Master Spy
- August 9, 2015
- TURBOGUN
- 8h median play time
This game is good looking, has a good, but small sound track, and is hard as nails. I would recommend it for any master spies, or any people that hate themselves.
Get on Steam"Master Spy" is a precision platformer that puts your reflexes and stealth skills to the test in over 50 levels filled with enemies and obstacles. As the titular Master Spy, you'll uncover a conspiracy and intrigue that goes beyond your initial contract. With cinematic pixel art cutscenes and the chance to discover secret levels and unlock a blind master mode, this game offers a challenging and immersive experience for players.
Mac OS
Nintendo Switch
PC
Steam Deck
Windows
Xbox
Reviews
- The game features a beautiful pixel art style and an engaging soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
- Master Spy offers a unique blend of stealth and precision platforming, providing a challenging yet rewarding gameplay experience.
- The level design is well-crafted, introducing new mechanics and obstacles that keep the gameplay fresh and interesting.
- The game is extremely difficult, often requiring pixel-perfect precision, which can lead to frustration for many players.
- Some players have reported issues with unresponsive controls, making it challenging to execute precise movements.
- The lack of a proper tutorial or guidance can leave players feeling lost, especially when faced with complex level designs and mechanics.
- music158 mentions
- 66 % positive mentions
- 32 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The music in "Master Spy" has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its catchy, energetic soundtrack that complements the gameplay and enhances the overall experience. The retro-inspired chiptune tracks and well-crafted cutscenes contribute significantly to the game's atmosphere, making the soundtrack a standout feature that many players recommend purchasing separately. While some noted that the music can become repetitive over time, the majority agree that it is a major highlight of the game, elevating both the challenge and enjoyment of the platforming experience.
“The presentation and music are fantastic, and easily the highlight of Master Spy.”
“The music is absolutely stunning as well; André Allen Anjos is brilliant.”
“Master Spy is an exquisitely crafted stealth platformer with an awesome soundtrack and captivating cutscenes.”
“The music and graphics are just okay, nothing really interesting in the art style, and the music consists of rip-offs of the Mission Impossible theme.”
“However, after some time the game loses its charm - the music starts to get tedious, and the specific graphic style connected with small levels and big characters sometimes makes it harder to be precise.”
“The music and sound effects are annoying after a couple of levels, and the missions are far too same old same.”
- gameplay107 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Master Spy" is characterized by its simple mechanics—primarily jumping and cloaking—combined with challenging level designs that introduce new elements to keep the experience fresh. While some players appreciate the precision platforming and stealth aspects, others find the difficulty frustrating, leading to mixed feelings about the overall enjoyment. The game successfully blends nostalgic aesthetics with engaging puzzles and a rewarding gameplay loop, appealing particularly to fans of retro-style platformers.
“Master Spy will charm you with its beautiful pixel art along with its great soundtracks, then hook you in with its fun and unique gameplay.”
“The gameplay is challenging but not punishing, and winning can feel rewarding as hell.”
“The game combines vanilla platformer gameplay with a core mechanic of stealth/avoidance, which rewards precision and forethought.”
“To me, those trailers are really misleading since they show such short, quick clips of gameplay that don't convey what playing the game is like on a moment-to-moment basis.”
“The very cool ambiance of the cutscenes doesn't carry over to the gameplay where you spend most of your time watching pixel people walk left and right until you can finally succeed at that jump...on the 200th attempt.”
“The gameplay would have been considered archaic on a ZX Spectrum.”
- graphics93 mentions
- 59 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their nostalgic retro aesthetic, reminiscent of 80s and 90s pixel art, with many reviewers highlighting the beautiful cutscenes and detailed environments that enhance the overall experience. The combination of well-crafted visuals and a fitting soundtrack creates an engaging atmosphere, making it a standout for fans of classic gaming styles. However, some critiques mention that while the graphics are appealing, they could benefit from additional polish in certain areas.
“The graphics, artwork suited the game, OST was spot on and the whole package lends to the badass spy story rather well.”
“The pixel graphics are well-done and expressive.”
“The presentation of this game is absolutely top-notch, with some clean and detailed retro graphics, upbeat and catchy music, varied environments with immense background detail, and a very simple yet engaging plot portrayed through fluidly animated cutscenes.”
“Everything from the character movement, levels, mechanics, enemies, graphics could be better in my opinion.”
