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Cover art of Spy vs. Spy

3 / 5

3 votes

Platform
Sega Master System
Genres
Action · Strategy
Developers
Sega
Publishers
Sega
Release date
October 1, 1988

Summary

Spy vs. Spy landed on the Master System with a surprisingly crisp visual style that earned it a 90% rating from *Computer and Video Games* in 1989. The game pits the iconic black and white agents against each other in a grid‑based embassy, where every piece of furniture can hide a trap or a hidden weapon. Traps are limited, so you have to decide whether to plant a bomb in a dresser or save it for a later ambush, and the same devices can backfire on the opponent who triggers them. Hand‑to‑hand fights break out when the spies occupy the same room, and a quick flick of the D‑pad lets you jab, dodge, or unleash a surprise attack. Critics praised the cartoon‑ish animations of exploding drawers and angels floating upward, calling the graphics "excellent" and the overall experience a "rousing action‑strategy contest."

Storyline

Spy vs. Spy, the Sega Master System game based on Mad magazine’s long‑running cartoon strip, pits two rival agents against each other in a slap‑slap‑stick showdown. The action unfolds inside an embassy made up of interconnected rooms, where each spy tries to outwit the other with improbably elaborate traps and weapons. Players race to collect secret items scattered throughout the building while setting up their own devious contraptions. The ultimate aim is to escape to the airport before the opponent catches you or the timer runs out. The frantic back‑and‑forth of trap‑setting and item‑hunting captures the cartoon’s chaotic spirit.

Edited by Maya Carter

Game Screenshots

  • Screenshot 1 of Spy vs. Spy