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Nancy Drew: Secret of Shadow Ranch 
ExclusiveA phantom horse visits Shadow Ranch, leaving a trail of frightening “accidents.” Local legend says the horse has come to avenge the hanging of its master, and that misfortune will befall whoever sets eyes on it. The ghostly horse tramples all hope of a restful ranch vacation for you, as Nancy Drew. You must discover the truth from the ghost stories quickly - you might be next on the list for unearthly revenge!
- Incredible storyline
- Expansive outdoor environments!
- Rein in a ghostly secret!
- Check out our Blog Walkthrough
- Get the Strategy Guide!
Click images to enlarge
Game System Requirements:
- OS: Windows XP/Vista/Win7/8
- CPU: 600 Mhz
- RAM: 128 MB
- DirectX: 6.0
- Hard Drive: 571 MB
Game Manager System Requirements:
- Browser: Internet Explorer 7 or later
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Nancy Drew: Secret of Shadow Ranch
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Customer Reviews
Nancy Drew: Secret of Shadow Ranch
55
55
Old but ageless......
Being a fan of of the ND series that BFG has offered; I always look forward to a new edition to the series; a recent favorite of mine being Message in a Haunted Mansion. If you are new to the large file games or to the Nancy Drew series, I would recommend you try Secret of Shadow Ranch. Although it is a very old game that was first released in 2004 ( unfortuantely the graphics and annimation show it), I found that the puzzles and minigames are easier to play compared to some of the more complex ND games. The story takes place in Southwest on a horse ranch plagued by a mysterious phantom horse and as always, you have a mystery to solve. Menu Options include two game modes and brightness of screen as well as auto movement. Game mechanics are the same and supported by a Tool Bag where you collect and keep your inventory items, the use of a phone where you can call your friends for hints (the Hardy boys included), and note book along with a task list. I found the voice-over a tad on the corney side and as always you have alot of dialogue to go through as well as alot of reading material as well. If you are a fan of horses, this game will definitely please you. I enjoyed the one hour trial and realised that there are alot of puzzles to go through. I do recommend this game, especially for players who would like to try their hand at pure adventure games. This would be a great way to learn the ropes. Be sure to save your game each time you exit and remember, you always get a second chance if you get yourself into trouble. BFG will be releasing a walkthrough which will be tremendous help if you are just beginning. I really do recommend this game, if anything, it is a classic just like the books.
March 18, 2012
aaaaaah Nancy!!!
I love Nancy Drew! I have all 25 games :)
I can not decide which is my best.
Nancy Drew games have their own style which I personally love. You got help from a friends who you call on the phone, but they'll never say exactly what you need to do, so Nancy Drew games are for those who like games with a bit more challenging. . .
so is ''Nancy Drew: Secret of Shadow Ranch''. must solve the mysterious case of the horse that glows. Magic? or not?
You got help from Bess and George, two best friends that you call on the phone, and they give you hint what to do next!
there is notebook in which Nancy writes her observations that can sometimes help you with the case. There is another notebook that records every task that you have to do. when you finish that task, you put a check mark!
best about Nancy is that you have to personally write on the paper if you see something you think you will need later in the game. Nancy does not record the codes, doesn't draw. So if nancy says ''i'll better remember this'' Write it on the paper!
definitely recommend!
March 18, 2012
Best Nancy Drew Game
Excellent Old West adventure game without the endless, boring junk pile scenes that waste time. I found the game to be interesting and challenging, and the desert scenery is breathtakingly beautiful. I wish the newer Nancy Drew games were of a similar quality. Definitely worth buying.
March 18, 2012
Everything happens to he who can wait... well almost...
Yes, I have been waiting for BFG to include Shadow Ranch in their treasure trove for over a year, and SURPRISE.. it's there now at long last !
I could have bought it directly from the developers at full price, and I was on the verge of doing it; but why spend $ 19.99 when you are a BFG member ? At $ 6.99, the game is extremely good value for money.
This time Nancy is visiting Bess' uncle's ranch. Prior to her arrrival, the uncle gets bitten by a rattlesnake. But the worst is that, at night, a glowing horse appears from nowhere, gallops around the ranch then vanishes.
Caught in the middle of that situation, our young sleuth starts deploying all her talents to solve the mystery.
It's always like that with many of her adventures; something weird or fantastic triggers her intervention, only to find out bit by bit that what appeared as a supernatural or magic phenomenon is but the logical succession of a number of earthly events.
