How to play G.I. Joe: Cobra Strike online
The G.I. Joe side of this game was made for the Atari paddle controllers, not a joystick. The emulator should switch to paddle mode for it; if it does not, press Alt + L.
- Move your shield and aim your turret: left and right arrow keys
- Fire missiles: hold the Space bar
- Choose the speed level and number of players: F11 (the console’s Select switch)
- Start a new game: F12 (the console’s Reset switch)
- Expert or novice shield: F4 toggles the Player 1 difficulty switch
- Switch between paddle and joystick mode: Alt + L
In the original, both G.I. Joe paddles plug into the left port and a joystick for a human Cobra player goes into the right port. The emulator switches between paddles and joysticks rather than mixing them, so the modes where a friend steers the Cobra may not work properly here. The one-player game against the computer’s Cobra is the safest choice.
Gameplay
At the bottom of the screen four recruits dash between buildings. Above them hangs an upside-down U-shaped shield that blocks the Cobra’s venom and lasers but lets your own missiles through. Your missiles explode by themselves, and only hits on the Cobra’s eyes count. Eight eye hits split the snake in two and end the round. The next Cobra is a different colour, moves faster and attacks more often. The game ends when the Cobra has caught all your recruits.
| Action | Points |
|---|---|
| Recruit reaches safety | 10 |
| Hit on the Cobra’s eyes | 100 |
| Cobra destroyed | 1,000 |
| Bonus shot | 10,000 |
Every 10,000 points gives you an extra recruit. In later rounds you will sometimes hear three rising notes: hit the Cobra’s eyes at that moment and it is destroyed at once for the 10,000-point bonus.
Game variations and switches
There are four speed levels: slow Cobra with slow shields, fast Cobra with slow shields, slow Cobra with fast shields, and fast for both. Each level comes in one-player, two-player team (each player controls one shield and turret), two-player head-to-head (one player is the Cobra) and three-player versions. With the difficulty switch on A, your shield must sit next to your own turret before you can fire; on B you can fire from any shield position.
Tips
- Start on B. Being able to fire from anywhere makes the first rounds much easier while you learn how the missiles travel.
- Guard the recruits first. Losing all four ends the game, and every recruit who reaches shelter earns points too.
- Listen for the three notes. A well-timed eye hit then is worth ten times a whole Cobra.
History
Parker Brothers held a contest for the game, offering a Black Cobra cap to players who reached the 16th level. The cartridge came in two label styles, a colourful one and a plainer grey one. Reviews were mixed: the magazine Video Games felt it looked better than it played and offered little for a single player. In Europe the game was released as Action Force, with the story changed to match the Action Force toy line sold there.
Similar games to play next
- Action Force – the European release of this same game
- Demon Attack – a fast shooter where you fire up at attackers from the bottom of the screen
- Kaboom! – another paddle game about reacting to what falls from above
- Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back – another licensed Parker Brothers action game from the same era