Where in the U.S.A. is Carmen Sandiego? (1996) (2024)

This article is about the 1996 computer game. You may be looking for 1986 game.


Where in the U.S.A is Carmen Sandiego? is a point-and-click puzzle adventure game, and is a remastering of the game of the same name in 1986.

Contents

  • 1 Plot
  • 2 Development
  • 3 Gameplay
    • 3.1 The Chase
    • 3.2 The Warrant and the Arrest
  • 4 Characters
    • 4.1 The Good Guides
    • 4.2 V.I.L.E.
  • 5 Locations
  • 6 Reception
  • 7 Trivia
  • 8 External links

Plot[]

Development[]

Gameplay[]

The Chase[]

Like the 1996 version of Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?, the image of the locations take up most of the screen, with the game options only taking up the bottom third of the screen. Each location had an elaborately painted backdrop that could be scrolled around a full three hundred and sixty degrees. Each location provided clues in the form of several bystanders and scraps of paper lying on the ground. The scraps of paper exclusively provided clues about the suspect's appearance.

The bystanders, on the other hand, could either be asked where the suspect went, in which case they would provide a geography clue, or what the suspect looks like, in which case they would make a casual comment about one of the suspect's physical attributes, i.e. "His hair reminds me of Dracula’s cape." or "Horizontally speaking, he’s hardly there." Although speech balloons were still used on them, bystanders spoke their dialogue aloud as well. The text of notes and of bystanders' dialogue could be dragged into an "electronic notepad" in the bottom right corner of the screen for reference.

The Warrant and the Arrest[]

Like in the World counterpart, the player is not given dossiers describing the members of V.I.L.E. and that all the clues given about the suspect are physical traits, enabling the player to identify the crook on sight. This means that the player will have to compile a full warrant rather than one of just enough traits to distinguish which crook is responsible. In the final destination, the crook is seen walking around the location with several innocent bystanders, meaning the user will have to use the warrant to identify which person is the criminal. The crook's name is only given after the arrest, in which a newspaper (USA Someday) appears with a headline declaring the criminal has been captured. If the person arrested does not match the warrant, they will be found innocent and released just as they would if the warrant were inaccurate or not issued. Eight of the thirty-nine crooks captured over the course of the game each provided a single line of verse. These eight verses, once pieced together, created a poem that read as follows:

Dear RoboCrook,
Soon we’ll pull of the perfect theft, A scheme of great design.
The greatest treasure in the states, Will very soon be mine.
When we convene for our exchange, Don’t get caught by surprise,
Be sure you don’t forget that I’m, A mistress of disguise.
I’ve made myself look shorter, And that’s harder than it sounds.
I’ve transformed by slender size, By putting on some pounds.
Around my waist an apron’s tied; My slipper hide no socks.
Beneath my red bandana, Is a wig of golden locks.
Signed, Carmen Sandiego

Upon reaching the final destination of Washington D.C. the Chief will call the player to inform them that the culprit is Carmen Sandiego. However, the poem reveals that she is in disguise and her appearance will not match the warrant. So the player must use the clues to figure out the disguise and arrest Carmen. But after the player exposes her, Carmen tears off her disguise and takes off with RoboCrook on a gigantic driller into the ground. The Good Guides give chase and discover that Carmen has stolen the Declaration of Independence. They continue and find her secret hideout, where she is about to add the document to her collection. The Good Guides quickly knock out RoboCrook and detain Carmen in a capsule, retrieving the document. Afterwards, the player is later inducted at the ACME Detective Hall of Fame on the World Wiz Database and retired. If the player does anything that causes this mission to fail at this point, Carmen will escape and break three of her criminal henchmen out from ACME prison, immediately producing three more cases for the user to solve before getting back on Carmen's trail.

Characters[]

The ACME Good Guides from World return to reprise their roles, providing information about the state the player is currently in and verifying warrants.

The Good Guides[]

  • Ann Tickwittee
  • Dee Plomassy
  • Herman Nootix
  • Ivan Idea
  • Kim Yoonity
  • Renee Santz
  • Rock Solid

The ICK brothers and Carmine also return to indicate if the player has chosen the right state to search for crooks. RoboCrook joins the group of V.I.L.E. lackeys to indicate to the player that they are in the right state where the crook is to be arrested.

