Spy vs Spy (1984)

Developer: First Star Software, Vatical Entertainment, First Star Software
Publisher: HOT-B, Wicked Software, First Star Software, Beyond Games, Sega Enterprises, Ltd., Tynesoft, Kotobuki Systems
Platforms: BBC Microcomputer System, Game Boy Color, Atari 8-bit, PC-8800 Series, Commodore C64/128/MAX, ZX Spectrum, Sharp X1, Atari ST/STE
Genres: Strategy, Arcade
Rating: 3.3 of 5, 30 player ratings

The 3D catalog: game boxes on wooden shelves, with the cat sitting at the counter next to its greeting.

The catalog in 3D

The same catalog has a room you can walk around in. The cat behind the counter is the AI Catbot, and they pick real games from it when you tell them what you feel like playing. Nothing is for sale, here or in there. Go in from here and this game is already out on the counter, with more like it waiting on the shelf next to it.

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How it feels

Two rival spies race to outsmart each other by setting booby traps and stealing essential embassy items before time runs out.

competitiveslapstickarcade-stylecat-and-mousecomedictrap-setting

About

The black spy and the white spy are out to outsmart each other before the time bell rings. Find the needed objects (money, passport, secret plans and airport door key) by searching rooms in the embassy, which include desks, file cabinets and other furniture. Foil your opponent by setting creative booby traps in the various rooms (a bomb in a dresser drawer, for instance). Traps can be disarmed with objects found in rooms (a water bucket from a firebox on the wall will disarm the bomb in the prior example). When all the items are together in the secret briefcase, head for the airport door.

Screenshots

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More by First Star Software

This page is from Underplayed Gems, a catalog of older and overlooked games. Not quite it? You can browse by platform and genre, or take this one into the 3D catalog and ask the Catbot for something closer.