"Not one to back down from kleptomania" LOL! They should have called you before they made this game. I wonder what Hannah thought when she received the 65-page letter from Nancy at the end.
I firmly believe if this game got another three to five months it would have been amazing! Your ideas were wonderful and I really want to see them happen soon
Maybe, but remember these games were released every 6 months. Another 5 months would be almost double the development time. Why should this game need so much more time than all the others?
@@GraemeCree This game was actually rushed out and was given less development time than usual. I remember being really surprised that it was out already. I would have rather waited the usual time and had a longer game!
@@summerreadingnook Maybe, but I'm looking at the release dates and it's hard to tell from that. Here's a list of games, followed by how many months after the previous game they were released: Blackmoor: 1 month, 5 days Old Clock: 9 months, 1 week Blue Moon: 2 months, 3 days Design: 9 months, 9 days Kapu: 2 months, 1 week, 1 day Icicle Creek: 9 months, 6 days Crystal Skull: 2 months, 1 day Venice: 9 months, 1 day Malloy: 3 months, 5 days Judging by this, Kapu Cave wasn't released particularly early. But it also looks like back then they must have been working on two games at a time, and may have given more attention to Danger By Design and to getting the new engine ready than to Kapu. I could swear that later on, they were releasing the games about six months apart.
@@summerreadingnook I've just been looking at release dates. Back then, it was common for the year's two games to come out within maybe 2 months of each other. But it's also clear that they were working on two games at the same time back then (later on, they spaced them out more. So, although you can't tell it from the release date, they probably spent more time on Danger by Design, and on developing the new interface, and this is the game that got caught in the squeeze.
Love how thoroughly you thought this out!! I was totally engaged when you were describing your rewrite. Re: the Hardy boys’ character models, I believe Robert Riedl addressed this at one point (probably in a commentary with Nancy Drew Walkthroughs). I think they had a new higher resolution game window for CRE and different artists working on the character models. The Hardys wouldn’t have looked the same as in TRN no matter what they did, so instead of trying to tie the artists down to that image, they gave them freedom to redesign the Hardys. Something like that. They still could’ve fixed Joe’s hair so it didn’t look like a comb-over though 😂
I believe we did see the TRN Hardys after this game, though. Not the full character models, of course, but I think their pictures showed up on Nancy's phone, and maybe other places.
@@GraemeCree Yes! They used their TRN models as a contact photo in DED by popular demand. It’s easier to do an image than to animate the old character models.
I low key have a theory that Pua might be the same person as Jing Jing Ling from Danger By Design . Their faces seem very similar to me. JJ gained weight because she had to contractually. She’s also paranoid about her personal information, maybe she doesn’t want her past to be revealed. This idea has flaws but I love to think of ways to make it work for some reason.
You made a lot of great points! It also kind of bothered me that Joe gets bonked on the head and immediately sent to the hospital and everybody is properly concerned, while Nancy gets bonked on the head a billion times in the series and nobody cares 🤷♀
1:54 hmm I definitely wouldn’t consider New Zealand to be a “tropical” country, but I agree they did definitely struggle on the setting. Great video and I totally agree with you on these points.
The game you suggest would be such a good one!! They definitely teased Kane O'Kala a bunch in the trailer at the end of Danger by Design and the beginning but just never had him again afterwards. I'd also have loved to learn about Native Hawaiian culture as well, at a deeper level than just reading about it on Big Island Mike's computer thing. This is a big problem with so many ND games where they have an "exotic" location but only provide a very watered down educational side to the game (Labyrinth of Lies, Shattered Medalion, etc.) There could have been so much education value, like in entomology and botany as you mentioned, and native culture or general science. I love your suggestions about deeper characters too; a storyline where Pua wants to leave Hawaii but BIM forces her to stay and help settle his debts could provide such a fascinating and sympathetic characterization for her! This is such a wonderful video and I can't wait to hear what you have to say about the other mysteries that fell short too :)
Love the changes you’ve made! I also love the specific point about Hawaiian culture. Exploring the real side of Hawaii as opposed to what big island Mike curates for tourists could be such great commentary. This game could’ve been so much better, and I think your hypothetical game really captures that! Looking forward to the rest of the series!
