Penny is a certified computer whiz, and whenever players encounter a computer terminal in the game, selecting Penny starts a 'debugging' mini-game. In it, Penny tries to complete an electronic circuit from one side of the screen to the other by connecting small pieces before a timer runs out. Penny is also the only character who can dive underwater, allowing her to access certain sections of the game. Brain is the smallest and most agile of the trio, allowing him to perform high-flying leaps and crawl into tight spaces. Inspector Gadget 's biggest asset is the constantly shifting, wide variety of gameplay.
Levels differ wildly from one another, including lava worlds and underwater caves.
In any given level, players will switch back and forth between characters and weapons dozens of times in order to defeat enemies and reach every item. Although it can become a little tiresome to have to swap characters for simple tasks like jumping up and grabbing ledges, for the most part it keeps Inspector Gadget fresh and enjoyable. Another minor gripe is the password set-up. The game's major sections are broken up into three smaller sub-sections each, and players only receive passwords at the end of each of the major sections. It adds real incentive to finishing the major sections in one sitting, but is a little inconvenient if you have to stop playing unexpectedly.