Welcome to my The Haunted Carousel walk-through. (-: If you're new to my series of low-spoiler computer game walkthroughs, the idea is to point players
towards things they might not have tried in each game rather than giving away puzzle solutions or offering step-by-step instructions.
These Nancy Drew games are structured a little differently than most graphic adventure games, though. In particular, you can solve most of the game's puzzles in
any order you feel like, making a chronological walkthrough of little use. The physical area The Haunted Carousel is played in is much larger than most games
in the Nancy Drew series, but even so, it makes more sense to use a CRPG-style area guide rather than breaking the game down into chronological chapters.
I've included a checklist of important tasks at the
beginning and one of optional tasks at the end. Note that I don't tell you how to solve any of the puzzles--just where they are. If you've found a puzzle
but just can't seem to get it right no matter what you do, UHS is a good place to go for a
single hint that won't spoil the rest of the game for you.
The Haunted Carousel: Key Tasks
If you find yourself getting stuck in the game, keep in mind that plot advancement is often arbitrary.
If nothing is happening, you need to make sure that you have spoken to everyone until they have nothing
more to say, looked around every area to see if there are any objects you haven't noticed,
and used every object in your inventory. If all those things fail, take a look at this checklist of important tasks you will need to complete to solve the game
(the order is somewhat up to you):
1) Talk to all the NPC's. Repeatedly. Having certain conversations with them is necessary for the plot to progress-- in fact, that and looking around their
rooms is all you can do for the first part of the game. (Keep looking and talking until Elliott throws you out of his office and then lets you back in again.)
Calling home and calling the Hardy Boys is completely optional in The Haunted Carousel; Bess and George will need to be called once for
some information, but are otherwise optional.
2) The first puzzle you'll be able to solve is in the Midway, after talking to Harlan. There are two games you can play there (Squid Toss and Swimmer's Itch)
and a third one, Barnacle Blast, that you will be able to play later, once you have talked to some more people and found a new inventory item.
3) You can also ride the carousel and try to grab the brass ring.
4) Fix the broken key access on the roller coaster. (Requires two inventory objects.)
5) Solve the timed challenge in the roller coaster building. (You can only do this once you've completed #3.)
6) Return to Joy's office and solve Miles' first riddle. (You can only do this once you've completed #4.)
7) Figure out how to read Miles' second riddle. (You can only do this once you've completed #5.)
8) Before you can solve Miles' second riddle, you will first need to find the eight notes you need. To do this you will need to call Tink, figure out how
to make a new spindle, and either have a good musical ear or else use a couple of inventory items.
9) Solve Miles' second riddle. (You can only do this once you've completed #7 and #2.)
10) Figure out how to read the shorthand for the name of the horse on the bill of sale.
11) Figure out how to get the letter down from where it is stuck in the carousel roof, then investigate the secret panel it talks about.
12) Figure out how to break into Ingrid's office. (There is nothing in there you need, but she won't return to her office until after you've done this,
and you need her to give you something before you can finish the game.)
13) Solve Miles' third riddle. (You can only do this once you've completed everything previous, and you'll need three inventory objects.)
14) Solve the final endgame challenge and that's it, you've won!
*Found all the evidence against Harlan (police report, surveillance video, parole officer) and followed through with the parole officer?
*Found all the evidence against Ingrid ("L.H." note, watch, and phone conversation with Lance), and confronted her?
*Found all the evidence against Elliot (receipt, horse tails, magazine, and phone conversation with Sukov), and confronted him?
*Told Paula what you found about Harlan, and had a subsequent bonus conversation with him?
*Talked to Elliott about Poppy Dada?
*Played the flag game on Nancy's computer? (I don't think there was any in-game point to this)
*Won a shark toy and a boat at the Midway? (I don't think there's any use for these)
The Haunted Carousel Spoilers