Great video! I agree with a lot of things that need fixed. I always say this game just got rushed out too soon for some reason. Just some easy changes that I think would make a huge difference: Instead of having to pay to learn about Hawaii, you should be able to earn big island bucks by reading the facts about Hawaii and then passing quizzes on what you learned The Hawaii facts should include knowledge about older Hawaiians/whoever designed the snorkeling chart and the puzzles leading to the chamber When Joe snoops he should find info about Mike’s aunt and his connection to the HiliHili Dr. Kim’s assignment should require actual insect knowledge, not just sorting squiggles under a microscope Dr. Craven’s assignment should teach us something about horticulture And of course Joe’s face should be longer and narrower like it was in Train. Seriously what is that? 😅
I love your new take on this game! I'd definitely watch more videos in the same strain as this one. Thanks for putting this together! Creators like you are really fueling my need for Nance content haha
Everything you do is always so well done, which makes me so excited and somewhat sad for this series. I love seeing how it should be (which you do SO well), but man what could have been with just those simple changes!!
Great ideas! I remember when I first played this game, and I tried to click to go further down the beach, and Nancy says "I can't just keep walking down the beach! I have to collect shells!" I just gaped in confusion for a minute because I genuinely could not believe that was the only bit of beach we got to see.
Ahhh I love this! You nailed it. Listening to your summary of the game with changes was truly thrilling! The changes to the characters are spot on. I never really considered that Quigly is constantly shooing us away. Mike avenging his aunt also makes a lot more sense as a motive. Pua having a dream that’s really different form surfing is also very intriguing. Maybe she wants to go study law or something totally different in the continental US and Mike feels she’s abandoning her heritage that he’s trying desperately to keep alive through all the Hawaiian education. Nancy disappointing Dr. Craven, who had been subconsciously using her to replace his niece, is also really fascinating. The idea of a volcano randomly rumbling to add some excitement would be really cool and atmospheric. I did a volcano escape room once and the intermittent rumbling definitely got to me lol Maybe Nancy would have to escape an area before it has a minor eruption!
Thank you for all the videos you’re making! I never thought that Nancy Drew community was still alive. Looking forward to more content! Speaking of the game, it turns out to be sooo relaxing, especially after Crystal Skull and Thornton Hall😂 but I kinda dislike it for being too short and illogical in a way.
This is a great idea to focus on! My favorite, Warnings at Waverly Academy, one thing was that the weather, and time changes, but the suspects are always in the exact same place every day.
Loved this one. I'd be very perched for one on Trail Of the Twister because MAN the real life inspirations to change the storyline for that game alone have my mind going.
Lots of good info hear. Just a personal gripe, I do not like when we have to purchase books or guides in the games and use them to solve puzzles or learn about the location we are in. Aside from this game another good example is Danger by Design that utilizes this approach. I much prefer finding these resources as the mystery progresses and utilizing them appropriately.
Yay! Another great video. I'm currently sick (day 2 of my cold, so you can only imagine how that's going lol) and your content is so comforting for me and makes me want to play more ND while I rest up ♡ Thanks again Caitlyn. Hope you've been well and know that you're incredibly valued in our little community here.
I'm still working my way through the ND series and haven't played this one yet, so it's really interesting to hear your thoughts on it! The lack danger or nighttime intrigue in a game that takes place in an area surrounding a volcano is _such_ a missed opportunity. You only need to think about it for a few moments to begin picturing the visuals that would come with nighttime exploration and danger (lava, predatory animals, winding paths) the closer you get to the active(?) volcano. Such a shame. I have another video suggestion: an "If this, then that" video in which you go through themes of the ND games, such as setting or genre, and recommend a piece of media based off the game's best features. With the lack of updates from HerInteractive, it would be nice to get some more game recommendations in particular to help fill the void. Also, I recently learned that there was a ND cookbook that came out in the 70s. If you're ever open to doing cooking videos, I'm sure it would be very funny to attempt its tragic recipes, or even some of the recipes from the games.
On your comment about wishing there was more examples of actual Hawaiian culture: totally agree! Something that I really think would have been wonderful was if the game talked about/showed the complex role that sharks play in Hawaiian culture, stories, and legends. Unlike most of the Western world, where it seems like sharks are almost always vilified to ridiculous degrees, the way that sharks are portrayed in Hawaiian cultures and stories is so much more interesting and I love learning more about them.
I just started the video, but one thing that always bothered me is that the game doesn’t allow you to learn everything in one play through. You can actually learn what the secret behind the Hilihili’s top secret project is and how it ties to the Hardy Boys side of the mystery. I always try to trigger it, but rarely can.
