The Super Spy and Crossed Swords

[Nuclear Neo]

Hi,

I just got The Super Spy off eBay, and am currently waiting for it too arrive, it looks fairly similar in game play comparing it to Crossed Swords, the first person perspective, the dodging, the fighting..

What ones better? i have crossed swords on my multi cart which is a fantastic game, and i look forward to playing The Super Spy which isnt on the multi cart.

Apparently its a good game at first but the novelty wears off, definitely a unique game for the Neo Geo library.

What do you think of the game?

Thanks

 

[MCF 76]

Its a decent game but, after you beat it once or twice its a game you won't play very often. The levels are very repeteive as are the enemies you feel like your just going through the motions to get through it. Imo the punch, and kick are useless the knife is the only way to go or the pistol or machine gun when you have ammo. I think it was a good attempt back in 90' at 3D. I still throw it in every once in a while and beat it.

 

[systmdfect]

Super Spy was fun for the first 5 minutes. The game sucks.

 

[Anselm]

Super Spy was fun for the first 5 minutes. The game sucks.

Yeah I agree. I played both when they were released back in the early 90's. I knew of one other person at my age back then who owned a Neo-Geo. We exchanged games and played together on the weekends. To us, both games felt like a novelty that wasn't quite ready. We sold them back to Game Dude and bought something else. The repetitive nature was the thing I remember most. That and how easy it was to adapt to the simple game play.

I think both games were an attempt by SNK to showcase the scaling ability of the Neo-Geo. Something the Genesis and Nintendo didn't have. They tried to create a genre around it and it just didn't work well. Just like when Sony made Resident Evil because they couldn't do 3D like the Nintendo 64. Another novelty genre that I didn't care for.


~Anselm~

 

[smkdan]

A combo system with some depth and a bit more emphasis on the guns would've been good for starters. It would've done alot to address the games repetitiveness. Dodging/blocking feels pretty awkward with how little warning the enemies give you or atleast it felt like it last time I tried it out.

Not enough content to justify even one play through. The ending sucks too so it doesn't even have that going for it.

 

[astrodan88]

I think both games were an attempt by SNK to showcase the scaling ability of the Neo-Geo. Something the Genesis and Nintendo didn't have. They tried to create a genre around it and it just didn't work well. Just like when Sony made Resident Evil because they couldn't do 3D like the Nintendo 64.

That is one painful attempt at being authoritative.

I think Super Spy is fun in short bursts. Playing it skillfully is so restrictive, I personally never have the patience for it.
Crossed swords is much better, but still too demanding or restrictive in the later levels. Love the art style and the music though.

 

[Anselm]

That is one painful attempt at being authoritative.

Don't really understand you there. The SNK comment is simply my opinion. The Resident Evil comment is just plain truth. Fixed camera angle games came about to compete with the emergence of 3D games on the other platform.


~Anselm~

 

[Mathius]

I remember Crossed Swords from way back when. It was one of my favorites too. Seeing as I don't own a Neo-Geo yet maybe one day I will get to see for myself it has held up well over time.

 

[Nuclear Neo]

Thanks for the responses everyone!

I figured i wasnt going to get a fantastic Neo Geo MVS game, but for 25.00 AU ya cant complain, came with its mini marquee as well.. i'l give it a chance and a play through and for a game thats slightly different to the other games it wont be too bad i guess, something a bit different

I hear alot about people saying that its just easiest to spam the punches and other attacks you can do instead of strategically avoiding and stuff etc

 

[BBH]

I hear alot about people saying that its just easiest to spam the punches and other attacks you can do instead of strategically avoiding and stuff etc

When you have unlimited continues people just stop trying near the end. But enemies near the end also don't go down easily with bullets from the gun (you get 12 bullets every time you continue) so that makes it worse for people since you can't even "cheat" your way through like that, you gotta actually fight them.

The thing is, it actually is possible to play the game without having to continue every 30 seconds. Since a lot of people give up on the game early (and with good reason, it's fuckin repetitive as hell), most don't know that there are little tricks you can do to kill enemies easier without getting hit over and over. There's a little more to it than just dodging and attacking every now and then. I've been meaning to writeup a little bit of a strategy thing for it, but I always put it off because... who the fuck cares about trying to use skill in The Super Spy? It's not like you're actually going to find the game in an arcade nowadays and feel the need to stretch out your quarter. Eh, one of these days I'll get around to it, since god knows this place doesn't get many threads that are actually about Neo gameplay lately.

The Super Spy just has this goofy charm to it, maybe it's partially nostalgia from playing it 20 years ago but I don't think it's one of the worst Neo games. I don't think it's a GOOD game either because it's repetitive as fuck. But it's just this weird... "unique experience". I am such a Super Spy apologist for some reason.

 

[joe8]

I like some of the bosses, like the final boss (who looks like Geese) and the girl you have in your sig.
I gets boring when you're fighting the same enemies over and over again (usually with the same weapon, a rusty knife).

 

[Comrade Porn King Mikhail]

I couldn't stand the repetition in Super Spy but I love the nostalgia of Crossed Swords. That was one of the first games I played on the Neo back in the arcade and it has a great feel to it. The challenge really picks up quickly but there is enough variety in the enemies, backgrounds, and routes to make some lasting appeal.

I've been meaning to writeup a little bit of a strategy thing for it, but I always put it off because... who the fuck cares about trying to use skill in The Super Spy?

Any chance you'll do one on Crossed Swords? I'd love to see your take on that because I'm definitely missing the block/parry strategy once it goes past the red flying knights with their lightning quick dual slashes.

