Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?
- August 31, 2020
- The Learning Company
- 3h median play time
Get on SteamIn "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.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game provides a strong sense of nostalgia for those who played it as kids, with familiar characters and gameplay elements.
- It's an educational game that teaches history and geography in a fun and engaging way, making it suitable for children.
- The puzzles and clues are enjoyable, and the game maintains a charming detective aspect that keeps players entertained.
- The game has significant issues with saving progress, often forcing players to restart from the beginning after quitting.
- Many players found the gameplay to be different from the original versions, leading to disappointment and a lack of the expected challenge.
- The interface and controls are considered outdated and unintuitive, making it difficult for players to navigate and enjoy the game fully.
- story32 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 78 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The story revolves around tracking down Carmen Sandiego, a former ACME agent turned criminal, across eight missions filled with puzzles and character interactions. While some players find the narrative engaging and nostalgic, they also express frustration over the lack of a save function, which detracts from the overall experience. The plot is described as fun and somewhat cheesy, with a charming dynamic among characters, making it appealing for both adults and children.
“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.”
“The story often dangles the mystery behind why Carmen left ACME and turned to crime.”
“I'm unlikely to be willing to repeat the first two missions to finish the game in the near future.”
“I had to start the first mission over because of this, and I really don't want to do it every single time.”
- graphics10 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 40 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally considered mediocre and inconsistent, often reminiscent of older titles from the late 1990s rather than meeting modern standards. While some players appreciate the nostalgic feel, many feel that the visuals fall short of expectations for a 2020 release, suggesting that more effort could have been made to enhance the overall graphical quality.
“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.”
- gameplay6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The gameplay is described as nostalgic, evoking fond memories of childhood experiences, particularly in learning about countries while pursuing Carmen Sandiego. However, it lacks some elements from the original, such as replayability and a time mechanic, which may affect long-term engagement.
“Gameplay reminded me of my childhood where you'll enjoy knowing facts about countries while chasing Carmen Sandiego.”
“Fair warning, gameplay is also nostalgic.”
“The only thing lost compared to the original is replayability and there's no time mechanic as far as I can tell.”
“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.”
- emotional4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express a deep emotional connection to the game, reminiscing about their childhood experiences and the joy of learning geography and history through gameplay. The nostalgia evoked by chasing Carmen and gathering clues not only brings back fond memories but also creates a desire to share this experience with the next generation, making it a perfect fit for families.
“Chasing around Carmen from country to country, gathering clues, learning more about states, all while learning more about her and her whereabouts made me feel like I was a kid again, learning 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 3 kids and this is perfect for them.”
- humor4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its humor, seamlessly blending it with elements of mystery, adventure, and puzzles, making it both entertaining and educational. Reviewers consistently highlight the comedic aspects as a standout feature.
“Mystery, adventure, puzzles, humor, and educational, it has it all.”
- replayability4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Reviewers note a significant decline in replayability compared to the original game, citing the absence of a time mechanic and a lack of incentives to replay after reaching the end. The narrative flows well, but once completed, players find little reason to revisit the experience.
“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 development4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its strong plot and character development, with users appreciating the character designs, although opinions on the cinematics are mixed, described as merely "okay."
“Has the most plot and character development.”
“I like the character designs, and I think the cinematics are okay.”
- music2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally well-received, enhancing the overall experience, while the voice acting, though considered amateurish, is deemed sufficient for its purpose.
“I like the music; the voice acting, while amateurish, does the job for me.”
