Inspector Gadget: Advance Mission is a side-scrolling platform title based upon the classic cartoon, Inspector Gadget. As in the cartoon series, the game's plot revolves around the titular hero's efforts to stop the evil Dr. Claw from taking over the world. In this adventure, Dr. Claw's diabolical scheme sees the construction of special machines on many of the world's greatest monuments. Once constructed these will allow him to control the thoughts and actions of the entire population of earth. The 15 missions all take place on and around familiar world monuments such as the Eiffel Tower, Big Ben, the Statue of Liberty, and the Great Pyramids of Egypt.
Players can choose to play as either Inspector Gadget, Penny, or her dog Brain. The three characters all have different strengths and weaknesses: Brain can jump great distances and disguise himself in order to sneak past enemies; Penny can control robots and swim; Inspector Gadget can make use of a plethora of items such as the Gadgetcopter, an inflatable jacket, a mallet, roller skates, and Gadgetskis. Many of these items are inaccessible at first and must be acquired in each level. Players are able to switch characters mid-level in order to best make use of their intrinsic abilities. A three-player race mode allows friends to compete in leg-races through certain levels, though each participant requires a copy of the game in order to make use of this feature. A password save is used to record you progress.