CounterSpy

 PlayStation Vita
User Score
7.0

Mixed or average reviews- based on 39 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 19 out of 39
  2. Mixed: 14 out of 39
  3. Negative: 6 out of 39

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  1. gamer27997
    Aug 27, 2014
    8
    We are in the cold war and is known as two warring forces which are in a arms race and technological excellence. The Imperialists of the West (US) and the Socialists of the Orient (Soviet).We take over the role of a spy in a group called C.O.U.N.T.E.R., neutral in this war and we are trying to infitrate into the secret installations of both in order to prevent these forces to accomplishWe are in the cold war and is known as two warring forces which are in a arms race and technological excellence. The Imperialists of the West (US) and the Socialists of the Orient (Soviet).We take over the role of a spy in a group called C.O.U.N.T.E.R., neutral in this war and we are trying to infitrate into the secret installations of both in order to prevent these forces to accomplish their purpose that is blowing up the moon. Yes the Moon, so to come out of orbit and kill with the gravity of the whole world. It's a little cheesy the subject that the game deals, even the protagonist is doubting the truth behind this claim of the service, in some moments. But the title lampoons that time.

    The scene is reminiscent of cold war era. The decoration of each side (US or USSR) plant includes the corresponding elements of that era. Propaganda on the walls with jocularity puts us in the mood of the era. Even the frame of the screen that you play has a contoured shape that evokes the old CRT TVs of 60s-70s with the curved outwards. Dynamighty has done very good work in this field (graphic and visual style) and deserve congratulations.

    The purpose of our agent is to delay the inevitable by taking missions in secret bases of opposing sides. The title combines 2D platforming with a coverage system and 3D shooting elements, a Metrovania style (2.5D). The missions of the "Agent" are happening in several places of both superpowers. Each of these forces has a readiness rating system (called DEFCON) from 1 to 5. Whenever they see or perceive your presence they call their allies and begins a countdown. Reducing the timer down they force you to find and kill the soldier who gave the signal in order to “freeze” it. If it falls below 1 then begins a countdown one minute you have to run at the end of the track at a terminal and deactivate the Countdown before it's too late. The closer to 1 the rating, you have to be more careful, while on the opposite side as the system is closer to 5, can you be more relaxed as you have time to correct any mistakes that you do.

    The purpose of your missions? To collect information. During the game by collecting various kinds of information about flight and missile designs on both sides(Launch Plans). Before each mission you can choose in which side you infiltrate. You can save information to obtain and other collectible things. Earn extra information about what governments think about the bombardment of the Moon, which offer little depth in the story. You collect pieces from plans for weapons and after you collect all you can use these weapons to in missions, and money to which you can buy these weapons and perks which you unlock during missions. The perks they give you extra health, armor and bullets.
    In the game the stealth element is very important. The action is the classic 2D platformer but converted to 3d when you aim towards the cover. The imaging area is satisfactory, although some times it needs a more extensive coverage of the space in order to understand what's going on. In the stealth game piece got the ability to clean the guards either approaching them from behind, either with the gun with a silencer.

    When you want to take on more action the game doesn’t leave unallocated. Melee and a variety of automatic weapons and shotguns you can you “sow” panic in your path without particular problems except of course the risk of alarm.

    There are also cons in the game. The gameplay of a point and after becoming boring. You do the same things. Of course it's a nice experience but the resumption in missions can be tire you easily. I will definitely take the first playthrough jolly but does not guarantee, and for second. Also, there is a frequent fps drop (at least on Vita), sometimes in critical situations, as long as and the loading screen that take too long. To mention here that there is in the game scoring and online leaderboards that may help the situation by putting you race your friends and the rest of the world for the best record.

    The title is quite fun with enough action and tactics. It'll keep a short (2,5 hrs for me) but pleasant companionship. A very good effort shows promising but perhaps disappoint from the routine in which puts us with poor variety.

