This game was developed and published by Broderbund Inc. Released in 1989 for the DOS platform, and in 1990 for the Commodore 64. The game's original packaging included a copy of The New American Desk Encyclopedia.
You start the game as a rookie for the ACME Detective Agency, Time Travel Division. After receiving your own personal chronoskimmer (time travel device), the Chief sends you a message: “A precious artifact has been stolen from somewhere in the past!” Your mission is to go to the scene of the crime, gather clues about the thief's identity, and successfully track the villain through different places and periods of history.
When you gather enough information to issue a warrant, you must capture the guilty party before time runs out. As you solve more cases, you will rise in rank. Your ultimate goal, however, is to capture Carmen Sandiego - master thief and ringleader of the V.I.L.E. (Villains International League of Evil) gang.
The clues can be quite difficult, so it helps to know your history. It can be easy for adults, but it may be too hard for the under-10 children. But the answers to all the clues can be found in the desk encyclopedia that came with the game.
Graphics are not bad for 1990, the same with the sound. Honestly, the graphics are nowhere near spectacular by today's standards, but it's still fun.
Pros and Cons of the game:
Pros
first: Exciting gameplay, challenging clues. (Having a time limit for each case makes it more difficult.) Educational component of gameplay is another pros. You will learn something here whether you want to or not. Be sure to explore the ACME building, there are surprises on every floor.
Now cons: The clues will begin to repeat themselves if you play long enough. There is one big con: The trouble with getting promoted. After solving a certain number of cases, the Chief will give you a promotion. Before she does, though, she gives you a final test. All you have to do is type in a word found in the desk encyclopedia that came in the game's box. No big deal, UNLESS you don't have that book or have lost it. I temporarily lost my copy when I played this game, years ago, and I couldn't rise in rank until I found it.
Final Verdict: Awesome game. Extremely addicting, you won't rest until you catch Carmen.
