See the 5 character code next to each entry below? It's there to make
navigating this FAQ much simpler. Press CTRL+F together, type the 5 character
code next to the entry you are looking for, and press enter twice. You'll be at
the appropriate section. Awesome. This method works in many programs I have
tested it in, such as Notepad and Microsoft Word. I'm sure it's similar in most
programs though.
1. What's New in this Version?.............. SSWNV
2. Legal Info/ Contact details etc. ........ SSLCE
3. Introduction ............................ SSINT
4. Controls ................................ SSCON
5. Game Basics ............................. SSBAS
5.1. Start Menu ......................... SSMEN
5.2. Game Screen and Navigation ......... SSNAV
5.3. Traps and Fights ................... SSTAF
6. General Hints and Strategies ............ SSGHS
7. Level Maps .............................. SSMAP
7.01. Round 1 ........................... SSRD1
7.02. Round 2 ........................... SSRD2
7.03. Round 3 ........................... SSRD3
7.04. Round 4 ........................... SSRD4
7.05. Round 5 ........................... SSRD5
7.06. Round 6 ........................... SSRD6
7.07. Round 7 ........................... SSRD7
7.08. Round 8 ........................... SSRD8
7.09. Round 9 ........................... SSRD9
7.10. Round A ........................... SSRDA
7.11. Round B ........................... SSRDB
7.12. Round C ........................... SSRDC
7.13. Round D ........................... SSRDD
7.14. Round E ........................... SSRDE
7.15. Round F ........................... SSRDF
7.16. Round 0 ........................... SSRD0
8. Frequently Asked Questions .............. SSFAQ
9. Concluding Remarks ...................... SSCRM
10. Version History ......................... SSVEH
=======================================================================
| _ _______ |
| _/_\_ 1. What's New in this Version? |_____ \ |
| | | @| | |
| |_____| (SSWNV) |_| |
| |
=======================================================================
This is the initial (public) release, so everything is new. Obviously, this
section will be more relevant when I have an actual update.
This FAQ is Copyright of Matthew Stephenson (Ringworm), 2005. The following
sites are the only ones that have permission to host ANY of my FAQs:
www.gamefaqs.com
www.neoseeker.com
Want to host this FAQ? Found it on another site not listed above? Let me know:
ringwormrulez[at]gmail[dot]com
I may let you host it. Ask. The only requirement is you post the ENTIRE FAQ,
UNEDITED. No changing any of it, and it has to be all there. Try to keep it
updated as well; the most recent version will always be found at GameFAQs.
MAKE SURE YOU HAVE MY PERMISSION BEFORE HOSTING THIS! If not, you are in breach
of the law. Obviously, you can not make profit from this guide by selling it or
anything similar. Once again this is illegal. You can make a copy for personal
usage though if you're that way inclined. I got no problems with that. It's
your printer ink and paper you are wasting.
Got a question or got some info you feel should be included? Again the best way
to contact me is by emailing:
ringwormrulez[at]gmail[dot]com
I may take a while to respond, just letting you know. Also, make sure what you
want to ask is not covered already. Generally, I respond to anybody that needs
help. If I feel the FAQ makes it perfectly clear, and you just haven't read it
properly though, I may not.
IF YOU DO EMAIL ME: Include the game name, or something that makes it obvious
what it's about. I will NOT read ANY emails with attachments, or ones with no
subject line.
I'd like to take some time to thank the people that have helped with this
guide. Firstly, I'd like to thank First Star and Sega for making the game, and
giving me something to do for the last month or two. The webmasters that host
this FAQ should get a bit of credit too I guess, as you wouldn't be reading
this otherwise. I'd also like to thank you, the reader, for choosing this
guide, and I hope I helped in some way.
All names, characters, and related material are Copyright of First Star
Software and/or Sega, 1984-1986.
This game is based on a comic that appears in MAD magazine (I believe, not 100%
sure on this), about two spies – I think they are called Heckyll and Jeckyll.
One wears black, one wears white. They hate each other and are both trying to
obtain some important items, and make their escape.
Your goal is to obtain the five items spread around the various rooms in each
level, and then make your escape at the airport, located somewhere in the
level. The levels can have anywhere from 6 to 512 rooms to explore, so this job
is not as easy as it may initially seem. Of course, you also have another spy
trying to obtain these items, and they will stop at nothing to win. You will
need to fight your way to victory, as well as setting and avoiding traps if you
hope to complete this game.
Left/right/up/down - makes your spy move in this direction.
Up/down – use these to ascend/descend ladders.
Button 1 – Moves to the menu. Press again to return to the game screen. Whilst
fighting, this button will make you kick your opponent.
Button 2 – Action button. Used to open doors, examine items of furniture,
selecting items in the menu, and placing traps. It is also used for punching
whilst fighting.
This section includes all the information you will need to find your way around
in Spy v Spy.