I love your ideas. They would have made for a much better game! I recently replayed Kapu Cave for the first time since it came out (so like, 15 years) and man, it really does disappoint. Especially the ending.
Great video and hard agree on all of this! I'm revisiting all the games I played 15+ years ago (yes, I am old) and while I still love some aspects of this game (snorkeling! shave ice! puka shells!), I have much more sympathy for the indigenous Hawaiian culprits than I did as a child. Like yeah I would probably try to sabotage some weird GMO research facility on my family's land too lol
Another thing I really felt should have been cut is the true motive of Richard Akins for hiring Frank and Joe, because I felt that it added a huge element linking the characters but was never mentioned again.
"Not one to back down from kleptomania" LOL! They should have called you before they made this game. I wonder what Hannah thought when she received the 65-page letter from Nancy at the end.
LOL, right?! Poor Hannah!
I firmly believe if this game got another three to five months it would have been amazing! Your ideas were wonderful and I really want to see them happen soon
I agree, it definitely could have used some more attention!!
Maybe, but remember these games were released every 6 months. Another 5 months would be almost double the development time. Why should this game need so much more time than all the others?
@@GraemeCree This game was actually rushed out and was given less development time than usual. I remember being really surprised that it was out already. I would have rather waited the usual time and had a longer game!
@@summerreadingnook Maybe, but I'm looking at the release dates and it's hard to tell from that. Here's a list of games, followed by how many months after the previous game they were released:
Blackmoor: 1 month, 5 days
Old Clock: 9 months, 1 week
Blue Moon: 2 months, 3 days
Design: 9 months, 9 days
Kapu: 2 months, 1 week, 1 day
Icicle Creek: 9 months, 6 days
Crystal Skull: 2 months, 1 day
Venice: 9 months, 1 day
Malloy: 3 months, 5 days
Judging by this, Kapu Cave wasn't released particularly early. But it also looks like back then they must have been working on two games at a time, and may have given more attention to Danger By Design and to getting the new engine ready than to Kapu. I could swear that later on, they were releasing the games about six months apart.
@@summerreadingnook I've just been looking at release dates. Back then, it was common for the year's two games to come out within maybe 2 months of each other. But it's also clear that they were working on two games at the same time back then (later on, they spaced them out more. So, although you can't tell it from the release date, they probably spent more time on Danger by Design, and on developing the new interface, and this is the game that got caught in the squeeze.
Love how thoroughly you thought this out!! I was totally engaged when you were describing your rewrite. Re: the Hardy boys’ character models, I believe Robert Riedl addressed this at one point (probably in a commentary with Nancy Drew Walkthroughs). I think they had a new higher resolution game window for CRE and different artists working on the character models. The Hardys wouldn’t have looked the same as in TRN no matter what they did, so instead of trying to tie the artists down to that image, they gave them freedom to redesign the Hardys. Something like that. They still could’ve fixed Joe’s hair so it didn’t look like a comb-over though 😂
Lol, that definitely makes sense, I just feel like Joe especially got a pretty raw deal in that makeover
@@WizardKittenYT Or is it combover?
I believe we did see the TRN Hardys after this game, though. Not the full character models, of course, but I think their pictures showed up on Nancy's phone, and maybe other places.
@@GraemeCree Yes! They used their TRN models as a contact photo in DED by popular demand. It’s easier to do an image than to animate the old character models.
"have Mike mapu dress up as the creature" You used big island Mike's government name
I did, lol
I low key have a theory that Pua might be the same person as Jing Jing Ling from Danger By Design . Their faces seem very similar to me. JJ gained weight because she had to contractually. She’s also paranoid about her personal information, maybe she doesn’t want her past to be revealed. This idea has flaws but I love to think of ways to make it work for some reason.
Lol, love it!
You made a lot of great points! It also kind of bothered me that Joe gets bonked on the head and immediately sent to the hospital and everybody is properly concerned, while Nancy gets bonked on the head a billion times in the series and nobody cares 🤷♀
SO true. It also makes me wonder why he was there at all anyway if they were just going to concuss him and get rid of him anyway, lol!
Because they need to play as both brothers, but couldn’t figure out how to switch between them without…force.
1:54 hmm I definitely wouldn’t consider New Zealand to be a “tropical” country, but I agree they did definitely struggle on the setting. Great video and I totally agree with you on these points.
