The Super Cobra (スーパーコブラ in Japanese) is one of the protagonists of the 1996 arcade game Salamander 2, it is a modified temporal space fighter sent to help the Vic Viper against invasion led by Doom/Giga. It replaces the Lord British from Salamander.
History
In the Space Calendar year 0999, a Sub-Space life form known as Doom/Giga began an invasion, resurrecting the Zelos Dragon and Salamander Force to assist him. During this time, his forces caused distortions across outer space. Those unfortunate enough to be caught within the distortions were trapped within the Sub-Space and were unable to escape, and those fortunate enough to avoid this disaster attempted to fight back, but were losing ground, eventually being forced to retreat to Gradius, the last base of operations.
In a last ditch effort to fight back, the Vic Viper, alongside the Super Cobra were launched to stop the invasion in its tracks. Up until now, Super Cobra was one of many nameless, undistinguished and mass-produced starfighters belonging to Gradius imperial military. Because it is one of mass-produced fighter, it didn't match up to the quality and power of Vic Viper. With Doom/Giga's invasion however, a particular mass-produced starfighter was selected and underwent numerous major technological reformatting to be on par with Vic Viper. After the necessary upgrades have been completed, it was rechristened as Super Cobra and had the honor of deploying into battle alongside Vic Viper.
After battling through Doom/Giga's forces, the two crafts locate Doom/Giga himself and wages a titanic duel to the death. Unlike Zelos and last bosses from Gradius series, Doom/Giga mounts a savage fight. But Vic Viper and Super Cobra are ultimately victorious as they defeat him, ending his invasion and averting the distortions. But Doom/Giga still has one final dice to roll: before it is consumed in the fiery explosion, Doom/Giga defiantly shouts that it will take Vic Viper and Super Cobra to hell with him. As it died, the fortress collapses and all exits leading to outside began shutting down. as in the first Salamander, The heroes must escape from the crumbling fortress while the fortress will attempt to prevent protagonists from doing so. May the good luck follow Vic Viper and Super Cobra.
Weapons
Super Cobra's arsenal is identical to the Vic Viper's in-game. All Lasers when collected a second time will grant the Super Cobra an enhanced version that lasts for a limited amount of time.
- Impulse Rail Gun - fires a single, semi-automatic bolt that can destroy smaller enemies easily.
- Smart Missile - fires a single missile that homes in on the nearest enemy.
- Twin Missile - an upgrade to the Smart Missile, it fires an additional missile.
- Cyclone Laser - fires a standard beam with a spiraling effect that can penetrate most smaller enemies.
- Hyper Ray - an upgrade to the Cyclone Laser, it fires an enhance version of the laser that is faster and more powerful for a limited time.
- Ripple Laser - fires a ring-shaped pulse that is much wider than the normal laser, but lacks the ability to penetrate enemies.
- Burster Ripple - an upgrade to the Ripple Laser, it fires an enhance version of the laser that is faster and more powerful for a limited time.
- Twin Laser - fires two smaller lasers straightforwards, they have a faster fire rate than the other lasers, but deal less damage. They dissipate the further they travel.
- Spear Laser - an upgrade to the Twin Laser, it fires an enhance version of the lasers that deal more damage and no longer dissipate as they travel for a limited time.
- Option - the standard variant of the option will follow the exact path of the Super Cobra from behind.
- Option Seeds - creates a smaller version of the option that orbits around the Super Cobra, it can only fire the standard rail gun weapon. When two are collected, they will merge into a normal option.
- Assault Homing Option - a unique ability that allows the Super Cobra to sacrifice an option in order to fire a powerful homing beam that does devastating damage, when the beam dissipates, it leaves behind an option seed.
- Defensive Field Option - another ability which allows the Super Cobra to sacrifice an option seed to destroy any nearby enemy in a close proximity.
- Force Field - creates an aura that surrounds the entire Super Cobra, allowing it to absorb three hits from enemy fire in any direction.
Gallery
Trivia
- There is a design inconsistency between Super Cobra seen in console opening trailer and Super Cobra in-game appearance.
- Originally, Super Cobra was meant to be red version of Vic Viper (as shown in the arcade flyer promotion), but was changed to Super Cobra at the last minute.
- Super Cobra's appearance has disappointed many gamers who played the first Salamander, for they wanted to see the return of Lord British.
External links
- Super Cobra at the Gradius Wiki
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