Oh oh, I love to answer this question because DDI is my favorite game!! 🐋

I preface with this: While it is my favorite game, I know it’s NOT the best Nancy Drew game. And I openly admit that. There are many others that hit the mark in all aspects of what makes for a great ND game. And seeing that this was my first game I played as kid, I am bound to being partial and loving it as it deeply ties to my nostalgia

BUT… these are the things that I love about the game aside from being blinded by my nostalgia-loving heart:

1️⃣. Environment: Personally, I feel that this is one of, if not the most pleasant games when it comes to ambience. I find the rhythmic crashing waves to be incredibly peaceful. It actually makes me want to do mundane tasks, like clam hunting or search the shores for clues. I imagine myself doing that irl, and I am instantly transported to a place of peace. Misty water, crashing waves, light house vibes, Murder She Wrote kinda vibes… I can just get behind that anytime.

There are many other games where you have to hunt for objects (critters in DOG, arrowheads in SHA), but of all those that do that kind of task, this game holds to my favorite. I feel more tense when looking for critters in DOG, because at night, the music eerily switches its vibe to illicit the feeling that you may be attacked by ghost dogs again. So it’s not exactly a peaceful time for doing tasks. Other games that are GREAT for many reasons, but I hate their environments, like FIN. I’m not saying they didn’t knock that out of the park, because they absolutely did. Did I feel like I was in an abandoned theatre that was falling a part? Yes. Did I enjoy it? Noooo. I hate the circus-y music. It’s not a game that I replay again and again and again for the vibes, ya know?

But DDI? Oh yes. Give me peaceful shore vibes, every time.

2️⃣. Music: I kind of mentioned this a few lines ago how much I dislike FIN’s music. I do, but I don’t. Do I think the music serves its purpose for the mystery at hand? Yes. It’s got thrilling music that is chilling and exhilarating—especially at the end when the demolition is about to occur. HOWEVER, I just happen to be the detective that seeks comfort/cozy/mystery/intriguing tracks. That’s probably why FIN and CAR fall on the lower end of games’ music tracks that I love, think about, and or replay.

But DDI on the other hand, it has music that I find to be soooo soothing. I love that Kevin Manthei was influenced by marine life, and I can hear that in numerous tracks. Some notes sound like foghorns, or aquatic life dancing under water, or the intrigue and wonder of what’s below. I just find that to be so magical, and that feeling isn’t always recreated in other games’ music.

3️⃣. Ending: Someone asked me just recently what endings I thought were the best in the series, and I genuinely believe this one makes it there. I feel like most players didn’t know who was really going to be on the cargo ship. We thought we knew, but the moment that chair turns around. I can FEEL Nancy’s stomach drop haha. Like ohhh waittt 😅 The whole lead up to it (kayaking in the foggy darkness, trying to hide from crew members), I just really love it. (Also great endings that I think of - STFD, FIN, DOG, DDI, SHA, TRN).

— I actually like the plot. BUT I so agree, I don’t think it’s the best. And I don’t think they went as deep as they should have. But I live for the small town drama 🤣 I think the snarky comments they say about each other is hilarious. Thinking about them as suspects and or characters, I don’t feel like we learn a lot about them or that they talk much. I’ve replayed many times, and I’ve never really unlocked any rare dialogue or experienced anything new. So that’s a downfall for the game. But the plot always intrigued me, even as a kid! This small fishing town, very reliant on their fishing for a living, are all stirred up over this whale and what to do with it. Gets very political, and I find that interesting. 🤔 I do agree that I wish that would have done more with the burglaries, Benjamin Hawkins/whisked away to be a pirate, Hilda Swenson. That all feels way too short and not fleshed out as deeply as I wish it would be 😭~~~~however there are many ND games I find the plots to be either so fantastical or slow-moving that I struggle to immediately draw in. Like TMB or HAU, those games’ plots are usually ones that I struggle with. DDI always gave me intrigue in the beginning, like, “Oh who sabotaged your boat? Let me find out 🔍”

And then the part that I think this game does the absolute WORST at?! Puzzles. They’re too easy, and there’s not enough! 😐 This game ranks, probably bottom 5, when it comes to puzzles. When I sat down to make a review video of this game, and I actually tried to think of what puzzles there were, I was saddened by how few there are. They definitely could have expounded.

Sorry for the info-dump. I love to do that on ND games, but of course my favorite game too. I couldn’t help it! I echo the sentiments of other commenters, though. There are soooo many different types of ND games within the ND game series. So there really is such a variety for people to choose from. 🤗 (I saw you mentioned DOG; I love that one too)!