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{{Short description|1998 video game}}
{{Infobox CVG| title = Nancy Drew: Secrets Can Kill
{{Infobox video game
|image = [[Image:NancyDrewSCK.jpg|200px]]
| title = Nancy Drew: Secrets Can Kill
|developer = [[Her Interactive]]
| image = Secrets Can Kill Coverart.png
|publisher = [[DreamCatcher Games|DreamCatcher Interactive Inc.]]
| developer = [[HeR Interactive]]
|designer =
| publisher = [[DreamCatcher Games]]
|released = December 1998
| designer =
|genre = Adventure
| released = November 5, 1998
|modes = [[Single player]]
| genre = [[Adventure game|Adventure]]
|ratings = [[ESRB]]: Everyone (E)
| modes = [[Single player]]
|platforms = Windows
| platforms = [[Microsoft Windows]]
|media =
|requirements =
|input =
}}
}}


'''''Secrets Can Kill''''' is the first of many installments in the ''[[Nancy Drew]]'' [[point-and-click adventure game]] series, launched in 1998 by [[Her Interactive|HeR Interactive]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.justadventure.com/2012/09/06/nancy-drew-secrets-can-kill2/|title=Nancy Drew: Secrets Can Kill|last=Wells|first=Audrey|website=[[Just Adventure]]|date=September 6, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304072523/http://justadventure.com/index.php/component/content/article/17-articles/673-nancy-drew-secrets-can-kill2|archive-date=March 4, 2016|url-status=live|access-date=January 10, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1350&dat=19990403&id=EQ4wAAAAIBAJ&pg=1886,891695|title=Computer game lets girls play at Nancy Drew|last=Benson|first=Millie|newspaper=[[The Blade (Toledo, Ohio)|Toledo Blade]]|publisher=[[Block Communications]]|date=April 3, 1999|access-date=October 21, 2014}}</ref> Players take on the first-person view of fictional amateur sleuth [[Nancy Drew]] and solve the mystery through interrogation of suspects, solving puzzles, and discovering clues. The game features pre-rendered 3D environments, but unlike later games, the characters are animated in 2D. There are three levels of gameplay: Junior, Senior, and Master detective modes. Each mode offers a different difficulty level of puzzles and hints, however, none of these changes affect the actual plot of the game. The game is loosely based on a ''[[The Nancy Drew Files]]'' book of the same name, ''[[Nancy Drew Files#1986|Secrets Can Kill]]'' (1986).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.herinteractive.com/Mystery_Games/Nancy_Drew/Secrets_Can_Kill/pc|title=Nancy Drew Secrets Can Kill|website=[[Her Interactive]]|access-date=May 27, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130705154345/http://www.herinteractive.com/Mystery_Games/Nancy_Drew/Secrets_Can_Kill/pc|archive-date=July 5, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>
'''''Secrets Can Kill''''' was the first of the five [[Nancy Drew]] computer games developed by [[DreamCatcher Games]] and [[Her Interactive]].


An enhanced remake of the game, subtitled ''Remastered'', was released on August 24, 2010. Sales of the original ''Secrets Can Kill'' were discontinued on August 1, 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nypost.com/2010/07/12/the-un-barbie-of-gaming/|title=The un-Barbie of gaming|author=New York Post staff|newspaper=[[New York Post]]|publisher=[[News Corp (2013–present)|News Corp]]|date=July 12, 2010|access-date=October 12, 2014}}</ref>
''Secrets Can Kill'',often abbreviated as SCK, is a first-person [[whodunit]] from the viewpoint of Nancy. The game is 3D, but unlike later games the characters are cartoonish 2D.

The game is based off the book "Secrets Can Kill" in the Nancy Drew Files Series.


==Characters==
===Suspects===
There are four suspects:

'''Daryl Gray'''
Daryl Gray is an informant. He can be found at Maxine's Diner, where he works.

'''Hal Tanaka'''
Hal Tanaka is a foreign exchange student from Japan. He's very focused on getting a scholarship so he can go to college. He is often in study hall at the school.

'''Connie Watson'''
Connie Watson is a tough girl who is into judo. You can always find her in the student lounge. Connie also hides a dark secret.

