This is my 12th review and completed adventure in the Nancy Drew series.

First, I'd like to start by dividing my review into two factions.
1) The game itself
2) My personal detective work.

* PART 1 *

PLOT: Nancy is asked to involve herself in her first International mystery! This lady detective heads on over to a 14th century English manor  reputed to hold a startling family history of intrigue, chaos, and scandal! Also, in recent events, a full-fledged curse involving a dangerous beast marauding the moors!  But to get down to business, she seeks why her neighbors' daughter is suffering from a strange case of [lycanthropy?}

INITIAL SCORE: 93

CHARACTERS:

Linda Penvellyn : I love a mysterious woman, but this is ridiculous! I really don't get the anger issues now that the plot reveal indicates the TRUE source of her ailments.  Was this just a woman who cannot handle stress or does she have other deep-seeded issues?
I still have no idea what she looks like and I am not buying the game cover art because she was not involved in any real part of the storyline.

Jane Penvellyn : I really loved playing those games with her and I spanked her more times than not.  I sensed a little attitude with her at the end. I didn't know how to take that...

Mrs. Drake: I thought I would see more of her than I did especially since she was a main presence in the day-to-day events of the manor.  Then again, I never really enjoyed talking to her so I guess it was for the best.

Nigel Mookerjee:  A writer that was hired by Mrs. Drake to finally throw an encompassing tell-all [in a positive light] book revealing the exploits of the Penvellyn name.  I thought he was okay in general, but the typing test he had me perform was idiotic.

Ethel Bosinny: I really wanted to learn more about her and the fact that she startled me a couple time was really laughable. I probably never jumped in a ND game before, but they GOT me! :)  I wanted to learn more about what rituals/customs she was intent on passing down through the family lineage with Jane.

Ned Nickerson : Supportive as always.

Loulou: A parrot that really DID get on your nerves after awhile. The voice was poorly-acted [sounding like a human mimicking a parrot] by whatever actor was in charge of that performance.  Also, if you were going to add catch-phrases, try adding at least TEN more. "We are going to need a bigger boat." only goes so far after the 12th time heard.

CUMUL SCORE: - 4 = 89

SCORE/GRAPHICS/SOUND EFFECTS:
One of the best scores I have heard in a ND game to date! Very enticing and it got you into the spirit of the adventure. Graphics, although not top-notch as the others, had designers working 24/7 because the immensity of what they had to  accomplish. So many areas of the manor were majestically done!

CUMUL SCORE: + 4 = 93

PUZZLES/MINI-GAMES:  I agree with past reviewers that there was a certain level of puzzle-solving that made it too hard for the casual gamer.  Mindlessly strutting around looking for leads would have added an extra five hours to my gameplay NEEDLESSLY, if I didn't short-cut with a walkthrough [didn't cheat the actual puzzles mind you]. I think they were too difficult for their own good and am trying very hard to remember if I actually enjoyed any of them.  The only thing that comes to mind is Skull & Bones and how Jane would ask " Do you have any SPY-dehs??" in her english accent. :) Go Dig!

CUMUL SCORE: + 1 = 94

ADVENTURE ENDING: Now I don't mind not getting the culprit right, but when the set-up doesn't equal the payoff, I can get pretty upset. Why was I bothered to learn about this family in a historical sense? Okay, I forgive that, but here is what is NOT forgivable....absolutely no character  resolutions for the player.
1) What was that wolf thing in the bushes? Was it real? If not, explain how it was faked! Same poor excuse like in SAWE
2) Could Linda's ailments actually happen according to the explanation? No!
3) What became of Linda except "the family [Hugh/Linda/Jane] learned to grow together". I want instant reactions to what happened immediately when the culprit was revealed...not a flimsy gloss-over going forward.
4) No TRUE culprit punishment after all I invested? [13 game hours]
5) What happened to all the side characters and their finality?

