mysteries. However, Bess's intentions for the trip were to relax in the sun. Instead, she winds up working with Nancy. - Henry Bolet, Jr. – Henry's parents died while he was young and he was sent to live with his great-uncle Bruno. Bruno never spent much time with Henry, but he left him a sizable portion of his estate. Could emotional and cunning Henry have schemed to control his last living relative's assets and secrets?
- Renée Armade – Renee Amande WAS the housekeeper for Bruno Bolet. Since she spent so much time in his presence, she also knows a lot of his secrets - dark secrets he didn't want anyone to know, but others would have killed to discover. Would she have resorted to murder just to possess a mystical skull?
- Lamont Warrick – Lamont Warrick is the proud owner of Zeke's, a colorful curio shop crammed with unusual and eclectic merchandise. He's always looking for treasure amongst another person's junk - it's a great way to make a quick buck. There are a few precious items that are authentic antiques, priceless pieces he likes to procure. A crystal skull would attract a lot of buyers - and a lot of money...
- Dr. Gilbert Buford – Dr. Gilbert Buford found the unconscious body of his friend, Bruno Bolet and declared that no autopsy was necessary. As Bruno's confidant, he knew that Bruno owned a mystical artifact believed gave him immortality. In his old age, Gilbert certainly could use a crystal skull to improve his own chances of cheating death...
- Bruno Bolet - The deceased owner of Bolet Mansion. He seemingly died of heart attack, but is his death natural or was he murdered?
- Professor Beatrice HotchkissProfessor Beatrice HotchkissProfessor Beatrice Winfred Gertrude Hotchkiss is a character from the Nancy Drew Computer Games Series. She is an author of books about Marie Antoinette and crystal skulls...
– Also a suspect from Treasure in the Royal TowerTreasure in the Royal TowerTreasure in the Royal Tower is a computer game which was based loosely on a book of the same name. The book is part of a popular mystery series, created in 1930 by Edward Stratemeyer. The heroine of the books, as well as the computer game, is named Nancy Drew. It is based on book #128 in the Nancy...
, it seems the "nutty professor" published a lot more than "Lost Diary of Marie Antoinette" since the end of the 4th Nancy Drew game. She mistakes Nancy for a girl who was eating cheese at a cheese factory in WisconsinWisconsinWisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
. You can only call her in this game. She was an old friend of Bruno's. - Iggy – Was once Bruno Bolet's pet iguana. He still lives in the mansion and is notorious for knocking books off the shelves while moving and stealing random papers. If you give him something to eat he will give you a paper that may help solve the mystery.
- Bernie – A crocodile that lives in a bayouBayouA bayou is an American term for a body of water typically found in flat, low-lying areas, and can refer either to an extremely slow-moving stream or river , or to a marshy lake or wetland. The name "bayou" can also refer to creeks that see level changes due to tides and hold brackish water which...
near the mansion, he is another of Bruno's pets and loves to eat marshmallows. - Chas Milo the Authenticator - Milo authenticated Bruno Bolet's crystal skull to see if its real or fake.
Cast
- Nancy DrewNancy DrewNancy Drew is a fictional young amateur detective in various mystery series for all ages. She was created by Edward Stratemeyer, founder of the Stratemeyer Syndicate book packaging firm. The character first appeared in 1930. The books have been ghostwritten by a number of authors and are published...
-- Lani MinellaLani MinellaLani Minella is a voice actress who has voiced in over 500 computer and video games as well as several TV and anime series. She is best known for voicing Nancy Drew, Millie Strathorn, Loulou the Parrot and Freddie in the Nancy Drew computer games, Ivy Valentine in the Soulcalibur video game... - Henry Bolet Jr. -- K. Brian Neel
- Bess MarvinBess MarvinElizabeth "Bess" Marvin is a character in the Nancy Drew Mystery Stories series. She is one of Nancy Drew's best friends, along with George Fayne, who is Bess' cousin. Bess and George are introduced to readers in the 1931 novel,The Secret at Shadow Ranch. Bess was originally described as having...
-- Jennifer Pratt - Renée Amande -- Walayn Sharples
- Ned NickersonNed NickersonNed Nickerson is a fictional character in the Nancy Drew Mystery Stories series written under the collective pseudonym "Carolyn Keene". Ned is often referred to as Nancy Drew's boyfriend...
-- Scott Carty - Lamont Warrick -- Jason Sharp
- Gilbert Buford -- Keith Dahlgren
- Professor Beatrice HotchkissProfessor Beatrice HotchkissProfessor Beatrice Winfred Gertrude Hotchkiss is a character from the Nancy Drew Computer Games Series. She is an author of books about Marie Antoinette and crystal skulls...
-- Keri HealeyKeri HealeyKeri Healey is an American voice actress, who has appeared on five Nancy Drew games developed by Her Interactive.- Game appearances :-External links:... - Authenticator/Additional Voices -- Scot Kirk
- Additional Voices -- Leslie Wadsworth
Accidents
- Get bitten by the spider when trying to get the key in the fountain.
- Get stung by too many wasps while trying to get a loquat.
- Being eaten by Bernie when you attempt to tip the log for the 2nd time.
- As Bess, going through the emergency exit door that will sound the alarm.
- Letting the culprit get away
Trivia
- The name of the iguana in the game is Iggy. Iggy is one of the names of the dogs in Ghost Dogs of Moon LakeGhost Dogs of Moon LakeNancy Drew: Ghost Dogs Of Moon Lake is based on two books, Ghost Dogs of Whispering Oaks and Mystery by Moonlight. Moon Lake is the name of the location of Camp Avondale in the Nancy Drew book The Secret of the Old Clock. It is the seventh game in the series of Nancy Drew computer games. The game...
