Cosmo Gang the Video

Arcade version screenshot

Cosmo Gang the Video is a fixed shooter arcade game. Up to two players take control of the Hyper Beat starships — yellow for player one and white for player two — as they must rid the galaxy of the Cosmo Gang, a race of aliens causing mischief across Earth.[1] In the multiplayer mode, one of the players is on top of the other, and share the same number of lives.[1] Gameplay involves shooting down enemies as they fly into formation from the top and sides of the screen.[1] Enemies will dive-bomb towards the bottom of the screen in an attempt to hit the player.[1] Occasionally, a "Bakuto" alien will appear at the top of the screen while carrying a twin-shot power item, which can be collected by shooting it down.[1]

Some enemies will drop special power-up items after being shot, which will give the player one of several abilities when collected — these include a one-hit shield, slow-moving bombs, a black hole that brushes all enemies in its area off the screen, and a jack-in-the-box that stuns all on-screen enemies for a brief period of time.[1] In some rare cases, enemies may drop a Special Flag item from Rally-X that gives the player an extra life when collected.[1] Small "P" items can also be found, which increase the rate of the player's shots when collected.[1] In the multiplayer mode, two other power-up items can appear — one of which swaps the positions of the players, and the other allows the player to "fill up" the other player and make them burst, shooting out a large number of projectiles towards the enemy formation.[1][2]

The game spans 32 stages.[1][3] Later stages add in several new obstacles, including boxes that fire projectiles at the players, large coins that act as shields for the enemies, and draconic enemies that bring in reinforcements.[1] Some stages are bonus rounds, which are recreations of the original redemption game this title is based upon — in these, the players are tasked with keeping the aliens at bay before they latch onto their cargo containers and drag them to the other side of the screen.[1] Bonus points are awarded for each cargo container saved.[1] The 32nd stage features the players fighting Don Cosmo, the final boss.[1][3]

Cosmo Gang the Video was released in arcades by Namco in March 1992 in Japan,[4] and in North America later that April.[4] It was designed by Kohji Kenjoh, who later worked on the Custom Robo series for Nintendo, and composed by Yoshie Arakawa.[5] The game features characters and mechanics taken from Cosmo Gangs, an older Namco redemption game from 1990 that was later exported outside Japan by Data East.[6][3] It is heavily based on the company's own Galaxian series in terms of its gameplay and design.[3] One of the game's music tracks is a parody of the opening song for the Japanese cooking show Kyōnoryōri.[5] The game was presented at the 1991 Amusement Machine Show (AMS) tradeshow in Japan under the working title Cosmo Galaxian, alongside Namco's own Solvalou, Tank Force and Steel Gunner 2.[7] A home port for the Super Famicom was released in Japan on October 29, 1992,[8] which was later made available for the Nintendo Power flash cart service on August 1, 1998.[8] The arcade version was digitally re-released for the Japanese Wii Virtual Console on August 4, 2009.[9]

Cosmo Gang the Video was widely successful in Japan, being praised for its graphics, gameplay and music.[8] Game Machine listed it on their April 15, 1992 issue as being the sixth most-successful table arcade game of the year.[12] Gamest awarded it both the 8th Best Shooting and 17th Annual Hit Game awards, citing its colorful visuals, cute character designs and gameplay reminiscent of Galaga.[5] In a 2007 retrospective review, Retro Gamer praised the title's colorful visuals and quick-paced gameplay, saying that it was as addictive and well-designed as Namco's earlier arcade title Galaga '88.[3]

The Super Famicom version was met with a more mixed reception, with common complaints being towards its gameplay and lack of replay value. Super Play magazine found the game inferior to Galaga '88, saying that it does little to build on the concept established in games such as Space Invaders, Galaxian and Galaga.[2] Super Play also disliked its lack of replay value and its multiplayer mode for not being competitive.[2] They concluded their review by saying that "Space Invaders is dead, and throwing bucketfuls of pretty graphics, humour and SNES flashiness at it isn't going to help".[2] French publication Game Power criticized the game for repeating level layouts and backgrounds, unfavorably comparing it to Parodius Da! in terms of its art style and graphics.[11] Super Play Gold said that its lack of content and simplistic gameplay didn't make it worth the price point,[13] while SNES Force called it a "feeble attempt" to rework the gameplay of Space Invaders.[14]

Japanese publication Famitsu was more positive in their coverage, finding it to be a faithful home conversion of the arcade original.[8] They also liked its colorful visuals, soundtrack and multiplayer mode.[8] A similar response was echoed by Super Famicom Magazine, who praised its vibrant graphics, catchy soundtrack and addictive gameplay.[10] Super Play was positive towards the game's graphics, humor and lack of slowdown, alongside its "hectic" bonus stages and useful power-up items. Game Power liked its fast-paced gameplay, visuals and power-up items,[11] Super Play Gold said that fans of the original arcade version would like the Super Famicom conversion for its colorful graphics and cuteness.[13]

Some of the enemies and elements from Cosmo Gang and its puzzle spin-off appear in Dig Dug Arrangement, in the moon areas of the game.

A theme based on Cosmo Gang the Video is featured in Pac-Man 99 as special DLC. The game would later be officially released in Arcade Archives on April 20th, 2023 for use on Switch and PS4.[15]

• Japanese Wii Virtual Console website