That was meant to be tropical, comma, adventure style! Doesn't always translate in the pausing 😊
The game you suggest would be such a good one!! They definitely teased Kane O'Kala a bunch in the trailer at the end of Danger by Design and the beginning but just never had him again afterwards.
I'd also have loved to learn about Native Hawaiian culture as well, at a deeper level than just reading about it on Big Island Mike's computer thing. This is a big problem with so many ND games where they have an "exotic" location but only provide a very watered down educational side to the game (Labyrinth of Lies, Shattered Medalion, etc.) There could have been so much education value, like in entomology and botany as you mentioned, and native culture or general science.
I love your suggestions about deeper characters too; a storyline where Pua wants to leave Hawaii but BIM forces her to stay and help settle his debts could provide such a fascinating and sympathetic characterization for her! This is such a wonderful video and I can't wait to hear what you have to say about the other mysteries that fell short too :)
Loved reading your thoughts!! I completely agree!
Love the changes you’ve made! I also love the specific point about Hawaiian culture. Exploring the real side of Hawaii as opposed to what big island Mike curates for tourists could be such great commentary. This game could’ve been so much better, and I think your hypothetical game really captures that! Looking forward to the rest of the series!
Yes!! More Hawaii!!
All great! Your ideas would also drive home a running theme of fathers and daughters (or in Craven's case, a similar uncle/niece relationship).
Great video! I agree with a lot of things that need fixed. I always say this game just got rushed out too soon for some reason. Just some easy changes that I think would make a huge difference:
Instead of having to pay to learn about Hawaii, you should be able to earn big island bucks by reading the facts about Hawaii and then passing quizzes on what you learned
The Hawaii facts should include knowledge about older Hawaiians/whoever designed the snorkeling chart and the puzzles leading to the chamber
When Joe snoops he should find info about Mike’s aunt and his connection to the HiliHili
Dr. Kim’s assignment should require actual insect knowledge, not just sorting squiggles under a microscope
Dr. Craven’s assignment should teach us something about horticulture
And of course Joe’s face should be longer and narrower like it was in Train. Seriously what is that? 😅
Poor Joe's face 😂😂
No mention of Mike Mapu being your hubby's favorite character in the whole series???
LOL, I literally told him last night that I made a video all about Big Island Mike and he was like: "Well yeah, he's the best character." XD
@@WizardKittenYT Once again, I like your husband a lot! LOL
I would much rather play/watch someone play the Creature of Kapu Cave game that you described as opposed to the one we got!
Oh yay!! I'm so glad you liked the ideas! :D
I love your new take on this game! I'd definitely watch more videos in the same strain as this one. Thanks for putting this together! Creators like you are really fueling my need for Nance content haha
Aw yay! So glad you liked it!
Everything you do is always so well done, which makes me so excited and somewhat sad for this series. I love seeing how it should be (which you do SO well), but man what could have been with just those simple changes!!
Thank you!! I definitely felt the same way while writing this one, like dang what a missed opportunity! Lol!
Yay! Love this video idea. Awesome stuff
Hooray! So glad you like it!
Great ideas! I remember when I first played this game, and I tried to click to go further down the beach, and Nancy says "I can't just keep walking down the beach! I have to collect shells!" I just gaped in confusion for a minute because I genuinely could not believe that was the only bit of beach we got to see.
Right?! We demand more beach!!
Ahhh I love this! You nailed it. Listening to your summary of the game with changes was truly thrilling! The changes to the characters are spot on. I never really considered that Quigly is constantly shooing us away. Mike avenging his aunt also makes a lot more sense as a motive. Pua having a dream that’s really different form surfing is also very intriguing. Maybe she wants to go study law or something totally different in the continental US and Mike feels she’s abandoning her heritage that he’s trying desperately to keep alive through all the Hawaiian education. Nancy disappointing Dr. Craven, who had been subconsciously using her to replace his niece, is also really fascinating.
The idea of a volcano randomly rumbling to add some excitement would be really cool and atmospheric. I did a volcano escape room once and the intermittent rumbling definitely got to me lol Maybe Nancy would have to escape an area before it has a minor eruption!
Yay!! I'm so glad you liked it! A minor eruption would have been so fun!!
Thank you for all the videos you’re making! I never thought that Nancy Drew community was still alive. Looking forward to more content!
Speaking of the game, it turns out to be sooo relaxing, especially after Crystal Skull and Thornton Hall😂 but I kinda dislike it for being too short and illogical in a way.
Aw yay! I'm so glad you enjoy the content!!
