Lost Classics: Sly Spy (Arcade)

Data East’s Sly Spy makes no attempt to hide the fact that it’s inspired by James Bond, although it is a fun game regardless. Playing as an agent (whom you are asked to assign a 3-digit number at the beginning of the game), you are tasked to save America from terrorists. While most of the game takes place in a side scrolling view similar to Namco’s Rolling Thunder, some of the game’s levels mix up the formula adding variety. When you start the game, you’re skydiving while shooting at the bad guys, and in another level you ride a motor cycle. The boss battles are pretty easy, and there are James Bond references throughout the game.

Sly Spy is one of those games that while it may not be anything Earth-shattering, it represented every thing that was cool about arcade games. Just like Big Karnak and Flashgal, Sly Spy would have benefited from a NES or Sega Genesis release. This game is available on Data East’s Wii classic arcade compilation disc, so now you have another chance to check out this game.