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Once again 007 must save the world, only on the C64 his task has been made easier by the absence of three Op Wolf-type sections featured on the Amiga. What's left are four vertically scrolling shoot-'em-ups. Level one sees Bond driving his Lotus while under attack from Stromberg's allies.

Avoid or shoot the baddies and collect Q-tiles. Halfway through the section the Lotus is exchanged for a speedboat. Level two has Bond back at the wheel of the Lotus, new features being a helicopter and Q-van. Inside the van, Q-tiles can be swapped for additional weapons and the vital sub capability. Once the latter is brought the Lotus can dive off a pier for Level 3.

This has the Lotus battling divers and subs on its way to blast Stromberg's base. After this, Bond gets on a wetbike to take on a variety of boats and ships.

What went wrong? Dropping the Op Wolf-type stages may save multi-loading hassle, but certainly doesn't help variety or lastability.

Couldn't Domark even have kept one such scene just to finish the game?

The vertically scrolling levels are as slow-paced as their Amiga counterparts, but lacking that version's graphical detail and variety. The underwater section is probably best, but the wetbike scene is very repetitive, as is the game as a whole - wrapping around once finished.

All in all, a missed opportunity.

C64 Spy turns out to be a disappointment with jerky scrolling, sluggish car movement and a far-too-laid-back game pace. There's a jet bike and underwater scene in there, but there's simply not enough action.

As for the 'tune', oh dear. Quite where all the cars went from level one I'll never know, and what happened to the Operation Wolf style screen?

To make it a single load, Spy has been trimmed dramatically, leaving too few levels with repetition ruling.

Presentation 42%
No multi-load, but otherwise disappointing.

Graphics 63%
Some nice mega-baddies on Level 3, but generally sparse, undetailed and disappointing.

Sound 39%
Limited FX and an optional, but poor 007 theme rendition.

Hookability 45%
Level one is possibly the worst, with its latter half requiring some painfully slow manoeuvring.

Lastability 36%
Later levels are better, but lack of variety means you're unlikely to persist.

Overall 38%
An uninspiring and unambitious conversion. Licence To Kill was much better!