This is a great idea to focus on! My favorite, Warnings at Waverly Academy, one thing was that the weather, and time changes, but the suspects are always in the exact same place every day.
Ooh good point! WAC is also my favorite :)
Loved this one. I'd be very perched for one on Trail Of the Twister because MAN the real life inspirations to change the storyline for that game alone have my mind going.
TOT is definitely on the list to analyze! 😁
I would love to play your version of this Nancy Drew game! It sounds incredible and what I would expect from a ND game.
Lots of good info hear. Just a personal gripe, I do not like when we have to purchase books or guides in the games and use them to solve puzzles or learn about the location we are in. Aside from this game another good example is Danger by Design that utilizes this approach. I much prefer finding these resources as the mystery progresses and utilizing them appropriately.
Yay! Another great video. I'm currently sick (day 2 of my cold, so you can only imagine how that's going lol) and your content is so comforting for me and makes me want to play more ND while I rest up ♡
Thanks again Caitlyn. Hope you've been well and know that you're incredibly valued in our little community here.
Oh no, so sorry you're sick!! Day 2 of colds have historically been the WORST for me. Sending you all the cozy, healing, restful vibes!
I'm still working my way through the ND series and haven't played this one yet, so it's really interesting to hear your thoughts on it! The lack danger or nighttime intrigue in a game that takes place in an area surrounding a volcano is _such_ a missed opportunity. You only need to think about it for a few moments to begin picturing the visuals that would come with nighttime exploration and danger (lava, predatory animals, winding paths) the closer you get to the active(?) volcano. Such a shame.
I have another video suggestion: an "If this, then that" video in which you go through themes of the ND games, such as setting or genre, and recommend a piece of media based off the game's best features. With the lack of updates from HerInteractive, it would be nice to get some more game recommendations in particular to help fill the void.
Also, I recently learned that there was a ND cookbook that came out in the 70s. If you're ever open to doing cooking videos, I'm sure it would be very funny to attempt its tragic recipes, or even some of the recipes from the games.
Love those ideas!! And yes, the lack of nighttime danger was such a missed opportunity!!
On your comment about wishing there was more examples of actual Hawaiian culture: totally agree! Something that I really think would have been wonderful was if the game talked about/showed the complex role that sharks play in Hawaiian culture, stories, and legends. Unlike most of the Western world, where it seems like sharks are almost always vilified to ridiculous degrees, the way that sharks are portrayed in Hawaiian cultures and stories is so much more interesting and I love learning more about them.
YES! I would have loved to see and learn about sharks!!
I want to play your version of this game so badly 😩
I just started the video, but one thing that always bothered me is that the game doesn’t allow you to learn everything in one play through. You can actually learn what the secret behind the Hilihili’s top secret project is and how it ties to the Hardy Boys side of the mystery.
I always try to trigger it, but rarely can.
I love your ideas. They would have made for a much better game! I recently replayed Kapu Cave for the first time since it came out (so like, 15 years) and man, it really does disappoint. Especially the ending.
Agreed!! It's the missed potential that's truly so disappointing!
I've got some nostalgia for CRE, but these are all great suggestions. Definitely looking forward to more videos like this.
Yay! So glad you liked it!
I agree with what you said! The same goes with arglefumph!
Great video and hard agree on all of this! I'm revisiting all the games I played 15+ years ago (yes, I am old) and while I still love some aspects of this game (snorkeling! shave ice! puka shells!), I have much more sympathy for the indigenous Hawaiian culprits than I did as a child. Like yeah I would probably try to sabotage some weird GMO research facility on my family's land too lol
Another thing I really felt should have been cut is the true motive of Richard Akins for hiring Frank and Joe, because I felt that it added a huge element linking the characters but was never mentioned again.
Agreed! There are plenty of ways to get Frank and Joe to Hawaii that would make a lot more sense!
There was more lava in Labyrinth of Lies! 🤣
I wish they didn't have her abruptly hanging up on Ned cause she sees the Hardy Boys. It didn't feel necessary
And how was the food game set in Hawaii SNOW CONES? Of ALL of the Hawaiian cuisine options out there?
Right?!
Thanks!
Marlena!! Thank you so so much for the Super Thanks! Your support is so greatly appreciated!! 🤗
I will never forget how bad Joe’s redesign was. He looked like he was kicked out of a boy band (pick your favorite).
Agreed 😅
Completely writing big mike and pua out. theyre among the worst. and GET A different voice for kim!!