ColecoVision · 1981
Cosmic Avenger
A 1981 Universal Entertainment arcade shooter carried onto the ColecoVision as a launch-era cartridge.
- Publisher
- Universal Entertainment
- Format
- Cartridge
- Genre
- horizontally scrolling shooter
- Released
- 1981
01
Overview
Cosmic Avenger puts you in a small fighter that crosses one long, continuously scrolling world of mountains, plains, and underwater passages. Two fire buttons cover forward shots and dropped bombs, while a top-of-screen radar flags enemies approaching from behind. One or two players alternate turns, restarting from the nearest checkpoint after each loss.
02
Why it matters
The arcade original helped establish the first wave of forced horizontal scrolling shooters in 1981. The ColecoVision port made the game a console launch title and remains a straightforward example of that arcade-era design translated to a home system.
03
The physical edition
A typical complete copy includes the game cartridge, an instruction manual, and the original box; the registration card seen with some copies is a regional or package-content variation rather than part of the game itself. Box artwork, cartridge labeling, and manual references vary by region and publisher, so match the physical item to the edition you expect before purchase.
04
Playing it today
A working ColecoVision console and a compatible controller are enough to play the original cartridge. Emulators for ColecoVision hardware are also widely available for people who do not own the physical system.