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The Creature of Kapu Cave: released in October 2006
Based on the Book: Mystery on Maui (Nancy Drew Mystery Stories #143, published in 1998)
How Closely Does the Game Follow the Book?: Not very closely. They both take place in Hawaii and there are surfers, but those are about the only similarities.
Location: Hawaii
The Mystery/Crime: Why Dr. Kim's tent was ransacked.
Mode Of Transportation: Jeep
Is there an alarm clock in this game?: No
What is learned about in this game?: Entomology, Hawaiian folklore, botany
Brief Plot Synopsis: While Nancy is working for an entomologist, the entomologist's tent and equipment are trashed and Nancy investigates to find out who did it and why.
Brief Character Synopsis:
Malachi Craven - An ornery botanist who works at the Hilihili Research Center
Actor I would cast to play him if it were a live-action movie or TV show: Richard Dreyfuss
Mike Mapu aka "Big Island Mike" - owns a tourist attraction that allows tourists to live the life of a native Hawaiian; Pua's father
Actor I would cast to play him if it were a live-action movie or TV show: Taylor Wily
Pua Mapu - a teenage champion surfer; Big Island Mike's daughter
Actress I would cast to play her if it were a live-action movie or TV show: Auli'i Cravalho
Quigly Kim - An eccentric entomologist for whom Nancy is working
Actress I would cast to play her if it were a live-action movie or TV show: Margaret Cho
Phone Characters:
Davey - a pawn broker
Johnny Kuto - a freelance thief
Ned Nickerson - Nancy's boyfriend
Richard Aikins - Hired Frank and Joe Hardy to investigate Mike and Pua Mapu
Other characters:
Frank and Joe Hardy - Nancy's friends and fellow detectives, who are working on their own investigation in Hawaii
My favorite quotes:
"Nancy, in case you're wondering what that thing you're holding is, it's the short end of the stick" - Ned Nickerson
Frank: "In fact, if there's anything you need out there -"
Joe: "Food, toiletries, monster repellent..."
My Thoughts: The first time I played this game I was really enjoying it but then it just...ended. It was like they had to hurry up and finish and so they just threw together an ending. Now I don't hate this game as much as some people do, but I do think it's one of the weakest in the series. I think it could have been pretty good if the ending wasn't so abrupt and if a few things were different. For example, I don't think I've ever been able to pick up a seashell that wasn't on the beach. I think there are some in the water, but by the time I have enough stuff to get in the water, I don't need them anymore. It would have been nice if those shells had been on the beach or if it had been less expensive to get in the water so I could have made something different instead of making that one same necklace over and over.
I liked being able to play as the Hardy boys, but I absolutely hated the design of them in this game. Their design was much better in the previous game. The other graphics were beautiful, though - the beach, the ocean, the plants. That was all very well-designed.
I liked most of what was there, but I feel more could have been done with it. And I really disliked how they did the ending. But, I do replay this game and find most of it pretty enjoyable, so I guess I would say I have mixed feelings about this game.
My Rating: 5/10
Based on the Book: Mystery on Maui (Nancy Drew Mystery Stories #143, published in 1998)
How Closely Does the Game Follow the Book?: Not very closely. They both take place in Hawaii and there are surfers, but those are about the only similarities.
Location: Hawaii
The Mystery/Crime: Why Dr. Kim's tent was ransacked.
Mode Of Transportation: Jeep
Is there an alarm clock in this game?: No
What is learned about in this game?: Entomology, Hawaiian folklore, botany
Brief Plot Synopsis: While Nancy is working for an entomologist, the entomologist's tent and equipment are trashed and Nancy investigates to find out who did it and why.
Brief Character Synopsis:
Malachi Craven - An ornery botanist who works at the Hilihili Research Center
Actor I would cast to play him if it were a live-action movie or TV show: Richard Dreyfuss
Mike Mapu aka "Big Island Mike" - owns a tourist attraction that allows tourists to live the life of a native Hawaiian; Pua's father
Actor I would cast to play him if it were a live-action movie or TV show: Taylor Wily
Pua Mapu - a teenage champion surfer; Big Island Mike's daughter
Actress I would cast to play her if it were a live-action movie or TV show: Auli'i Cravalho
Quigly Kim - An eccentric entomologist for whom Nancy is working
Actress I would cast to play her if it were a live-action movie or TV show: Margaret Cho
Phone Characters:
Davey - a pawn broker
Johnny Kuto - a freelance thief
Ned Nickerson - Nancy's boyfriend
Richard Aikins - Hired Frank and Joe Hardy to investigate Mike and Pua Mapu
Other characters:
Frank and Joe Hardy - Nancy's friends and fellow detectives, who are working on their own investigation in Hawaii
My favorite quotes:
"Nancy, in case you're wondering what that thing you're holding is, it's the short end of the stick" - Ned Nickerson
Frank: "In fact, if there's anything you need out there -"
Joe: "Food, toiletries, monster repellent..."
My Thoughts: The first time I played this game I was really enjoying it but then it just...ended. It was like they had to hurry up and finish and so they just threw together an ending. Now I don't hate this game as much as some people do, but I do think it's one of the weakest in the series. I think it could have been pretty good if the ending wasn't so abrupt and if a few things were different. For example, I don't think I've ever been able to pick up a seashell that wasn't on the beach. I think there are some in the water, but by the time I have enough stuff to get in the water, I don't need them anymore. It would have been nice if those shells had been on the beach or if it had been less expensive to get in the water so I could have made something different instead of making that one same necklace over and over.
I liked being able to play as the Hardy boys, but I absolutely hated the design of them in this game. Their design was much better in the previous game. The other graphics were beautiful, though - the beach, the ocean, the plants. That was all very well-designed.
I liked most of what was there, but I feel more could have been done with it. And I really disliked how they did the ending. But, I do replay this game and find most of it pretty enjoyable, so I guess I would say I have mixed feelings about this game.
My Rating: 5/10