Cobra is a classic manga series from the 1970s and 1980s that spawned a franchise with animated adaptations, spin-offs, and there’s even a live-action film stuck in development hell right now. The series has achieved great success, especially in France, and its influence remains evident to this day. While this franchise was in my blind spot, I love sci-fi, and it’s clear to see how important this is to the genre. That same importance can be seen in its latest adaptation, a new 2D action platformer titled Space Adventure Cobra – The Awakening.
In Space Adventure Cobra – The Awakening, you control Cobra, a space pirate looking for the greatest treasure in the galaxy. The game is an adaptation of the classic anime, telling the story of the first 12 episodes. The passion for the series is on display, and it’s incredibly evident that the developers at Magic Pockets are big fans. Playing the game even made me want to give the series a read and watch. I can see this bringing new fans to the series, but that doesn’t always transfer to the game itself.
A New Adventure for Cobra
Space Adventure Cobra – The Awakening takes place in a vibrant sci-fi world. Five years ago, Cobra got his hands on some information that could help him find the greatest treasure in the galaxy. Not long after that, though, he decided to wipe his memories and alter his appearance to help hide the information and lay low for a while. Now, Cobra has reawakened his memories, and all his old foes are after him. With his trusty partner, Lady Armaroid, they set off to confront these threats and find the treasure they had been eyeing for five years.
I really loved this story. It’s easy to see why this series is considered a classic. The world feels so established, and I only wanted to experience more of it. This carries over to the characters; Cobra is such a fun protagonist, and it’s easy to see his influence on other staples in the genre. He and Lady Armaroid have a great back-and-forth. Friend or foe, Cobra has a great dynamic with every character he encounters, whether it’s only for one scene or the whole game. I love the enemies here, too. They all have fun designs and even better names, my favorite being Crystal Bowie.
I have never read or watched the original series, but it’s easy to see the developers have a love for it, and I very likely will get into the Cobra manga and anime soon. While I do enjoy the story here, it does highlight one issue with the game. This is an adaptation, and it’s easy to distinguish between what was added and what was retained from the original. When the cutscenes are over, the writing falters slightly, and the character interactions also felt weaker. It’s also clear that these stories were paced for a traditional anime structure. All that aside, the passion on display is evident, and it’s enough to look over some of these issues.
In Cobra’s Shoes
In the spirit of Space Adventure Cobra, you will run and shoot through levels as you explore the galaxy looking for treasure. Cobra has several attacks; his Psychogun shoots enemies, his revolver stuns them, and he can also use an explosive cigar. Additionally, he can punch his enemies, and his Psychogun has a chain shot that you can control for a set amount of time to hit multiple enemies. He also has a super move that targets all enemies on screen, but it consumes its own meter. When it comes to traversal, Cobra is a bit limited at the start of the game, but you later unlock some moves that help with exploration.
The basics for a platformer are here, but sadly, that’s about it. While I loved the story and cutscenes, I can’t sing similar praise to the gameplay. The start is strong, giving you Cobra’s full arsenal along with an idea of how the game could go. Right after this, it takes away all your upgrades, and the game never feels as tight as that first level. Even after unlocking everything again, it still doesn’t feel complete, and then suddenly the game is over. The fundamentals for a great platformer are present, at the very least.
Another issue I have with the game is the level design. The levels feel hollow and repetitive. Outside of the backgrounds, there is no real difference between levels. Exploration is fine with each level having a couple of collectables, and I did try to collect them all. Fully exploring the map can lead to some fun challenges, and the reward may be worth it, but getting there can be tedious. Combine this with the basic gameplay, and you have levels that I did have fun with, but ones I won’t come back to.
Cobra Looks and Sounds Great
While I have mixed thoughts on the gameplay, I have nothing but praise for its presentation. Much of my praise earlier stems from the cutscenes, and part of that’s their visual beauty. All the cutscenes capture the retro sci-fi aesthetic perfectly and are a delight to watch. This carries over to the characters as well. They all have great designs full of charm that adapt perfectly to a video game. Their models are a bit stiff, but still have charm, so I don’t mind. Watching this game is a delight, even if I just want to see the cutscenes.
All the music is also great. Every level has a track that fits perfectly in a retro sci-fi setting. The soundtrack is a mix of jazz and city pop that I wanted to own the more I played it. My favorite track is the main theme, which I continue to listen to now. The game also lets you play the soundtrack in your base and rewards you with more tracks for getting collectables. If I were to go back and collect all the collectables, it would be to obtain more of the soundtrack. I can’t praise the music enough, and I wish I could own it physically.
The Credits Roll for Cobra
Space Adventure Cobra – The Awakening is something I wanted to love. I was sold on its visual look alone, and that didn’t disappoint. Despite never having watched or read Cobra, I fell in love with its world and can’t wait to give it a proper try. I’m still listening to the soundtrack and hoping it will be sold. The passion for the series is on full display, even if it doesn’t always work in a video game. While I love the presentation, the actual game is lacking.
The gameplay feels basic, the level design hollow, and it can feel tedious at times. There are a few good moments sprinkled in the levels, but there are too few. Even after all that, I had fun, and the visuals and music kept me going. If you’ve played a platformer, you could easily beat this game, and while I wish it did more, it wasn’t a waste. Space Adventure Cobra – The Awakening is a standard platformer, but the amazing cutscenes and music can elevate it to something I can recommend.
Disclaimer: Microids provided a PC (Steam) code for Space Adventure Cobra – The Awakening for review purposes.