_________________________________________________
5.1. Start Menu (SSMEN)
_________________________________________________
Upon starting the console, you will see a screen asking you to press a button.
Do so (unless you want to watch a demo game).
This menu has four sub menus. Use up and down to switch between sub menus, and
left and right to choose options. Press either button to begin a game with the
options selected.
The first sub menu is self-explanatory: Number of players. Choose 1 to play
against a computer opponent, and 2 if you have someone to play against.
The second sub menu, Rounds, is basically a level select. You may start the
game on any of the first eight levels. Check the maps in section 7 if you want
to know how large a particular level is. If you are playing 2-player, this is
the ONLY map you will play. If you are playing 1 player, if you win, you will
automatically move to the next level.
The third sub menu is choosing the game difficulty. Setting the computer level
to 1 is recommended for people playing their first 1 player game. On level 1,
the computer opponent will not set traps, and will not avoid them. On level 2,
the opponent will sometimes avoid traps you set, but will not set traps of
their own. Level 3 is the hardest, as the opposition will be trying to trap
you, and will also try to avoid your traps. Fighting difficulty is also harder
on difficulties 2 and especially 3.
The fourth sub menu asks if you want the airport hidden until the end. I
recommend choosing "no" here, because if you find the airport whilst collecting
items, you will know where to find it. Choosing "yes" means the airport will
not show up on screen until one player has all five items in their possession.
_________________________________________________
5.2. Game Screen and Navigation (SSNAV)
_________________________________________________
Both you and your opponent will start in the same room. Either fight your
opponent straight away, or run out of the room, it doesn't really matter. Once
you are in a room by yourself, it's time to look at the screen. You'll notice
the screen is split into two halves, with your spy, player 1 (white spy) at the
top, and the black spy (CPU or player 2) at the bottom. You can use this to see
what the other spy is doing. To the right hand side is a menu, with six
buttons, a timer above, and a box below. Press start (button 1) to move to this
menu. You can set traps with this menu (explained in section 5.3 below), but
the most important choice is the map in the bottom right. Move the arrow to
this and press button 2.
You will now see a floor plan of the level you are on. Any yellow rooms are
rooms you have visited. Red rooms are unvisited rooms. The flashing room is the
room you are currently in. Most importantly, the small black dots show where
items are located. Collecting all five of these, then finding the exit is the
goal of the game. Press button 2 to leave the map screen.
To move between rooms, you need to open doors with button 2. To examine
articles of furniture, looking for items, you also need to press button 2.
Please note that first aid kits, white boxes and umbrella stands are NOT
considered furniture, and no items will be found in these. They are used to
spring traps instead (see the next section).
You can only carry one item at a time. How do you get all 5 you are wondering?
Simple. One of the items is a bag/briefcase (not sure which), and carries the
other four items. This is the one you will most want to find. Note that if you
are in the same room as the other spy, any items that BOTH spies are carrying
will be hidden behind a random piece of furniture in that room. If you defeat
the other spy in a fight here (or if they leave, which can happen in two
player), you can obtain the items they had found. Remember to always pick up
items after fights!
_________________________________________________
5.3. Traps and Fights (SSTAF)
_________________________________________________
Fighting is one of the key elements of the game, and luckily, it is very
simple. Walk up to your opponent, press a combination of button 1 and 2, and
hope to kick and punch them eight times before they hit you eight times. Do
this and they will die, and you'll see a crappy angel animation. Fail to do so,
and you will die. Don't worry, after 15 seconds, you will be respawned in the
room you began in (or the one next to it). For more details on how to win
fights, see the General Hints and Strategies section in section 6 below.
Setting and avoiding traps is really unnecessary (except in computer difficulty
3), but it makes the game much more fun, and can really help you win. There are
five traps you can use, in three general categories. All can be avoided if you
know what to do. Setting traps is simple. Press start (1) to go to the menu,
choose the trap you want to set with (2), and press (2) again in front of where
you want to use it to set it. Time bombs are slightly different, they are
automatically set with the first time you press (2).
The first category is furniture traps. With these, you can place either a bomb,
or a spring in any item of furniture OR in the first aid kits, white boxes and
umbrella stands. If anyone then searches the furniture, they will set off the
trap. Generally, these are useless, but you can use it to your advantage
occasionally.
The second category is door traps. These involve either an electric bucket, or
a gun set in a CLOSED door. If you want to set one in a doorway that is open,
close the door first (Press button 2). These are very handy, and can be used to
slow an opposition spy down if you are only a few rooms ahead.
The third and final category is the time bomb. Choose it with button 2 and it's
set. Some time later (I believe it's 30 seconds), the bomb will explode,
killing anyone in the room. I find these completely useless, and have never
seen one work effectively.
Avoiding traps is another matter. Each of the first four traps can be avoided
by carrying a particular item. If you have one of the 5 key items (such as the
bag), you will need to place this behind a piece of furniture before you can
get the item to disarm the trap. The items needed to disable the traps are as
follows:
Bomb: Bucket of water, found in white boxes on the LEFT hand wall of some
rooms.
