Scramble or Cosmic Avenger?

[Ed Oscuro]

I'd like to make a highscore thread for one of these games, but I'd like to see which of these 1981 shooters people like better. My initial feelings on the games:

Universal's Cosmic Avenger is the clear winner in terms of asthetics, style, and options, but it can be difficult to control. Your ship has variable speeds (pull left or push right on the joystick to slow down/speed up), and this affects bombs. Vertical movement is rather slow, though, and maneuverability seems off at times. Other nifty features: a Defender-style radar [which you should glance at now and then - the yellow dots are evil UFOs], stars in the background that move at independent speeds, and individual rockets that can be shot and destroyed (but not solid block shots). Some rockets (those launched vertically upwards and to the right, at 45 degrees) will home in on your position, and may be dispatched by immediately slowing down and dropping a bomb directly onto them, or by leading them into enemy fire [edit: You can also juke them by speeding up rapidly, then pulling back and moving downwards quickly]. There's a variety of enemy types, from "tanks" that launch what look like their turrets at you, UFOs, rocket bases, and anti-aircraft cannons. There's a lot happening in this game (too much, arguably).

Scramble isn't as pretty, but it is simpler and more structured (plus, the uncanny resemblance to Konami's later shooters - apparently a European release of a GBA Gradius title includes it in the series - is a draw for fans), allowing the player more freedom to concentrate on the backgrounds. Early on the player has to navigate a field of indestructible mortar/fireballs that come hurtling at the player, reminiscent of Salamander.

I'm impressed with both games now that I have spent a bit more time with them. So far, a few minutes of play on both games have given me a score of 4,100 on Cosmic Avenger, and 9,610 on Scramble. It won't take much to pass these scores.

[JBC]

I prefer Scramble - funny that just today i was thinking about how cool it would be if Konami's mysterious 'Gradius 6' PS3 project turned out to be Scramble 2, a Gradius prequel that kept the fuel pod mechanic.

(Is Super Cobra officially considered a Scramble sequel... ?)

[Ed Oscuro]

Woohoo! After much aggravation, 12980 points in Scramble (barely made it to the bunker zone, and crashed right into the wall the first time).

Super Cobra came out the same year as Scramble, but MAME lists it as a sequel. As I mentioned, that GBA title (Gradius Gaiden?) lists Scramble as a precursor. Don't know the whole story very well.

Anyhow, I just spent a few hours with both games (Cosmic Avenger first, Scramble second). Updated verdict:

Scramble: I usually die from crashing into walls, the bouncy UFO things in the cavern (stay low!), or from the firestorm (stay low and get all the fuel capsules, then pull up after the screen clears so you can enter the next area), trying to get too close so I can drop bombs. You have good vertical movement speed. Your main shot is pretty piddly and even if you lay down a stream of fire, the tiny BBs often miss your target. The mystery capsules seem to depend upon timing (or perhaps shot counting, I haven't checked it out). This game might allow the player checkpoint abuse as you get a new life at 10,000 points.

Cosmic Avenger: You have pitifiul vertical movement speed. If that had been fixed a bit, the game would be more playable. Shots sometimes go right through you, so hit detection isn't the best. Also, UFOs often appear at the most inconvenient time to gank you. Again, I usually die from crashing into walls, trying to get too close to rocket launchers or flak. I very often die in the explosion from the very first flak launcher, trying to get too close to it. Sheesh. Also, Cosmic Avenger has a strange habit of warping you forward into the next area upon dying. Managed to get 3,000 points on one life, but then blew the others.

Winner: ???

Probably Scramble. Cosmic Avenger still wins for asthetics and it also has a kind of "multi-level" organization to it (I've seen three respawn spots so far, the last one being the tank field - odd I don't seem to pass that).

[Bloodreign]

I've managed to score 23,860 on Scramble, I was in a groove for awhile but lost my last life to a piddly missile. Cosmic Avenger I definitely cannot do well on or get a great score due to the fact many of the targets don't seem to have a high point value therefore my score suffers.

[Ed Oscuro]

14940, I've improved a bunch. Strangely, this comes at the end of a night without any sleep (was playing Hitman: Blood Money, took me hours to get SA ranking on that opera mission...grr). I'm getting scores over 10K regularly now. Strange that it should come so naturally all of a sudden (this is really my first day playing the game seriously).

[Galaxius]

Gradius Gaiden is a PSX game, Ed, I think you have it confused with Gradius Generation, a GBA title.

Gradius Generation does indeed list Scramble as a prequel to the series, as does one of the DVDs that came out with Gradius V. I'd say it's officially recognized by Konami as a precursor.

That said, I enjoy the game. I've looped it a few times, but never really practiced for a high score.

Can't say much for Cosmic Avenger, as I have no experience with it.

[sffan]

My high score on Scramble is 114,850 (PS2 Oretachi port, full defaults, tate mode).

I don't know which loop I was on, probably 5th.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

I'd have to say that Super Cobra was a Scramble inspired spinoff even though both arcade games were produced in-house from Konami Co Ltd. Scramble and Super Cobra were licensed to Centuri for manufacure & distribution in the USA as was the Vanguard upright arcade game also. Vanguard got a fairly decent port on the Atar 5200 SuperSystem console platform + a 2600 version of Vanguard was ported as well. ^_~

Vanguard is famous for it's ground-breaking use of similtaneous 4-way firing capabilities: up, down and of course, left & right.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[Ed Oscuro]

Okay, I seem to be stuck at the narrow section, but at least I'm making it there regularly now.

For Cosmic Avenger, I suddenly have a new highscore: 8220.

I own Vanguard for the VCS, by the way.

[llabnip]

Okay, I seem to be stuck at the narrow section, but at least I'm making it there regularly now.
For Cosmic Avenger, I suddenly have a new highscore: 8220.
I own Avenger for the VCS, by the way.

Do you mean CV? The CV port of Cosmic Avenger is really fun - one of the best games back in the day (ok... still great even though the typical CV scrolling is crappy). I played the heck out of it... one of the first proper horizontal shooters that I had for a home console. It still sees quite a bit of time in my Colecovision. I've never seen a VCS (2600) port. Unless VCS stands for something else in which case I sit corrected.

[Ed Oscuro]

Oops, I meant Venture. Yeah, a CV port of Cosmic Avenger would be nice to have.