Spy Vs. Spy
Reviewed by Chris Halvorson
Spy Vs. Spy is a classic game for the NES. It earlier started out as a comic in 'Mad'
magazine. In Spy Vs. Spy you are either the white or the black spy. You must find all
five items that are hidden in and under dressers, pianos, refrigerators, etc. You may
play either against the computer or against a friend. The unique thing about this game
it that you can lay traps. The choices are listed in the 'chaos and mayhem' section,
later in this review.
Graphics 3 out of 5
This game has funny-looking graphics, but funny-looking does not necessarily mean
good. People's heads are triangular shaped, and it is hard to tell what trap you set
unless you check the object you put it in and hurt or kill yourself checking(Kaboom!).
Overall, graphics aren't that good but still fun to look at.
Music and Sound 3 out of 5
Like the graphics, the Music and Sounds are both fun to hear, but not that good. It's
nice to hear that 'Kaboom!' or 'Sproing!' sound when your opponent finds one of your
traps, but that's about it.
Game Challenge 4 out of 5
This game is not that challenging unless you have a friend against you who is
relatively competent at remembering traps or is just plain lucky. The computers can
be very hard, but the hardest part is when you search on level 10 for the items. Level 10
has three floors! But still, this game is easy when compared to any other NES game.
Game Play-Fun 5 out of 5
Fun is the reason games were made, and if there is a test to see how fun games are
before releasing them, this game passed-most likely with flying colors! Two player
games boggle the mind and make you laugh when your player is springed back two
rooms, landing against the wall with a 'splat' sound. This is one of my all-time
favorite two player games, and for good reasons!
Frustration
The only frustrations are when your player is bombed by the other player, and that
still makes you want to laugh out loud.
Replayability 5 out of 5
This game is as replayable as it is fun. Every time the game is different, even when
you're playing against the computer. Whenever I have a party at my house, and the NES
is involved, All of my friends fight over who plays next and it's usually tournament
style- loser passes controller to next person- and then it's even better.
Game Value 4.5 out of 5
This game is the game to buy. Low price, perfect in every non-graphic -and-sound way.
It's a great game, and if you have the money (and you want to spend it somewhere) and
an NES buy this game.
Chaos & Mayhem 5 out of 5
Spy Vs. Spy's specialty is chaos. There are 4 different traps you can set. 1.Bomb. You
can set this on any object you can check and whoever checks it next gets a big surprise.
2.Spring. Same as bomb. 3. Bucket-o-Acid. Place this on a closed door and whoever opens
it next will be needing skin grafts. 4. My personal favorite- the poison gas bomb.
Place this anywhere in the room, on thin air if you like, and whoever next enters the
room will choke to death in seconds, unless they go out of the room, and then the gas
loses effect. However, there are neutralizers. Umbrellas neutralize acid, tongs
neutralize bombs and springs.
Next in Chaos & Mayhem, fights. If you encounter the other player, all 'key items'
disappear and both players pull out weapons or fists and duke it out until one flees or
'dies'. There are two weapons hidden randomly in the level. These are the white and
black daggers. The black dagger outclasses the white, but the white outclasses fists.
Dying: You die whenever you run into a trap or die in a fight. When 'dead', you can not
move for 30 seconds, and then you recuperate in your starting room, without any items
(except daggers) you had. The items you had are set in an object in the room you died in.
Overall 4.7 out of 5
Spy Vs. Spy is a great game. Chaos, Mayhem, fun Graphics and Sound, who couldn't like
it? If you're looking for a good two player game with traps, or would like to get some
frustrations out of your system, this is the game you're looking for.