Looking up images of DOS platformers like Secret Agent and Crystal Caves reminds me of a game that was loaded on some elementary school computers in 1998. I don't recall if they were Mac or DOS, but they certainly weren't the cutting edge G3. I think the game had a character in a trench coat and they were maybe a sleuth of some kind. The color palette was dark but there were yellow-ish lights coming from above in a conical shape.
I know memories are usually warped and wrong, but hopefully this is enough of a description to jog someone's memory. I have been able to rediscover all of the games I played as kid. Most I never revisited, but it feels satisfying to learn what they were. Big ones that bugged me for ages are Tyrian and Descent.
The detective character you're describing sounds a lot like the character from the Super Solvers: Gizmos & Gadgets series. I've linked a video but not sure if it's the exact game you're thinking of
It's definitely it. I think the overhead light I'm remembering is from Mission T.H.I.N.K., but I do remember the Gizmos & Gadgets levels. Thanks for finally quashing this curiosity. I can die in peace now.
The mention of Secret Agent above reminded me heavily of it, but I remember the character being about twice as tall on the screen.
I think it is likely an Apogee game or by someone inspired by their art. I haven't found a solid hit of what's in my memory after looking through their catalog and a quick glance through a wider list. It may just be busted memories and it is Secret Agent. It's unsatisfactory though because every other vague memory has turned out to be more accurate than not.
Looking up images of DOS platformers like Secret Agent and Crystal Caves reminds me of a game that was loaded on some elementary school computers in 1998. I don't recall if they were Mac or DOS, but they certainly weren't the cutting edge G3. I think the game had a character in a trench coat and they were maybe a sleuth of some kind. The color palette was dark but there were yellow-ish lights coming from above in a conical shape.
I know memories are usually warped and wrong, but hopefully this is enough of a description to jog someone's memory. I have been able to rediscover all of the games I played as kid. Most I never revisited, but it feels satisfying to learn what they were. Big ones that bugged me for ages are Tyrian and Descent.