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Spies Like Us
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SpyHunter Never Dies (A Brief History of the Game)
During the early 1980s, the best place to find games with superb graphics and sound was at the arcade. Manufacturers tried a wide variety of game styles as they searched for hits, and Bally/Midway hit pay dirt with SpyHunter, which combined driving and shoot-em-up games. The graphics and sound were a step above what most games offered at the time, and the cabinet featured a steering wheel with buttons built into it, as well as gas and brake pedals. The company tried to get the rights to the James Bond theme for the game but settled for Henry Mancini’s “The Theme From Peter Gunn,” which proved to be just as memorable. During development, designer George Gomez snuck his initial and birth date into the car’s name: G-6155. After the game’s release, rumors spread that there was a graveyard level at the end of the game where the driver gets out of the car, but there was no truth to that. You could theoretically play SpyHunter forever; the levels would just continue to loop. In 1987, Bally/Midway released SpyHunter II, which tried to create a 3D effect by showing the action slightly above and behind the car, with the road receding into the horizon (as opposed to the top-down view used in the first game). It also offered cooperative two-player action, but many fans found it lackluster. The entire industry had fallen into a recession by this time as well, which meant that many arcades simply didn’t order the game. A development team at Midway decided to revive the game in the late 1990s, and SpyHunter was released for PlayStation 2 in September, 2001. GameCube, Xbox, and GameBoy Advance versions showed up the following year, and Aspyr published the PC version at the same time as the Mac edition. A sequel is planned for PlayStation 2, GameCube, and Xbox late in 2003, which means Mac gamers could see more SpyHunter action on their computers sometime after that. |
 When a Missile Hits Your Eye… Watch out for NOSTRA agents disguised as gonodoliers as you cruise the flooded streets of Venice.  No Civilian Casualties. Watch out for innocent civilians or your boss at International Espionage Services will take away your license to kill.  No Match For You. Motorcycle-riding NOSTRA agents are easy to take out. |
Most of the bad guys from the original game show up in this one, along with some new foes. Here’s a rundown, as well as a few tips for dealing with these road hogs.
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Attack Heli: These Apache helicopters are fast and fire missiles that do serious damage.
Barrel Dumper: This boat drops explosive barrels behind it; don’t run into them or you’ll take a lot of damage. Try to hit the barrel dumper from behind, as it angles to the left and provides the widest possible target. If you miss, don’t worry; speed past it and continue on your way. It can’t catch you. Bullseye: This humvee equipped with a 7.62mm machine gun should be easy to take out (you can even ram them), so save your missiles for tougher vehicles. Dr. Torpedo: This boat features a twin hull design and torpedo launchers in the front and rear. You shouldn’t have a hard time avoiding their torpedoes, but their armor is tough to penetrate. Enforcer: This car sports bulletproof protection as well as rocket launchers and gatling guns. You’ll need two missiles to destroy each one, but don’t linger behind it too long or you’ll get a faceful from the gatling guns. G-6155 (Stolen): Yours isn’t the only G-6155 in existence: Nostra swiped one and plans to use it against you in a classic doppelganger battle. Your only hope is to inflict enough damage that it has to turn into a motorcycle, at which point its defenses will be weak enough that you can unleash a missile or two and finish it off. Guard Tower: Watch out for rockets coming from the top of these installations. It’s crucial to destroy them or they will take out your allies during missions where you have to play defense. Jump Jet: These fighters fire guided missiles at you, and you’ll have to shoot the same if you hope to destroy them. Even guided missiles have a tough time locking on them, though, so you may be better off trying to get out of their range. Mad Bomber: These modified helicopters are tough; they swoop overhead and drop many lethal bombs. Their aim isn’t very good, but you still have to steer around the explosions, and sometimes they will take out targets that are part of your objectives. If you can, fire guided missiles at them, but sometimes you’re better off hitting the turbo button and getting out of their range. Minedropper: This van drops land mines out the rear doors, so try to destroy it with a missile before it has a chance to use them. |
Mortar Thing: You’ll find this one on land and in water, usually working in pairs while a couple Mad Bombers swoop overhead. It can fire mortars over a long distance, so your best bet is to take it out with a missile as soon as you see it. If you find one behind you, use a smokescreen or your flamethrower to knock it off the road; oil slicks don’t work.
Nostra Agents: You’ll also encounter a variety of Nostra agents on foot, on motorcycles, and even on Venetian gondolas. They’re easy to take out, but they can inflict damage in large numbers. Nostra Tank: These monsters inflict heavy damage, so stay away unless you’re forced to confront one. When that happens, open fire with the rail gun or fire a few missiles at the big guy. Prototype Anti-Interceptor: Nostra stole technology from the good guys and used it to build three cars that have similar capabilities as yours. They will use smokescreens against you, but their armor isn’t very resilient, so knock them out with a missile or two or riddle them with machine gun fire. Road Lord: A bulletproof big rig reminiscent of the monster from Steven Spielberg’s first film, Duel. It will try to ram you off the road, so if it’s giving you too much trouble, nail it with a missile (machine guns won’t work). Otherwise, you can outrun it and save your ammo. Slick: This coupe leaves a trail of oil behind it. Blast it with a missile as soon as you spot it and you won’t have any problems. Smoke Stack: You shouldn’t have any problems with this pick-up truck, despite its ability to unleash smokescreens from the rear. Switch Blade: This 1930s style roadster has high-speed titanium drills that pop out of its sides and drill holes in the Interceptor’s armor. Take it out from behind or use a defensive weapon, such as an oil slick, to remove it from the road if you’re in front of it. You should destroy it as soon as it shows up, though, because it will try to knock you off the road while boring into your car with those drills, and you won’t be able to outrun it easily. Water Blade: The water version of the Switch Blade, this boat also features titanium drills. Most waterways in the game are wider than the roads, which will allow you to avoid this enemy easier. |
System Requirements
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