. - The music at the end of the game is the same music at the end of Danger on Deception Island.
- When Nancy looks in the mirror in Renée's room, Nancy has no reflection.
- When you open the drawer next to Henry's with the white square on it, you can see two memoirs written by two familiar Nancy Drew characters: Bill Kessler from White Wolf of Icicle Creek and Prudence RutherfordPrudence RutherfordPrudence Rutherford is a character from the Her Interactive Nancy Drew computer-game series who has appeared in three games: Secret of the Scarlet Hand, Danger By Design and The Phantom of Venice and has been mentioned in the game Trail of the Twister. She is only a phone character in the game, but...
from Secret of the Scarlet HandSecret of the Scarlet HandSecret of the Scarlet Hand is the sixth game in the series of Nancy Drew computer games. It is based on the book of the same name.-Plot:Nancy Drew lands an internship at The Beech Hill museum in Washington D.C, which is devoted to the Mayan culture and will soon be exhibiting a newly discovered...
. - There is a statue in Zeke's that is the same as the one of AeolusAeolusAeolus was the ruler of the winds in Greek mythology. In fact this name was shared by three mythic characters. These three personages are often difficult to tell apart, and even the ancient mythographers appear to have been perplexed about which Aeolus was which...
in Curse of Blackmoor ManorCurse of Blackmoor Manor (computer game)Curse of Blackmoor Manor is the eleventh installment, released in 2004, in the popular Nancy Drew computer game series created by Her Interactive. The game puts the player in Nancy Drew's shoes, where they must solve the mystery. The game features 3D graphical environments, interviewing suspects,... - The hulaHulaHula is a dance form accompanied by chant or song . It was developed in the Hawaiian Islands by the Polynesians who originally settled there. The hula dramatizes or portrays the words of the oli or mele in a visual dance form....
doll in Lamont's curio shop is like the same one in the gift shop seen in The Creature of Kapu Cave. - When you're controlling Bess and you go inside the gumbo stand, the vendor's face isn't seen, but his body is seen. The vendor's body is similar to the body of Shorty Thurmond in The Secret of Shadow Ranch.
- Professor Beatrice Hotchkiss returns in this game. She is from Treasure in the Royal TowerTreasure in the Royal TowerTreasure in the Royal Tower is a computer game which was based loosely on a book of the same name. The book is part of a popular mystery series, created in 1930 by Edward Stratemeyer. The heroine of the books, as well as the computer game, is named Nancy Drew. It is based on book #128 in the Nancy...
. Like Charleena Purcell from Last Train to Blue Moon CanyonLast Train to Blue Moon CanyonLast Train to Blue Moon Canyon is a computer game made by the company Her Interactive. The main character is a detective named Nancy Drew. She and the Hardy Boys, Frank and Joe, are going on a train ride to search for a mine owned by Jake Hurley. The game was released in September 2005...
, she does not remember you. - The Whisperer is the name of the crystal skull. The Whisperer is also the name of the scribeScribeA scribe is a person who writes books or documents by hand as a profession and helps the city keep track of its records. The profession, previously found in all literate cultures in some form, lost most of its importance and status with the advent of printing...
/mummyMummyA mummy is a body, human or animal, whose skin and organs have been preserved by either intentional or incidental exposure to chemicals, extreme coldness , very low humidity, or lack of air when bodies are submerged in bogs, so that the recovered body will not decay further if kept in cool and dry...
in Secret of the Scarlet HandSecret of the Scarlet HandSecret of the Scarlet Hand is the sixth game in the series of Nancy Drew computer games. It is based on the book of the same name.-Plot:Nancy Drew lands an internship at The Beech Hill museum in Washington D.C, which is devoted to the Mayan culture and will soon be exhibiting a newly discovered... - The game makes several references to The Haunted Showboat, the 35th book in the original Nancy Drew Mystery Stories, such as "Jean Lafitte".
- When going into Renee's room for the second time you'll hear the lightning strike. Turn around and on the chair which was empty before, there is a doll. The doll is from Last Train to Blue Moon CanyonLast Train to Blue Moon CanyonLast Train to Blue Moon Canyon is a computer game made by the company Her Interactive. The main character is a detective named Nancy Drew. She and the Hardy Boys, Frank and Joe, are going on a train ride to search for a mine owned by Jake Hurley. The game was released in September 2005...
. - After eating six Koko Kringle bars and Nancy says that's enough back up after the lightning strike look at the bottom right hand corner at the bed and see the shadow of the rocking chair move.
- The archway between Slumber Gardens, Terra Siesta and Growing Crypts in the scale model of the cemetery plays music from the first Nancy Drew game, Secrets Can KillSecrets Can KillSecrets Can Kill is the first of the many Nancy Drew computer games developed by Her Interactive and was released in 1998. It is followed by Stay Tuned for Danger. The game is based on the book "Secrets Can Kill", the first book in the Nancy Drew Files Series. It is set in first person view of...
.
Critical reception
IGNIGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
awarded 7.5 out of 10, highlighting the detailed environments, well-modeled characters and good voice acting, with interesting but hard puzzles. However, the movement system (clicking on arrows) and jerky turning animation was criticized, and it was not rated highly for lasting appeal.
External links
- Legend of the Crystal Skull by Her InteractiveHer InteractiveHer Interactive is the leading mystery-maker and pioneer of fun and inspiring interactive entertainment. The company, with 24 awards to its name, designs, develops and publishes high-quality, mystery adventure games and apps, and is the world leader in the mystery games category. Her Interactive's...
. - Nancy Drew: Legend of the Crystal Skull by GameHouseGameHouseGameHouse is a casual game developer, publisher, digital video game distributor, and portal, based in Seattle, Washington, United States-History:...