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 SteamThrow on your invisibility cloak and put your reflexes to the test in this brutal precision platformer brimming with espionage, intrigue, and betrayal! Featuring an Original Soundtrack by Grammy Award Winner RAC.
Mac OS
Nintendo Switch
PC
Steam Deck
Windows
Xbox
Reviews
- The game features well-crafted pixel art, an engaging story, and impressive cutscenes that enhance the overall experience.
- The soundtrack is exceptional, with many players praising its quality and how it complements the gameplay.
- Master Spy offers a challenging yet fair gameplay experience, appealing to fans of precision platformers and those who enjoy overcoming difficult obstacles.
- 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 jumps and maneuvers accurately.
- The level design can feel repetitive and punishing, with some players feeling that the difficulty spikes too sharply, especially in later levels.
- music113 mentions
- 68 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its catchy, energetic soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. The chiptune and electronic tracks are noted for their ability to complement the gameplay and evoke a nostalgic feel reminiscent of classic titles. While some players found the music occasionally repetitive, the majority agree that it is a standout feature, making the game worth purchasing for the soundtrack alone.
“The music is absolutely stunning as well; André Allen Anjos is brilliant.”
“The soundtrack is amazing and was pretty much the only thing that motivated me to continue playing.”
“The music totally brings the cutscenes and gameplay to life (mission 3's song is amazing. Thank you, RAC!).”
“Maybe put your own music on when you play.”
“The music and graphics are just okay, nothing really interesting in the art style, and the music consists of ripoffs of the Mission Impossible theme.”
“The music and sound effects are annoying after a couple of levels, and the missions are far too same old same.”
- gameplay74 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Master Spy" is characterized by its blend of precision platforming and light stealth mechanics, offering a challenging yet rewarding experience. While the core mechanics are simple—primarily involving jumping and cloaking—the level design introduces fresh elements that keep the gameplay engaging. However, the difficulty can be frustrating for some players, making it more appealing to those who enjoy trial-and-error gameplay and retro aesthetics.
“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.”
“Master Spy captures the essence of old platformers perfectly, while adding a stealth element to the gameplay, resulting in a unique blend of platforming and puzzle solving.”
“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.”
- story68 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The game's story is a captivating blend of 80s espionage tropes, enhanced by well-crafted cutscenes and retro pixel art that evoke a nostalgic feel. While some players found the plot engaging and entertaining, others criticized it for being cliché or overly simplistic, with mixed feelings about how it intertwined with the challenging gameplay. Overall, the narrative is seen as a strong aspect of the game, providing a fun backdrop that keeps players invested despite the difficulty.
“The story, stages, and atmosphere are all done perfectly.”
“It delivers an 80s blockbuster action flick story with retro pixel graphics and a delightfully cliché plot that's oozing with cheese.”
“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.”
“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.”
- graphics59 mentions
- 61 % positive mentions
- 34 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their retro pixel art style, effectively capturing the aesthetic of late '80s and early '90s Japanese animation. Many reviewers highlight the beautiful cutscenes and detailed environments, which complement the game's nostalgic feel and engaging soundtrack. However, some critics note that while the visuals are appealing, they feel constrained by the limitations of the retro style, impacting overall gameplay experience.
“The graphics, artwork suited the game, OST was spot on and the whole package lends to the badass spy story rather well.”
“The art and the soundtrack are the other major draws - the artistic design of the levels themselves and the cutscenes completely capture the late 80's/early 90's Japanese animation and OVA aesthetic they set out to, and are beautiful.”
“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.”
“Mechanically and in graphical style, this game could have been on the NES and would have been a great game back then too, even with the limitations of that platform.”
“Everything from the character movement, levels, mechanics, enemies, and 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.”
- atmosphere5 mentions
- 80 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised, characterized by a perfect blend of engaging story, retro graphics, and an excellent soundtrack that creates a mysterious and immersive experience. Reviewers highlight the effective use of cutscenes and sound effects, contributing to a brutal yet enjoyable gameplay environment. Overall, the atmosphere is seen as a standout feature that enhances the game's appeal.
“The story, stages, and atmosphere are all done perfectly.”
“Brutal but fun and fair precision platformer with great atmosphere and dedicated developers worth supporting.”
“The cutscenes, music, and sound effects work together very well to set a mysterious atmosphere.”
- grinding4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game increasingly tedious as they progress, with levels becoming more challenging and frustrating, shifting the experience from a fast-paced platformer to a more annoying puzzle game. Many users report losing motivation to continue due to the repetitive nature of the gameplay, despite the potential for additional content in harder modes.
“The more you progress, the more tedious, sneaky, or tight the levels become, turning the challenge into a grind.”
“I went in expecting a skill/reflex-based, fast-paced platformer, but what I got was a tedious and honestly annoying puzzle game.”
“Most players will have already quit by then, because it's really difficult to stay motivated to play such a tedious game.”
- replayability3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game offers a mix of replayability; while it is relatively short, all levels can be replayed, providing some value for the price. However, opinions vary, with some users noting limited replayability overall.
“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.”
“A lot of replay value.”
- 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 gameplay, 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 left me indifferent.”
- humor1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % 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.”
“The jokes fell flat and felt forced throughout the game.”
“I expected more clever humor, but it mostly missed the mark.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The reviews do not provide specific insights into the game's optimization, instead focusing on the quality of the soundtrack, suggesting that it enhances the overall experience for those who appreciate musical performances.
