The most notable improvement in the game comes in the form of the distinctive characters. With each game, the script and character work get better and better. The dialog has a nice youthfulness and sense of humor missing from the previous games. We also loved the choice of the old theater for a setting and the magic theme running throughout, but wished there were more nooks and crannies to explore. Additionally, we had some installations troubles, but Her Interactive assures us that those problems have been resolved, so all current versions should be fine.

A minor nitpick is that the timeframe seemed somewhat limiting. Previous Nancy Drew games had an open feel, there was no sense of urgency, and you solved the mystery in your own time. In The Final Scene, the gameplay is divided into three days, and you must accomplish specific tasks before you can move on to the next day. Though this structure lent itself well to the game's plot, it was also easy to get stuck on one clue. However, you can always consult the message boards at Her Interactive's Web site for help, clues, hints, and general support from an enthusiastic community of Nancy Drew lovers.

Little grumblings aside, The Final Scene really is a fabulous game that goes above and beyond most games out there right now, and is highly recommended for kids and adults alike. (Ages 10 and older) --Ara Jane Olufson

She's convinced that the kidnapper is hiding Maya in the mysterious theater in a desperate attempt to halt the demolition, but no one believes her. Nancy must juggle her efforts between searching for her friend, proving to the police that Maya is really in the theater, and finding a way to stop the demolition. It's not long before Nancy begins to unravel the tangled history of the theater's ownership, a web of secret deals and betrayals surrounding Harry Houdini, the world's greatest escape artist.

Will this information help Nancy save the day? Can Nancy afford to gamble with time when her friend's days are numbered? Play the game and find out. Use your best detective skills to explore this once grand theater in a frantic quest for clues, secret passageways, hidden rooms--anything that will help you find your friend. Her life depends on it. Tick-tock!