Hands On with Space Adventure Cobra - The Awakening: An 80s Anime Space Romp on Nintendo Switch

As a longtime fan of retro-style games, I was excited to dive into the Nintendo Switch demo for Space Adventure Cobra - The Awakening, an upcoming action-platformer coming out later this month. Based on the iconic 1980s anime series created by Buichi Terasawa, this game adapts the first 12 episodes of the show, focusing on the Caption Nelson treasure arc. Players step into the boots of Cobra, a charismatic space pirate with superhuman abilities, as he teams up with his android partner Lady Armaroid to unravel a cosmic mystery that threatens the universe.

Developed as a faithful homage to the source material, the game is set to blend action, platforming, and exploration across exotic planets, complete with traps, enemies, and boss battles. It's planned to launch on August 26, 2025, not just on Switch but also on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X, with a solo story mode offering three difficulty levels and even a 2-player co-op option.

The demo, available now on Nintendo Switch and Steam, gives players a taste of Cobra's space opera world. Right from the start, the anime-style cutscenes stole the show for me—they're beautifully crafted with a nostalgic 80s vibe that takes me back to classics like Vampire Hunter D. Even if you're new to Cobra's adventures, as I was, these sequences pull you in with their high-action storytelling and interesting characters.

Once the action kicks in, the gameplay feels smooth and responsive on the Switch, whether in handheld or docked mode. The multi-layered backgrounds add a fantastic sense of depth, making the environments feel alive as you traverse the alien landscapes. Platforming and exploration are highlights here; the demo levels are packed with fun jumps, hidden paths, and plenty of secrets or collectibles to uncover. It's rewarding to poke around every corner, discovering power-ups or additional dialog that adds to the larger story. But, you may need to play through the demo a couple times to collect them all. Because this demo takes place on the third level of the game it assumes you know how some abilities work that it doesn't fully explain until later.

Combat is fast and fun, though I'll admit the controls took a bit of getting used to at first. As the controls were explained it reminded me a lot of the Metroid: Samus Returns remake by Mercury Steam, with its deliberate pacing and emphasis on precise aiming. Once I framed it that way in my mind, everything clicked, and the fights became a blast. There's solid strategy involved too—you'll need to mix up your arsenal intelligently. Use melee attacks to shatter enemy shields, your trusty revolver to crack through armor, and the Psychogun to chain devastating shots across multiple foes in a satisfying combo. The Psychogun is also used outside of combat for puzzle solving and accessing secret areas.

I went into this demo without much prior knowledge of the Space Adventure Cobra anime—it's a classic I somehow missed growing up—but that didn't detract from my experience with the game. It has a nice mix of humor, exploration, and high-stakes action that stands on its own, making it accessible to newcomers and, I'm sure, a blast for fans. After spending time with it, I'm genuinely looking forward to checking out the full release on Switch come August 26.

If the demo is any indication, Space Adventure Cobra - The Awakening could be a nice addition to the platformer genre, blending retro charm with modern polish. If you would like to try the demo out for yourself you can grab it from the Nintendo eShop or follow this link. Or, if you're like me, and ready to pre-order you can hit the link below to check our Space Adventure Cobra: The Awakening on Amazon.

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

Keep an eye on GameMinr.com for more info as we get closer to launch.