Super Cobra is a horizontally scrolling shooter developed by Konami, originally released as an arcade video game in 1981. It was published by Konami in Japan in March 1981 and manufactured and distributed by Stern in North America on June 22. It is the spiritual sequel to the Scramble arcade game released earlier in 1981. Super Cobra contains eleven distinct sections, versus six in Scramble, and is significantly more difficult, requiring maneuvering through tight spaces early in the game. The game was a commercial success, selling 12,337 arcade cabinets in the United States within four months, becoming Stern's third best-selling arcade game. Super Cobra was widely ported by Parker Brothers, and there are Adventure Vision and standalone versions from Entex. Gameplay The player controls a helicopter through tight caverns, and the slightest misstep will result in the loss of a life. However, unlike Scramble, the game can be continued where the player left off by adding more credits and pressing FIRE (but he/she loses all points upon continuing). The joystick accelerates, decelerates, moves up, and moves down. The helicopter uses a laser and bomb to destroy defenders, tanks, and UFOs while infiltrating 10 Super Cobra defense systems. The ship has a limited fuel supply, which is depleted over time. More fuel can be acquired by destroying fuel tanks in the game. The game is divided into ten sections, plus a finale, each with a different style of terrain and different obstacles. Players navigate through ten levels and a base, where they must safely make it through the level and remove the booty. The levels are described as follows: Player must maneuver the chopper over mountainous terrain against fast and slow firing rockets. Chopper faces Arcing missiles over a mountain terrain. Smart Bombs flying in groups of four over mountainous terrain. Rockets appear, but do not fire. Single Smart Bombs over mountainous terrain. Again, Rockets appear, but do not fire. Chopper flies through a cavern-like terrain against falling mines. Rapidly firing, roving tanks over mountainous terrain. Rockets appear, but do not fire. Maneuver through a field of meteors which explode when hit with bombs or 3 times with laser, plus a single, green, shadow meteor directly in front of chopper which explodes when hit five times with laser. Rockets appear but do not fire. Chopper flies over mountainous terrain against rapidly firing UFOs. Tanks and rockets appear, but do not fire.