'''Hector 'Hulk' Sanchez'''
Hulk Sanchez is a stereotypical jock who may even play for the Dolphins one day. Hulk does pretty well in school, the girls all love him, and he seems to have a great life.


==Plot==
==Plot==
[[Nancy Drew]] takes a semester off of school to visit her Aunt Eloise in Florida. A student named Jake Rogers is murdered at the local high school, where Eloise works as a librarian. Eloise asks Nancy to investigate, so Nancy goes undercover as a new student and attempts to solve the mystery. Throughout the game, Nancy discovers that Jake Rogers was blackmailing several of the other characters by videotaping their misdeeds:
{{spoiler}}
In this game Nancy is visiting her Aunt Eloise in Florida, when a student of a nearby school is brutally murdered. The student, Jake Rogers, was greatly disliked at Paseo Del Mar High. Nancy decides to investigate the murder and find out who murdered Jake and why. Nancy discovers that Jake was framing each of the suspects for favors. Daryl Gray is a drug runner for money because his father's business is bankrupted. Hal Tanaka, in need of a scholarship to stay in the United States, cheats copying an old english essay. Conie Watson, in need of money for school next year, secretly competes in a men's judo tournament and wins the cash prize. Hector Sanchez, in order to heal from his injury, steals drugs from the local pharmacy. Although it is never verified it is assumed that Jake tried to pressure Daryl's drug contact, Mitch. In the end Nancy and Daryl go to confront Mitch who does reveal that he killed Jake to stop him from saying anything. It is also assumed that Mitch traped Nancy in the boiler room while rigging the boiler to explode. Mitch pulls out a gun but is quickly disarmed by Connie. Nancy grabs the gun and commands Mitch to surrender. Mitch goes to jail, Hulk pays back the pharmacy, Connie and Daryl begin dating, and Hal gets his scholarship.


*''Hal Tanaka'' took on additional coursework in order to be approved for a scholarship. He knew that if he didn't get the scholarship, his family would send him back to Japan. He slowly became overwhelmed and buried in work, so he decided to plagiarize an English essay from a school library book, which Jake caught on camera. Jake blackmailed Hal into doing his homework for the remainder of the semester, otherwise Jake would reveal the plagiarism to Hal's family.
===Phone Friends===
*''Connie Watson'' was struggling to get enough money for college tuition, so she decided to use her Judo expertise to compete secretly in a men's tournament (the prize money was significantly better than the women's tournament), which Connie easily won. Jake caught her removing her mask on camera, and subsequently forced her to date him.
There characters are familiar to those who've read the books. In the game, Nancy calls them for hints and fun. These are:
*''Hulk Sanchez'' was badly injured while playing football, so in order to continue playing and impress the college scouts, he decided to break into the local pharmaceutical plant to steal some steroids. After filming Hulk leaving the plant, Jake forced him to be his lackey.
*Bess Marvin, one of Nancy's best friends.
*''Daryl Gray'''s father was former U.S. senator Eugene Gray, who went bankrupt after some poor business deals. Daryl got involved in a drug smuggling deal with Mitch Dillon. Jake caught video footage of the transaction and thus demanded a cut of the profits that Daryl was receiving.
*George Fayne, Nancy's other best friend and Bess's cousin.
*''Mitch Dillon'' was running a drug transport ring from the local pharmaceutical plant. When Jake caught video footage of a transaction between him and Daryl Gray, he attempted to blackmail Mitch.
*Ned Nickerson, Nancy's boyfriend.


Upon talking to Daryl, Nancy realizes that it was Mitch who killed jake and Daryl tells Nancy to stay away from him and the case. Nancy however has a plan to get Mitch arrested with Daryl and Connie’s help, together the two are able to hold Mitch off long enough until the cops arrive and arrest him. With Jake’s killer behind bars, everyone resumes their normal lives while Nancy goes to New York City to solve the mysterious death threats of a rising star named Rick Arlen which leads into the events of the next game.
Jake and Aunt Eloise are two characters you hear of but never meet.


