Plot
The Icicle Creek Lodge has recently experienced a string of unexplainable accidents. Food Poisoning, A broken ankle, slashed tires, a shattered window, and even an explosion. As if that wasn't creepy enough, a lone wolf is heard howling after each incident. Who could be behind this? Or could the wolf be some type of omen, with the worst still to come? You, as Nancy Drew, can go undercover and find out!
Yes, we’ve seen similar plots before. This case works because the plot continues to develop as the game moves forward; more accidents occur, certain characters become more suspicious, and other characters become unlikely suspects. It’s pretty complex, too, because there are kind of two different plots going on – the wolf and the accidents.
Characters
The character development in this game is fantastic, considering that there are five suspects! The suspects are particularly well-executed, in my opinion, possessing distinctive and colorful personalities as well as possible motives for what is taking place. There are layers of depth to each one, and their storylines intertwine and overlap surprisingly well.
The voice actors have done a masterful job conveying the different personalities, characteristics and styles of speech of each, and they are fun and enjoyable to interact with.
Setting/Graphics
The graphics are very nice. Once again, though, the characters seem to come from a different world; they’re more cartoony than their surroundings. The character movements are great. I love that Lou and Bill play Fox and Geese together- it is interesting to see two suspects constantly interacting with each other, even in conversation. I’m particularly impressed with the movements and facial expressions of the culprit near the end.
And if you thought the indoor graphics were amazing, the outdoors will take your breath away with a variety of places to go, each more detailed then the next. The stillness of the snowy surroundings adds an element of suspense to the game.
Difficulty/Length
The puzzle-solving in "ICE" is intelligently thought out and well-designed, fitting in quite nicely with the history, environment and theme of the lodge. And their solutions further the plot of the story along at a consistent pace. They are quite challenging, and require you to make detailed observations of the lodge and its surrounding area in order to solve them. To my delight (and that of, I'm sure, many of its fans), it really seems that HI has taken to heart a lot of its fans' feedback and concerns that have been expressed here on the website, in that they have increased the level of difficulty dramatically over that found in the last few entries in the series. In fact, the challenge here seems to be on par with and equal to what you find in "The Curse of Blackmoor Manor," which I personally could not be more excited and thrilled about. I feel that it is ultimately because of this that you, as the player, gain a rather meaningful and satisfying sense of accomplishment upon completing the quest and carrying the mystery through to its exciting conclusion.
"Scare Factor"
The wolf may scare you, but that’s pretty much the only scary element in the game. There’s an optional threat that Nancy may receive that gave me chills.
History
There really isn't a lot of historical emphasis in this game. The history of the lodge is still mysterious and fits in well with the story and the mystery. You do vaguely come across some real historical figures, but none of them play a huge part in the game.
Final Verdict
I’m very fond of this game. I thought it was an interesting mystery to solve and the background behind the white wolf. The confrontation is definitely going to keep you on your toes! You may mess up a few times but be patient and you'll get it eventually.
