Space Adventure Cobra: The Awakening Review – Of Space Pirates and Arm Cannons

by

After nearly four decades since the initial 1982 Space Cobra anime, there hasn’t been a genuine sequel, unless you consider the Sega CD adventure from 1991. However, that changes now as a new Space Cobra project emerges, focusing on side-scrolling action gameplay rather than the intricate interconnected maps we’re used to discussing later. For the moment, let’s delve into how this unexpected release revives the 1982 science fiction anime spirit.

The game adheres closely to the initial 12 episodes of the 1982 animated series, often incorporating scenes directly from it. What I appreciate is that these anime segments aren’t polished or altered to blend with the contemporary visual style of the game; they retain their original graininess and color grading.

Throughout your journey, you’ll encounter a fair number of scenes that resemble those from the show, amounting to approximately 40 minutes from the first 12 episodes. These sequences help create the impression that you’re living through the series yourself, albeit with a slight difference. What I admire is how seamlessly these scenes are integrated into the gameplay. For instance, you might be in the thick of combat when suddenly you stumble upon a gravesite. The screen then shifts to a nostalgic cutscene featuring Cobra reflecting on the gravesite’s significance in his past, after which you’re back to the action-packed gameplay. These transitions are typically timed between or preceding stages, ensuring they never feel jarring or disruptive to your gaming experience.

As a devoted fan, I appreciate the raw authenticity of the anime clips in this series. They haven’t been polished or altered to fit the more contemporary aesthetic of the game’s art style, which gives them a unique charm and makes them stand out in my eyes.

If you prefer modern anime with a serious tone rather than the classic, campy style, you can easily skip the cutscenes in Space Cobra. This series is undeniably campy and truly a product of the 80s. Watching it with the English dub reminded me of the old Legend of Zelda cartoon. The character Cobra’s one-liners aren’t as cringe-worthy as Link’s famous “Well, excuuuse me!”, but they do come close to that over-the-top tone at times. For me, this lighthearted approach is a refreshing change in today’s media landscape, as it doesn’t take itself too seriously and isn’t shy about embracing well-worn tropes. The action fits perfectly within a video game format. You play as a galactic bounty hunter dealing with a brief bout of amnesia and a debt to repay. The storylines may not be groundbreaking, but they provide an enjoyable peek into the past.

You probably didn’t expect that a contemporary remake of an old-time favorite series wouldn’t contain hidden treasures and moments of nostalgia, right? By the third chapter, you gain access to Cobra’s operational base and personal starcraft, called ‘Turtle’. Although you can’t pilot it like in Starfield, you can explore concept art displayed throughout the ship by moving through various rooms. I find this method of showcasing a media gallery quite straightforward and refreshing as opposed to the traditional ‘main menu’ option, which is nice. Before you can enjoy these features, however, you must complete stages, so let’s focus on that next.

“Stages are separate from each other with no interconnected map.”

In Space Adventure Cobra, the level design skillfully blends fast-paced shoot-and-run gameplay with puzzle-platforming elements. Frequently, doors are guarded by challenges that necessitate hitting specific targets distributed strategically within a room. Usually, these targets need to be hit in a particular order, a feat accomplished using Cobra’s Guided Shot, which can be slowed down and aimed precisely. The game incorporates numerous such puzzles that add welcome diversity to the stages.

To clarify, each level in the game is standalone and doesn’t have a connected map between them. In fact, there isn’t even a map provided within the game. However, within these levels, there are branching paths that encourage players to revisit them with future updates or new equipment. I appreciate this approach as it boosts the game’s replay value significantly, making it more engaging and enjoyable for players.

“A variety of puzzles spruce up run and gun gameplay nicely.”

Without clearly marked checkpoints or a clear layout, this design feels incomplete. The distant placement of some checkpoints makes it quite challenging to find your way back to where you died previously, discouraging exploration of upgrades. However, I can appreciate its potential if the campaign were multiplayer. Unfortunately, the game’s cooperative mode is limited to a few standalone episodes, diminishing its replay value. This leads me to focus on the heart of the matter: the gameplay.

Fans of Mega Man will find themselves comfortable with this game, even though the controls aren’t quite as smooth. The Psychogun shares many similarities with Mega Man’s famous Buster Cannon. At its heart, Space Cobra is a fast-paced platformer where you run and gun. Enemies attack relentlessly and quickly, resulting in high kill counts for each level. It would have been convenient to have an auto-fire option for the Psychogun, but unfortunately, you need to repeatedly press the button to shoot. Instead of holding it down for a charged shot. So get ready for some intense button mashing!

Overall, the game’s momentum is swift and smooth, resembling that of Contra series, offering a variable walk when the controls are subtly guided. It allows for quick mid-air direction changes which can be useful in dodging unnoticed ceiling turrets. The control system is acceptable, but not exceptional. However, the game doesn’t quite reach the heights of other action platformers due to its somewhat rigid animations and limited abilities. While it lacks the ultra-precise jumps found in games like Mega Man or Celeste, its movement mechanics are functional, if slightly superior.

“The inability to properly aim and move simultaneously can cause issues.”

When you’re not moving, your primary weapon, Psychogun, can rotate fully around you by 360 degrees. However, when you’re running, you can still direct the gun, but its aiming is tied to your direction of movement. Unless you stop, you can’t aim independently. This often leads to unexpected encounters with enemies. Although I enjoy challenging platformers that restrict players, this game’s fast pace and focus on combat makes this immobilization during aiming feel inconsistent.

As a fan, I can’t help but notice that the game doesn’t just limit controls with Cigar Explosive – it only allows me to toss it vaguely where Cobra is looking. Adding to the challenge, hanging onto ledges constrains me to using only my Psychogun and Guided Shot, which can be risky if enemies have shields that require my pistol or explosives to penetrate. Interestingly, even the traditional pistol doesn’t offer aiming or direction; it simply swings horizontally. Overall, Cobra’s diverse abilities and gear, all of which are upgradable, really deliver on the action-platformer experience. However, I can’t help but feel a little disappointed by the rigid nature of controls for most tools in the game.

Towards the end, let’s delve into a common feature in these types of games: battles with formidable foes, often referred to as boss fights. In the game Space Cobra, you’ll encounter numerous bosses, sometimes even three or more within a single stage. These bosses attack using multiple strategies, which become faster and more intense as your health bar dwindles. I believe this game perfectly encapsulates what an action-platformer boss should be. During these battles, all of your skills and equipment are put to the test, often essential for survival. Players must navigate across platforms while jumping and dodging to avoid damage and target weak points. Some boss designs recur throughout the game, such as the Drone Robot variants, but there’s usually a good mix of variety between them.

Leaders make players leap and dodge between platforms to prevent harm, while also targeting vulnerable areas.

For decades, platform games have been my go-to choice, and Space Adventure Cobra: The Awakening provided a thrilling and entertaining experience. I plan to revisit this game in a few years to collect the hidden items I’m currently skipping over. It’s also great for speed run challenges, if that’s your thing. Space Adventure Cobra is an enjoyable action-platformer with a retro 80s aesthetic, making it a game worth checking out. If you’re a fan of the show, it’s definitely a must-play.

This game was reviewed on the PlayStation 5.

Revised publication: Correction on our previous review, we apologize for the error but the score was incorrectly reported as 7. It should have been an 8 instead. Thank you for your understanding.

Read More

2025-08-28 20:42