===Phone numbers===
==Development==
===Characters===
Throughout the game you will find phone numbers on various things. These are:
*'''[[Nancy Drew]]''' - Nancy is an 18-year-old amateur detective from the fictional town of River Heights in the United States. She is the only playable character in the game, which means the player must solve the mystery from her perspective.
*Aunt Eloise (The number on the phone card) - 555-2104
*'''Daryl Gray''' – Daryl is the one who found the victim's body. He works part-time as a short-order cook at Maxine's Diner, and he is the school's student council president (taking the position after his father who was a Florida state senator). He is known as a rich, popular, pretty boy who drives a Porsche 911. He tends to be a bit of a flirt, but is he as wholesome as he seems?
*Drug Depot - 555-3784
*'''Connie Watson''' – Connie is a strong girl with an attitude and a dark secret. The player can always find her in the Student Lounge. She seems like a nice normal, if not tough, teenage girl... or is she?
*The Pizza Place - 555-8669
*'''Hal Tanaka''' – Hal is a foreign exchange student from Japan. He's very focused on getting a scholarship so that he can go to college and become a doctor. He is always in the study dome at the school. He seems intelligent, but is he smart enough to plan the death of the devious blackmailer known as Jake Rogers?
*Judo Club - 555-JUDO
*'''Hector "Hulk" Sanchez''' – Hulk Sanchez is a stereotypical jock who hopes to play college football, and the go on to play for the [[Miami Dolphins]]. However, Hulk needs an athletic scholarship to reach that dream. Are his future plans as stable as he says?
*Police - 555-4855
*'''Mitch Dillon''' – Mitch is the school's boiler serviceman and is not seen much in the game. He's as shady as they come.... did Jake get mixed up with him?
*Maxine's - 555-5386
*Save the Manatees Club - 1-800-432-JOIN
*Jakes Locker - 555-JAKE


==Accidents==
===Cast===
*'''[[Nancy Drew]]''' - [[Lani Minella]]
*'''Hal Tanaka''' - John Truong
*'''Hector 'Hulk' Sanchez''' - Rick Calvert
*'''Daryl Gray''' - Bill Corkery
*'''Mitch Dillon''' - Kenton Leach
*'''Connie Watson''' - Donna Rowry<ref name="SCK IMDB Page">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0929778/|title=Nancy Drew: Secrets Can Kill IMDb|website=[[IMDb]]|access-date=May 30, 2013}}</ref>


==Release==
Within Secrets Can Kill and all ND games there is a number mistakes or accidents you can make like falling down some stairs or setting something on fire. Don't worry use second chance if you make a mistake.
''Secrets Can Kill'' was one of the first mystery computer games to be released that targeted the young female demographic.<ref name="Blade" />


===Reception===
Here is a list of the mistakes you can make:
In 2001, ''Secrets Can Kill'' sold 28,050 units in North America, according to [[PC Data]].<ref name=randysales3>{{cite web | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020619111456/http://www.justadventure.com/articles/State_of_Adventure_Gaming/Mar-02/sales2001.shtm | url=http://www.justadventure.com:80/articles/State_of_Adventure_Gaming/Mar-02/sales2001.shtm | title=State of Adventure Gaming - March 2002 - 2001 Sales Table | date=March 2002 | author=Sluganski, Randy | archive-date=June 19, 2002 | work=[[Just Adventure]] | url-status=dead | access-date=April 13, 2020 }}</ref> Its jewel case re-release sold 41,455 copies in the region during 2003.<ref name=randysales6>{{cite web | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040411223950/http://www.justadventure.com/articles/State_of_Adventure_Gaming/March2004/Dec03ret_gam.shtm | url=http://www.justadventure.com:80/articles/State_of_Adventure_Gaming/March2004/Dec03ret_gam.shtm | title=Sales December 2003 - The State of Adventure Gaming | date=March 2004 | author=Sluganski, Randy | archive-date=April 11, 2004 | work=[[Just Adventure]] | url-status=dead | access-date=April 13, 2020 }}</ref> In the United States alone, the game's computer version sold between 100,000 and 300,000 units by August, 2006.<ref name=edgesales>{{cite magazine|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017165955/http://www.edge-online.com/features/top-100-pc-games-21st-century/ |url=http://www.edge-online.com/features/top-100-pc-games-21st-century/ |title=The Top 100 PC Games of the 21st Century| author=''Edge'' Staff | date=August 25, 2006 |magazine=[[Edge (magazine)|Edge]] |archive-date=October 17, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Combined sales of the ''Nancy Drew'' adventure game series reached 500,000 copies in North America by early 2003,<ref name=randysales>{{cite web | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030407191134/http://www.justadventure.com/articles/State_of_Adventure_Gaming/March2003/SOAG_March2003.shtm | url=http://www.justadventure.com/articles/State_of_Adventure_Gaming/March2003/SOAG_March2003.shtm | title=The State of Adventure Gaming | date=April 2003 | author=Sluganski, Randy | work=[[Just Adventure]] | archive-date=April 7, 2003 | url-status=dead }}</ref> and the computer entries reached 2.1 million sales in the United States alone by August 2006. Remarking upon this success, ''[[Edge (magazine)|Edge]]'' called ''Nancy Drew'' a "powerful franchise".<ref name=edgesales />


