Nancy Drew has been the world's best amateur detective since the 1930s. She was the creation of Carolyn Keen. She is a strong female character in books written by s female author. She is still well known today. Books are still being written, a movie was made a few years ago, and Her Interactive has produced interactive Nancy Drew video games, keeping Nancy Drew relevant and an extremely popular icon. I will mostly be discussing the games
Her Interactive started making Nancy Drew games in 1998. There are now over 30 Nancy Drew games. In these games, Nancy solves mysteries all over the world and meets many interesting people. You have to talk to suspects, solve puzzles, and collect objects and clues to solve the mystery. You play as Nancy from a first person point of view. You hear her but never see her. This means anyone can be Nancy. I can be Nancy, my cousins can be Nancy, even my boyfriend can be Nancy.
Nancy's best friend's Bess and George (cousins, and both girls) are able to help Nancy during certain games and give her hints. Sometimes they are even playable. Nancy, Bess, and George, along with many of the female characters thy encounter, are strong female characters. A lot of the villains turn out to be females, destroying the stereotype that women are always good and pure. Nancy (and George) can also be a bit rude/blunt sometimes, also destroying the stereotype. Nancy also always proves anyone wrong who says she 'just a girl' or a little girl detective,' which does happen.
Nancy Drew is a great role model for young girls. She promotes cleverness, wit, critical thinking, problem and puzzle solving, and so much more. Everyone can, and should, be Nancy Drew.
I love the Nancy Drew games, and it's very amazing (and rare) to see a female character in a position of power and leadership. In a lot of video games, female characters are objectified or at the very least, usually not in a position of power. (things have changed, but still.) I agree with your point about the villains, that’s one of the parts of the game I like. One that comes to mind is Harper Thornton from Ghost of Thornton Hall; she isn’t a villain per say, but she is presented that way in the beginning. She’s unhinged, but not crazy, rough looking but not violent, and is really just a misunderstood person with a tragic past. This female character, along with a myriad of other female characters, are complex and three dimensional. Nancy Drew does a good job of incorporating a variety of characters, both male and female.
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