The Secret of Shadow Ranch (video game)

Infobox VG| title = Nancy Drew: The Secret of Shadow Ranch


developer = Her Interactive
publisher = DreamCatcher
designer =
released = July 20, 2004
genre = Adventure
modes = Single player
ratings = ESRB: Everyone (E)
platforms = Windows
media =
requirements =
input =

"The Secret of Shadow Ranch" is the 10th computer game in the series and is based on the 5th book of the Nancy Drew series "The Secret at Shadow Ranch". In this adventure, Nancy Drew has been invited to the eponymous ranch, which belongs to relatives of her friends, Bess Marvin and George Fayne.

After she gets off the plane, the foreman, Dave, takes her there, and as Nancy is soon to discover, something isn't quite right...

A ghostly glowing horse has been seen riding up to the fence, rearing up, and galloping away, vanishing into the night. Every time this happens, something goes wrong. For example, a rattlesnake appears in the house, the water pipe explodes, etc.

Shorty, the cook, seems to think that the strange things happening are to do with the ghost of an outlaw's horse come back from the 1800s. This game takes place in Arizona.

Characters

Dave Gregory

Dave is the Ranch Foreman. Always polite, somewhat shy, Dave is a man of frustratingly few words. When he does speak, he's all business. He is truly a "modern" cowboy, equal parts ESPN, MTV, and the Outdoor Channel. He is not above trying to use his looks to charm his way out of awkward situations. He is very fond of Nancy.----Tex Britten

Tex is an old-fashioned cowpoke. His weathered face and cynical attitude reflect the fact that he feels much more at home with horses and cattle than with humans. He's a terrible conversationalist (his favorite word is "nope"), and he not-so-secretly enjoys putting Nancy in situations that he thinks she can't handle.----Shorty Thurmond

The ranch cook, Shorty is more talkative than the other two ranch hands combined. He loves to gossip and for that reason loves having Nancy around. Because he also loves to cook, and takes great pride in the food he serves, the only thing that truly riles him is criticism of one of his creations. An admitted opportunist, he's always looking for ways to get rich quick, but as of yet he hasn't found one.----Mary Yazzie

This single woman is part Native American and runs a store (or "tourist trap," as Ed Rawley calls it) on land that is adjacent to Shadow Ranch. Mary knows all about the history of the area, especially as it pertains to the ancient Puebloans who inhabited the nearby cliff dwellings. When Nancy ultimately discovers her big secret, Mary is almost relieved; being deceitful is not her nature - or is it?----Bet and Ed Rawley

Also known as Aunt Bet and Uncle Ed, these people are the owners of Shadow Ranch. They are not seen in the game and can only be reached by cell phone. They are Bess and George's aunt and uncle.

econd Chances

As with all Nancy Drew games, in this game there are many fatal accidents such as:

*Set fire to kitchen by setting the oven too long in the kitchen
*Get bitten by a rattlesnake in the garden of under zebra rock
*Go riding without asking Tex and getting kicked out of the ranch
*Fail to patch the chicken coop and getting the chickens eaten by coyotes
*Get stung by a scorpion for not waiting until it is gone
*Feed the chickens wrong
*Feed the horses wrong and make them colic
*Die in the jail cell (if you hit the key before setting the chair upright)
*Get pecked by the crazy chicken for trying to pick up its eggs
*Keep saddle or forget to take it off of Bob
*Pick the wrong vegetables two times
*Allow the culprit to catch you by not replacing stones at end

However, if the player makes a mistake, they may click on "Second Chance" at the main menu and it will take them back to the place before they made that mistake.

Cast

*Nancy Drew -- Lani Minella
*Bess Marvin/Frances Humber -- Abby Murray
*George Fayne -- Patty Pomplun
*Frank Hardy -- Wayne Rawley
*Joe Hardy -- Rob Jones
*Tex Britten -- David S. Hogan
*Mary Yazzie -- Amy Broomhall
*Shorty Thurmond/Mineral Map Guy/Radio Voice/Charleena's Assistant -- Jonah von Spreecken
*Dave Gregory -- Stephen Hando
*Charleena Purcell/Radio Voice -- Julie Rawley
*Bet Rawley -- Shannon Kipp
*Ed Rawley -- John Nelson
*Sheriff Hernandez/Radio Voice/Dirk Valentine -- Gary Hoffman
*Meryl Humber -- Max Holechek

Trivia

*On the refrigerator, there is a red handprint, a reference to Secret of the Scarlet Hand.
*One of the newspapers in the den says "Golden Gate Gazette" which is from Message in a Haunted Mansion.
*You are able to use your phone, even if it says that there is no service, if you first click on the 'web' button and then directory.
*Take a good look a Shorty's mineral deposit map. It has mine names referencing Secret of the Scarlet Hand (I.E SunnyJune Ridge, Rutherford Peak, and Kringle Mountain.)
*At the end of the game with the letter part, the picture of Nancy riding a horse shown the rider that was Nancy was blackened out and the picture of Nancy, Bess and George had the riders (who where Nancy, Bess and George) was covered by a hand. This is most likely a reference as to how Nancy's body and face are never shown in the games.

External links

* [http://www.herinteractive.com/prod/sha/index.shtml The Secret of Shadow Ranch] by Her Interactive.