Shoot'em Up! / Shoot'em Up! - Horizontal Scrolling · 1983

Super Cobra

Published by Parker Brothers International · Developed by [n/a]

atarimania.com — atari-400-800-xl-xe-games-super-cobra-6766

Information

Genre: Shoot'em Up! - Horizontal Scrolling
Language: Machine Language
Controls: Joystick
Players: 1, 2 (alt.)
Programmer(s): [unknown]
Graphic Artist(s): [n/a]
Sound: [n/a]
Cover Artist(s): [unknown]
Year: 1983
Publisher: Parker Brothers International
Developer: [n/a]
Country: Europe
License: Commercial
Medium: Cartridge
Rarity: 8
Serial: 942005

Votes / Statistics

Rating: 8.2/10 · Votes: 239 · Downloads: 2,444 · Hits: 8,044

Additional Comments

Also released without authorization as Helicopter.

Screenshots (4)

Cover Art (2)

Book / Magazine Reviews (1)

Electronic Games · May, 1984

Here comes the Super Cobra explosion! Parker is obviously taking the multi-format message to heart and one of the nice benefits for game players is the availability, if not saturation, of Super Cobra for every system short of the Timex/Sinclair.
Super Cobra is a fine adaptation of the Konami coin-op featuring a cannon-firing, bomb-dropping helicopter that must be maneuvered through a horizontally scrolling scenario. Tanks, ack-ack guns and even surface-to-air missiles bristle along the topography and must be dealt with or avoided by deft joystick manipulation as the computer charts the war-chopper's travelled distance in a bar graph at the top of the playfield. Each territory-segment brings a new wrinkle in the play action or difficulty level.
Much of Super Cobra's popularity is owed to the game's navigational challenge. In addition to the ground and ground-to-air targets, the Cobra must be maneuvered through a labyrinthian mountain maze with an ever-expanding offensive capability. This element is perfectly captured in the Atari computer translation, as are the spartan but effective graphics and the martial musical soundtrack. Since the joysticks for these systems have but a single action button, however, it is not possible to reproduce the coin-op's independent cannon and bomber capabilities. A single press of the button accesses both functions instead.
Like the original coin-op, it's also possible to continue a game from the point where it ended, rather than starting over again at the beginning. This is a boon both to compulsive gamers and those who want to see every bit of available playfield in a single, stubborn sitting.

Comments (7)

Scott Stilphen — 25 Mar 2020
The manual doesn't mention it, but you earn a free copter when you complete the base level. You won't see a reserve icon appear at the bottom of the screen for it, but you'll have it.
Scott Stilphen — 25 Mar 2020
The copter flies faster backwards in the 400/800 version than it does in the 5200 version (which correctly matches the scrolling of the background). Looks like it was programmed for the 5200 first, and whoever converted it screwed that up.
tkarner — 6 Dec 2017
Super Cobra is missing a few aspects of the arcade version (rolling tanks, guided missiles) but overall it's a good looking version. Controls are responsive too. But I'm going to have to knock off a few points because it's so frustratingly difficult. If it wasn't for the infinite continues I wouldn't get anywhere. I think the problem is the player's chopper is too big. If it was about 2/3 the size then I think the difficulty would be fair.
Punkydudester — 21 Dec 2014
Good game. I don't remember seeing very many Konami games for the Atari.
Daniel Thomas MacInnes — 9 May 2011
Tail of Beta Lyrae just smashed this game to atoms. That said, it's a very solid arcade conversion of Super Cobra, not outstanding but very solid and challenging for fans of shooters.
Gruppenfuhrer WOLF — 15 Sept 2010
Super Cobra ruled!
John — 8 May 2010
This is a great game - one of the few that actually had continues which enabled me to beat it :) (both today and 20 years ago)