    Precisely: 7,5    … Expand
  2. Teegleberry
    Sep 3, 2014
    9
    What an incredibly charming game this is. The art style and bond-esque soundtrack are spot on while the game play is fluid and enjoyable. It's a game played in a slightly different aspect to anything I've ever played in the way it combines it's "mostly" 2D sidescrolling gameplay with it's 3D levels. The fact levels are randomly generated mean you never play the exact same level again, addWhat an incredibly charming game this is. The art style and bond-esque soundtrack are spot on while the game play is fluid and enjoyable. It's a game played in a slightly different aspect to anything I've ever played in the way it combines it's "mostly" 2D sidescrolling gameplay with it's 3D levels. The fact levels are randomly generated mean you never play the exact same level again, add that to the amount of replay value if you want to unlock all of the weapons and formulas or even get all the trophies and this game has plenty of lastability. Great little game for it's price… Expand
  3. languedoctor
    Aug 21, 2014
    7
    Some of the criticism is deserved. Counterspy is not the sort of addictive, procedural experience that you get with, say, Spelunky. And the gameplay isn't very deep. But what's there is fun, and the art style is phenomenal.

    Presentation: 9.5 Gameplay 6.5 I give it a weighted score of about 7. If it doesn't look interesting, don't bother. But if it does -- there's enough there that    Some of the criticism is deserved. Counterspy is not the sort of addictive, procedural experience that you get with, say, Spelunky. And the gameplay isn't very deep. But what's there is fun, and the art style is phenomenal.

    Presentation: 9.5
    Gameplay 6.5

    I give it a weighted score of about 7. If it doesn't look interesting, don't bother. But if it does -- there's enough there that it's worth giving it a try.    … Expand
  4. angel91a
    Nov 6, 2014
    10
    Counterspy is a mixture of either stealth or full on action. I choose full-on action, why? because the game is more fun, challenging, and more interesting when you shoot enemies with your auto rifle. If you go stealth, the game then gets boring, and you complete the mission without a scratch.

    I don't know why the game is badly rated, a 7/10?! The game is way more than that. Graphics are    Counterspy is a mixture of either stealth or full on action. I choose full-on action, why? because the game is more fun, challenging, and more interesting when you shoot enemies with your auto rifle. If you go stealth, the game then gets boring, and you complete the mission without a scratch.

    I don't know why the game is badly rated, a 7/10?! The game is way more than that. Graphics are decent, the art style in the game is pretty interesting. The story has a good concept, there's no twists or anything, but it's alright.

    The levels are randomly generated, which is pretty cool, you don't have to play the same missions over and over again, otherwise it would've been boring. Some people say the game is easy, some hard. Here
    are some ways to make it harder: No health or ammo kits during missions, no formulas (especially
    the Endurance one, which reduces 40% of damage from bullets and explosions), and go full on action.

    Loading times are the only problem to me though, it takes a while to load a mission up, so if you're impatient, this will be a big deal for you.

    The game is awesome, but it feel like you will play a mission or two from time to time, so this would be more of a quick-play game. Although, the game is amazing and loads of fun, if you have a Vita, I recommend this game for you.    … Expand
  5. matdub
    Sep 6, 2014
    3
    Broken Game

    This is my first review ever but i felt compelled to sign up because this game is so %*@#! worthy. So here it is...This game looks pretty good. It should look better. The graphics don't seem like they should stretch the vita but the jaggies are there nonetheless.The stylised look I love but as usual the bare minimum effort has been put into the Vita version. I do like the    Broken Game

