Spy Bros. | Nintendo Switch

Toaplan's erotic pixelated action platformer, "Pipi & Bibi's / Whoopee" gets a family friendly remake in the guise of RAWRLAB Games', "Spy Bros." for the Nintendo Switch. This lightly faithful recreation keeps the gameplay gimmicks intact while doing away with the erotic rewards for mastery. Gone are the skin revealing female photos, and the striptease for efforts rendered. Like 'Elevator Action', and it's obvious inspiration this building focused bomb runner that is 'Spy Bros.' has you stunning and evading enemies as either Pipi or Bibi while planting bombs at computer terminals before making a mad dash for the exit before time runs out. 

As Pipi, Bibi, or both in a 2-player local co-op you'll be ascending and descending floors of several differently themed building complexes with unique enemy types, and four stages in each one. Each stage being comprised of a collection of steps, elevators, and other gimmicky ways to go between floors. All populated by enemies that kill you on contact. Leaving the only offensive strategy to be your use of a stun gun. 

The stun gun, if fired and held down long enough, will extend and apply a shock that will send the enemy/s falling down to a floor below, and finally out of sight when on the bottom floor. Alternatively, stunning the enemy/s only momentarily if the stun button is tapped in instead of held down. Downed enemy/s will however renter later through each building's set of background doors should you tarry on too long. Utilizing the stun gun, and an automated entrance slide you can render enemies harmless and out of reach while you try to complete the objectives.

Score, of course, is given accordingly for permanent enemy takedowns, and enemy floor displacements as well as the collection of "H" tokens, and the bomb planting itself. Amassing high scores, which is the game's main focus outside of completion, lands you on the game's leaderboards via 3 initials.

Objectives in "Spy Bros." are simple, but hard to complete in a retro arcade fashion. Planting all four bombs, and reaching the exposed exit before the timer runs out is the endgame goal. This will take you to the next stage or building in line. Stopping once in a while for a mini-game where bonus points are scored without the loss of lives or penalty to continues. Should you be trying to 100% a playthrough collecting the "H" tokens will allow you to fill in an image shown after stage completion. Just not the risque ones from the original. Often times these "revealing" images feature Pipi, Bibi, and the building's themed enemies. 

The Setup ...

Those of you looking to change things up through options and settings will find several different border wallpapers themed after Pipi, Bibi, and the game's title. You'll also have access to a pixel filter as well as a smoother rendering of the character sprites for a more modern look. There's even different levels of scanlines to choose from as well as a sound test. Should you find the need to bypass the game's steep difficulty there is a cheat code which you can type into the initial high score entry, and that is "TOA". It only works after you've reached a high score, and have exhausted all of your lives and continues. A secret nod to the original developer. 

The Verdict ...

Going in not previously knowing of the removal of the erotic features, but later learning of them I was left a little bit disappointed. Nintendo Switch has allowed for nudity from indie games, and there's no reason this had to be. That being said there is still an upside for families who have more wholesome values. They get to experience the game without the nudity, and that's alright by me. 

As far as gameplay is concerned it's definitely true to the source. It's got that hardcore retro arcade feel about it, and will definitely test one's skills. It's kind of expected from this type of arcade action platformer, to be honest. Visually the game also looks the part. It pays homage through faithful pixel perfect recreations, and does Toaplan proud. The fact that the original has never seen a console port makes this all the more worth picking up, and adding to your gaming library. If you fancy a throwback to tough as nails Toaplan arcade games don't miss out on "Spy Bros."!!! It's fun for the whole family!!!