Critical reception for ''Nancy Drew: Secrets Can Kill'' has been mixed.<ref>{{cite news|title=Kidsday: Toys and games for the holidays|url=http://www.newsday.com/lifestyle/kidsday-toys-and-games-for-the-holidays-1.2544923|publisher=Newsday|date=December 15, 2010|access-date=October 12, 2014}}</ref> The ''[[Washington Post]]'' panned ''Secrets Can Kill'', criticizing it for not giving the player a good sense of the character of Nancy Drew and stating "this sanitized game could get old pretty quick; I'd stick with the books".<ref>{{cite news|title=Screen Shots|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-585100.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160415194043/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-585100.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 15, 2016|access-date=October 12, 2014|newspaper=The Washington Post|url-access=subscription |date=April 16, 1999}}</ref> ''[[Adventure Gamers]]'' gave the game two stars.<ref>{{cite web|title=Nancy Drew: Secrets Can Kill (review)|url=http://www.adventuregamers.com/games/view/15731|publisher=Adventure Gamers|access-date=October 12, 2014}}</ref> The ''[[New York Times]]'' has dubbed the game the "Un-Barbie of computer games".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sachs |first1=Zoey |date=July 12, 2010 |title=The un-Barbie of gaming |work=New York Post |publisher= |url=https://nypost.com/2010/07/12/the-un-barbie-of-gaming/ |access-date=September 27, 2022 |archive-url= |archive-date=}}</ref> The [[Sun Sentinel]] praised the game, writing "''Nancy Drew: Secrets'' Can Kill is a wonderful game for readers of Nancy Drew mysteries and even past readers. It helps bring the characters alive, while injecting a bit of the player into the role."<ref>{{cite news|last1=Ku|first1=Lien-Fong|title=With A Computer, You, Too, Can Be Nancy Drew|url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1999-06-08/lifestyle/9906070616_1_role-playing-clues-del|work=Sun Sentinel|access-date=October 12, 2014|archive-date=2016-03-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304004125/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1999-06-08/lifestyle/9906070616_1_role-playing-clues-del|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Mildred Benson|Millie Benson]], a journalist who wrote many of the original Nancy Drew mysteries under the [[Carolyn Keene]] pseudonym, praised the game in the ''[[The Blade (Toledo, Ohio)|Toledo Blade]]'', commending it for "retain(ing) the flavor of the early Nancy Drew books" and for the developers' 'care in developing scenes and characters.'"<ref name="Blade">{{cite news |last1=Benson |first1=Millie |title=Computer game lets girls play at being Nancy Drew |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1350&dat=19990403&id=EQ4wAAAAIBAJ&sjid=5gMEAAAAIBAJ&pg=1886,891695 |access-date=April 1, 2022 |publisher=Toledo Blade |date=April 3, 1999 |pages=30–31}}</ref>
Create a gas leak at the diner and start an explosion.


