Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Secret Agent thrusts you into the role of Agent 006 on a classic side-scrolling platform adventure. Your main objective across the first episode’s 15 levels is to track down and destroy each radar dish, locate a bundle of dynamite, and plant it at the exit to breach the path forward. Completing those tasks opens the way to the 16th level, the heavily fortified D.V.S. “main fortress.” This clear mission structure keeps each stage focused and goal-driven, making progress feel both purposeful and rewarding.

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Movement and combat are deceptively simple: Agent 006 can run, jump, shoot with his trusty rifle—and fall victim to spikes, pools of acid, and instant-kill traps. You have three health points per life and unlimited lives, but hazards like laser beams (requiring floppy disks and terminals to disable) or bullet-immune enemies force you to think twice before charging in. Puzzles involving pushable barrels add a layer of environmental strategy, as you must ferry them carefully without dumping them into irretrievable pits.

Collectibles and power-ups enrich the core action. Ammunition keeps you stocked for battles, while briefcases, cash bags, and walkie-talkies pad your score. For an extra challenge, seek out the letters S, P, Y in the correct order on every level to unlock a massive point bonus. Occasional boosts—speedy boots, special goggles that reveal hidden platforms, or “increased shot power” pickups—spur you to explore off the beaten path. Just watch out for trick items, like the question mark that reverses your controls or the half-speed slug that slows you down.

Graphics

Secret Agent’s graphics are a time capsule of early ’90s PC platformers, featuring crisp, colorful pixel art and inviting island backdrops. Each level takes place on a different tropical outpost of the D.V.S., with lush greens, rocky cliffs, and industrial installations giving each stage its own visual identity. Background elements—palm trees swaying, distant waterfalls—help break the monotony of corridors and corridors of stone walls.

Character sprites are small but distinct: Agent 006 has a memorable trench-coat silhouette, while human henchmen and robotic foes are instantly recognizable by shape and color. Animated details, such as the recoil of your rifle or the sparkles when lasers activate, add polish without overstaying their welcome. Even the simplest objects, like barrels or dynamite sticks, are drawn with clear outlines that make them easy to spot in hectic moments.

Levels strike a good balance between functional design and visual flair. Platforms and ledges stand out clearly against the background, and hazard indicators (red laser beams, bubbling acid pools) are impossible to miss. Though there’s some tile repetition, a variety of set pieces—from cargo holds to jungle ruins—prevents the experience from feeling stale. In all, the graphics serve the gameplay superbly, ensuring you always know where to run, jump, or shoot.

Story

The narrative of Secret Agent casts you as the globe’s last line of defense: Agent 006 must recover stolen blueprints for the Red Rock Rover, a doomsday device developed by the shadowy D.V.S. organization. The game’s plot unfolds almost entirely through a brief introductory text, but each island you conquer brings you one step closer to foiling the enemy’s diabolical scheme. It’s a straightforward “good versus evil” setup that needs only a few lines of exposition to provide solid motivation.

Originally distributed as shareware, Secret Agent offers the first episode for free evaluation. Completing those initial levels whets your appetite to purchase the two additional installments, each delivered as its own executable with fresh environments and tougher challenges. This episodic approach feels like reading the first chapter of a spy thriller: it sucks you in, then leaves you eager for the rest of the story.

In-game storytelling is minimal, but well-placed terminal screens and terminal disks hint at a larger world of espionage and sabotage. The lack of lengthy cutscenes keeps the pace brisk, and every stage you clear brings an implicit narrative reward—another piece of the blueprint recovered, another step closer to infiltrating the D.V.S. fortress. It’s lean, but it works, especially if you value uninterrupted action over elaborate plot twists.

Overall Experience

Secret Agent delivers a crisp, unpretentious platforming experience that balances exploration, combat, and light puzzle solving. The difficulty curve is steady: early levels teach you basic movement, while later stages demand precise jumps, careful resource management, and clever use of power-ups. Unlimited lives ease frustration, but frequent instant-kill traps and relentless enemy placements still keep you on your toes. Persistence and pattern memorization pay off handsomely.

The shareware version is a generous taste, but the full thrill emerges only in the registered episodes. Purchasing the complete package extends your adventure across new terrains, introduces more fiendish foes, and increases replay value through hidden collectibles and bonus challenges. For a modest investment, you get hours of action and a genuine sense of progression from rookie spy to elite agent.

Fans of retro platformers and spy-themed games will find Secret Agent a satisfying blend of nostalgia and solid design. While graphically modest by today’s standards, its tight controls, varied level layouts, and clever item mechanics keep it engaging from start to finish. If you appreciate a no-frills challenge wrapped in a classic espionage premise, Agent 006’s mission is one you won’t want to pass up.

Retro Replay Score

7.2/10