Review scoopings 3/5 · Jun 22, 2023
Impressive For 1985--The Roots Of A Childhood Favorite, Which Is Surprisingly Fast & Fun
Look: 8/10
What a neat look 
(I had to stop using the above version because it was glitching out, but I got another version to work properly on the Apple II). I loved all the comptuerized computers in this and the images of the locations. Probly overrating a bit here, but impressive for 85.
Sound: -/10 Not really fair to …
Look: 8/10
What a neat look
(I had to stop using the above version because it was glitching out, but I got another version to work properly on the Apple II). I loved all the comptuerized computers in this and the images of the locations. Probly overrating a bit here, but impressive for 85.
Sound: -/10 Not really fair to rate it, tho it was okay. Probly would get a 6/10.
Play: 7/10 Certainly different from the format of the 90s Where in the U.S.A Is Carmen San Diego I was raised on, but surprisingly more alike it than I expected . So many of the features of the later one were in this, the way you get info at a place, the way you see a henchman if you're going the right way. Now, the animations weren't as epic and beloved (to me) as the 90s U.S.A one, and it felt like the next stop was being spoonfed to me (tho, I mean, just seeing Spanish dictionary and seafood could be hard for a kid to know Peru, so I certainly am not calling it too easy for its intentions). I do wish you talked with the townspeople like in the U.S.A one tho :-p That was really interesting. Playing this is making me eager to play the U.S.A one! I don't really see these as frequent plays/a favorite genre, it feels sometimes like it's just showing off that one knows a lot about geography, but there's also something about the adventure of it, the time limit, the sound in the U.S.A one and the interaction with the people in that one too etc. And this one, despite being from 1985, already has so much of that feeling--I'm surprised!
Darn, I wrote down he had blond hair but then it outright said "there goes the suspect!" It was so cool in the U.S.A one where you had to identify which of the seemingly-innocent townspeople was the criminal. (it turns out it did matter to know blond, what they drive, hobby, etc. be sure to visit interpol to get a list of the characteristics you should look out for)
Feel: 7/10
Ha I love the outdated..ness in this, like the Soviet Union etc. But boo! I got the suspect but I guess I needed a warrant?! Hm, I will try one more and that's probly eonugh of this regardless heh. Here's the false ending heh, where you find the suspect but don't have a warrant for them. 
Attachment: 8/10 Oh the warrant was very easy to get: you click through on a computerized computer (heh) for the characteristics you know, you don't need to know them all apparently, and then it issues the warrant.
And phew--tada--I was indeed on track to catching this suspect, this time with a warrant. The clues for the final location were a bit vague. And tho I enjoy this and I have nostalgia for its premise thanks to my childhood game, I'm not interested in doing more than these 2 cases and going for Carmen herself heh. That being said, the gameplay is surprisingly smooth, fast-paced, and well-done. I could see myself showing this to my brothers like "look at the original carmen san diego game!" I expected so much less for an '85 Apple II version of this childhood favorite! It didn't feel like a lot of time was wasted, as it often feels with Apple II and early microcomputer games, so maybe I will return to it eventually to properly get Carmen. In the meantime, moving on!
Completion: 2 cases, one with the proper warrant once I knew I needed it :-p Playtime: ~35 mins