Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?

About

In "Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?", help Acme agents track down Carmen Sandiego as she has stolen The Travels of Marco Polo book. Travel to multiple geographical locations, gather information, and solve puzzles to learn about different countries and catch Carmen. Utilize high-tech gadgets and access an expansive country database to aid in your mission.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? screenshot

76%

Audience ScoreBased on 99 reviews

emotional2 positive mentions

graphics3 negative mentions

The game is a nostalgic experience for those who played it as kids, providing a fun way to learn about geography and history.
It features engaging puzzles and a charming storyline that appeals to both children and adults.
The game has been updated to allow saving progress, making it more user-friendly than previous versions.

Many players report persistent issues with the save function, leading to lost progress and frustration.
The game lacks modern features such as a proper menu interface and options for adjusting settings like resolution.
Some players find the gameplay repetitive and not as engaging as the original versions, with a focus on research rather than crime-solving.

story
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
63%
19%
The story of the game revolves around tracking down the character Carmen Sandiego, with players navigating through eight missions that build a cohesive narrative filled with mystery and character dynamics. While some players find the plot engaging and nostalgic, others express frustration with the lack of a save function and the simplicity of the challenges. Overall, the story is described as fun and charming, albeit a bit cheesy, making it suitable for both nostalgic adults and younger audiences.
- “The story often dangles the mystery behind why Carmen left ACME and turned to crime.”
- “The story is fun, if a bit cheesy, and the characters aren't too bright; it all kind of adds to the charm.”
- “The game has 8 parts that form one overall story as you try to catch Carmen Sandiego.”
- “I'm unlikely to be willing to repeat the first two missions to finish the game in the near future.”
- “The story often dangles the mystery behind why Carmen left Acme and turned to crime.”
- “But with eight missions, it's ridiculous you'd have to either do that or keep the game open until you're done.”
graphics
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
20%
60%
The graphics are generally considered mediocre and inconsistent, with some elements reminiscent of older games from the 1990s rather than meeting modern standards. While they evoke a nostalgic feel, many reviewers feel that more effort could have been made to enhance the visual quality. Overall, the graphics do not significantly detract from the gameplay experience.
- “Mediocre visual graphics.”
- “Graphics are okay, but definitely not brought up to 2020 standards.”
- “The graphics are much like the older games, which is a nice touch, but more could have probably been done.”
gameplay
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The gameplay is nostalgic, evoking childhood memories of exploring and learning about countries while pursuing Carmen Sandiego. However, it lacks replayability and a time mechanic compared to the original.
- “The only thing lost compared to the original is replayability, and there's no time mechanic as far as I can tell.”
- “Gameplay reminded me of my childhood, where you'll enjoy knowing facts about countries while chasing Carmen Sandiego.”
- “Fair warning, gameplay is also nostalgic.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express a strong emotional connection to the game, reminiscing about their childhood experiences with it and feeling nostalgic as they engage in the gameplay. The blend of learning and adventure evokes feelings of joy and sentimentality, making it a meaningful experience for both adults and their children.
- “Chasing around Carmen from country to country, gathering clues and learning more about her and her whereabouts made me feel like I was a kid again, discovering geography and history for the first time!”
- “Playing this really made me want to cry because I loved these games as a kid. Unfortunately, I remember a lot of the missions, so it's not too hard for me to get through, but I have three kids and this is perfect for them.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its humor, seamlessly blending it with elements of mystery, adventure, and puzzles, making it both entertaining and educational.
- “Funny.”
- “Mystery, adventure, puzzles, humor, and educational – it has it all.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviewers note that the game lacks significant replayability compared to its original, primarily due to the absence of a time mechanic and limited incentives to replay after reaching the end.
- “The only thing lost compared to the original is replayability, and there's no time mechanic as far as I can tell.”
- “They lead nicely from one another, but once you reach the end, there is no real replayability.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game features strong plot and character development, with appealing character designs, though the cinematics are considered only average.
- “The game features the most plot and character development I've seen.”
- “I appreciate the character designs, and I think the cinematics are decent.”
music
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The music in the game is generally well-received, enhancing the experience, while the voice acting, though considered amateurish, is still effective for the overall presentation.
- “I like the music; the voice acting, while amateurish, does the job for me.”