The original lady in red villainess Carmen Sandiego is back with a new game. This time however instead of your regular PC adventure game you’ll be looking for her on Google Earth. Thanks, no doubt, to her recent Netflix revival, Google has collaborated to create an in-Earth game called The Crown Jewel Caper. You can access it from either the site or the mobile app.
Beginning today, you can play the first, The Crown Jewels Caper, on Google Earth for Chrome, Android and iOS. The video game splits your screen between a very 90s interface and a view of Google Earth, and you’re asked to interview witnesses and use clues to guide you around the globe. “It’s for all those gumshoes who grew up with the chase, and for the next generation feeling that geography itch for the first time,” Google said in a blog post.
You play an ACME agent tasked with tracking down the infamous Carmen Sandiego who’s made off with the Crown Jewels. To do so, you must question eyewitnesses, who’ll give you hints as to where Carmen went next in her journey. The clues range from the colours of the next country’s flag to famous landmarks. Once you think you’ve figured out where to go next, select the destination from a list of cities. Repeat until discovered.
This isn’t the first time Google has experimented with map-based video game throwbacks. Last year, on MAR10 Day, you could tap an icon and have a Mario drive around with you on Google Maps. But this is a more of a game, not just an animation. Google promises we’ll be seeing more of Sandiego. What we don’t know is if we’ll see more Google Earth-based games outside of Carmen Sandiego.
If you don’t have time the time you can catch my playthrough below.
