G.I. Joe Wrath of Cobra Review (Steam)

G.I. Joe Wrath of Cobra Review, Yo Joe! Cobra returns once again with its most fiendish plot yet and it’s up to G.I. Joe to defeat them once more! Pick one of the real American heroes, gear up, and get straight into the fight in this retro side-scrolling beat ’em up – and make Cobra RETREAT yet again!

G.I. Joe Wrath of Cobra Review Pros:

  • Decent pixel art graphics.
  • 513.42MB download size.
  • Steam achievements.
  • Full controller support.
  • Officially licensed.
  • Graphics settings – resolution, screenshake, and screen mode.
  • Beat them up gameplay.
  • Influenced by games like Streets of Rage, and Final Fight.
  • You can remap controls.
  • Set run to flick or double tap.
  • Optional tutorial level.
  • You can do heavy and light attacks along with airborne and diving attacks and use dodge and block to negate damage. Block at the right time to parry and stun the enemy.
  • One of the best opening videos.
  • Pick up and use weapons, you can shoot them or just throw them.
  • You have a salute emote button.
  • The extras menu acts like a shop and you spend credits in there to unlock – Arcade mode, boss rush, 1 hit mode, boss shuffle, double trouble, enemy shuffle, high impact, item shuffle, low gravity, right start on death, time attack, Gungho, and rip cord.
  • Four difficulties – Easy, normal, hard, and impossible.
  • Big end of level boss fights.
  • Four initial characters to play as – Snake Eyes, Roadblock, Scarlet, and Duke. Each has unique stats and special attacks.
  • Breakable objects within the levels.
  • Four-player local multiplayer.
  • Health bar system and you can pick up med packs.
  • Great looking locations.

G.I. Joe Wrath of Cobra Review Cons:

  • Minimal graphics settings.
  • The remap controls are awkward third-party-like software built into the game.
  • You have a salute emote button!
  • No online multiplayer.
  • A lot of the characters repeat and they have no life to them, even the bosses seem flat and bored.
  • Hit detection can be a bit off, made harder but not being able to line up shots well.
  • No voice world and this is a huge bummer when facing bosses.
  • Levels out stay there welcome often.
  • Had a lot of controller issues with the pad constantly disconnecting and reconnecting no matter what I tried but this could be a me thing.

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G.I. Joe Wrath of Cobra:

Official website.

Developer: Maple Powered Games

Publisher: Indie.io

Store Links – 

Steam

  • 7/10
    Graphics - 7/10
  • 7/10
    Sound - 7/10
  • 7/10
    Accessibility - 7/10
  • 7/10
    Length - 7/10
  • 7/10
    Fun Factor - 7/10
7/10

Summary

G.I. Joe: Wrath of Cobra offers a nostalgic beat ’em up experience with decent pixel art graphics and a manageable download size of 513.42MB. The game is officially licensed and features full controller support, along with Steam achievements. Players can adjust graphics settings such as resolution, screenshake, and screen mode. The gameplay is heavily influenced by classics like “Streets of Rage” and “Final Fight,” allowing for remappable controls and the option to set running to flick or double tap. An optional tutorial level helps new players get acquainted with the mechanics, which include heavy and light attacks, airborne and diving attacks, and the ability to dodge and block. Timing blocks correctly can parry and stun enemies, adding a layer of strategy. The game boasts one of the best opening videos, and players can pick up and use weapons, either shooting or throwing them. A salute emote button adds a fun touch.

The extras menu acts like a shop where players can spend credits to unlock various modes such as Arcade mode, boss rush, 1 hit mode, and more. There are four difficulty levels: Easy, Normal, Hard, and Impossible. Each level ends with a big boss fight, and players can choose from four initial characters—Snake Eyes, Roadblock, Scarlet, and Duke—each with unique stats and special attacks. Levels feature breakable objects and great-looking locations, and the game supports four-player local multiplayer. Health packs can be picked up to restore health, and the minimal graphics settings are a plus for those who prefer simplicity.

However, the game has its drawbacks. The remap controls feel awkward, resembling third-party software built into the game. Despite having a salute emote button, the lack of online multiplayer is a significant downside. Many characters feel repetitive and lifeless, including the bosses, who seem flat and bored. Hit detection can be inconsistent, making it difficult to line up shots accurately. The absence of voice acting, especially during boss fights, is a major letdown. Levels often overstay their welcome, and controller issues, such as constant disconnecting and reconnecting, can be frustrating, though this might be an isolated issue.

In summary, G.I. Joe: Wrath of Cobra delivers a solid beat ’em-up experience with nostalgic elements and a variety of gameplay modes. While it excels in graphics, character variety, and local multiplayer, it falls short in areas like online multiplayer, character engagement, and technical stability. Despite its flaws, it offers enough content and fun for fans of the genre. It’s just big dumb fun and more fun with friends.

Jim Smale

Gaming since the Atari 2600, I enjoy the weirdness in games counting Densha De Go and RC De Go as my favourite titles of all time. I prefer gaming of old where buying games from a shop was a thing, Being social in person was a thing. Join me as I attempt to adapt to this new digital age!