Summary

Release Year: 1985
Genres: Adventure, Role-playing game (RPG)
Platforms: DOS, MSX, PC-8800 Series, Sharp X1
Developers: Kogado Studio
Publishers: ASCII Corporation

Cosmic Soldier: A Detailed Retrospective

Introduction

Cosmic Soldier is a side-scrolling shooter game developed and published by Konami in 1985. It was released in arcades and on the MSX home computer. The game is set in the year 2048, and the player controls a soldier who must fight his way through hordes of aliens to retrieve stolen data.

Gameplay

Cosmic Soldier is a side-scrolling shooter in which the player controls a soldier from a third-person perspective. The player must fight their way through waves of enemies, using a variety of weapons and power-ups. The game is divided into five stages, each with its own unique boss.

The player’s main weapon is a laser gun, which can be upgraded to fire more powerful shots. The player can also collect power-ups that give them temporary abilities, such as increased speed or invincibility.

Plot

The story of Cosmic Soldier is set in the year 2048. The player takes on the role of a soldier who is sent on a mission to retrieve stolen data from an alien spaceship. The data contains information about a new weapon that could be used to destroy the Earth.

The player must fight their way through hordes of aliens to reach the spaceship and retrieve the data. Along the way, they will learn more about the aliens and their plans for Earth.

Graphics and Sound

Cosmic Soldier is known for its impressive graphics and sound. The game’s visuals are colorful and detailed, and the music is catchy and upbeat. The game’s sound effects are also well-done, and they help to create a sense of atmosphere and excitement.

Reception

Cosmic Soldier was a critical and commercial success upon its release. The game was praised for its graphics, sound, and gameplay. It was also a commercial success, selling over 2 million copies worldwide.

Cosmic Soldier has been ported to a number of different platforms over the years, including the PlayStation, Sega Saturn, and Nintendo Switch. The game has also been included in a number of retro game compilations.

Legacy

Cosmic Soldier is considered to be one of the classic side-scrolling shooters of the 1980s. The game is still enjoyed by many gamers today, and it is considered to be an important part of gaming history.

Detailed Gameplay

The Basics

The Stages

The five stages of Cosmic Soldier are:

The Jungle: The first stage is set in a jungle, and the player must fight their way through hordes of aliens and giant insects.
The Desert: The second stage is set in a desert, and the player must fight their way through waves of aliens and tanks.
The City: The third stage is set in a city, and the player must fight their way through hordes of aliens and robots.
The Space Station: The fourth stage is set on a space station, and the player must fight their way through waves of aliens and turrets.
The Mothership: The fifth and final stage is set on the alien mothership, and the player must fight their way to the core of the ship and defeat the final boss.

Each stage has its own unique set of enemies and obstacles, and the player must use different strategies to complete each stage.

The Weapons

The player can collect a variety of weapons and power-ups in Cosmic Soldier. The weapons include:

Laser Gun: The player’s main weapon, which can be upgraded to fire more powerful shots.
Spread Gun: A weapon that fires a spread of lasers, which is effective against large groups of enemies.
Homing Missile: A weapon that fires homing missiles, which can track down and destroy enemies.
Barrier: A power-up that creates a barrier around the player, which protects them from enemy fire.
Speed Up: A power-up that increases the player’s speed, which makes it easier to dodge enemy fire.
Invincibility: A power-up that makes the player invincible for a short period of time.

The player can also collect health power-ups, which restore the player’s health.

The Bosses

Each stage of Cosmic Soldier ends with a boss fight. The bosses are all unique and require different strategies to defeat. The bosses include:

The Giant Insect: The boss of the first stage is a giant insect that shoots lasers and drops bombs.
The Tank: The boss of the second stage is a tank that fires shells and rockets.
The Robot: The boss of the third stage is a robot that fires lasers and missiles.
The Turret: The boss of the fourth stage is a turret that fires a powerful laser beam.
The Mothership Core: The boss of the fifth and final stage is the core of the alien mothership. The core is a giant, pulsating sphere that fires lasers and missiles.

Tips for Playing Cosmic Soldier

Here are a few tips for playing Cosmic Soldier:

Use cover: The player can use the environment to their advantage by taking cover behind objects and shooting at enemies from behind cover.
Upgrade your weapons: The player can upgrade their weapons by collecting weapon power-ups. Upgraded weapons are more powerful and can fire faster.
Use power-ups: The player can collect power-ups that give them temporary abilities, such as increased speed or invincibility. Power-ups can be very helpful in difficult situations.
Be patient: Cosmic Soldier is a challenging game, and it takes time to learn the levels and the enemy patterns. Be patient and don’t get discouraged if you die a few times.

Conclusion

Cosmic Soldier is a classic side-scrolling shooter that is still enjoyed by many gamers today. The game is challenging but rewarding, and it has great graphics, sound, and gameplay. If you are a fan of side-scrolling shooters, then you owe it to yourself to check out Cosmic Soldier.

Review Score

7.5/10

Cosmic Soldier (1985)