Tango: The Adventure Game | PC Review

December 14, 2018 Tomas Becks

Carlos Gardel is the King of Tango. The French-born Argentinian singer is considered by many as the best and most important figure in the history of tango. He was born in 1890 in Toulouse, France, and died in a plane crash in 1935 in Medellin, Colombia. Gardel led a fascinating life, and developers Gualicho Games took his life as the inspiration for their new point-and-click adventure game Tango: The Adventure Game, published by IncaGames.

Searching For You

The game starts with Carlos in prison, having to escape. During the game we learn about his past, his (lost?) love Malena and the First Tango Lyrics. We go with Carlos on a journey through his corner of Buenos Aires, trying to stay alive and getting his debts paid off. He has to deal with gangsters, race horses, arrogant performers, grumpy cats, and an angry landlady, amongst other things. Carlos has to use all his wits and charm to get through these ordeals and if he hopes to find his Malena again.

Pacing Around Your Corner

The controls are very straightforward. If an object or person can be interacted with, the mouse changes to a different icon and will automatically pick up useful items. The inventory is on the top of the screen and can be used to drag items into the scene, or combine items to create new ones. Going from location to location happens through a map, but there are only a few locations to visit, which is a bit of a shame. Carlos can talk to everyone he meets, and they often have handy clues to keep you going on your quest. There is the occasional cutscene that can’t be skipped, but you can click through dialogue if you want to.

Adios Muchachos

Gualicho Games made a game infused with tango and Argentinian culture. Their love for the subject is obvious and gives the game an extra dimension. The music is fantastic and adds immensely to the atmosphere of the game. The original game is in Spanish and is translated to English, but unfortunately there are a few grammatical errors and one description in a scene was not translated at all. The game is way too short, however, and feels more like a first chapter of a complete game. This is a bit of a bummer, because Tango: The Adventure Game is pretty charming and funny. It also has some in-jokes for point-and-click enthusiasts. With a great subject and a winsome style, this could and maybe should be more. Hopefully Gualicho will deliver on that promise with future episodes of the adventures of Carlos Gardel and the tango.