V.I.L.E.[]

The following members of V.I.L.E. are criminals that the player must catch for each of the cases and each of their crimes:

SuspectPunGenderHair ColorHeightWeightWearingBystander GreetingCaptured by
Ann ArkyAnarchyFemaleGreyMediumHeavyGlasessNice to see you.Ivan Idea
Barnie CullBarnacleMaleBrownShortAverageHatWell, howdy!Ivan Idea
Beau ZoeBozoMaleBlackTallHeavyHatPleased to meet you.Renee Santz
Bee SmirchBesmirchFemaleRedMediumAverageGlassesHow are you?Dee Plomassy
Ben E. FiciaryBeneficiaryMaleRedShortThinHatPleased to meet you.Kim Yoonity
Belle IgerentBelligerentFemaleRedMediumThinHatHi, how are you?Dee Plomassy
Billy FlopBelly flopMaleBlackTallThinCameraHey, how's it going?Ivan Idea
Bob SledBobsledMaleBlackTallThinWatchPleased to make your acquaintance.Rock Solid
Boone DoggleBoondoggleMaleBrownTallThinHatHi there. Nice to see a new face.Herman Nootix
Buck AneerBuccaneerMaleBlondMediumHeavyHatSalutations.Dee Plomassy
Buzz WardBuzzwordMaleBlondTallHeavyGlassesHey!Ivan Idea
Carrie KatureCaricatureFemaleBlackShortThinGlassesHow ya doing?Kim Yoonity
Cassie NovaCasanovaFemaleBrownShortThinWatchNice to meet you.Kim Yoonity
Charlie HorseCharley horseMaleRedShortHeavyGlassesHowdy partner. Good to be here with y'all!Rock Solid
Clement SeeClemencyMaleBlondShortAverageGlassesHow can I help you?Ann Tickwittee
Cliff HangerCliffhangerMaleBlondTallHeavyCameraHey, there.Herman Nootix
Cora SpondentCorrespondentFemaleBlackShortAverageHatHowdy!Ivan Idea
Dan GerousDangerousMaleRedMediumThinCameraHello.Dee Plomassy
Deb O’NareDebonairFemaleBlackTallThinGlassesPleasure to make your acquaintance.Rock Solid
Dee LinquentDelinquentFemaleBlondShortAverageWatchHi ya!Ann Tickwittee
Diane ToshopDying to shopFemaleRedMediumThinCameraHow ya doin'?Ann Tickwittee
Emma WelcherI'm a welcherFemaleGreyShortHeavyGlassesWell, hello there.Rock Solid
Gil TeeGuiltyMaleGreyShortHeavyCameraHow ya doin'?Kim Yoonity
Hope LessHopelessFemaleBlondTallAverageGlassesGreetings!Herman Nootix
Ivana B. RichI wanna be richFemaleBlondMediumHeavyWatchGlad to make your acquaintance.Ann Tickwittee
Joy RyderJoy riderFemaleGreyMediumAverageHatGreetings.Dee Plomassy
Kat AstrophicCatastrophicFemaleBrownShortHeavyWatchHow are things?Kim Yoonity
Kay OsChaosFemaleRedTallThinGlassesHi there.Ivan Idea
Les IsmoreLess is moreMaleGreyMediumAverageGlassesGood to see you.Ann Tickwittee
Lilly LiveredLily-liveredFemaleBlondTallHeavyHatNice to make your acquaintance.Renee Santz
Luke N. FerlootLooking for lootMaleBrownTallAverageCameraHowdy.Renee Santz
Mandy LifeboatsMan the lifeboatsFemaleGreyTallAverageHatI'm pleased to make your acquaintance.Renee Santz
Noah ClueNo clueMaleRedShortHeavyHatNice to see a fellow traveller.Rock Solid
Paul LutionPollutionMaleBlondMediumThinWatchWelcome to this neck of the woods.Dee Plomassy
Perry SyteParasiteMaleBlondTallAverageGlassesGood to see you here.Herman Nootix
Rhonda VooRendezvousFemaleBlondTallHeavyCameraMy, what a pleasant surprise.Herman Nootix
Rob BurrRobberMaleRedMediumHeavyCameraNice to see a friendly face.Ann Tickwittee
Robyn SteeleRob and StealFemaleRedTallThinWatchWhat's shaking?Renee Santz
Tim TationTemptationMaleRedShortAverageWatchNice to see you around these parts.Rock Solid

Locations[]

Locations visited in the game:

