GAME REVIEW | A Return to Geographical Fun with "Carmen Sandiego"
As a kid, I absolutely loved all things Carmen Sandiego. The games, the PBS game shows, and even the Rockapella-featured music album were all staples of my childhood. But back then, the object of the game was to catch Carmen and her henchmen. For the first time ever, Carmen’s in your control, and now she’s gotta track down VILE to clear her name.
Yes, Carmen is still a notorious thief, but she’s got nothing to do with these new crimes. Alongside Player (AKA you!) and the ACME crime-fighting organization, Carmen trots the globe seeking clues and putting baddies behind bars. But it won’t be an easy task; the members of VILE are a lot smarter now than they were back in the 80s and early 90s. Not only do you have to figure out who is behind it and where they’re going next, Carmen will also have to solve puzzles to discover new hints.
Gameloft Brisbane’s adaptation of Carmen Sandiego has the heart and brains of the classic games. Not only do you need to find these clues, you’ve also got to figure out where the clues will lead you next. In the old days, every Carmen Sandiego game would pack in a World Almanac to help solve the case. Now with it being 2025, the Internet is your world almanac, as you look through any search engine or even ChatGPT to find the answers.
How you find clues depends on the situations. Sometimes you can talk to locals or listen in to VILE conversations. These chats will reveal location hints, as well as something about the culprit themselves. Do they have long hair? Blue eyes? A fear of flying? Maybe they just quit yoga! These hints will make getting a warrant a lot easier, as you input them into the Identikit and start chipping away at the suspect list.
Sometimes, earning clues won’t be easy in Carmen Sandiego. Pickpocketing VILE agents, using spy goggles to find hidden clues, and even gliding and grappling through areas will be necessary to gain access to the next clue. Quick decisions on pathways to infiltrate may lead to success, but other times you’ll lose time and miss out on the next major clue. However, it’s in the mini-games where the real challenges appear.
Hacking computers, rearranging wires, picking locks, and cracking safes are all in a day’s work for Carmen. But believe me when I say that some of these puzzles will be time-consuming. It’ll take patience to figure them out, but once you hear that completion jingle coming out of your speakers, you’ll no doubt feel satisfied with the victory. This adds a new soul to the Carmen Sandiego franchise, one that feels fresh and invigorating when a case is solved.
As you solve cases, Carmen will level up. With each new case, there is a requirement for a specific level, meaning that you’ll have to find other ways outside of the main campaign to start the next chapter. That’s where The ACME Files plays in, which brings players text-based challenges akin to the classic Carmen Sandiego franchise. Not only is it a fantastic nod to the original games, but it’s a cool way to show newcomers how we older Gumshoes used to crack cases.
Speaking of the classic games, I often found myself smiling at the Easter eggs from older games. Keen eyes will no doubt find pixelated graffiti, which features character sprites from the original PC titles. However, a part of me wishes there was maybe a nod or two from the game shows. (At the very least, a usage of the iconic game show’s theme song would’ve been cool.)
The only other downside to this new Carmen Sandiego is where you travel in the game. In the old titles, you had no idea where you’d be chasing VILE and Carmen, as the entire planet was used. Here, it’s just under two dozen locations, a big contrast to the original games. Perhaps this is Gameloft just getting its feelers out for this franchise’s return, with hopefully a much bigger adventure somewhere down the line. Nevertheless, there were times when visiting the same locations got a bit tedious.
PROS:
- Uses your brain to the max
- Great new mini-games
- Wonderful nods to the original titles
CONS:
- Repetitive locations
- Lack of homages to game show iterations
FINAL THOUGHTS:
Carmen Sandiego is back, and her new capers are just as fun as the classics. Although the repetitive locations can be a bit of a drag, the new mini-games add a new soul to the iconic edutainment franchise. Fun for kids and adults, Carmen Sandiego makes it exciting to be a Gumshoe again!
FINAL GRADE:
Promotional consideration provided by Adam Mersky of The Amplifier Group. Reviewed on the PS5.
