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The French publisher Microids delighted fans of the popular cult manga Cobra when it casually announced that it was working on the series’ first video game adaptation, titled Space Adventure Cobra: The Awakening. That was back in March of 2023, and the publisher went silent shortly after, causing uncertainty and confusion.
However, the publisher recently restated those doubts with the game’s official announcement. Here is a comprehensive preview of everything we know about Space Adventure Cobra: The Awakening.
What is Space Adventure Cobra: The Awakening?
Space Adventure Cobra: The Awakening is an action-adventure sci-fi game adapted from the Japanese cult manga series Cobra. It follows the adventures of Cobra, the iconic space pirate, and his loyal partner, Lady Armaroid. The two heroes are on a crucial mission to unravel and stop a mysterious danger threatening to plunge the universe into destruction and chaos. The game delivers an exciting and dangerous adventure, explosive action, and an intriguing story.
Story
Space Adventure Cobra: The Awakening’s story is based on the first 12 episodes of the cult manga Cobra. As such, the story revolves around the mystery of Captain Nelson’s treasure, arguably the series’ most exciting arc.
Based on the series, the game starts with Cobra awakening from a forcefully induced amnesia. The hero immediately partners with Lady Armaroid, his loyal partner. The two quickly become targets for the Pirate Guild, a ruthless organization of pirates after Captain Nelson’s treasure. They also encounter other enemies with old scores to settle.
The two heroes also encounter Jane Royal, a bounty hunter on the run from Cobra’s arch nemesis Crystal Bowie. Jane tells them about her two missing sisters, one detained in a prison and the other working undercover in a dangerous organization affiliated with the Pirate Guild. She also tells them about their father’s long-lost treasure. Interestingly, each of the sisters has a part of the map to the treasure tattooed on their backs.
The two heroes agree to help Jane find her sisters, embarking on a dangerous space adventure across diverse planets. Interestingly, they discover that the three sisters are the last remaining princesses of a long-extinct race. Moreover, they discover that the mysterious treasure is the universe’s ultimate weapon, which would cause untold destruction in the wrong hands. As such, they must race to find the sisters and recover the treasure before the Pirate Guild finds it.
Gameplay
Space Adventure Cobra: The Awakening features a side-scrolling platformer design with graphics replicating the original series’ retro anime aesthetics. It delivers an overall dynamic gameplay design comprising adventure, action, and storytelling. You play Cobra, who Lady Armaroid accompanies.
Players enjoy an epic adventure as they explore the game’s vast universe, which comprises many exotic planets. You can explore diverse environments as you move across different planets, looking for the Royal sisters and the mysterious treasure. The environments vary from one planet to another, ranging from open cemeteries and ruins to massive enclosed warehouses.
You also encounter familiar faces during your travels, such as the enigmatic Royal sisters and the ruthless Crystal Bowie. Notably, each character has a colorful, unique personality and a crucial part to play in the intriguing story.
Danger is one of the best aspects of your adventure, and you must fight enemies and overcome environmental hazards along the way. The enemies, including humans and robots, come in diverse types, shapes, and sizes. Moreover, they are armed with diverse weapons, including blasters and flamethrowers. However, nothing beats your iconic psycho-gun, which you can use to blast enemies into oblivion. You can also cause considerable damage with your Colt Python 77.
In addition to battling enemies, you will face various environmental challenges and hazardous obstacles that test your agility and quick thinking. For instance, you'll need to leap over wide gaps in the terrain to avoid plummeting to your death and scale towering walls that block your path forward. These obstacles add a layer of complexity, requiring precision and timing as you navigate the treacherous landscape.
The game’s intriguing story unravels as you progress through the levels. The story is engaging and takes unexpected twists and turns.
When starting the story mode, you can choose three difficulty modes to suit your skill level. Moreover, you can play alone in the single-player mode or with a friend in the two-player co-op mode.
Development
Developer Magic Pockets and publisher Microids are the brains behind Space Adventure Cobra: The Awakening. The developers took inspiration for the game from the cult manga Cobra. The developers hope to capture the series’ essence, including Cobra’s iconic humor and bravery.
Publisher Microids said in an official press release, “The game will stay true to the spirit of the 1982 animated series while delivering an immersive and modern experience, specially designed for long-time fans as well as a new generation of players.” Notably, the game will closely mirror the events of the series’ first 12 episodes.
Trailer
Space Adventure Cobra - The Awakening - Reveal Teaser | PS5 & PS4 Games
The official teaser trailer for Space Adventure Cobra: The Awakening showcases a few scenes of the game’s gameplay. It opens with scenes of Cobra’s iconic psycho-gun, and you can almost feel its raw power from the brief suspense.
The following scenes showcase Cobra's weapon-wielding as he runs and shoots through different environments. Diverse enemy types, including humans and robots, are seen, and the enemies’ diverse weapons, including guns, lasers, and flamethrowers, are also showcased in action.
The environments also vary, highlighting the diverse worlds and planets comprising the game’s vast universe. Notably, you can also see various environmental puzzles and obstacles, such as walls, open gaps, and dangerous hazards.
Release Date, Platforms & Editions
Space Adventure Cobra: The Awakening will launch sometime in 2025. Unfortunately, the developers didn’t set a specific release date, leaving players guessing.
The game will launch on all modern platforms, including Xbox, PS4, PS5, and Nintendo Switch. PC users will also access the game via Steam, GoG, or Epic Games Store. Notably, the game is the only edition. However, it will likely receive more editions based on Cobra’s other episodes, considering its cult-like popularity.