Spring: Pliers, found in white boxes on the RIGHT hand wall of some rooms.
Electric Bucket: Umbrella, found in umbrella stands.
Gun: Scissors, found in first aid kits.
Time bombs can not be disabled, but as long as you are not in the room when
they explode, you won't get hurt by them.
When checking the map in 1-player, pause the console. This will allow you more
time to work out where to go, and where you are. Using the maps I've provided,
you can work out which way you need to go to get to the items. If you write
down which rooms the items are located in on the maps provided (print them out
first, don't draw on your computer monitor, it makes it hard to see anything
else, trust me...), you will only need to use the map on each floor one time.
On the easiest difficulty, you can set traps and the opponent will fall for it
every time. I like setting a trap and waiting nearby when the computer has an
item I need. Saves you having to fight them for it. You can just pick it up
from where they died.
Make sure you get at least one item. This way you can get the rest (or some
others) off the computer opponent if you can beat them in a fight. Fighting is
actually quite easy once you get the hang of it. Start towards the middle of
the room (if possible), and decide whether you will kick or punch. Pick one and
stick to it. As the opponent approaches you, hit them whilst walking AWAY from
them. It seems to me, humans can attack from long distance better, if you stay
far enough away that you can JUST hit them with your attacks, you have a better
chance of survival. Hit the opponent 8 times before they hit you 8 times to win
the fight.
Another thing to note with fights, is that you can always try to move away if
you think you will lose. Leave the room and come back, and both of you will be
fully healed. You will need to hit the opponent 8 times again to defeat them,
and vice versa.
With traps, it is best to stick to one sort of furniture trap and one sort of
door trap (in single player). This way, if you need to avoid a trap you have
set, you know which countermeasure you need.
After a fight, remember to pick up any items you were carrying. Examine any
articles of furniture in the room, and one of them will contain your item(s).
The following section contains floor plans of every level in the game. The map
shows where all of the solid walls are, as well as the ladders and trap doors
that allow you to change floors. Ladders are marked with a U symbol, whereas
trapdoors are marked with a D symbol. The X on a map denotes where you will
begin the level.
As this is the initial release, obviously, I haven't been asked any questions
yet. If you need more help, send me an email, and I'll happily respond!
Q: How do you know which of the items on the map is the bag?
A: Unfortunately, there is no way to tell this. As you can only carry one item
at a time, it is sometimes best to let the CPU opponent find the bag for you.
As long as you have one item, they will have to beat you in a fight at least
once to finish the level.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Q: I keep losing fights. You say it's quite easy. How come I keep losing then?
A: Maybe you just suck XD. Seriously, I found it quite difficult at first, and
I still lose fights occasionally now. If you are getting really hurt in a
fight, don't hesitate to leave the room and re-enter. This will give you all
your health back, and you can have another shot at winning. Keeping your
distance helps as well.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Q: Where is the ****ing airport? I can't find it!
A: Its location(s) is random every time you play a level. There are a few
things to remember though. It'll always have either an empty room, or an
outside wall above the room on the map screen. If there is a ladder in the room
(going up), there will not be an airport. The rest is just walking around until
you find one.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Q: There's a man in the doorway of the airport not letting me in. Why?
A: This is because you don't have the five required items. Make sure you are
carrying the briefcase/bag (brown coloured), and that the other four items you
need to collect, shown below the traps on your screen are FLASHING. If they are
shown, but not flashing, it means you HAD this item, but you are not currently
carrying it.
To be honest, although I spent a lot of time writing this guide, I don't really
like the game. Without the maps here, you will probably walk through rooms
aimlessly, and get lost a lot in later levels – I know I did. In the easier
difficulty levels, where the computer doesn't try to trap you, the only thing
you need to worry about is fighting, which is quite easy anyway. I guess the
game is good to kill a bit of time in, and it can be quite entertaining in 2
player mode as well. Unfortunately, you can only play the first eight levels
with two people.
The maps here took a very long time to make, so I hope you find them useful.
They probably aren't necessary for some of the earlier levels, but you may find
them handy. I find they make the game MUCH easier, and levels the playing field
against the computer controlled opponent who can always find you in a hurry.
If you are undecided about trying this game out, I recommend it anyway. It's a
game I'll probably decide to have a go at again every few years. I'd play it
more often if I could play 2-player mode, as this is the best part of the game.
Sending your brother or sister across the room with a big spring, or zapping
your friend with an electric bucket is something you may not be able to do in
real life, but it is entirely possible in this game. Fun too :D.
0.8 (15/2/05): Never released. Guide is complete, except for the last four
level maps.
1.0 (15/2/05): First version viewed by others, previous version was removed
before it was accepted, when I completed the guide later in the day. Complete.
