Honoring Video Game Spies: Gaming’s 6 Greatest Secret Agents
Video game spies can be silly or serious, bumbling or suave, either gaming the system or being gamed by the system. The fun of playing a spy isn’t just in the gadgets and sneakiness (although those are great, too), but also in the many different ways that these characters fit into their respective worlds, with each one boasting different skills and techniques to get the job done.
Today we honor just a few of the gaming world’s greatest spies by exploring the gadgets, intelligence, acrobatics, and other unique skills they utilize to save the world.
Team Fortress 2‘s Spy Blends in with the Crowd
In Team Fortress 2, everybody has a role to play, and The Spy’s role is one of deceit. Trading heavy weapons and speed for stealth, this king among video game spies is a master of blending in with the enemy, sometimes literally. The spy boasts the ability to disguise himself as other classes and members of the opposing team, allowing him to sneak into enemy bases where other classes might be met with gunfire. Throw in the ability to see the enemy’s health and names, a one-hit kill with the Backstab ability, and the power to destroy Engineer buildings, and you can quickly see why The Spy is a valuable member of any Team Fortress 2 game.
Wolfenstein’s B. J. Blaskowicz Shoots His Way into the Top Video Game Spies
Secret agent B. J. Blaskowicz’ story varies from game to game, but this Wolfenstein hero isn’t famed for being one of the greatest video game spies because of consistency–his wide range of abilities is where he really shines. Though he’s an American spy for the Office of Secret Actions, Blaskowicz spends most of his time fighting Nazis in Europe, including directly taking on Adolf Hitler. Though his characterizations sometimes fall into generic action hero territory, Blaskowicz always gets the job done through any means necessary, whether it’s shooting Nazis in the face or sneaking through levels undetected.
Cate Archer Sneaks Her Way to Success in No One Lives Forever
Cate Archer, star of the No One Lives Forever series, is like the female equivalent of James Bond—suave, capable, and armed with a variety of awesome gadgets, she’s a 1960s-era heroine who’s always in control. As a cat burglar turned secret agent, Archer has a plentiful array of skills on hand to take out H.A.R.M., a terrorist organization behind the murders of several of her fellow UNITY agents. Archer, the first female operative in the organization, rises to the challenge—despite double-crossing, global conspiracies, and biological weaponry, she manages to save the world from a terrifying weapon, even traveling to space to get it done. While Cate Archer might not be a household name among video game spies, she’s beloved by fans of the series for her excellent personality and incredibly fun skills.
Metal Gear Solid‘s Solid Snake Ranks High Among Video Game Spies Thanks to Stealth Moves
Metal Gear is a hugely important series in the stealth genre, and Solid Snake is the spy that started it all. While his roles have changed over the course of the series’ history and the protagonists may vary from game to game, there’s no denying that Solid Snake’s skills and reputation make him an exceptional video game spy. Snake is able to infiltrate highly secure compounds, assassinate important targets, and do it all with his trademark stealth style. His intriguing backstory and emotional evolution make him incredibly interesting as a character, and fans of the series can’t wait to see what Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain might hold for a young version of Solid Snake.
Sam Fisher’s Stealthy Acrobatics Earn Him a Top Video Game Spies Spot
Splinter Cell‘s Sam Fisher epitomizes the secret agent—he’s cool, calm, and collected, and he’s able to survive any encounter through sheer skill. Though he might be no-nonsense while on a mission, Fisher also jokes around with his fellow agents, making him more human than many other video game spies. Fisher’s stealth skills are second to none, allowing him to slip in and out of conflict unnoticed, using light and shadow to hide from enemies. With sharpshooting skills and incredible acrobatic ability, Fisher is ranked high among video game spies for his amazing abilities and very human personality—while he always gets the job done, he has a life outside of spying as well.
James Bond Reigns Supreme Among Video Game Spies as a Multimedia Master
James Bond isn’t just known for his movie and novel appearances—he’s also a presence in the gaming world, utilizing his effortless charm, endless gadgetry, and weapons skill to eradicate the world of evil. While the Bond games frequently lean more towards the action genre than the stealth genre, that doesn’t detract from his spy abilities; players have to avoid triggering alarms or firing their weapons too loudly or too often, or they risk alerting guards. Goldeneye 007 is frequently considered to be one of the greatest games of all time, and its ability to let players step into the shoes of one of the world’s greatest spies makes it a fan favorite.
Being an excellent video game spy is about more than just the ability to sneak around. Charisma, skill, and awesome physical abilities are all hallmarks of truly excellent spies. Anyone can tiptoe quietly, but it takes a master to go from being a mere stealth hero to a real secret agent.
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