What Is This Character And Where Does It Come From?

005 (pronounced "double-oh-five") is an arcade video game released by Sega in 1981. It stands out as an early pioneer in incorporating stealth elements into gameplay, where participants guide a secret agent through urban environments to complete missions while evading pursuers. Marketed as the inaugural entry in Sega's RasterScan Convert-a-Game lineup, the title allowed operators to swiftly repurpose cabinets for new experiences, reflecting innovative hardware design of the era.

The narrative casts the player as Agent 005, a spy tasked with transporting confidential briefcases across a cityscape to extraction points via helicopter. Enemy operatives relentlessly chase the agent, forcing strategic detours into nearby structures to shake them off. After successful deliveries, the scenario escalates to an aerial confrontation with hostile aircraft.

This title unfolds across four distinct phases, blending evasion, puzzle-solving, and action sequences. The agent parachutes into a top-down city view, briefcase in hand, aiming for a helicopter while dodging guards. Direct paths are hazardous, so entering marked buildings—either ice arenas or storage facilities—provides temporary refuge and tactical advantages.

In storage areas, players navigate crate mazes in darkness, avoiding flashlight beams that alert foes. Detection triggers pursuits, requiring clever positioning to stun adversaries with a gas device. Ice venues introduce slippery surfaces where the agent glides uncontrollably until reaching edges, allowing lures to immobilize enemies on the rink.

Gas canisters scattered outside extend the stun tool's reach. Completing two transfers shifts to a side-scrolling aerial mode, where the agent pilots the chopper, firing at an enemy vessel amid obstacles like foliage and explosives.

Controls involve a four-directional joystick for movement and a button for deploying the stun or shots. The game supports single or alternating two-player modes, with scoring based on mission progress and enemy neutralizations.

Conceived during the early 1980s arcade boom, 005 was engineered for Sega's G80 hardware platform. It drew inspiration from espionage themes popularized by films like those featuring James Bond, adapting the agent's codename to sidestep potential legal issues. The Convert-a-Game system emphasized modular design, enabling quick swaps to extend cabinet longevity and reduce costs for arcade owners.

Launched in Japan in October 1981, the game reached North American shores in December via a licensing deal with Gremlin Industries. Cabinets featured vertical monitors, generic wood finishes with optional decals, and promotional artwork evoking spy intrigue.

Recognized retrospectively for its forward-thinking mechanics, 005 is often cited as a precursor to modern stealth genres, predating titles like Metal Gear. Contemporary views highlight its experimental nature, though some note frustrations in controls and brevity. It holds a place in gaming history for introducing hub worlds and mixed gameplay styles.

• The game's structure influenced later designs, with its urban hub possibly being among the earliest in graphical adventures.
• Despite Guinness records' claims, earlier works like Castle Wolfenstein share credit for stealth origins.
• A world record score of 1,500,000 points was achieved by Dwayne Richard.
• The title's pronunciation and theme parody espionage tropes without direct affiliation.

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