Sly Spy is Data East's sly combination of games like Bad Dudes, Robocop, and Namco's Rolling Thunder, in order to make a game about James Bond without needing the license or likeness.
Especially Bad Dudes. In fact, most of the character animations, backgrounds (e.g. the front of the White House during the attract mode and ending), and items (e.g. the Coca-Cola can) in this game come from there. Also, there's posters of the Bad Dudes logo in stage 3.
OH, SLY!
Regional Differences#
Region-Specific Screens#
|
Japan |
US |
|---|---|
|
|
The screen shown before the title screen sequence is completely different. The Japanese version displays a standard export copyright notice on boot, while the US version displays the (blatantly obligatory) FBI "Winners Don't Use Drugs" screen common of the era. None of these screens are present in the European version, which instead goes straight to the title screen sequence.
Title Screen#
|
Japan/Europe |
US |
|---|---|
|
|
- The tri-colored stripe has been enlarged by 2 pixels to accommodate the larger title. Plus, two stars were added next to the game's title.
- For obvious reasons, DATA EAST CORPORATION was changed to DATA EAST USA, INC.
Oddly, despite the different name, the woman will always say "Sly Spy" in the Japanese and European versions.
Level Order#
Japan |
International |
|---|---|
Stage 1 |
|
Skydiving |
|
Stage 2 |
|
Harbor |
Motorcycle Chase |
Stage 3 |
|
Sea 1 |
Harbor |
Stage 4 |
|
Georgetown's Warehouse |
Sea 1 |
Stage 5 |
|
Motorcycle Chase |
Georgetown's Warehouse |
Stage 6 |
|
Cave |
|
Stage 7 |
|
Sea 2 |
|
Stage 8 |
|
CWD's Headquarter |
|
For some reason, the stage order was quite changed in the international versions.