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Nancy Drew: The Secret of the Old Clock" was the first book in the ever-popular Nancy Drew Mystery Stories series. It was first published in 1930, and has been brought up to date as a whodunit computer game that PC magazine says "can be enjoyed by the whole family." Play the game as 16-year-old Nancy Drew who visits her friend Emily Crandall in Titusville, to help her to solve a mystery that will eventually save the Crandall's Lilac Inn.
General
The game is set in the 1930's so, unlike the previous Nancy Drew games, you will not have access to a laptop, cell phone or Internet. You will have access to books and a phone and the ability to call Bess and George or your dad for a nickel.
Senior and Junior Sleuth modes are available. Junior mode gives you access to simpler puzzles, a checklist of things that need to be done and the ability to directly ask Bess and George for hints. In either mode, it may take some prodding to get hints from Bess and George. The first call to them might yield limited results, though you may get more information on subsequent calls.
The car is an integral part of the game. Without it, you can't make any money or visit other locations. Nancy starts out with $3.50 at the beginning of the game. You will need approximately $5.00 to $10.00 to complete the game successfully. Money will be used to make phone calls and put gas in the car. On the first phone call to your dad, he will ask you to do a chore for him. Complete the chore and you will find that you have been offered a part-time job delivering telegrams for Tubby's Telegrams. The game will go much more quickly in the end of you just bite the bullet and spend the time up front making the money you will need throughout the game. Otherwise, you will have to keep returning to deliver more telegrams.
Keep the gas tank filled in the car. If you run out of gas, you will have to pay $5.00 for a tow or sort nuts and bolts for Zippy Gas until you have covered the cost. Toward the end of the game, Emily may tell you to leave. If that happens, just take the key to the bank. But once you get to the bank everything happens automatically, so be sure to fill the tank with gas first.
Topham's House
On your first visit to Topham's House, all you need to worry about is the clock over the mantelpiece, a book on a table next to the parrot, a second book hidden in a box on the desk near the robot and an elephant box. You will get dominos from the clock game that you won't need until you get to the Carriage House.
Carriage House
Look on Page 1 in Josiah's memory book to solve the riddles that will give you the combination to the lock to get into the Carriage House. The poem found on the golf course will give you the clues to opening the clock in the Carriage House. The highlighted words need to be changed to numbers that eventually result in 1242827.
Once you complete the domino puzzle in the Carriage House, you will need to find four mirrors. They are hidden in four clocks around town. You will find one in the Carriage House, one in the parlor of the Lilac Inn, one in Topham's house over the fireplace and the last at the bank.
Easter Egg
"Secret of the Old Clock" contains only one Easter egg. Once the picture in Emily's room starts to move, save and then load the game. Straighten the picture, leave the room and then come back in. Do this 10 times and the picture will say something to you.
Tags: Carriage House, Nancy Drew, will have, Bess George, Secret Clock