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コズミック イプシロン
©1989 Asmik
Release: 1989-11-24 (¥6500)
Cartdridge ASM-EO
Shooter/3D
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Cosmic Epsilon is a forward/3D shooter developed by Home Data
and published by Asmik. An army of alien invaders from the Epsilon Empire
is headed towards Earth and threatens to destroy it. An enemy transport battleship
has already landed and waves of alien ships pour out of it. The player takes control of a
transformable humanoid robot, the Cosmic Epsilon, and the object of the game is to
fly through eight levels, from the surface of the Earth to deep into space and enemy
occupied territory. The player comes equipped with two different weapons - a standard
Vulcan beam (which can also be charged up by holding the fire button) and a set
of limited homing missiles. Cosmic Epsilon doesn't feature any power ups,
however power capsules can be collected throughout the game (extra missiles,
lives or temporary shield) and are carried around by snake-like enemies
(usually hidden within the scenery). Although the mech has the ability to transform into
a space-fighter, this option is not directly available to the player and the game alternates
between robot and spaceship levels (which both feature a similar gameplay). Finally, the game
is compatible with the Famicom 3D/stereo glasses and the 3D mode can be activated at
anytime by pressing Select.
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Cosmic Epsilon certainly reminds of Taito's excellent Tetrastar
The Fighter released for the Famicom in 1991. The ground animation is
really similar (even if, I think, Cosmic Epsilon is more successful at it)
as well as some of the sound effects. It wouldn't be a long shot to assume
that both games were developed by the same team at Home Data. As a side note,
a weird message appears on the title screen if you happen to enter the now legendary
Konami code (See the Secret section) - "I am not Konani"
(spelt wrong on purpose I think, picture on the right) appears bellow the Asmik logo. But
Cosmic Epsilon wasn't the first and only game with such hidden
text - Tobidase Daisakusen (aka 3D World Runner) released for the
Famicom in 1987 also featured a "I am not Konami" message displayed
when the player entered the Konami code.
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Game Staff (Copied from the end credits) :
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STAFF
Main Programmer
Kazenoofuu
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Sub Programmer
Alice
Main Designer
Wozl
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Sub Designer
Gell Gee
Sound And Music
Endooo
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Special Thanks
Rzv Dna
Presented by
Asmik
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G
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Japanese Phonecard
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Click on picture to enlarge |
S
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Continue:
Wait until the Game Over message appears on screen, then hold Select and
press Start. At the title screen, press Start again to start at the
beginning of the stage where you died.
Level select:
At the title screen, press A, B, Right, Left,
Right, Left, Down, Down, Up and Up.
A "Stage Select" message should appear under the Asmik logo allowing
you to pick a level.
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"Another World" mode:
At the title screen, press Up, Down, Left, Right,
A, Down, Up, Left, Right and B.
A "Another World!" message should appear under the Asmik logo and
allow you to play the game with a different color palette.
Konami code:
At the title screen, enter the Konami code (up, up, down, down, left,
right, left, right, B and A).
A "I am not Konani" message should appear under the Asmik logo.
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LK
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Add your Pov here !
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P
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Cosmic Epsilon was a delightful surprise. Well, in truth, I
was honestly expecting a generic and average rail shooter - there's
so much the Famicom hardware can do, really. And then, the first
thing that strikes you is how smooth and incredible the ground animation is.
And the rest of the game follows along the same lines - the controls are
responsive (yet a bit stiff), the action is fast and intense, and some bosses
are particularly impressive, without forgetting the surprisingly good speech
synthesis featured between levels, and the stereo/3D option. The game also
introduces an interesting stage layout that surprises you at every corner,
such as the deep space jump righ after saving the Earth, the third level
that gets you to dive under water, or the final stage which I won't spoil here.
There is only one dark spot to this idyllic picture... Cosmic Epsilon is
extremely hard and the robot/ship hit-box is larger than it should have been to
my taste. All in all, the game is definitively a hidden gem and a technical marvel,
and a lot more than a mere Space Harrier clone.
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