''Inspector Gadget'' is a 1993
side-scrolling action video game for the
Super Nintendo Entertainment System
The Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES), commonly shortened to Super NES or Super Nintendo, is a 16-bit home video game console developed by Nintendo that was released in 1990 in Japan and South Korea, 1991 in North America, 1992 in Eur ...
based on the
television show of the same title.
The game was released by
Hudson Soft
was a Japanese video game company that released numerous games for video game consoles, home computers and mobile phones, mainly from the 1980s to the 2000s. It was headquartered in the Midtown Tower in Tokyo Midtown, Akasaka, Minato, Tokyo ...
, with developers who also worked on Hudson's video game adaptations ''
SWAT Kats: The Radical Squadron'' and ''
An American Tail: Fievel Goes West''.
The normally bumbling Gadget is portrayed as fairly competent as he must rescue his niece Penny from the clutches of Dr. Claw and his M.A.D. terrorist organization. Dr. Claw's face makes a rare appearance in the game, unlike the cartoon, which keeps his face hidden. A hidden debug menu is used to test certain options like
god mode, a stage select with every playable level available, and a complete test of all the sound effects/music found while playing the game.
Gameplay
The player controls Inspector Gadget as he travels around the world to rescue his niece Penny, who has been kidnapped by the terrorist organization M.A.D. and its leader Dr. Claw. Each level is preceded by a short intro at Gadget's house, reprising the
running gag of the series in which Gadget blows up Chief Quimby via self-destructing messages.
When hit by an enemy, Gadget's clothing falls off, leaving him wearing only boxer shorts. The next hit causes Gadget to lose a life. Additional coats are hidden in breakable bricks and can be acquired to restore his second
hit point.
Gadget's primary weapons are his extendable limbs, which can be used to punch and kick enemies. A
power-up
In video games, a power-up is an object that adds temporary benefits or extra abilities to the player character as a game mechanic. This is in contrast to an item, which may or may not have a permanent benefit that can be used at any time chosen ...
allows Gadget to extend the maximum reach of his limbs. Various gadgets can also be collected and used, including a helicopter rotor,
plungers and arrows. Gadgets can be powered up as well, which has various effects depending on the gadget, such as making the arrows deal more damage. Most gadgets are powered by hats, with each gadget requiring a certain number of hats to operate. Additional hats can be collected in levels by breaking certain bricks.
Common enemies in the levels include M.A.D. agents and each level has a fixed time limit. Running out of time costs Gadget a life. When there are seventeen seconds left in the timer, a frantic melody plays, warning the player to hurry up and finish the level.
The levels are based on actual locales from the television series. They are: Count Dracula's castle in
England, Cuckoo Clock Maker's clock tower in
Switzerland
). Swiss law does not designate a ''capital'' as such, but the federal parliament and government are installed in Bern, while other federal institutions, such as the federal courts, are in other cities (Bellinzona, Lausanne, Luzern, Neuchâtel ...
, Jungle Bob's jungle hideout in
South America, King Tutonpoot's
tomb in
Egypt and Dr. Claw's Winterland Castle. Each level boss is Dr. Claw himself, who battles Gadget in various different ways. At the end of the last level, Dr. Claw escapes into an
airship and Gadget must face him in a
Mech.
After the fight, Claw retreats and Gadget saves Penny who is falling from the ship. Gadget then receives a note from Chief Quimby informing him Dr. Claw had now captured Quimby, much to Gadget's chagrin.
Reception
Allgame gave ''Inspector Gadget'' a rating of 2.5 out of 5. ''
Electronic Gaming Monthly'' praised the game for the variety of items that must be used and for the graphics, which they felt were reminiscent of the cartoon series. They gave the game a rating of 6.6 out of 10. ''
Nintendo Power'' covered the game in its February 1994 issue.
Power Unlimited gave a review score of 89% summarizing: "Inspector Gadget is a refreshing platform game. Of course the cartoon was already one of the coolest out there, but the game beat everything. Just as fun as the cartoon and maybe even better. Laughable, original and varied."
References
External links
''Inspector Gadget''at SNES Box
{{Inspector Gadget
1993 video games
Detective video games
Fortyfive games
Hudson Soft games
Video games based on Inspector Gadget
North America-exclusive video games
Platform games
Single-player video games
Super Nintendo Entertainment System games
Super Nintendo Entertainment System-only games
Video games about police officers
Video games developed in Japan
Video games scored by Saori Kobayashi
Video games set in England
Video games set in Egypt
Video games set in South America
Video games set in Switzerland
Side-scrolling platform games