Retro Coin Op Synopsis

A rocket ship on a course for danger and destruction, Scramble was an action game lover’s dream come true. There were no princesses or hostages to rescue, no treasures to recover, no object other than the entire destruction of the “Scramble Defense Systems” and the base they protected.

A joystick gave 4-way control of your rocket as it raced through the six side-scrolling levels (five defense systems and the final base), while separate buttons launched laser blasts at foes in front and dropped bombs on targets below. Bomb-dropping was an acquired skill, since there were no targeting sights, but Scramble players soon learned to give the explosives enough lead time for a direct hit.

The enemy launched everything in its arsenal at your ship—rockets, tiny UFO’s, comets and more—and with two planes of action (lasers above, bombs below), it was sometimes hard to pay enough attention to worry about the safety of your own craft. And as if an armada of enemy warheads wasn’t enough to rattle your nerves, your ship also had a limited fuel supply. Refills were awarded for bombing or shooting enemy fuel tanks, but if supplies ran out, your ship was lost.

Scramble’s furious pace made it an instant arcade classic, and Konami scrambled (sorry) to make a sequel. Super Cobra was the result. Released only a few months after its predecessor, Super Cobra replaced the rocket ship with a helicopter, but the object remained the same. This time, ten stages of mayhem awaited, including tight catacombs, tall buildings that had to be flown over, gun turrets below, and even tougher challenges than the original Scramble. And to top it off, the game was faster.

Super Cobra was a much bigger challenge than Scramble, but it also offered a bit of hope to discouraged players. For an extra quarter, the game would pick up where it left off, allowing players to continue their raids without starting back from the beginning. This, of course, became a standard feature of many arcade games in years to come, but back in 1981, it was a revolutionary move.

Despite (or perhaps because of) the similarities with its predecessor, Super Cobra became a classic in its own right, a favorite of those who liked their games plot-light and action-heavy. On that level, both Scramble and Super Cobra always delivered.

Arcade Machine Release History

Apr 1981 - Scramble
Jul 1981 - Super Cobra

Arcade Game Sub Categories

action

Machine Manufacturer

Konami, Stern

Other Arcade Game Links