===Remake===
Not fixing the boiler in time and explode Paseo Del Mar High.
[[File:Secrets Can Kill Remastered.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Cover art for ''Secrets Can Kill Remastered'']]
''Secrets Can Kill'' was officially discontinued on August 1, 2010 due to compatibility issues with sound cards in newer computers. On August 24, 2010, [[Her Interactive|HeR Interactive]] released a remastered version of ''Secrets Can Kill'' with a new ending and pre-rendered 3D characters.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.herinteractive.com/Mystery_Games/Nancy_Drew/Secrets_Can_Kill_Remastered/pc|title=Nancy Drew Secrets Can Kill Remastered &#124; Girl Games Online|publisher=Her Interactive|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130708180806/http://www.herinteractive.com/Mystery_Games/Nancy_Drew/Secrets_Can_Kill_Remastered/pc|archive-date=July 8, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.herinteractive.com/cms/blog/node/724|title=Secrets Can Kill REMASTERED Released!|access-date=May 30, 2013|archive-date=November 4, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101104003503/http://herinteractive.com/cms/blog/node/724|url-status=dead}}</ref>


''[[Commonsensemedia|Common Sense Media]]'' reviewed the remastered game and gave it a favorable review, rating it five stars.<ref>{{cite web|title=Review: Nancy Drew: Secrets Can Kill! (Remastered)|date=21 August 2010|url=https://www.commonsensemedia.org/game-reviews/nancy-drew-secrets-can-kill-remastered|publisher=Commonsensemedia|access-date=October 12, 2014}}</ref>
Not pointing the weapon at the culprit in time.


==References==
{{end spoiler}}
{{Reflist}}
==See also==
*''[[Nancy Drew]]''


==External links==
{{start box}}
*[https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1350&dat=19990403&id=EQ4wAAAAIBAJ&sjid=5gMEAAAAIBAJ&pg=1886,891695 Toledo Blade]
{{succession box|title=[[Nancy Drew|Series Number]]|before=None|after=[[Stay Tuned For Danger (Computer Game)]]|=1}}
*[https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=437&dat=19980628&id=3NQtAAAAIBAJ&sjid=7zEDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6752,4332265 The Nation]
{{end box}}
*{{moby game|id=/windows/nancy-drew-secrets-can-kill}}


{{s-start}}
[[Category:1998 computer and video games]]
{{succession box
[[Category:Nancy Drew]]
| title = [[List of Nancy Drew video games|Nancy Drew Computer Games]]
[[Category: Windows games]]
| before = None
[[Category:Computer and video games based on licensed properties]]
| after = [[Nancy Drew: Stay Tuned for Danger]]
| years =
}}
{{s-end}}


{{Nancy Drew}}
{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Nancy Drew 1}}
----
[[Category:1998 video games]]
External links:
[[Category:Cancelled Game Boy Advance games]]
[http://www.herinteractive.com/prod/sck/index.shtml]
[[Category:Children's games]]
[[Category:Detective video games]]
[[Category:Her Interactive games]]
[[Category:North America-exclusive video games]]
[[Category:Point-and-click adventure games]]
[[Category:ScummVM-supported games]]
[[Category:Single-player video games]]
[[Category:Video games based on Nancy Drew]]
[[Category:Video games developed in the United States]]
[[Category:Video games scored by Kevin Manthei]]
[[Category:Video games set in Florida]]
[[Category:Windows games]]
[[Category:Windows-only games]]

Revision as of 16:23, 1 June 2024

Nancy Drew: Secrets Can Kill
Developer(s)HeR Interactive
Publisher(s)DreamCatcher Games
Platform(s)Microsoft Windows
ReleaseNovember 5, 1998
Genre(s)Adventure
Mode(s)Single player

Secrets Can Kill is the first of many installments in the Nancy Drew point-and-click adventure game series, launched in 1998 by HeR Interactive.[1][2] Players take on the first-person view of fictional amateur sleuth Nancy Drew and solve the mystery through interrogation of suspects, solving puzzles, and discovering clues. The game features pre-rendered 3D environments, but unlike later games, the characters are animated in 2D. There are three levels of gameplay: Junior, Senior, and Master detective modes. Each mode offers a different difficulty level of puzzles and hints, however, none of these changes affect the actual plot of the game. The game is loosely based on a The Nancy Drew Files book of the same name, Secrets Can Kill (1986).[3]

An enhanced remake of the game, subtitled Remastered, was released on August 24, 2010. Sales of the original Secrets Can Kill were discontinued on August 1, 2010.[4]

