於1990年10月8日在Neo Geo街機基板（MVS）與家用主機（AES）上推出的《諜報飛龍》（The Super Spy），是SNK在主機推出元年最具實驗精神的代表作之一。在當時以橫向捲軸動作遊戲為主流的市場環境下，大膽採用「第一人稱主觀視角」來呈現格鬥與探索玩法，可說是早期FPS概念的雛形之一。玩家不再只是操控角色，而是直接「成為角色」，透過雙眼觀看拳頭與武器擊向敵人，這種前所未見的臨場體驗，在16位元時代帶來極大的衝擊與話題性。

在基本資料與整體呈現上，可說Neo Geo硬體性能的展示窗口。充分運用當時極為先進的動態縮放技術，讓敵人隨著距離接近逐漸放大，營造出強烈的空間深度與壓迫感。畫面中以大比例人物半身像為主，敵人的表情、動作與受擊反應都清晰可見，強化戰鬥的真實感。音效設計同樣極具特色，拳頭擊中肉體的沉重聲響與敵人痛苦的哀嚎，搭配帶有濃厚80年代動作電影風格的電子配樂，使整體氛圍宛如置身一部緊張刺激的特務電影之中，形成一種前所未有的感官沉浸。

劇情方面，描繪一場典型卻張力十足的孤膽英雄任務。故事發生在現代都市，一個名為「ZAPP」的恐怖組織佔領一棟高聳的摩天大樓，並挾持大量人質與科學家，企圖發動毀滅性的攻擊。玩家扮演代號「羅伊（Roy）」的頂尖情報員，奉命單獨潛入這座充滿陷阱與敵人的垂直戰場。從大樓底層一路向上推進，逐層清剿敵人、搜尋被囚禁的重要人物，同時面對定時炸彈、生化改造士兵等威脅。最終，將在天台迎戰幕後主使，完成這場與時間競速的極限任務。整體敘事風格深受當時好萊塢動作片影響，節奏緊湊且充滿壓迫感。

在操作與系統設計上，展現出與傳統動作遊戲截然不同的思維。核心玩法圍繞在「距離判斷」與「防禦節奏」之間的心理博弈。主要透過左右拳進行攻擊，並能搭配方向鍵施展不同角度的打擊。由於採用第一人稱視角，敵人的攻擊會直接迎面而來，因此「閃避」與「格擋」成為生存的關鍵。必須精準判斷時機進行左右移動或下蹲閃避，一旦失誤便可能遭到連續重擊，帶來極強的壓迫感。

除了徒手格鬥之外，還提供多樣化的武器系統。可以取得戰術小刀、指虎甚至手槍等裝備，不同武器在攻擊速度、威力與使用時機上各有差異。小刀適合快速近距離壓制，而手槍則能在關鍵時刻提供高輸出火力，但彈藥有限，必須謹慎運用。此外，加入探索元素，需要在樓層間尋找隱藏房間，透過與NPC互動或發現補給品來恢復體力，讓整體體驗不僅止於戰鬥，更帶有冒險與解謎的層次。

市場評價方面，一直以來都呈現出相當鮮明的兩極化反應。一方面，評論界高度肯定其創新性與沉浸感，認為它成功突破2D動作遊戲的框架，創造出近似電影般的臨場體驗，其風格甚至讓人聯想到《終極警探》那類密閉空間中的生存戰鬥。這種近距離肉搏的衝擊力，在當時幾乎無可比擬。

然而另一方面，也因節奏偏慢、戰鬥模式重複性較高以及難度過於嚴苛而受到批評。隨著遊戲進行，敵人數量大幅增加，長時間的第一人稱戰鬥容易造成視覺疲勞，加上補給稀少與判定嚴苛，使其成為典型的「吃幣機器」。即便如此，《諜報飛龍》依然被視為動作遊戲史上的重要里程碑之一。它對第一人稱戰鬥視角的探索，為後來遊戲設計提供寶貴的啟發。直到今日，在Neo Geo玩家與收藏家之間，它仍被認為是一款極具實驗精神與硬派風格的經典之作，象徵著那個年代開發者勇於突破框架的創作能量。

Released on October 8, 1990, for the Neo Geo arcade system (MVS) and home console (AES), The Super Spy is one of SNK’s most ambitious and experimental titles from the platform’s launch year. At a time when side-scrolling action games dominated the market, this game boldly adopted a first-person perspective for both combat and exploration, making it an early prototype of what would later evolve into the FPS genre. Instead of simply controlling a character, players effectively become the protagonist, viewing every punch and weapon strike through his eyes—an innovative design that delivered a striking sense of immersion in the 16-bit era.

In terms of presentation and technical achievement, The Super Spy served as a showcase for Neo Geo’s hardware capabilities. The game made extensive use of advanced sprite scaling technology, allowing enemies to grow smoothly in size as they approached, creating a convincing sense of depth. Characters are displayed as large, detailed upper-body sprites, with visible facial expressions and hit reactions that intensify the realism of combat. The audio design is equally impactful: the heavy thud of punches connecting with flesh, combined with enemies’ pained cries and tense, synth-driven music reminiscent of 1980s action films, immerses players in a claustrophobic, high-stakes environment that feels cinematic and intense.

The story follows a classic but gripping lone-hero mission. Set in a modern metropolis, a terrorist organization known as “ZAPP” has seized control of a massive skyscraper, taking hostages—including scientists—and threatening a catastrophic attack. Players assume the role of Roy, an elite operative codenamed “Super Spy,” tasked with infiltrating the building alone. Progressing floor by floor, Roy must eliminate enemy forces, rescue key individuals, and navigate a labyrinth of corridors filled with traps, bombs, and enhanced soldiers. The narrative culminates in a final confrontation atop the building, delivering a tense, time-critical climax. Drawing heavily from the style of Hollywood action films, the story emphasizes urgency, danger, and isolation.

From a gameplay perspective, The Super Spy stands apart from traditional action titles by emphasizing distance management and defensive timing. Combat is conducted through left and right punches, combined with directional inputs to vary attack angles. Because of the first-person viewpoint, enemy attacks come directly toward the player, making dodging and blocking essential survival skills. Players must carefully read enemy movements and react with precise sidesteps or crouches; failure to do so often results in relentless damage, heightening the sense of pressure.

Beyond hand-to-hand combat, the game features a variety of weapons that add strategic depth. Players can acquire items such as knives, brass knuckles, and firearms, each with distinct properties. Knives offer fast, lethal close-range attacks, while guns provide powerful ranged options but are limited by scarce ammunition, requiring careful resource management. The game also incorporates exploration elements: players can enter hidden rooms, interact with characters, and find medical supplies to recover health. This blend of combat and light exploration gives the experience a layer of adventure beyond straightforward action.

Critically, The Super Spy received highly polarized reactions. On one hand, it was praised for its innovation and immersive qualities, with critics highlighting its ability to push beyond the boundaries of conventional 2D action games. Its intense, close-quarters combat and confined setting evoked the atmosphere of films like Die Hard, delivering a level of immediacy rarely seen at the time.

On the other hand, the game was criticized for its repetitive combat flow, slower pacing, and punishing difficulty. As the game progresses, the increasing number of enemies and prolonged first-person encounters can lead to visual fatigue. Combined with strict hit detection and limited recovery options, it earned a reputation as a notoriously unforgiving “coin eater” in arcades. Despite these shortcomings, The Super Spy remains an important milestone in gaming history. Its exploration of first-person combat helped inspire future innovations in game design, and today it is still regarded by Neo Geo enthusiasts and collectors as a bold, hardcore classic—one that embodies the experimental spirit and creative ambition of early 1990s game development.