CUMUL SCORE: - 10 = 84

* PART 2 *

I try to solve cases without any hints, walkthroughs, etc, even if it were to
take weeks! Well, it took me four days  and I gave myself a
Detective Score Of : 56

My Strong Points: I battled to stay interested to the history of the family and even  memorized their family tree! [Where did that ultimately get me? 97% useless knowledge]  I solved the difficult games, but lets face it,  I am not spending four hours monkeying around with moving walls again and again. Why did I have to CONSTANTLY maneuver the gargoyle & dragon to enter the West & East secret rooms? Couldn't the developers put it as RESOLVED instead of the tediousness of doing the steps ten times throughout the game? I punished myself nonetheless, but especially because I had the culprit all wrong.

My Weak Points: General frustration with the game interface and it clouded my judgements on the linear tasks ahead.

OVERALL GAME SCORE: 84 + 56/ 2 = 70 [ C - ]

BOTTOMLINE: I'll not begrudge HER on how they wanted to resolve the main plotline, but for God Sakes clean up the ending so the Nancy Drew fans have some resolution on the other fifteen things that were occuring. We have invested countless hours and I learned nothing of how certain tricks were done and why. Should I just accept "Because the culprit enjoyed lying"?

Thus far, on my list of the 21 completed ND games, BLACKMOOR ranks.....# 18

1) GHOST DOGS OF MOON LAKE * 88.5
2) THE SHATTERED MEDALLION * 87
3) GHOST OF THORNTON HALL * 86.5
4) HAUNTING CASTLE MALLOY * 85.5
5) TREASURE ROYAL TOWER * 84
6) HAUNTED CAROUSEL * 83
7) WHITE WOLF ICICLE CREEK * 82.5
8) DANGER DECEPTION ISLAND * 81
9) MESSAGE HAUNTED MANSION * 80
10) WARNINGS AT WAVERLY * 78
11) SHADOW AT WATER'S EDGE * 77.5
12) THE CAPTIVE CURSE * 77
13) SECRET SHADOW RANCH * 76
14) TRAIL OF THE TWISTER * 72
15) PHANTOM OF VENICE * 71.5
16) TOMB OF THE LOST QUEEN * 71
17) THE SILENT SPY * 70.5
18) CURSE BLACKMOOR MANOR * 70
19) ALIBI IN ASHES * 69.5
20) THE DEADLY DEVICE * 69
21) SECRETS CAN KILL [REMAST] * 68
This is my 12th review and completed adventure in the Nancy Drew series. First, I'd like to start by dividing my review into two factions. 1) The game itself
2) My personal detective work. * PART 1 *

PLOT: Nancy is asked to involve herself in her first International mystery! This lady detective heads on over to a 14th century English manor  reputed to hold a startling family history of intrigue, chaos, and scandal! Also, in recent events, a full-fledged curse involving a dangerous beast marauding the moors! But to get down to business, she seeks why her neighbors' daughter is suffering from a strange case of [lycanthropy? }

INITIAL SCORE: 93

CHARACTERS:

Linda Penvellyn : I love a mysterious woman, but this is ridiculous! I really don't get the anger issues now that the plot reveal indicates the TRUE source of her ailments. Was this just a woman who cannot handle stress or does she have other deep-seeded issues? I still have no idea what she looks like and I am not buying the game cover art because she was not involved in any real part of the storyline. Jane Penvellyn : I really loved playing those games with her and I spanked her more times than not. I sensed a little attitude with her at the end. I didn't know how to take that... Mrs. Drake: I thought I would see more of her than I did especially since she was a main presence in the day-to-day events of the manor. Then again, I never really enjoyed talking to her so I guess it was for the best. Nigel Mookerjee:  A writer that was hired by Mrs. Drake to finally throw an encompassing tell-all [in a positive light] book revealing the exploits of the Penvellyn name. I thought he was okay in general, but the typing test he had me perform was idiotic. Ethel Bosinny: I really wanted to learn more about her and the fact that she startled me a couple time was really laughable. I probably never jumped in a ND game before, but they GOT me! :)  I wanted to learn more about what rituals/customs she was intent on passing down through the family lineage with Jane. Ned Nickerson : Supportive as always. Loulou: A parrot that really DID get on your nerves after awhile. The voice was poorly-acted [sounding like a human mimicking a parrot] by whatever actor was in charge of that performance. Also, if you were going to add catch-phrases, try adding at least TEN more. "We are going to need a bigger boat. " only goes so far after the 12th time heard. CUMUL SCORE: - 4 = 89