Plot

Nancy Drew takes a semester off of school to visit her Aunt Eloise in Florida. A student named Jake Rogers is murdered at the local high school, where Eloise works as a librarian. Eloise asks Nancy to investigate, so Nancy goes undercover as a new student and attempts to solve the mystery. Throughout the game, Nancy discovers that Jake Rogers was blackmailing several of the other characters by videotaping their misdeeds:

  • Hal Tanaka took on additional coursework in order to be approved for a scholarship. He knew that if he didn't get the scholarship, his family would send him back to Japan. He slowly became overwhelmed and buried in work, so he decided to plagiarize an English essay from a school library book, which Jake caught on camera. Jake blackmailed Hal into doing his homework for the remainder of the semester, otherwise Jake would reveal the plagiarism to Hal's family.
  • Connie Watson was struggling to get enough money for college tuition, so she decided to use her Judo expertise to compete secretly in a men's tournament (the prize money was significantly better than the women's tournament), which Connie easily won. Jake caught her removing her mask on camera, and subsequently forced her to date him.
  • Hulk Sanchez was badly injured while playing football, so in order to continue playing and impress the college scouts, he decided to break into the local pharmaceutical plant to steal some steroids. After filming Hulk leaving the plant, Jake forced him to be his lackey.
  • Daryl Gray's father was former U.S. senator Eugene Gray, who went bankrupt after some poor business deals. Daryl got involved in a drug smuggling deal with Mitch Dillon. Jake caught video footage of the transaction and thus demanded a cut of the profits that Daryl was receiving.
  • Mitch Dillon was running a drug transport ring from the local pharmaceutical plant. When Jake caught video footage of a transaction between him and Daryl Gray, he attempted to blackmail Mitch.

Upon talking to Daryl, Nancy realizes that it was Mitch who killed jake and Daryl tells Nancy to stay away from him and the case. Nancy however has a plan to get Mitch arrested with Daryl and Connie’s help, together the two are able to hold Mitch off long enough until the cops arrive and arrest him. With Jake’s killer behind bars, everyone resumes their normal lives while Nancy goes to New York City to solve the mysterious death threats of a rising star named Rick Arlen which leads into the events of the next game.

Development

Characters

  • Nancy Drew - Nancy is an 18-year-old amateur detective from the fictional town of River Heights in the United States. She is the only playable character in the game, which means the player must solve the mystery from her perspective.
  • Daryl Gray – Daryl is the one who found the victim's body. He works part-time as a short-order cook at Maxine's Diner, and he is the school's student council president (taking the position after his father who was a Florida state senator). He is known as a rich, popular, pretty boy who drives a Porsche 911. He tends to be a bit of a flirt, but is he as wholesome as he seems?
  • Connie Watson – Connie is a strong girl with an attitude and a dark secret. The player can always find her in the Student Lounge. She seems like a nice normal, if not tough, teenage girl... or is she?
  • Hal Tanaka – Hal is a foreign exchange student from Japan. He's very focused on getting a scholarship so that he can go to college and become a doctor. He is always in the study dome at the school. He seems intelligent, but is he smart enough to plan the death of the devious blackmailer known as Jake Rogers?
  • Hector "Hulk" Sanchez – Hulk Sanchez is a stereotypical jock who hopes to play college football, and the go on to play for the Miami Dolphins. However, Hulk needs an athletic scholarship to reach that dream. Are his future plans as stable as he says?
  • Mitch Dillon – Mitch is the school's boiler serviceman and is not seen much in the game. He's as shady as they come.... did Jake get mixed up with him?

Cast

  • Nancy Drew - Lani Minella
  • Hal Tanaka - John Truong
  • Hector 'Hulk' Sanchez - Rick Calvert
  • Daryl Gray - Bill Corkery
  • Mitch Dillon - Kenton Leach
  • Connie Watson - Donna Rowry[5]

Release

Secrets Can Kill was one of the first mystery computer games to be released that targeted the young female demographic.[6]

Reception

In 2001, Secrets Can Kill sold 28,050 units in North America, according to PC Data.[7] Its jewel case re-release sold 41,455 copies in the region during 2003.[8] In the United States alone, the game's computer version sold between 100,000 and 300,000 units by August, 2006.[9] Combined sales of the Nancy Drew adventure game series reached 500,000 copies in North America by early 2003,[10] and the computer entries reached 2.1 million sales in the United States alone by August 2006. Remarking upon this success, Edge called Nancy Drew a "powerful franchise".[9]

