is a
horizontally scrolling shooter developed by
Universal Entertainment Corporation
formerly known as and Universal, is a Japanese manufacturer of pachinko, slot machines, arcade games and other gaming products, and a publisher of video games. Aruze possesses licenses to both manufacture and distribute casino machines in the ...
and released in arcades by Universal in July 1981.
It is one of the first shooters with forced
X-axis
A Cartesian coordinate system (, ) in a plane is a coordinate system that specifies each point uniquely by a pair of numerical coordinates, which are the signed distances to the point from two fixed perpendicular oriented lines, measured in ...
scrolling
In computer displays, filmmaking, television production, and other kinetic displays, scrolling is sliding text, images or video across a monitor or display, vertically or horizontally. "Scrolling," as such, does not change the layout of the text ...
along with
Konami
, is a Japanese multinational video game and entertainment company headquartered in Chūō, Tokyo, it also produces and distributes trading cards, anime, tokusatsu, pachinko machines, slot machines, and arcade cabinets. Konami has casino ...
's ''
Scramble
Scramble, Scrambled, or Scrambling may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Games
* ''Scramble'' (video game), a 1981 arcade game
Music Albums
* ''Scramble'' (album), an album by Atlanta-based band the Coathangers
* ''Scrambles'' (album)
...
'' released earlier in the year. The final installment in Universal's ''Cosmic'' series,
players take control of the Avenger space fighter and use bullets and bombs against enemy forces.
The game was ported to
ColecoVision
ColecoVision is a second-generation home video-game console developed by Coleco and launched in North America in August 1982. It was released a year later in Europe by CBS Electronics as the CBS ColecoVision.
The console offered a closer exp ...
as one of its August 1982
launch title
This list includes terms used in video games and the video game industry, as well as slang used by players.
0–9
A
...
s in North America. The ColecoVision version proved more successful than the arcade original, garnering mostly positive reception from critics who praised the action, visuals, and sound effects. Ports to the
Atari 2600
The Atari 2600, initially branded as the Atari Video Computer System (Atari VCS) from its release until November 1982, is a home video game console developed and produced by Atari, Inc. Released in September 1977, it popularized microprocesso ...
and
Intellivision were in development and advertised but neither were officially released.
Gameplay
''Cosmic Avenger'' is a horizontally scrolling shoot 'em up game reminiscent of ''Scramble'', ''
Super Cobra'', and ''
Vanguard
The vanguard (also called the advance guard) is the leading part of an advancing military formation. It has a number of functions, including seeking out the enemy and securing ground in advance of the main force.
History
The vanguard derives fr ...
'', where players take control of the Avenger space fighter craft, guiding it across a scrolling terrain and dodging obstacles, with the main objective of earning points by destroying enemy alien forces.
[''Cosmic Avenger'' cartridge instructions (ColecoVision, US)] The game is divided into three sections, each with its own terrain and obstacles. There is no intermission between sections; the game scrolls into the new terrain seamlessly. The game can be played by one or two players, alternating turns as each player's ship is destroyed.
A joystick moves the ship in four directions, and buttons fire lasers and bombs to destroy spaceships, anti-aircraft missiles, tanks, and UFOs. A radar display at the top of the screen shows incoming enemies. The ship does not require a constantly depleting fuel supply to be replenished, which allows players to focus solely on the enemies. The enemies have specific behavior patterns and can crash into each other. As the game progresses, enemies act more aggressively and fire at a faster rate. An "X station" occasionally appears on the ground; if hit, it destroys all enemies visible on the screen.
If the player's ship is hit by enemy fire, crashes against the terrain, enemies or any explosion radius, a life is lost and they will be
respawn
In video games, spawning is the live creation of a character, item or NPC. Respawning is the recreation of an entity after its death or destruction, perhaps after losing one of its lives. Despawning is the deletion of an entity from the game ...
ed into the nearest
checkpoint reached. Once all lives are lost, the
game is over, although players can insert coins to continue playing without having to restart from the beginning.
Release and reception
''Cosmic Avenger'' was first released in arcades by Universal in July 1981 and became one of the first titles with forced horizontal scrolling alongside the earlier ''
Scramble
Scramble, Scrambled, or Scrambling may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Games
* ''Scramble'' (video game), a 1981 arcade game
Music Albums
* ''Scramble'' (album), an album by Atlanta-based band the Coathangers
* ''Scrambles'' (album)
...
'' by Konami.
The game runs on Universal's 8106 arcade board.
The ColecoVision port from Nuvatec was one of the console's North American launch titles in August 1982, with a European release in 1983.
Coleco announced and advertised versions of ''Cosmic Avenger'' for both the
Atari 2600
The Atari 2600, initially branded as the Atari Video Computer System (Atari VCS) from its release until November 1982, is a home video game console developed and produced by Atari, Inc. Released in September 1977, it popularized microprocesso ...
and
Intellivision, but neither was released for unknown reasons.
The original arcade release of ''Cosmic Avenger'' did not become a hit, but found success and a larger audience as one of the launch titles for ColecoVision, like some of the lesser known arcade games that gained popularity on the console such as Universal's ''
Lady Bug''.
The ColecoVision version of ''Cosmic Avenger'' was reviewed in ''
Video
Video is an electronic medium for the recording, copying, playback, broadcasting, and display of moving visual media. Video was first developed for mechanical television systems, which were quickly replaced by cathode-ray tube (CRT) syst ...
'' magazine in its "Arcade Alley" column where it was described as "great fun" and as a game that "packs more than enough excitement in its three screens to satisfy any lover of arcade-style action games". Although reviewers noted that the game is "not as free-ranging as
hosein which the ship can scroll left as well as right", it was praised for its "beautiful graphics", and it was suggested that ''Cosmic Avenger'' might herald the coming of a "scrolling shootout" trend in home video games.
In September 1982, ''Arcade Express'' reviewed the ColecoVision version and scored it 9 out of 10.
''
Creative Computing Video & Arcade Games'' said in 1983 that "although ''Cosmic Avenger'' was not terribly popular in the arcades, Coleco's adaptation will do well in the home market" and a "nice addition" to the console's library.
Notes
References
External links
*
''Cosmic Avenger''at ColecoVision Addict
''Cosmic Avenger''at Retro Gamer
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cosmic Avenger
1981 video games
Arcade video games
Cancelled Atari 2600 games
Cancelled Intellivision games
ColecoVision games
Horizontally scrolling shooters
Multiplayer and single-player video games
Science fiction video games
Video games developed in Japan
Universal Entertainment games