StateRegionExplorable AreaTour GuideLoot
AlabamaEast South CentralMontgomeryDee PlomassyRocket City
AlaskaWest CoastSitkaIvan IdeaAlaskan Oil Pipe Line
ArizonaMountain StatesSedonaRock SolidThe O.K. Corral
ArkansasWest South CentralNorth Little RockRenee SantzThe Dripstone Trail
CaliforniaWest CoastYosemiteRock SolidHollywood's Walk of Fame
ColoradoMountain StatesAspenKim YoonityPikes Peak
ConnecticutNew EnglandMysticRenee SantzAll the hour hands at The American Clock and Watch Museum
DelawareMid-Atlantic CoastNew CastleKim YoonityIncorporation Certificates
FloridaSouth AtlanticKennedy Space CenterIvan IdeaThe Countdown from the JFK Space Center
GeorgiaSouth AtlanticAtlantaKim YoonityThe recipe for Coca-Cola
HawaiiWest CoastPuʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical ParkAnn TickwitteeAll the sand on Waikiki Beach
IdahoMountain StatesSnake River PlainRock SolidAmerica's first ski lift
IllinoisEast North CentralChicagoRenee SantzChicago-style pizza recipe
IndianaEast North CentralIndianapolisIvan IdeaThe checkered flag for the Indy 500
IowaWest North CentralDes MoinesDee PlomassyField of Dreams
KansasWest North CentralFlint HillsRock SolidLittle House on the Prairie
KentuckyEast South CentralLouisvilleKim YoonityAbraham Lincoln's Cabin
LouisianaWest South CentralNew OrleansHerman NootixLouisiana Purchase receipt
MaineNew EnglandPortlandIvan IdeaAll the lobster bibs
MarylandMid-Atlantic CoastBaltimoreDee PlomassyThe Mason-Dixon Line
MassachusettsNew EnglandCambridgeHerman NootixBoston Red Sox's socks
MichiganEast North CentralGreenfield VillageIvan IdeaHand crank from first Model T
MinnesotaWest North CentralMinneapolis/St. PaulRenee SantzThe Mall of America
MississippiEast South CentralNatchezRenee SantzThe Delta Queen
MissouriWest North CentralSt. LouisRenee SantzThe Trail head for the Oregon Trail
MontanaMountain StatesGlacier National ParkRock SolidContinental Divide
NebraskaWest North CentralOmahaIvan IdeaChimney Rock
NevadaMountain StatesLas VegasKim YoonityHoover Dam's drain plug
New HampshireNew EnglandCanterburyHerman NootixThe ballot boxes for the Presidential Primary
New JerseyMid-Atlantic CoastCape MayIvan IdeaJersey Turnpike
New MexicoMountain StatesTaosAnn TickwitteeBottomless Pit from Carlsbad Caverns
New YorkMid-Atlantic CoastEllis IslandKim YoonityTime Square electronic billboard
North CarolinaSouth AtlanticChapel HillHerman NootixWright Brothers’ runway at Kittyhawk
North DakotaWest North CentralBonanzavilleHerman NootixThe entire town of Rugby
OhioEast North CentralClevelandHerman NootixPro Football Hall of Fame
OklahomaWest South CentralIndian City, USAAnn TickwitteeJohn Wayne's boots from the Cowboy Hall of Fame
OregonWest CoastPortlandRock SolidCrater Lake
PennsylvaniaMid-Atlantic CoastPhiladelphiaAnn TickwitteeValley Forge
Rhode IslandNew EnglandNewportRenee SantzBreakers Mansion
South CarolinaSouth AtlanticCharlestonHerman NootixFort Summers’ flagpole
South DakotaWest North CentralMt. RushmoreIvan IdeaThe Mitchell Corn Palace
TennesseeEast South CentralNashvilleRenee SantzGraceland gates
TexasWest South CentralSan AntonioAnn TickwitteeThe Dallas Cowboys’ playbook
UtahMountain StatesZion National ParkRock SolidMorman Tabernacle Choir's organ
VermontNew EnglandWest ArlingtonKim YoonityEntire supply of maple syrup
VirginiaSouth AtlanticWilliamsburgDee PlomassyMonticello
WashingtonWest CoastSeattleKim YoonityThe Space Needle
Washington D.C.Mid-Atlantic CoastWashington D.C.Dee PlomassyCard Catalog from Library of Congress
West VirginiaSouth AtlanticHarper's FerryDee PlomassySeneca Rocks
WisconsinEast North CentralHaywardRock SolidThe recipe for sharp cheddar cheese
WyomingMountain StatesThe Grand TetonsRock SolidSchedule for Old Faithful

Reception[]

Trivia[]

External links[]

Where in the U.S.A. Is Carmen Sandiego? (1996) on Wikipedia

Carmen Sandiego games
Video GamesBroderbundWorld (1985) • U.S.A (1986) • Europe (1988) • Prodigy (1988) • Time (1989) • North Dakota (1989) • Japan (1989) • America's Past (1991) • Space (1993) • Junior Detective (1995) • World (1996) • U.S.A. (1996) • Time (1997) • Word Detective (1997) • Math Detective (1998) • Amtrak (1998)
The Learning CompanyThinkQuick Challenge (1999) • Treasures of Knowledge (2001) • The Secret of the Stolen Drums (2004) • Gameloft (2008) • Mystère au Bout du Monde (2009) • Adventures in Math (2011) • Luggage (Unknown) • Facebook (2011) • Returns (2015)
Houghton Mifflin HarcourtTriviaGoogle EarthHandheldTo Steal or Not To Steal
Board GamesOriginal FranchiseWorld (1992) • U.S.A. (1993) • Junior Detective (1994) • Space • (1995) Time (1996) • V.I.L.E. Files
RebootWorld Card GameACME's Most WantedCapitals
OtherThe ClueFinders: Mystery Mansion Arcade (cameo) • Music Universe
Where in the U.S.A. is Carmen Sandiego? (1996) (2024)
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