    This is my first review ever but i felt compelled to sign up because this game is so %*@#! worthy. So here it is...This game looks pretty good. It should look better. The graphics don't seem like they should stretch the vita but the jaggies are there nonetheless.The stylised look I love but as usual the bare minimum effort has been put into the Vita version. I do like the stylised look and I could forgive these failings...IF the game-play was on song.......its not.
    I think that in a stealth game all the pertinent information in regards to enemy placement etc should be available to the player. Therefore it would be up to the player to implement their skills in order to win. That is sometimes the case but not always. Sometimes You will find yourself walking through a door with fingers crossed only to find a guard staring at and your stealthiness is all lost. Sometimes you have an indicator showing the direction the guards are facing and other times it just isn't there. Therefore success can be a randomly determined affair. Stealth games that are randomly determined are just run n guns by another name. I wanted to like this game because the game play can be cool and I like the look of the game but
    cheap deaths just make a bad game.    … Expand
  6. gamesarefun
    Oct 5, 2014
    10
    Very fun and original. Game is spilling over with irony and humor in relation to the stupidity of the Cold War. Love it. Wish there were more games with this kind of cheek and sophistication.
  7. Davidscj
    Aug 27, 2015
    7
    Counterspy ia a pretty great way to spend a few hours. It is a witty take on the cold war placing you in the middle on neither side but working for a neutral force, C.O.U.N.T.E.R, aiming to keep the war cold. The setting is very interesting and not used in games enough. The game uses silly humour to effectively mock the situation. This is predominantly implemented through written dialogueCounterspy ia a pretty great way to spend a few hours. It is a witty take on the cold war placing you in the middle on neither side but working for a neutral force, C.O.U.N.T.E.R, aiming to keep the war cold. The setting is very interesting and not used in games enough. The game uses silly humour to effectively mock the situation. This is predominantly implemented through written dialogue between gameplay. The story is minimal but effective. The humour is utilised best in-between playing rather than in the levels which is a shame. The exception is the effective use of fun propaganda and some sparse tannoy announcements.

    CounterSpy is a 2d stealth espionage game with a twist. Once you get in cover it becomes a becomes a third person shooter a la time crisis. The Gameplay in both feels tight and the combination fresh. Thankfully it is not limiting as you can do the same actions in both such as shooting. Great overall simplicity to the gameplay and design that makes it such a pleasure to play. The cover perspective adds greater visual awareness and greater depth to the stages. The game offers a very light metroidvania experience but in smaller procedurally generated levels well suited to a portable platform. Exploration is encourages as there are collectibles such as weapon plans, upgrades and secret plans spread throughout the rooms and sometimes in hidden locations. The player gets the choice of choice of infiltrating either side of Cold War forces for differing rewards and differing deacon levels depending on past experience in levels.

    The Deacon meter is a great mechanic. It raises in accordance with players stealth throughout maps. This Gives consequence to actions. Going below 1 results in a one minute countdown to finish the level. It is hard to keep the bar down as being stealthy is not always easy and there is a lack of ways to lower the meter. This is made more frustrating as it can rise cheaply with only a few mistakes. The game almost gets this system right.

    A stand out of this game is the graphical style. CounterSpy nails the aesthetic through a heavily stylised cartoon style, graphic novel like. It Channels some of the best things of Bond, MGS and Archer. It utilises an effective palate focussing on blue and red, not the most subtle symbolism but pretty nonetheless and very fitting. Great sound design adds to the atmosphere, the jazz focussed sound encapsulates the coolness associated with espionage.

    As for some of the negatives: the load time for stages on the vita are extremely long. Otherwise the performance is good, however I had one experience of unbearably low frame rate. There are some tiresome tropes a swell such as conveniently placed exploding red boxes, a feature we have all seen a bit too much. The AI can be inconsistent: ranging from eagled eyed guards to the inconceivably unaware. Moreover there is not enough non lethal options for takedowns. The upgrades you can buy are annoyingly temporary and become an annoyance when it comes to spending your limited money. My final gripe would be the diversity of the enemies as they are all very predictable, perhaps bosses are missing. Stage bosses could offer the game more diversity, character and an opportunity to add more humour.

    Overall CounterSpy is a great game with some problems that are not too disruptive. It can be completed in a few hours and the combination of its gameplay and presentation make it a worthwhile investment. There is potential here for greatness, a CounterSpy 2 could be amazing.    … Expand

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
70

Mixed or average reviews - based on 4 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 4
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 4
  3. Negative: 0 out of 4
  1. The Vita Lounge
    Sep 30, 2014
    90
    A fantastic action platformer that hits the mark. The game strikes a wonderful balance between action and stealth with its unique cover mechanic. The style and tone of the game pay a wonderful tribute to classic spy movies, and it is a thrill to play.
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  2. Gaming Age
    Sep 5, 2014
    100
    By objective measures, Counterspy may be a little lacking, but in my subjective opinion, there aren't many games I've enjoyed more this year.
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  3. Digitally Downloaded
    Sep 1, 2014
    60
    The shooter sections feel out of place, and they almost feel like they’ve been included to flesh out the already short campaign. Which is a shame, because the action is perfect.
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