SPY
HUNTER
US
Gold/Sega, £9.95 cass, £12.95 disk, 2 joysticks
or keys
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O Superb arcade feel as
you smash cars off the road
O
Smoke screens, oil slicks, missiles, vicious enemies
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Budding
James Bonds can now live out their fantasies in this
exciting new American release. The bits with women are
out, I’m afraid. But the thrill of being chased across
land and water by evil baddies in their sleek, deadly
craft, while blasting and bumping anyone and anything
that gets between you and a high score, is most definitely
in.
All
this action takes place on a vertically-scrolling plan
view of the landscape. A weapons van pulls up on the
side of the road, allowing your spy car to roll out
onto the road, armed at first only with machine guns
. . . and you’re off!
A
counter reading 999 ticks away at the bottom of the
screen, and during this time you have an unlimited supply
of cars. Once the timer runs out though, you only have
one extra life. Others have to be earned. Extra cars
are awarded, every 10,000 or 20,000 points, depending
on which level you select before play (novice or expert).
Points can be earned by either shooting, or bumping,
enemy agents off the road or just by staying alive.
Some enemies can only be bounced off the road to earn
points, others both shot and bumped (See panel). As
well as enemy vehicles, there are a few of your own
side that shouldn’t be shot or bashed -- it temporarily
halts your amassing of points and besides, it’s bad
form.
As
you race along the continually changing terrain, you
will meet forks in the road, cross bridges, and hit
a stretch of icy road, making your car harder to control.
All this must be dealt with whilst the enemy tries its
best to dispose of you.
Fortunately,
you have luck (well, more like other agents) on you
side, in the form of other, more sophisticated weapons.
Along the way you pass weapons vans on the side of the
road, marked on top with a symbol representing the type
of weapon they carry. Once you’re past, they give chase,
dropping ramps for your spy car to drive up.
If
you can make it inside, the van you will pull over,
stopping to equip you with an extra weapon. This is
where the second joystick comes in, as it is used to
fire your additional hardware (see dossier).
At
some point in the course, you will come to a waterway,
preceded by a ‘bridge out’ warning. If you are foolish
enough to ignore this, you will find yourself in deep
water -- literally.
However
on entering the boathouse at the water’s edge, your
car is instantly transformed into a high powered amphibious
vehicle. Your problems don’t ease up though, as the
river also contains enemy boats. It’s possible to return
to the road by way of another boat house.
Here
you've just been deposited by the
weapons van (right)
Control of the car is via joystick or keyboard, the
former being the preferable as the keys are awkward
and misplaced, unless you have three hands.
The
sound effects are good and very appropriate, as is the
music played during the game. Graphically the game is
by no means outstanding, but the graphics are an effective
reproduction of those in the arcade version.
GP
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THE
ENEMY: On Land.
The Road Lord. Makes
a more frequent appearance later in the game. Doesn't
represent any real threat. Is bulletproof, and therefore
can only be rammed off the road to score. Value . .
. 150 points
Switch Blade. Highly
dangerous adversary. Has extendable buzz-saw hubcaps
to slash cars - especially yours. Beware of being sandwiched
by two or more 'Blades'. Value . . . 150 points
The Enforcer. Makes
very brief appearances - but when he does, it proves
nasty. Fires a shotgun and misses rarely. Value . .
. 500 points
The Copter (Mad Bomber). Drops
bombs onto spy car. Extremely aggressive and can ONLY
be killed with the missiles supplied by the weapons
van. Value . . . 700 points
THE
ENEMY: On Water.
Barrel Dumper. Drops
barrels in water ahead of spy boat. Shoot or ram to
kill, and watch out for the barrels. Value . . . 150
points
Doctor Torpedo. This
vicious character delights in firing torpedoes at you.
Attempt to avoid the oncoming torpedoes, and the doctor
himself. Get behind him, and give 'im a taste of his
own medicine. Value . . . 500 points
YOUR WEAPONS
Machine gun. You
are armed with this from the start - but it is effective
only against cars or boats ahead of you.
Oil stick. Makes
an enemy behind you skid off the road.
Smoke screen. Blinds
an enemy to the rear, forcing it off the road.
Missiles. Essential
for destroying the helicopters.
DO
NOT shoot or ram motorbikes, small blue cars or the
weapons van as these are on your side!
Good
luck on your mission.
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