Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego? [OLD VERSION]

Geography for age 9 & up. Learn about countries and cultures. Windows 95. 486/33 or faster. 8MB RAM. 1MB hard disk space.

Blend capitals with crime, and you've got the magic combination that makes geography cool. With its irreverent style, Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego? is definitely a winner for the junior-high set.

Each story begins with a dispatched message from the Chief. In her typical, no-nonsense style, she tells you what you need to know: what was stolen, whom to look for, and where you're being sent to catch the thief. Kids will love the real-time video of the Chief's updates, as well as the cartoon-character types they meet along the way. The immediate purpose is to build a profile of the criminal, but the larger object is to learn the history of your destination spots.

The Carmen series has nice touches: the Chief urges rookie investigators to learn a little bit of the language, because "It always helps you do better." There are questions to answer, and at each new destination, the announcement information comes through in the appropriate local language--with a "debabilizer" that prints the message in English. If you get stuck at any point, you can request a guide who will give you a tour of your new land. A truly fun game that teaches kids the quirky and astounding elements of each culture they'll visit, Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego? has a great deal to offer kids as they explore the cultures provided. --Jennifer Buckendorff

Discover the world in a thrilling crime-stopping chase. The world has lost all the salt from the Dead Sea, the gargoyles from Notre Dame, even the steps to the Tango. As a detective, your job is to interrogate informants, track clues with your electronic notepad, and arrest the thief before the battery meter runs out.