Inspector Gadget (1993). Play online

Summary

Inspector Gadget launches another crusade against the nefarious Dr. Claw, who’s kidnapped his niece Penny. The SNES side‑scroller leans on the cartoon’s humor – every hit strips away one of Gadget’s over‑the‑top coats, revealing comically embarrassed boxer shorts before a second blow ends the life.

The core combat is all about his extendable arms, used for punches and kicks, while power‑ups let you reach even farther. Hats litter the breakable bricks and fuel the quirky gadgets you can pick up: a rotor‑blade helicopter, handy plungers, and arrows that can be amplified for extra damage. Each device demands a certain hat count, encouraging thorough brick‑smashing.

Levels echo the TV series’ most memorable set‑pieces – a spooky Dracula castle, a Swiss clock tower, a South American jungle, an Egyptian tomb, and Claw’s frosty Winterland Castle – each timed with a frantic ticking tune when only seventeen seconds remain. M.A.D. agents patrol the stages, and a steady stream of hats and hidden coats is the key to surviving the race against the clock.

Storyline

The SNES platformer Inspector Gadget drops the usual slapstick for a surprisingly competent hero who must rescue his niece Penny from the clutches of Dr. Claw and the M.A.D. organization. Each stage opens with a short cutscene at Gadget’s house, replaying the classic gag of Gadget accidentally blowing up Chief Quimby with a self‑destructing message. Throughout the game Dr. Claw’s face actually appears—a rarity compared to the cartoon—and he serves as the boss of every level, confronting Gadget in a variety of ways. In the final stage Claw flees to an airship, forcing Gadget into a giant Mech for a showdown; after the battle Claw retreats while Penny falls from the ship, and Gadget catches her. The game ends with a note from Chief Quimby revealing that Dr. Claw has now captured the chief, leaving Gadget’s frustration on full display.