The Super Spy

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1990 video game

title: "The Super Spy" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1990-video-games", "aca-neo-geo-games", "action-role-playing-video-games", "arcade-video-games", "d4-enterprise-games", "first-person-shooters", "first-person-video-games", "hamster-corporation-games", "multiplayer-and-single-player-video-games", "neo-geo-cd-games", "neo-geo-games", "nintendo-switch-games", "playstation-4-games", "playstation-network-games", "snk-beat-'em-ups", "video-games-about-terrorism", "video-games-developed-in-japan", "video-games-scored-by-masahiko-hataya", "virtual-console-games", "windows-games", "xbox-one-games"] description: "1990 video game" topic_path: "technology/operating-systems" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Super_Spy" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary 1990 video game ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox video game"]

Field	Value
title	The Super Spy
image	The Super Spy arcade flyer.jpg
developer	SNK
publisher	SNK
director	Eikichi Kawasaki
producer	Kazuhiro Nishida
designer	Akira Goto
Hideki Fujiwara
Takeshi Kimura
composer	Masahiko Hataya
platforms	Arcade, Neo Geo AES, Neo Geo CD
released	Arcade Neo Geo AES Neo Geo CD
genre	Beat 'em up, first-person, action role-playing
modes	Single-player, multiplayer
arcade system	Neo Geo MVS
::

is an early Neo Geo game released by SNK in 1990. It is a first-person shooter and beat 'em up game with action role-playing elements in which players move through the many floors of an office building shooting terrorists. It is a first-person game where the player character's arms and weapons are visible on screen. In 1991, ADK's Crossed Swords had similar gameplay, but with more role-playing elements and hack & slash combat instead of shooting and fist-fighting.

Plot

The plot revolves around a CIA agent, named Roy Heart, 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 named 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.

Gameplay

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d7/NEOGEO_The_Super_Spy.png" caption="Gameplay screenshot"] ::

Movement in the game is done by mainly strafing and only moving forwards or backwards in corridors. Additional moves include ducking, sidestepping and blocking. The player can only progress after all enemies in sight are cleared. Occasionally, the player can move forward into rooms to save hostages or ambush a boss or other enemies. Saving hostages will grant the player healing items, chances to repair or upgrade his weaponry, or random moments of exposition. Eliminating enemies grants the player experience points used to raise a level, granting more power in attacks.

Much of the close combat system resembles Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!!. The player's attack variety consists of four types. Punching (which can be upgraded with brass knuckles) includes some special moves: strong punches and stunning right hook punches. Kicking includes knee smashes. The combat knife is sturdier but loses power and gets rusty the more it is used. The pistol has limited ammo and no recharges but can be used to pistol-whip to conserve shots. Finally from certain hostages the player can gain a submachine gun which has a wider range than the pistol. Firearms can also be used to blow up various explosive materials in the background against enemies.

Enemies consist mainly of palette-swapped ski-masked men, ninjas and gunmen who get stronger as the player progresses through the levels. There are occasional sub-bosses including engineers, scientists and strongmen. To finish the game, both bosses in the first mission must be eliminated and all six in the second mission.

Reception

In Japan, Game Machine listed The Super Spy on their December 15, 1990 issue as being the fifth most-successful table arcade unit of the month, outperforming titles such as Columns and its sequel. In North America, RePlay reported The Super Spy to be the seventh most-popular arcade game in January 1991.

The game has been received with an overall mixed reception from critics since its initial release.

Notes

References

(October 1993). "Oh! Neo Geo Vol. 14 - ザ•スーパー•スパイ". [[SoftBank Creative]].
(Spring 1996). "Neo•Geo CD: The Arcade In A Box - The Super Spy". [[IDG]].
"The Super Spy".
{{KLOV game. 9953. Super Spy
"Crossed Swords".
"The Super Spy for Neo Geo (1991)".
(November 1990). "VG: ザ・スーパー・スパイ". [[SoftBank Creative]].
''The Super Spy'' user's manual (Neo Geo AES, US)
"The Super Spy Review".
(2019). "ACA NeoGeo: The Super Spy for Nintendo Switch". [[CBS Interactive]].
Frear, Dave. (July 24, 2018). "The Super Spy Review (Switch eShop / Neo Geo)". Nlife Media.
Knight, Kyle. (1998). "The Super Spy (Neo Geo Advanced Entertainment System) - Review". [[All Media Network]].
Rignall, Julian. (November 1990). "Complete Guide to Consoles - The Complete Games Guide - Neo Geo - Super Spy". [[EMAP]].
(January 1992). "Neo Geo For Real! - Previously Played... - Top Player's Golf". [[IDG]].
(March 1995). "Reportaje - Clásicos en CD -- Titulos disponibles para el nuevo formato de SNK: The Super Spy". [[Axel Springer SE]].
(August 1993). "Special - Neo Geo - The Super Spy". [[:de:Computec Media Group.
(July 1992). "Super Soft 大特集 - 今、『NEO・GEO』がおもしろい！: ザ・スーパースパイ". [[:ja:電波新聞社.
Boardman, Julian. (October 1991). "Reviews - The Super Spy (Neo•Geo)". [[Newsfield]].
(15 December 1990). "Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25 - テーブル型TVゲーム機 (Table Videos)". [[:ja:アミューズメント通信社.
(January 1991). "The Player's Choice - Top Games Now in Operation, Based on Earnings-Opinion Poll of Operators: Best Software". RePlay Publishing, Inc..
(December 1990). "Stop Info - La Neo-Geo De S.N.K. -- Super Spy". [[:fr:Média Système Édition.
(February 1991). "Tests - Néo Géo - Super Spy". Computec Media France.

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