Atari 5200

Super Cobra

Simply put, Super Cobra is a gutter-level stinker. The graphics suck, control is terrible (even with the Masterplay Interface) and the game is so difficult that it makes Viewpoint for the Neo Geo seem like child's play. To be fair, I was never crazy about the arcade version either - it had none of the flair or game balance that Scramble, its prequel, was renowned for. You take control of a chopper armed with bombs and shoot missiles, and after each defeat you can continue the game, as in Vanguard. If you complete all ten rounds, you are rewarded with a special contest (picking up booty). Unless you have a Masterplay Interface AND are an immensely dexterous gamer, however, don't expect to ever see the bonus round. If you're a masochist, this one's for you. The dud of the 5200 game library along with James Bond, Congo Bongo and Buck Rogers.

This side-scrolling helicopter shooter allows you to shoot forward and drop bombs at the same time. The original Super Cobra in the arcade was difficult enough, but this version is far too frustrating to recommend. Much of that sentiment has to do with the Atari 5200 joystick, which doesn't provide the precise control necessary to navigate narrow caverns while dodging ground-to-air missiles. In addition, you can only drop two bombs at a time. This limited firepower is no match against the well-fortified defenses you're trying to penetrate. In the stages with narrow tunnels, I couldn't avoid running into walls. Super Cobra's graphics are decent and the animation is fairly smooth, but that can't atone for the frustrating gameplay.