Cobra (video game)

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Cobra
Platform
Mode(s)Single-player

Cobra is a 1986

platform game based on the film of the same name. It was developed and published by Ocean Software, and was released in Europe for Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64 (C64), and ZX Spectrum.[1][2][3] By 1990, it received a budget re-release.[4][5]

Gameplay

Gameplay

Cobra is a

platform game based on the film of the same name.[6] The player controls Cobra, a cop who must rescue a model, Ingrid, from a villain known as the Night Slasher. The player must avoid various enemies throughout the game, including members of Night Slasher's gang, and people with bazookas. Cobra is initially unarmed and only has a headbutt as a defense. Weapons such as knives, pistols, and laser-sighted machine guns can be found inside hamburgers which are laying around in each level. The player can also duck to avoid attacks, and must jump over incoming prams. Gameplay takes place across three levels: a city, a rural area, and a factory. The player ultimately faces off against the Night Slasher in the factory.[7][8][9][10][11]

In the ZX Spectrum version, boxing gloves located at the bottom of the screen indicate the number of lives the player has, while a duck symbol gradually depletes as the player's weapon wears out.[7][8] In the Commodore 64 version, snake heads are used to indicate the number of lives, and a hamburger icon represents the player's amount of energy.[5][9][10]

Reception

Some critics felt that the game was lacking in originality.

Computer Gamer found "few addictive qualities" in the game and stated that it "offers nothing special".[14]

Paul Boughton of Computer and Video Games considered the graphics and sound okay, but concluded "it's the sort of game you've seen many times before. It will sell on the name rather than on the originality".[7] Crash praised the graphics and music,[12] while reviewers for Zzap!64 criticized these aspects, and concluded that it was an "unplayable, unoriginal, unprofessional, unimaginative and unacceptable licensing travesty".[9] Computer Gamer described the graphics as "OK but nothing stunning", writing that the screen "can end up looking very messy".[14]

ZX Computing described Cobra as "a very fast, very well animated game" but stated that it was difficult to master at first because of an abundance of enemies.[11] Chris Cain of Commodore User also considered the game difficult and concluded that it was "pretty boring" overall.[10] Popular Computing Weekly considered the game "Professional enough in execution" and "quite fun for a short while", but stated that "whether it would hold you long enough to get your eight quids' worth is another matter".[1] ZX Computing wrote that the game would appeal to arcade fans "looking for something a little bit different".[11]

In 1987, it won the Newsfield award for "Best Platform Game".[6] Zzap!64 reviewed the game's re-release and wrote that the "unintentionally hilarious film got the game it deserved".[5] Your Sinclair also reviewed the re-release and praised the graphics, while stating that the game may not appeal to most players because of its difficulty.[4]

References

  1. ^ a b "New Releases". Popular Computing Weekly. United Kingdom. 20 November 1986. p. 53.
  2. ^ a b "Cobra". Happy Computer (in German). Germany. February 1987. p. 87.
  3. ^ Hugemark, Staffan (February 1987). "Cobra (C64)". Datormagazin. Sweden. p. 9.
  4. ^ a b "Bargain Basement". Your Sinclair. United Kingdom. January 1990. p. 52.
  5. ^ a b c d "The Budget Bit!". Zzap!64. United Kingdom. February 1990.
  6. ^ a b c Paddon, Lee (22 January 1987). "Knuckle busting good". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
  7. ^ a b c d Boughton, Paul (January 1987). "Cobra (ZX Spectrum)". Computer and Video Games. United Kingdom. pp. 18, 33.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g Smith, Rachael (February 1987). "Cobra". Your Sinclair. United Kingdom. p. 43.
  9. ^ a b c d e "Cobra". Zzap!64. United Kingdom. February 1987. p. 88.
  10. ^ a b c d Cain, Chris (March 1987). "Cobra". Commodore User. United Kingdom. p. 61.
  11. ^ a b c d e "Stallone Cobra". ZX Computing. United Kingdom. March 1987. p. 44.
  12. ^ a b c "Cobra". Crash. United Kingdom. December 1986. pp. 140–141.
  13. ^ a b Douglas, Jim (January 1987). "Cobra". Sinclair User. United Kingdom. pp. 4, 31.
  14. ^ a b c d "Cobra". Computer Gamer. United Kingdom. January 1987. p. 29.

External links

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