Spy vs Spy 3: Arctic Antics Longplay (C64) [50 FPS]

Developed and published by Alternative Software in 1989
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Developed and published by First Star Software in 1986
The original Spy vs Spy released for the C64 (and other platforms) is a true classic. For those unfamiliar with the series, the game is based on the characters from the Mad Magazine comic strip where Black Spy and White Spy are locked in a constant battle to thwart each other's attempts to steal intelligence, documents and commit espionage on a grand scale.
The original C64 title, developed my Mike Riedel, was a game that truly captured the essence of the comic strip and was a game where success meant keeping tabs on you opponent at all times. The trapulator concept and ability to booby trap furniture and objects was devious, and I suspect plenty of friendships put to the test whilst playing.
Arctic Antics is the third and final game in the classic 8-bit Spy vs Spy series. Following the pair's escape from the desert island paradise, their next mission focuses on chillier climes in the Arctic. The mission is to locate and launch an intergalactic rocket into space before a terrible blizzard strikes.
Before commencing, the player can select whether to start a 1 or 2 player game, set the size of the game map, show or hide the launch the site, as well as configure the difficulty of the AI if playing solo. Once you're happy with the chosen settings, the mission can begin.
As in the earlier games, the spies must hunt down and gather three components that will enable them to launch the rocket. These include a rocket entry punch card, guidance gyroscope and uranium fuel capsule, all of which are strewn around the level under piles of freezing snow. A special launch briefcase must also be found, enabling the spies to carry all of the items simultaneously, allowing them to enter the rocket and escape.
Once all the objectives have been found, it's time to locate the rocket launch station and escape. The station appears as a metallic hatch in the ground, but it will only appear once all components have been collected, or if you specified that it should be permanently visible from the game's option menu.
Unsurprisingly, it's pretty nippy out there in the frozen wastes, so the spies need to keep a careful eye on their body temperature, unless they want to end up as a human Popsicle. Falling victim to traps, wading through the frozen ocean and plunging into snow drifts all decrease body temperature and the only way to warm up is taking shelter in one of the few igloos dotted around the landscape. The hand-to-hand combat from earlier games has been tweaked so that the spies, rather fittingly, hurl snowballs at each other. Getting hit with one will reduce your spies temperature, but the main difference here is combat ends only when one spy dies, or runs away.
As for booby traps, it's possible to sabotage items by shoving a stick of dynamite under the snow and hoping that your opponent picks it up (with explosive results). Saws can be used to cut holes in the ice, plunging spies into the freezing waters below the ice, whereas ice picks can be used to loosen lethally sharp icicles hanging above doorways - falling victim to any of these puts your opponent one step closer to a chilly grave.
All of this sounds as though it should be great fun, and I suppose it probably is, provided you're playing against a human opponent. I think it's pretty obvious from this video that the CPU controlled player struggles to put up any kind of challenge, especially when it comes to navigating across the patches of thin ice. It routinely plunges through the surface, usually killing itself in the process. On the highest difficulty it will attempt to find an igloo and warm up, but it's no match for playing against a real person.
The game also suffers with slightly laggy controls, which makes activating the trapulator and picking up items somewhat irksome. You'll often find yourself cursing as you bury a lump of dynamite in the snow when what you really wanted to do was look at the map. It's not unplayable, but it's still annoying.
In terms of visual presentation, it still looks pretty good for the time. The background and level art looks good and the spies have gain some new frames of animation for the new traps - it's not going to blow anyone's mind, but it looks perfectly acceptable.
The game features a simple tune that loops continuously whilst playing, and their are some sound effects for good measure. The music isn't as catchy as Nick Scarim's tune from the earlier games, but it's decent enough.
If you're a fan of the series and have someone to play it with then Spy vs Spy 3 will surely provide plenty of back-stabbing fun. For those looking for a decent single player game, I think you really need to look elsewhere.
#retrogaming

[@AL82RetrogamingLongplays]

Spy vs Spy 3: Arctic Antics Longplay (C64) [50 FPS]: The spies return for one final showdown in this snowbound sequel!
Read the video description for my review!

[@FloatingSunfish]

Yeah, while the sequels are different, nothing really beats the original.
The best version of the original Spy vs Spy that I've found is the GBC version, but the most faithful one aside from the Commodore 64 is perhaps the Sega Master System one.

[@FloatingSunfish]

11:38 My favorite part. 😂

[@papa.gamer.13]

❤

[@pawel3287]

Can anybody tell me for what was pick and weight??

[@AL82RetrogamingLongplays]

I think the pick could be used to loosen icicles above the cave entrances. They'd fall on your opponent when they walked under them 😉

[@pawel3287]

@@AL82RetrogamingLongplays Thanks for your answer . And what about the weight ??Do you have any ideas ?

[@ewrewrawdas6305]

@@pawel3287 It was not weight, it was detonator, when you lay bomb in the snow, you can wait until your opponent run through it and then boom, blow him to the skies :) (it's the same detonation as if your opponent would pick up that bomb)

[@OswaldMiyake35]

The 3rd part is not always the Best, there it shows.
Also the Music is Not Supposed to Sound like that. (Its on PAL)