Inspector Gadget: Mad Time Party — Everything We Know

Microids is quite clearly feeling a little nostalgic at the moment, what with its recent promise to bring Cartoon Network's Totally Spies! back to the realm of gaming. Only now, the acclaimed publisher has latched onto another beloved IP, and it's sure to pluck the heartstrings of those still drawn to animated exclusives of the eighties. And in case you haven't caught on yet, the property in question is Inspector Gadget, a series that quite possibly paved the way for countless modern detective animated favorites.

As it turns out, both Microids and developer Smart Tale Games are working on a new adventure—a party game, of sorts, that will reportedly bring a treasure trove of mini-games set entirely around the world of Inspector Gadget and his trusty companion, Brain. Curious? If so, then you'll definitely want to read on for the full details surrounding the so-called Inspector Gadget: Mad Time Party.

What Is Inspector Gadget: Mad Time Party?

In a nutshell, Inspector Gadget: Mad Time Party is a four-player party game that consists of “16 entertaining mini games inspired by the Inspector Gadget universe.” Going by the press release, avid detectives will have the opportunity to delve into activities including “Count Them All, My Precious and Pass the Bomb!” What's more, it'll tie in an Adventure Mode, which will let players explore Metro City and complete a variation of quests and challenges.

“This new party game for one to four players will immerse you in the iconic world of Inspector Gadget,” the press release adds. “Stroll through the environments of the original series, meet characters such as Chief Quimby, Penny or the M.A.D. agents and use the various gadgets of the Inspector to fight the M.A.D. forces.”

The good news is, you don't technically have to play the game as a close-knit quartet. In fact, you'll have the chance to breeze through Metro City on your own, so rest assured that Mad Time Party will, in fact, consist of much more than a few run-of-the-mill online party games.

Story

Going by what we've seen so far, Inspector Gadget: Mad Time Party will center its premise around the hustle and bustle of Metro City—an iconic metropolis that yields under the thumb of an evil tyrant known as Dr. Claw. This is where you, playing as the iconic Inspector, will begin your journey, in search of a remedy to help fix the chaos that Dr. Claw has bestowed upon the people of Metro City.

“Metro City has fallen under the control of the evil Dr. Claw,” the blurb opens. “In order to save the city, Inspector Gadget must use a time machine to go back in time. Unfortunately, the machine breaks down and the inspector’s ancestors are teleported to the present. Your mission: Explore Metro City and confront Inspector Gadget’s ancestors to recover the missing parts of the machine. You’ll have to solve mini-game quests to unlock the bolts needed to repair it.”

Gameplay

A party game at heart, it's fair to say that the bulk of the gameplay will revolve around the 16 unique mini-games encased within the walls of Metro City. Sure enough, the goal of the game is to earn parts for the time machine by buddying up with up to three other players, and completing a variation of challenges. Simple, really.

Metro City will be open to explore in its entirety too, by the looks of it. Thanks to the in-game screenshots provided by Smart Tale, we can safely say that gameplay will go beyond short-lived party favours and activities. In fact, it seems there'll be plenty more to dig into, which means fans of the franchise will certainly get their money's worth.

Development

Microids and Smart Tale Games first announced its plans to bring the celebrated Inspector to consoles and PC earlier today. In a bid to revive the 80's hit animation, the two firms will aim to bring Mad Time Party to consoles and PC at some point this forthcoming fall. And so, on that note, you can expect to see the game drop on PlayStation, Switch, and Steam in the third quarter of 2023 at the earliest. An Xbox port has yet to be confirmed.

Trailer

Inspector Gadget: Mad Time Party launches Fall 2023 for PS5/PS4, Switch and Steam.

Here’s your first look at gameplay shots!

Very ready for this game. pic.twitter.com/okIYvKJqXx

— Geoff Keighley (@geoffkeighley) April 27, 2023

As it goes, Microids has yet to lift the veil on any sort of footage of the actual game itself. Chances are, though, that such clippings will be revealed as we edge nearer to the third quarter of the year. Can't wait that long? You can check out what's already on display over on Microids' most up-to-date listing here.

Release Date, Platforms & Editions

Inspector Gadget: Mad Time Party will be coming to PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Switch, and PC via Steam in Q3 2023. It won't be coming to Xbox consoles though, apparently. Why has Microsoft been left out in the cold? Who knows. If either of the two teams in charge does decide to loop Xbox in, however, then it isn't likely to be in 2023.

In case you were wondering, Inspector Gadget: Mad Time Party will be heading to the market in both a physical and digital format. As for whether or not there'll be any special or collector's editions is still anybody's guess. Here's hoping, though, that Microids will reveal some additional information on the matter nearer to the time of its Q3 release.

Planning on keeping up with the Inspector Gadget revival? If so, then be sure to check in with Microids and Smart Tale Games' social handles for all the latest updates here. If, for whatever reason, something major breaks out ahead of its Q3 launch, we'll be sure to let you know all the key details right here on gaming.net.

So, what's your take? Will you be picking up a copy of Inspector Gadget: Mad Time Party when it releases? Let us know your thoughts over on our socials here.