Sid Meier's Covert Action

Sid Meier's Covert Action is a 1990 DOS espionage game that throws players into the glamorous world of international spying, where gathering information is only slightly less dangerous than trying to remember which password you used five minutes ago. Players investigate terrorist plots, follow suspects, decode messages, conduct surveillance, and occasionally take part in more direct action. Rather than focusing on a single style of gameplay, the game combines several different activities to create the feeling of being an intelligence operative. Some missions require careful observation, while others demand quick reactions. The result is a surprisingly varied experience that feels closer to an interactive spy thriller than a conventional action game. Its procedural structure also gives each case a degree of unpredictability. Covert Action is an inventive piece of strategy and espionage design, especially for its time, and a good reminder that saving the world involves considerably more paperwork than James Bond suggests.