 

[topher]

Crossed swords is the better game hands down. Had the Super Spy for about a year and got rid of it. Couldn't wait to get rid of it actually after about a month or so.

Crossed Swords has been in the collection for close to 5 years and I love that game. Can't imagine getting rid of it.

 

[BBH]

Any chance you'll do one on Crossed Swords? I'd love to see your take on that because I'm definitely missing the block/parry strategy once it goes past the red flying knights with their lightning quick dual slashes.

Nope, Crossed Swords just doesn't click with me.

 

[Nuclear Neo]

When you have unlimited continues people just stop trying near the end. But enemies near the end also don't go down easily with bullets from the gun (you get 12 bullets every time you continue) so that makes it worse for people since you can't even "cheat" your way through like that, you gotta actually fight them.

The thing is, it actually is possible to play the game without having to continue every 30 seconds. Since a lot of people give up on the game early (and with good reason, it's fuckin repetitive as hell), most don't know that there are little tricks you can do to kill enemies easier without getting hit over and over. There's a little more to it than just dodging and attacking every now and then. I've been meaning to writeup a little bit of a strategy thing for it, but I always put it off because... who the fuck cares about trying to use skill in The Super Spy? It's not like you're actually going to find the game in an arcade nowadays and feel the need to stretch out your quarter. Eh, one of these days I'll get around to it, since god knows this place doesn't get many threads that are actually about Neo gameplay lately.

The Super Spy just has this goofy charm to it, maybe it's partially nostalgia from playing it 20 years ago but I don't think it's one of the worst Neo games. I don't think it's a GOOD game either because it's repetitive as fuck. But it's just this weird... "unique experience". I am such a Super Spy apologist for some reason.

Thanks for that info! I guess i will have to play it myself and see what i think hehe, it seems the case with the MVS games and having unlimited credits an option to not worry about game over, where you seem to be as care free of dying unlike 20 years ago with your actual money lol, be interesting to read a guide of the game, and your right, not alot of threads around about Neo Geo Gameplay.

I been playing alot of my games on the multi-cart and you dont seem to give them the time they deserve because so many are on the cart. The super spy was one game not on the multi cart so i figured i'd buy it when i saw it listed for sale.

I have been playing strikers 1945 plus and to be honest im absolutely amazed at how great that game is, in my opinion its fantastic, probably because its just a great feeling dodging all the bullets, the boss battles are epic, and the levels arent long and tedious... the enemy bullets are nice and pink and stand out as well, learning the patterns of bullets that get shot is awesome as well... fantastic game! I dont mind Aero fighters as well which is fairly good as well.. but the bullet frenzy on strikers 1945+ is something i like alot... at first i thought the + meant it was a hack like the KOF+ type games on the multi cart but thats its actual name lol.

 

[Neo Alec]

Crossed Swords 2 is better than either of them. The first one just has too many unavoidable hits as you get further into the game. The second one has smoother animation, better backgrounds and more enemies.

 

[Nuclear Neo]

Crossed Swords 2 is better than either of them. The first one just has too many unavoidable hits as you get further into the game. The second one has smoother animation, better backgrounds and more enemies.

Crossed swords 2 was only released on the Neo Geo CD wasnt it? How are the loading times on it? Sometimes sequels can always be a good thing :P I'll give it a look!

 

[Official Ninja]

Crossed swords 2 was only released on the Neo Geo CD wasnt it? How are the loading times on it? Sometimes sequels can always be a good thing :P I'll give it a look!

I've only played Crossed Swords 2 via emulator on the Xbox and Dreamcast.

I would agree that 2 is a better game than 1, but the original Crossed Swords is a great game too.

Super Spy is fun for a quick beat em up game. In the long run its gets boring with not enough variety.

 

[Neo Alec]

Crossed swords 2 was only released on the Neo Geo CD wasnt it? How are the loading times on it? Sometimes sequels can always be a good thing :P I'll give it a look!

It's not a fighting game, so the load times are nothing to worry about. I hope it gets released on the Virtual Console.

 

[joe8]

Nope, Crossed Swords just doesn't click with me.

Do you honestly think that Super Spy is better than Crossed Swords?

 

[Nuclear Neo]

Well'p.. my copy of the game arrived, and the mini marquee with the guy on the front looks spooky :s lol

Popped the game in and BAM! THE SUPER SPY! :P

I am pretty impressed with the start up how it shows gameplay with the sound, not alot of games do that, they might have an intro and then stop at the title screen but this game, although no intro, is nice to have a demo of the game playing..

I really like the graphics of the game, they're pretty good! and yeah the game is repetitive constantly killing but its not too bad when you have a few different weapons to use, shooting them feels pretty neat, and at first i was wondering you could last for ever on one credit but the game got challenging pretty fast. The scaling is pretty cool as well, like alot of people said it definitely shows some of the stuff the Neo Geo can actually do.

All in all i played it for a bit, i will go play it again and see if i can finish the game, nice to have a different type of game in the cabinet going :P It's definitely not the best game i've played but its not too bad!

 

[Tron]

Crossed swords is the better game hands down. Had the Super Spy for about a year and got rid of it. Couldn't wait to get rid of it actually after about a month or so.

Crossed Swords has been in the collection for close to 5 years and I love that game. Can't imagine getting rid of it.

2nd i would say more but i still think the super spy could have been more.

Crossed Swords is one early neogeo title that i go to back once in a while,for fun and it least it had 2ps.

 

[aria]

The Super Spy was awesome the first time I saw it in an arcade in 1990. There was a novelty that you didn't usually see in the arcade. It was like the rise of the FPS genre on the PC happening at the same time.

By 1993, it was terrible and has remained since.