SCORE/GRAPHICS/SOUND EFFECTS:
One of the best scores I have heard in a ND game to date! Very enticing and it got you into the spirit of the adventure. Graphics, although not top-notch as the others, had designers working 24/7 because the immensity of what they had to  accomplish. So many areas of the manor were majestically done! CUMUL SCORE: + 4 = 93

PUZZLES/MINI-GAMES:  I agree with past reviewers that there was a certain level of puzzle-solving that made it too hard for the casual gamer. Mindlessly strutting around looking for leads would have added an extra five hours to my gameplay NEEDLESSLY, if I didn't short-cut with a walkthrough [didn't cheat the actual puzzles mind you]. I think they were too difficult for their own good and am trying very hard to remember if I actually enjoyed any of them. The only thing that comes to mind is Skull & Bones and how Jane would ask " Do you have any SPY-dehs?? " in her english accent. :) Go Dig! CUMUL SCORE: + 1 = 94

ADVENTURE ENDING: Now I don't mind not getting the culprit right, but when the set-up doesn't equal the payoff, I can get pretty upset. Why was I bothered to learn about this family in a historical sense? Okay, I forgive that, but here is what is NOT forgivable.... absolutely no character  resolutions for the player. 1) What was that wolf thing in the bushes? Was it real? If not, explain how it was faked! Same poor excuse like in SAWE
2) Could Linda's ailments actually happen according to the explanation? No! 3) What became of Linda except "the family [Hugh/Linda/Jane] learned to grow together". I want instant reactions to what happened immediately when the culprit was revealed... not a flimsy gloss-over going forward. 4) No TRUE culprit punishment after all I invested? [13 game hours]
5) What happened to all the side characters and their finality? CUMUL SCORE: - 10 = 84

* PART 2 *

I try to solve cases without any hints, walkthroughs, etc, even if it were to
take weeks! Well, it took me four days  and I gave myself a
Detective Score Of : 56

My Strong Points: I battled to stay interested to the history of the family and even  memorized their family tree! [Where did that ultimately get me? 97% useless knowledge]  I solved the difficult games, but lets face it,  I am not spending four hours monkeying around with moving walls again and again. Why did I have to CONSTANTLY maneuver the gargoyle & dragon to enter the West & East secret rooms? Couldn't the developers put it as RESOLVED instead of the tediousness of doing the steps ten times throughout the game? I punished myself nonetheless, but especially because I had the culprit all wrong. My Weak Points: General frustration with the game interface and it clouded my judgements on the linear tasks ahead. OVERALL GAME SCORE: 84 + 56/ 2 = 70 [ C - ]

BOTTOMLINE: I'll not begrudge HER on how they wanted to resolve the main plotline, but for God Sakes clean up the ending so the Nancy Drew fans have some resolution on the other fifteen things that were occuring. We have invested countless hours and I learned nothing of how certain tricks were done and why. Should I just accept "Because the culprit enjoyed lying"? Thus far, on my list of the 21 completed ND games, BLACKMOOR ranks.... . # 18

1) GHOST DOGS OF MOON LAKE * 88. 5
2) THE SHATTERED MEDALLION * 87
3) GHOST OF THORNTON HALL * 86. 5
4) HAUNTING CASTLE MALLOY * 85. 5
5) TREASURE ROYAL TOWER * 84
6) HAUNTED CAROUSEL * 83
7) WHITE WOLF ICICLE CREEK * 82. 5
8) DANGER DECEPTION ISLAND * 81
9) MESSAGE HAUNTED MANSION * 80
10) WARNINGS AT WAVERLY * 78
11) SHADOW AT WATER'S EDGE * 77. 5
12) THE CAPTIVE CURSE * 77
13) SECRET SHADOW RANCH * 76
14) TRAIL OF THE TWISTER * 72
15) PHANTOM OF VENICE * 71. 5
16) TOMB OF THE LOST QUEEN * 71
17) THE SILENT SPY * 70. 5
18) CURSE BLACKMOOR MANOR * 70
19) ALIBI IN ASHES * 69. 5
20) THE DEADLY DEVICE * 69
21) SECRETS CAN KILL [REMAST] * 68