Nancy Drew is back and
when we say back, we mean waaaaaay back as in the 1930’s!
For her 12th computer adventure and 75th anniversary of her first
book, Nancy has gone retro and will return to her literary
roots.

Secret of the
Old Clock is a compilation of elements from the first four Nancy Drew novels
– Secret of the Old Clock, The Hidden
Staircase,
Mystery at Lilac Inn and
The Bungalow Mystery.

This time around Nancy
visits ‘Lilac Inn, where 17-year-old
Emily Crandall is trying to manage the property she inherited from
her late mother. A mutual friend has asked Nancy to look in on Emily
who is straining to keep up with the management and financial demands
of the Inn and do so just one month after the loss of her mom.

Meantime, Nancy is curious
about why a girl she hardly knows would want to meet with her.
Does it have something to do with the contested
inheritance? Whatever fueled the invitation, it’s up to Nancy
to find the answers and rescue Emily from possible financial and
emotional ruin.’

As usual, Her Interactive
has done their research as the game features vintage cars, radio
shows and slang. In fact, Nancy will be able
to drive her own car to navigate through town. Bess and George will
again be available for help, but her cell phone has been replaced
by an old fashioned landline. Hobo symbols – which is a basic
system of mark used by the classic train-hopping hobo of the early
20th century to communicate with fellow hoboes – will play
a big part in some of the puzzles.

Nancy will also have a
job as earning money and managing your budget – such
as purchasing gas for your car – will figure into the game.

There will also be two
new mini-games: fishing – which is
similar to the fishing puzzle in Syberia 2, as you must choose the
correct bait and spot to cast your rod and a 9-hole mini-golf course.
What you may not be aware of is that – keeping in the 1930’s
spirit – mini-golf was the hottest craze of the 1930’s
as literally thousands of mini-golf courses were constructed across
the United States (and yes, I did whoop Her Interactive CEO Megan
Gaiser at mini-golf!).

If Secret of the
Old Clock is a rip-roaring success, it would be great to if Her Interactive
were to develop some future games based
on other time periods in Nancy’s lengthy history. How about
a 1960’s hippie Nancy Drew or a 80’s disco Nancy?