Spy vs Spy
Game by Kemco
Review by Primeval
primeval@prodigy.net
Released: 1999
Save: Passwords (Argh! Why?!)
Size: 8 Megabits
Works with: Color Only!
 
Opening Snide Remarks: Remember the year 1994? If you don't, let me fill you
in. Nintendo released Donkey Kong for GameBoy. Not only did it feature the
original four levels, it featured a whole buncha new ones. That's what
Kemco's done with their port of the NES classic, Spy vs Spy. Let's take a
look at how it does on the small screen...
 
Gameplay Description: Gameplay is identical to the original version on NES.
You pick a spy (black or white) and get thrown into one of 32 levels (32
compared to the original 8? Hell yeah!) and turn the place inside out
looking for four items. You can only carry one item at a time, so you'll
need to find the briefcase. Get all four items, find the exit, and you're
home free. Sound simple? You wish. The other spy is on the same mission as
you, and there'll be a lot of trap-setting and hand-to-hand combat going on
if these two cross paths. The rooms all look the same, but the layout of
each of the levels is different, and include multi-level stages. The
gameplay is an extremely fast-paced frenzy, even on easy. In the NES
version, there was a small delay between rooms, and luckily that problem is
gone.

Liked: Gameplay is lightning fast, nice level variety.
Hated: It's terribly frustrating when playing for the first time.
 
Graphics Description: This game could have benefitted from a larger color
pallette. Each room has a different color, but they're all basically the
same. The game is shown in a split-screen format (even in one-player), and I
find it slightly amazing that this doesn't slow down the game at all.
Considering the tiny size of everything, you can see it very clearly. No
blurry crap here. The graphics get the job done, but the samey-looking rooms
stop them from being great.
 
Liked: That spy is so tiny, but I can see him so clearly!
Hated: Wasn't I just in this room? They all look the same!
 
Sound/Music Description: I really don't know how to describe this part. The
sound effects are above-average, and they get the job done. They're nothing
worth running down the street naked for, but then again, they don't tempt you
to turn down the volume. Good job.

Liked: Very rarely do I play my GameBoy with the sound on
Hated: Nothing, really.

Play Control/Game Design: The controls are very good. They're very
responsive; there's no lag time between when you press the button and when
you see it happen on-screen. My only control complaint is that to go through
a door, you have to be pretty spot-on, or you won't go through. As for Game
Design, There are a lotta levels (32) and their layout is original and
entertaining. Sometimes having to backtrack through a lot of doors can piss
you off, it helps the frenzied gameplay.

Liked: This level is freakin' huge!
Hated: Go through the door ya little $%^?$%!
 
Improve: Make it easier to go through doors, make the rooms have more
variety.
 
RIYL: This game is one-of-a-kind.
 
Final Words: If you haven't bought this game already, do it. I found it for
$20 at EB, and I'd be happy with it even if I paid $30. The 32 levels will
keep you busy, and the frenzied gameplay will definately cure your boredome.
It's even more fun with two players, so go get link cable!

Score
Gameplay: 5
Graphics: 4
Sound/Music: 4
Play Control/Game Design: 4.5
Personal Opinion: 4.5
TOTAL: 22 out of 25
 
Final Score: 97%