You are looking at computer game Carmen Sandiego Word Detective.

Word is out! In an unspeakable attempt to turn the English language on its ear, Carmen Sandiego has invented the Babble-On Machine, a diabolical device that transforms language into utter nonsense. As Agent 13, your mission is to free a dozen babbling ACME agents by completing over 60 activities that will further develop your spelling, grammar, and vocabulary skills.

You rescue the other agents by gathering individual keys to rescue each of the agents. These keys in turn are guarded by several passwords, all of which must be decoded. These passwords are decoded by discovering "clues" in Carmen's hideouts which then launch anyone of 5 mini-game..

These mini-game sequences are the following:

• Code Breaker: Using a series of letter tiles, the player must spell specific words already chosen (Searcher Mode) or create new words that are present inside Word Detective's dictionary (Builder Mode).
• Fusion Chamber: The player must find the meaning of a core word, the meaning of a prefix or suffix, and the meaning of the combined word.
• Micropix: The player is given a page of text with several nouns, verbs and adjectives missing. The most logical choices must be placed in these missing areas.
• Power Pack: Words must be placed in alphabetical order to form a tower on the right side of the screen
• Spellanyzer: The player is given an audio recording of a word, as well as it's usage in a phrase and must either unscramble or spell the indicated word.

Features:

• Includes dictionary and reference Skills - Our easy-to-use electronic dictionary defines over 3,000 words, explains over 100 important grammar rules and helps develop language reference skills.
• Practice up to 10,000 words and Create custom spelling lists
• Learn 50 common spelling rules and Identify correct spellings
• Fill in missing letters to form words and Unscramble letters to form words

Developer: Broderbund Genre: Puzzle Released: 1997

(N5998)2