Space Adventure Cobra: The Awakening - Review Roundup: Live Out Your Space Pirate Dreams

Here at GameMinr we have been looking forward to Space Adventure Cobra: The Awakening and were able to get our hands on the Switch version of the game when it launched last week. Developed by Magic Pockets and published by Microids, Cobra feels like the kind of game we don't see too often anymore, a licensed game that respects and follows the source material, while translating it into a game format. We used to see this a lot in the 16-bit era of Super Nintendo and Sega Genesis, but it has been disappearing in later years, in favor of games that license iconic characters and then tell a wholly original story.

The GameMinr Take

In my opinion, Space Adventure Cobra: The Awakening takes the correct approach and recreates the classic space anime, using high-quality, fully voiced, clips directly from the show, and then puts you in the boots of Cobra to play out the action sequences. The presentation is great, and with the inclusion of the show storyline and cutscenes it really feels like a faithful adaptation of the anime's first 12 episodes. Gameplay takes place in discreet levels that have branching paths and secrets to discover, sometimes requiring you to return to the level after you have found upgrades later in the game.

There are multiple options for combat, from a standard blaster, a shield breaking revolver, melee attacks, and the iconic 'Psychogun' that Cobra is known for. Some of the combat encounters can get hectic, but checkpoints are generous and you're almost always just a few steps away from trying again if the space thugs get the better of you.

Space Adventure Cobra: The Awakening - Time for some space jumps

There are some issues with the controls, the platforming could be tightened up, and there are some load times that run a little long, but those issue haven't impacted my enjoyment of the game, and I'm excited to jump back in and see what's next for Cobra. While I am a classic anime fan, I wasn't familiar with Cobra before this game was announced, so I didn't know the story before playing, that has kept me interested in where the narrative is headed, and excited to keep playing.

Other Opinions

Space Adventure Cobra: The Awakening currently has a Metascore of 70 based on 15 critic reviews from Metacritic.com. The reviews are mixed, with some reviewers praising its nostalgic charm while others critique its control issues and technical flaws. While I've enjoyed the game, we'll go ahead and roundup some of the other reviews below so you can get a feel for the different opinions out there.

  • PlayStation LifeStyle - 80/100 "Whether you’re a fan of action platformers or you’re a Cobra superfan, there’s a lot to like about Space Adventure Cobra – The Awakening." Read the full review

  • GameGrin - 80/100 "Space Adventure Cobra - The Awakening is a fun action platforming game that does a great job of recreating the original series that everyone can enjoy." Read the full review

Space Adventure Cobra: The Awakening - High Quality Anime Cutscenes

  • NintendoWorldReport - 80/100 "In a world where seemingly the vast majority of classic anime adaptations boil down to arena brawler after arena brawler, it has been wonderful to see Cobra get a more in-depth approach." Read the full review

  • Push Square - 70/100 "It's very cool to see Space Adventure Cobra repurposed in this format, and we daresay The Awakening's going to breed a fresh generation of franchise fans ... While the in-game art style doesn't quite measure up to the anime and the gameplay has some rough edges to it, there's a surprisingly good rhythm to the action at times." Read the full review

  • Pure Nintendo - 70/100 "Space Adventure Cobra – Awakening combines the style of its early ’80s anime source material with the complexity of modern action-platformers to create a game full of…well, style and complexity. It’s not without its hardships, but those up for the challenge will be entertained." Read the full review

Space Adventure Cobra: The Awakening - Metroid Style Gunplay

If Space Adventure Cobra: The Awakening sounds like something you might be interested in, I say give it a shot. It's a fun game that appeals to the retro-gamer in me, and it captures the charisma of its anime roots in such a way that you may just walk away a new fan of Cobra.

Space Adventure Cobra: The Awakening Space Adventure Cobra: The Awakening for Nintendo Switch - $39.99 at Amazon