Operation Stealth
A point-and-click adventure with arcade sequences and a Bond license.
Operation Stealth, released in the United States as 007 James Bond: The Stealth Affair, is a 1990 adventure game developed by Delphine Software International. It was primarily programmed by Paul Cuisset with sound by Jean Baudlot. The game is notable for its use of the James Bond license in the U.S., though the protagonist takes orders from the CIA rather than MI6.
Quick Facts
- Developer
- Delphine Software
- Publisher
- U.S. Gold (EU); Interplay Productions (NA)
- Programmer
- Paul Cuisset
- Philippe Chastel
- Jésus Martinez
- Artist
- Michèle Bacqué; Emmanuel Lecoz
- Writer
- Paul Cuisset; Philippe Chastel
- Composer
- Jean Baudlot
- Engine
- Cinématique evo1
- Released
- 1990
Facts from the source article.
Gameplay
The gameplay is primarily point-and-click, similar to LucasArts adventure games, and includes action-oriented elements such as an overhead maze section and an underwater escape sequence where the protagonist must avoid running out of oxygen. The cracked Amiga version, if run with 1MB or more RAM, used a primitive synthesized voice for all dialogue; however, clicking the mouse to skip speech caused the game to freeze and require a reboot.
Plot
John Glames (James Bond in the U.S.), a CIA secret agent, is assigned to locate a stolen F-19 type stealth plane in Latin America. He travels to the banana republic of Santa Paragua, where his contact is apparently assassinated and gives him a key to a bank slot. After retrieving an envelope, Glames learns the man was Colonel Karpov of the KGB, who had captured the real contact and manipulated Glames to open the briefcase. Karpov and Ostrovitch take the documents and leave Glames in a cave to die, but he escapes and swims back to town. In a hotel, Glames is mistaken for someone else; a woman attempts to kill him but is stopped by Otto. Glames and the woman are captured and thrown into the sea, but Glames saves them both. Rescued and taken to a jungle military base, Glames learns the woman is Julia Manigua, niece of President Manigua, who was replaced by an impostor by Otto. They infiltrate the presidential palace during a festival as entertainers. Discovered, Julia is arrested; Glames navigates mazes, avoids guards, reaches Otto's office, and reclaims the documents from a safe. Karpov escapes with the envelope; Glames pursues him on a water scooter and evades Otto's henchmen. Rescued by an American submarine, the chief explains the stealth fighter was stolen by the criminal organization Spyder led by Dr. Why, who threatens to attack major cities. The documents reveal the stealth landed in a subterranean base, and Glames dives in scuba gear to find its underwater entrance.
Reception
Computer Gaming World called the game somewhat of a disappointment, criticizing its hidden object interface, clumsy parser, and noting that graphics and music were inferior to Future Wars, with the plot poorly connected to puzzles and arcade sequences. Judith Kilbury-Cobb of .info magazine gave it four and a half stars, praising the interface as elegant and easy to use, and the graphics as sharp and detailed with first-rate sound and animation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What platforms is Operation Stealth available on?
Operation Stealth was released for Amiga, Atari ST and MS-DOS.
What engine does Operation Stealth use?
Operation Stealth runs on Cinématique evo1.
Is Operation Stealth single-player or multiplayer?
Operation Stealth offers single-player play.
More in Interplay Entertainment Games of the 1990s
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