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The Super Spy
ザ・スーパー・スパイ
Boxart
Developer(s) SNK
Publisher(s) SNK
Designer
Engine Engine Missing
status Status Missing
Release date October 8, 1990 (JP)
July 1, 1991 (NA)
1990 (EU)
Genre First-person shooter
Beat 'em up
Action RPG
Mode(s) Single player
Age rating(s) Ratings Missing
Platform(s) Arcade, Neo-Geo
Arcade system Arcade System Missing
Media Media Missing
Input 8-way Joystick, 3 Buttons
Requirements Requirements Missing
Credits | Soundtrack | Codes | Walkthrough

Super Spy ((ザ・スーパー・スパイ)) is an early Neo Geo game released by SNK in 1990. It is a first-person shooter and beat 'em up game with action RPG elements in which players move through the many floors of an office building shooting terrorists.[1] It was an early example of a first-person shooter where the player character's arms and weapons are visible on screen.[2][3] In 1991, SNK's Crossed Swords had similar gameplay, but with more RPG elements and hack & slash combat instead of shooting and fist-fighting.[4]

Story[ | ]

The story revolves around a C.I.A agent, named Roy Heart,[5] who needs to traverse office buildings, and warehouses to stop a group of terrorists, known as the Zolge King terrorist group, led by a man name King (who bears a slight resemblance to Geese Howard in his business suit from the Fatal Fury and The King of Fighters franchises, both also by SNK). The group is responsible for the horrible murders of thousands caused by destroying the subways with bombs. As Mr. Heart, the player hunts through the terrorists' bomb factory for those responsible.[6]

Gameplay[ | ]

The A button is for punches, and can be used to throw right hooks by pushing the stick diagonal-up either way and punch. A punch combination is done by tapping A repeatedly and a strong punch is done by holding down the A button then releasing it.

B button is used for kicks and knee smashes. Players can also pistol-whip enemies, if the B button is pressed while armed with the pistol/machine gun.

Blocking is done by holding A and B correspondingly, right before the enemy attacks. Ducking is done by simply holding down. However if punch or kick is pressed while ducking, then an uppercut or a knee smash will be executed. Players can bob and weave, duck, and block, and sidestep enemies' attacks and deliver stronger blows. Alongside the martial arts expertise, the weapons of choice are a knife (which becomes rusty and dull with use), brass knuckles (which upgrades fists), a pistol, and an occasional machine gun.[7]

Reception[ | ]

The game was well received upon release. In 1991, the British magazine Raze gave the Neo Geo console release an 83% score, despite the game cartridge's high price tag of £128,[1] equivalent to $206.03 at the time [2] (or $347.31 with inflation in 2012). [3] Raze magazine compared the first-person gameplay to Operation Wolf, but found it different in several ways, such as the way in which the character's hands and weapons are displayed on screen, the beat 'em up elements, and the game overall being "much more claustrophobic," with "the action far too close for comfort" [4] (note that this was a year before Wolfenstein 3D was released and popularized similar first-person shooter elements).

References[ | ]

External links[ | ]

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