In parallel to the investigation, Nancy has to perform certain tasks that are perfectly natural as they fit in the context very well, such as feeding the horses or the chickens, getting information on how to ride a horse, etc... And unlike some other of her adventures, these tasks that could be called menial never give the impression of being forced.
All her actions, all the items she has to use make sense.
In Shadow Ranch, Nancy has to rely a lot on her cellphone to get tips from different friends of hers or being in contact with local people such as the sheriff as well as obtaining information on various subjects by browsing pre-set web pages next to reading books and notes found in the ranch.
As usual, Nancy interacts with the various characters populating the ranch by means of dialogues.
Nancy wouldn't be Nancy if there were not many puzzles for her to solve, and even quizzes. All of them respond to logic, are relevant to the plot and never arbitrary.
Only the slot machine minigame which has to be won before she can progress further, and that, of chourse, is based on pure chance. But perserverance pays off and she wins sooner or later.
The graphics are good, the voice-acting is superb, navigation easy, and on Junior level a task list is provided as well as a diary to keep track of the information [there is a lot of it] she gathers, as in all her other adventures.
The game never leads you by the hand; you need to think out of the box and do a fair amount of reading as you go along. Nothing is really easy. These features tend to discourage many gamers, yet they bestow realism on the whole adventure.
This 10th instalment in the Nancy Drew series keeps the suspense going to the very end and will have you guessing all along: who did it ?
Note: The trial version is a good idea, but the game is so rich that the one hour demo can't even scratch the surface, just give a vague idea of what a Nancy Drew investigation looks like. That applies to other adventures like Syberia or Paradise. If you have never played a Nancy Drew before, the best is to buy the full game and take it from there. If you like Shadow Ranch, you're bound to like her other investigations.
March 18, 2012
SHA - as good as it gets!
Secret of the Shadow Ranch is one of the "middle" games - tenth one made and a frequent favourite with the fans. And no wonder - treasure hunt, fun characters, interesting minigames, lovely backstory, some spooky moments, vegetables, cake and riding horses - this game has it all!
Nancy is meant to have a nice vacation with Bess and George in their aunt and uncle's ranch, but when she arrives, she discovers that uncle Ed is in hospital, Bess and George stranded in an airport and there are talks of ghosts going on. It's Nancy's job to find out who or what is behind these spooky happenings.
If you are a fan, or even if you are totally new to Nancy Drew adventure games, this is for you. Secret of the Shadow Ranch has finally made it into Big Fish! Get it. Now. :)
tuskel,
sincerely
March 18, 2012
Get Ready For Adventure
This is one of the most exciting games i have ever played! The graphics are fantastic. The characters "talk" to one another. Be careful though, you might find yourselves falling in love with a cowboy or two! If you are ready to immerse yourself in a real adventure this is the game for you. You don 't just play this game, you become part of it!
March 18, 2012
One of the best ND games ever!
First of all, I'm quite surprised to see this game as a TGT, it's an old game, but I'm a Nancy Drew game fan, and this one is one my favorite. I think it has one of the most original storyline ever, and although there is a lot of talking, it gives clues. I love the concept of ghost towns and Indian dwellings. The characters have personality, and the length of the game is good. I recommend this to you if you like adventure games. ^o^
March 18, 2012
fun and fact filled adventure game
After playing a few ND games this is a good example of what I love about them. I couldnt stop playing until I finished it. Great interaction with other characters and lots of different things to do. Loved the scenery and graphics, the puzzles and games. Just didnt love it when it ended
March 24, 2012
A strong Nancy Drew adventure !
This Nancy Drew game is one of the best game you may find on BFG ! There's a very strong and coherent storyline, with suspens, and action . Usual characters of ND series are present. It's a point and click game, with also mini challenge (arcade game), and puzzle. Be prepared for the last challenge, which is awesome !
March 18, 2012
Yet another good Nancy Drew game
*** Warning: the text contains some spoilers!!
The game follows the classic ND cliche: four characters, all of them possible culprits for various reasons; some unexplainable facts; a mysterious story; the usual help from Bess and George over the telephone... and one background theme, horses this time.
If you have the patience to "read" all the books you will find here and there, you will learn a lot of thing about those noble animals.
The game is not too difficult, I checked the walkthrough only twice, and mainly for a linguistic reasons #I'm not native English#.
IMHO this is not the best ND game. I think it's an average title, but it still has some good elements: I really appreciated two of the characters, and liked the overall "far west" ambiance. Also the final maze was not bad at all.
If you are a ND aficionado, this is a title you can't miss.
Recommended.
April 3, 2012