“These developers clearly went for an ‘80s aesthetic so that they could be excused for working only within ‘80s limitations; deliberately gimping themselves and preventing the title from doing anything more impressive than the arcades did in the first place.”
“However, after some time the game loses its charm - the music starts to get tedious and the specific graphic style connected with small levels and big characters sometimes makes it harder to be precise.”
- story90 mentions
- 34 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The game's story is a captivating blend of 80s espionage tropes, featuring well-crafted cutscenes and a delightfully cheesy plot that keeps players engaged despite the challenging gameplay. While some players found the narrative enjoyable and well-presented through pixel art and music, others felt the difficulty overshadowed the story experience, leading them to opt for a narrative mode to fully appreciate the unfolding plot. Overall, the story is praised for its retro charm and engaging presentation, making it a notable aspect of the game.
“The story, stages, and atmosphere are all done perfectly.”
“I was pleasantly surprised to see a story, and a well-written one at that.”
“From a storytelling level, this game is also a near masterpiece--the so-contrived-it's-almost-dada dialogue pairs perfectly well with the over-the-top plot, and the vector cutscenes tie the whole affair together beautifully--everything works together perfectly here.”
“The gameplay is acceptable but the story was....terrible.”
“Great story can make a game, boring story can be passable, but when the story just wants you to say '...what' '...why' or '...ok' constantly you just keep asking yourself 'well hopefully it will explain.'”
“Plus the story is silly and the plot twist was really anticlimactic, it was just an excuse for a fifth stage.”
- grinding8 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, as levels become increasingly challenging and unfair, often requiring precision that can detract from the overall enjoyment. Many users report losing motivation due to the repetitive nature of the gameplay and the lengthy time required to progress, with some levels feeling like they have only one viable solution, making the experience feel more like a puzzle than a fast-paced platformer. Overall, the charm of the game diminishes over time, leading to a lack of engagement.
“I went in expecting a skill/reflex based, fast-paced platformer and what I got was a tedious, and honestly annoying puzzle game.”
“This game has a lot of tedious precision and it makes for a very frustrating game at points.”
“They are harder than they need to be, frequently unfair and tedious, and longer than they need to be.”
- replayability6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game offers moderate replayability, allowing players to select stages and adjust difficulty levels, which enhances the experience. While it is relatively short, the inclusion of a grading system, unlockable difficulties, and sub-level selection contributes to its replay value, rated around 7/10 by users. Overall, it provides enough content to justify its price, despite some limitations.
“Luckily, you can choose your stage and change your difficulty on the fly, so there is some replayability.”
“Replayability via grading system, multiple unlockable difficulties, and sub-level select.”
“Not much replayability.”
“It is a rather short game, but it's also pretty cheap and I feel it warrants the price tag, and all the levels are replayable.”
“Replayability via grading system + multiple (unlockable) difficulties + sub-level select.”
- atmosphere6 mentions
- 83 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised, characterized by a perfect blend of retro graphics, an excellent soundtrack, and immersive sound effects that create a mysterious and engaging environment. Reviewers highlight the game's brutal yet fair gameplay, enhanced by its atmospheric elements, making it a standout experience worth supporting.
“The story, stages, and atmosphere are all done perfectly.”
“Super tough, precise platformer with an awesome atmosphere, and great graphics and music.”
“The cutscenes, music, and sound effects work together very well to set a mysterious atmosphere.”
“The game fails to create a compelling atmosphere, leaving players feeling disconnected from the world.”
“Despite the beautiful graphics, the atmosphere feels flat and uninspired, lacking any real sense of immersion.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is mixed; while it offers engaging platforming and stealth mechanics, the story often leaves players confused and questioning its coherence, detracting from the overall emotional experience.
“A great story can make a game, a boring story can be passable, but when the story just leaves you saying '...what', '...why', or '...ok' constantly, you find yourself asking, 'well, hopefully it will explain.'”
“The emotional depth of the characters felt shallow and unconvincing, making it hard to connect with their struggles.”
“I expected to feel something profound, but instead, the emotional moments fell flat and felt forced.”
- humor1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is generally perceived as lacking, with many users noting that while it attempts to be funny, it often falls flat. Overall, the comedic elements may not resonate with all players, leading to a mixed reception.
“Okay, not funny, but you get the idea.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The reviews do not provide specific feedback on the game's optimization, instead focusing on the soundtrack, suggesting that it enhances the overall experience for those who appreciate musical performances.
