Screenshots & trailers
Review sentiment over time
Weekly positive-review rate (green) and review volume (bars). Dashed lines mark significant patches; the amber line is the start of the current scoring window. Hover the dots to see what drove a dip or a jump.
How this score was computed
The VGC Score is a weighted blend on a press-comparable 0-100 quality scale. Steam approval rates are first calibrated (95% positive on Steam ≈ 89.5 quality, since Steam approval skews high). Press and tracked creator reviews each count ~2x a player review and share one cap against player evidence (creator buy/skip calls pool into an approval rate, calibrated like Steam approval); all-time sentiment is capped and halved (it's context, not verdict); reviews of the current build carry the most weight when a fresh patch anchors the window; and a 'typical game' prior keeps small samples from pegging the scale. Because press reviews and Metacritic user aggregates describe the launch build, their weight decays as the game ages (3-year half-life after a 1-year grace). That's how a game that launched rough can outgrow its old reception once updates win players over. Reviews under 2h playtime (the refund window), non-Steam activations, and free copies are downweighted.
| Component | Positive | Quality (0-100) | Weight (pseudo-reviews) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Press reviews (OpenCritic) | – | 71 | 36 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 80% | 74 | 72 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 0% | 15 | 0 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 1 reviews sampled · 1 total reviews in window · weighted 0 up / 0.1 down · computed 2h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (39)
Individual verdicts from outlets we track: scored reviews first, most trusted outlets first among them. The small badge is each outlet's trust score: how well its scoring history aligns with players.
- 70
“Space Adventure Cobra, Awakening combines the style of its early '80s anime source material with the complexity of modern action-platformers to create a game full of…well, style and complexity. It's not without its hardships, but those up for the challenge will be entertained.”
read full review ↗ - 100
“Magic Pockets invites us to discover Buichi Terasawa's classic with an action platformer that, despite its flaws, manages to entertain and amuse in equal measure. Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys action platformers and 80s humor. Cobra and Lady deserve a chance.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“Space Adventure Cobra may not be a perfect game, but it delivers so much charm and nostalgia that its minor flaws almost fade into the background. If it manages to spark interest in these long-forgotten franchises, it has already achieved a major success.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“For anime fans, in particular, there’s something special about this melding of episodic content and action, but for everyone else its mechanics may be a bit too cumbersome to ignore”
read full review ↗ - 40
“As a homage to a classic cult anime series, Space Adventure Cobra: The Awakening sort of works. The animation has the right feel, and fans of the show and those nostalgic about it will absolutely have a blast with that part. Unfortunately, the gameplay completely disregards that nostalgia this title relies on to appeal to its audience. It doesn't help that the level design is at times a massive disaster. While impressive, the boss fights, anime cutscenes, and campy '80s feel do not save this.”
read full review ↗ - 71
“In conclusion, Space Adventure Cobra The Awakening is an ambiguous title, not easy to judge if you stop at first impressions, which certainly denote a tight budget and gameplay choices that could be revised and refined, but which, despite all its imperfections, can provide hours of good fun surrounded by an interesting plot and rendered very well by the original anime cut scenes. Truly, despite a slight underlying monotony (even musically speaking), the game constantly improves in terms of graphics and level design, and perhaps its biggest fault is that it doesn't measure up to the perfection of some titles released recently. However, its undeniable flaws strangely give the game a character that makes it enjoyable, especially if you are a fan of the animated series: in that case, it is really worth turning a blind eye and not being too picky. You have surely played worse games.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“It's very cool to see Space Adventure Cobra repurposed in this format, and we daresay The Awakening's going to breed a fresh generation of franchise fans, especially as it includes tons of original footage from the TV show. While the in-game art style doesn't quite measure up to the anime and the gameplay has some rough edges to it, there's a surprisingly good rhythm to the action at times, and some clever use of the eponymous adventurer's arsenal.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“In a world where seemingly the vast majority of classic anime adaptations boil down to arena brawler after arena brawler, it has been wonderful to see Cobra get a more in-depth approach. What results is an enjoyable game that conveys the anime's story not only in its cutscenes but throughout its level design as well. It is clearly a game made by a team with legitimate admiration for their source material. It has some small issues with enemy balance and a few minor presentational blunders, but it's hard to ignore the charm and passion that exudes from Space Adventure Cobra: Awakening.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“If you’re already invested in Cobra’s universe as I am, you’ll find things to enjoy here. If you’re not, this probably isn’t the game that’s going to win you over.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“This is a game that still remains worthy of your time if you enjoy 2D shooters and classic anime and manga. Its aesthetic is great, the animation segments are a delightful throwback, and the soundtrack is also strong.”
read full review ↗ - 88
“Given Space Adventure Cobra, The Awakening’s budget they have worked with, we can cut Magic Pockets some slack for some of the game’s shortcomings. The story campaign offers approximately twelve hours of content, with side missions and unlockables adding to its replay value.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“A real blast from the past, Space Adventure Cobra - The Awakening is as classic an anime as it gets. Whilst it seems like a niche game for the fans, it's an accessible action platformer for old and newcomers a like. Interspersed with original animations and corny dialogue, it's a fun little romp through the golden era of anime and space adventuring.”
read full review ↗
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