Scramble vs. Super Cobra
Untangling One of the Oldest Arcade Arguments & Mix-Ups
How our argument started
We walked into the arcade in 1981, and we saw Scramble and Super Cobra sitting a few feet apart, and our great debate began. Same side-scrolling attack. Same fuel mechanic. Same two buttons. The same cabinet style applies if the operator converted it from an older machine. It looked like one game was copying the other. I played Scramble first My friends played Super Cobra first, that’s how it started. It wasn’t. The truth is more straightforward, but it took decades for the facts to settle.
Historical Background
Scramble arrived in 1981. Konami developed it. Stern handled North American distribution. At the time, Scramble was a breakthrough shooter due to its forced scrolling, fuel management, and multi-section design, or as I described it, this game is cool!
Only months later, Konami released Super Cobra. Wikipedia refers to it as the “spiritual sequel” to Scramble and confirms that both games were launched in the same year by Konami, ARE YOU SERIOUS? Hardcore Gaming 101 goes further and describes Super Cobra as a direct expansion of Scramble’s ideas (Hardcore Gaming 101, n.d.). We were arguing because, at the time, many knock-off arcade cabinets were appearing with variations on original games, such as Rally X, Donkey Kong, and others. This really confused us back in the day, when we were having heated arguments over pizza on which one was first.
Side-by-Side Gameplay Comparison
What They Share
• Horizontal forced scrolling
• Fuel depletion that requires bombing fuel tanks
• Two-button control: forward fire and bombs
• Terrain navigation that demands precision
• Multi-section missions instead of endless loops
• Same Konami hardware platform
These similarities came directly from Konami’s decision to reuse the Scramble board. Operators could even convert Scramble cabinets by changing ROM chips. That alone explains why early players saw them as the “same game.”
Everyday Differences Players Noticed
Vehicle
Scramble uses a small rocket ship.
Super Cobra uses a helicopter.
A simple change, but one that affects hitbox feel and the overall visual tone.
Length and Difficulty
Scramble features six main stages.
Super Cobra expands the formula with about eleven, and it is far more demanding. Every major source highlights the increased difficulty (Hardcore Gaming 101, n.d.).
Mission Design
Scramble pushes toward a final base.
Super Cobra sends the player deep into enemy territory, culminating in the theft of cargo and escape.
Continue System
Scramble starts you over.
Super Cobra lets you continue near where you died, which was unusual for 1981.
Home Visibility
Scramble had limited official ports.
Super Cobra became widespread through Parker Brothers. Atari 2600, ColecoVision, Intellivision, and others all got versions.
For many kids growing up in the 80s, Super Cobra was the game they played at home. That increased the myth that Scramble was “the copy” instead of the original.
Why Konami Released Two Similar Games in the Same Year
Proven Formula
Scramble worked. When a design takes off, the savvy business move is to extend it. Konami did precisely that. That’s how they messed with our minds! Why Konami? Why?
Hardware Reuse
Both games used the same board. That kept the second game cheap to produce and fast to ship.
Market Pressure
In 1981, arcades moved fast. Space shooters were exploding. Waiting too long risked losing attention to competitors.
Simple Differentiation
Changing the player vehicle, creating more challenging levels, and adding more sections gave arcade owners a reason to buy, and players a reason to spend.
Why Players Got Confused
• Converted cabinets
• Nearly identical mechanics
• Same scrolling style
• No internet to explain anything
• Bootleg Scramble boards already in circulation
With all that in place, the mix-up was guaranteed.
ARCADER’S COURTROOM VERDICT
Here is the clean conclusion for anyone who still argues this online:
Scramble is the original.
Super Cobra is the sequel.
Konami created both.
Both were released in 1981.
Both share hardware, mechanics, and structure.
Super Cobra is an expansion of Scramble, not a copy.
The games look alike because they were meant to. Konami built a family of shooters based on a proven design, and both titles remain popular today because the formula was strong.
Sidebar: What Sources Say (Pull-Quote Style)
Wikipedia:
Super Cobra is the “spiritual sequel to Scramble,” released the same year (Super Cobra, n.d.).
Hardcore Gaming 101:
Super Cobra “expands on some of the original’s concepts” and is treated as the follow-up to Scramble (Hardcore Gaming 101, n.d.).
Nostalgia Central:
“As Konami’s Scramble soared… the company quickly developed a sequel: Super Cobra.” (Nostalgia Central, n.d.)
Data Driven Gamer:
Documents indicate that Konami produced both games during the same early 1981 period (Data Driven Gamer, 2019).
These public sources settle the argument from four angles.
References
Data Driven Gamer. (2019). Early Konami: Scramble, Super Cobra, and more. Retrieved from https://datadrivengamer.blogspot.com/2019/06/games-63-65-early-konami.html
Hardcore Gaming 101. (n.d.). Scramble / Super Cobra. Retrieved from https://www.hardcoregaming101.net/scramble-super-cobra/
Nostalgia Central. (n.d.). Super Cobra. Retrieved from https://nostalgiacentral.com/pop-culture/toys-games/super-cobra/
Scramble (video game). (n.d.). In Wikipedia. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scramble_(video_game)
Super Cobra (video game). (n.d.). In Wikipedia. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Cobra