Critical reception for Nancy Drew: Secrets Can Kill has been mixed.[11] The Washington Post panned Secrets Can Kill, criticizing it for not giving the player a good sense of the character of Nancy Drew and stating "this sanitized game could get old pretty quick; I'd stick with the books".[12] Adventure Gamers gave the game two stars.[13] The New York Times has dubbed the game the "Un-Barbie of computer games".[14] The Sun Sentinel praised the game, writing "Nancy Drew: Secrets Can Kill is a wonderful game for readers of Nancy Drew mysteries and even past readers. It helps bring the characters alive, while injecting a bit of the player into the role."[15] Millie Benson, a journalist who wrote many of the original Nancy Drew mysteries under the Carolyn Keene pseudonym, praised the game in the Toledo Blade, commending it for "retain(ing) the flavor of the early Nancy Drew books" and for the developers' 'care in developing scenes and characters.'"[6]

Remake

Cover art for Secrets Can Kill Remastered

Secrets Can Kill was officially discontinued on August 1, 2010 due to compatibility issues with sound cards in newer computers. On August 24, 2010, HeR Interactive released a remastered version of Secrets Can Kill with a new ending and pre-rendered 3D characters.[16][17]

Common Sense Media reviewed the remastered game and gave it a favorable review, rating it five stars.[18]

References

  1. ^ Wells, Audrey (September 6, 2012). "Nancy Drew: Secrets Can Kill". Just Adventure. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved January 10, 2019.
  2. ^ Benson, Millie (April 3, 1999). "Computer game lets girls play at Nancy Drew". Toledo Blade. Block Communications. Retrieved October 21, 2014.
  3. ^ "Nancy Drew Secrets Can Kill". Her Interactive. Archived from the original on July 5, 2013. Retrieved May 27, 2013.
  4. ^ New York Post staff (July 12, 2010). "The un-Barbie of gaming". New York Post. News Corp. Retrieved October 12, 2014.
  5. ^ "Nancy Drew: Secrets Can Kill IMDb". IMDb. Retrieved May 30, 2013.
  6. ^ a b Benson, Millie (April 3, 1999). "Computer game lets girls play at being Nancy Drew". Toledo Blade. pp. 30–31. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
  7. ^ Sluganski, Randy (March 2002). "State of Adventure Gaming - March 2002 - 2001 Sales Table". Just Adventure. Archived from the original on June 19, 2002. Retrieved April 13, 2020.
  8. ^ Sluganski, Randy (March 2004). "Sales December 2003 - The State of Adventure Gaming". Just Adventure. Archived from the original on April 11, 2004. Retrieved April 13, 2020.
  9. ^ a b Edge Staff (August 25, 2006). "The Top 100 PC Games of the 21st Century". Edge. Archived from the original on October 17, 2012.
  10. ^ Sluganski, Randy (April 2003). "The State of Adventure Gaming". Just Adventure. Archived from the original on April 7, 2003.
  11. ^ "Kidsday: Toys and games for the holidays". Newsday. December 15, 2010. Retrieved October 12, 2014.
  12. ^ "Screen Shots". The Washington Post. April 16, 1999. Archived from the original on April 15, 2016. Retrieved October 12, 2014.
  13. ^ "Nancy Drew: Secrets Can Kill (review)". Adventure Gamers. Retrieved October 12, 2014.
  14. ^ Sachs, Zoey (July 12, 2010). "The un-Barbie of gaming". New York Post. Retrieved September 27, 2022.
  15. ^ Ku, Lien-Fong. "With A Computer, You, Too, Can Be Nancy Drew". Sun Sentinel. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved October 12, 2014.
  16. ^ "Nancy Drew Secrets Can Kill Remastered | Girl Games Online". Her Interactive. Archived from the original on July 8, 2013.
  17. ^ "Secrets Can Kill REMASTERED Released!". Archived from the original on November 4, 2010. Retrieved May 30, 2013.
  18. ^ "Review: Nancy Drew: Secrets Can Kill! (Remastered)". Commonsensemedia. 21 August 2010. Retrieved October 12, 2014.
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 Nancy Drew Computer Games Succeeded by
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