COSMIC EPSILON
Game Cover
Game
コズミック イプシロン
©1989 Asmik
Release: 1989-11-24 (¥6500)
Cartdridge ASM-EO
Shooter/3D

Cosmic Epsilon is a forward/3D shooter developed by Home Data and published by Asmik. An army of alien invaders from the Epsilon Empire is headed towards Earth and threatens to destroy it. An enemy transport battleship has already landed and waves of alien ships pour out of it. The player takes control of a transformable humanoid robot, the Cosmic Epsilon, and the object of the game is to fly through eight levels, from the surface of the Earth to deep into space and enemy occupied territory. The player comes equipped with two different weapons - a standard Vulcan beam (which can also be charged up by holding the fire button) and a set of limited homing missiles. Cosmic Epsilon doesn't feature any power ups, however power capsules can be collected throughout the game (extra missiles, lives or temporary shield) and are carried around by snake-like enemies (usually hidden within the scenery). Although the mech has the ability to transform into a space-fighter, this option is not directly available to the player and the game alternates between robot and spaceship levels (which both feature a similar gameplay). Finally, the game is compatible with the Famicom 3D/stereo glasses and the 3D mode can be activated at anytime by pressing Select.
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Cosmic Epsilon - I AM NOT KONANI Cosmic Epsilon certainly reminds of Taito's excellent Tetrastar The Fighter released for the Famicom in 1991. The ground animation is really similar (even if, I think, Cosmic Epsilon is more successful at it) as well as some of the sound effects. It wouldn't be a long shot to assume that both games were developed by the same team at Home Data. As a side note, a weird message appears on the title screen if you happen to enter the now legendary Konami code (See the Secret section) - "I am not Konani" (spelt wrong on purpose I think, picture on the right) appears bellow the Asmik logo. But Cosmic Epsilon wasn't the first and only game with such hidden text - Tobidase Daisakusen (aka 3D World Runner) released for the Famicom in 1987 also featured a "I am not Konami" message displayed when the player entered the Konami code.

Game Staff (Copied from the end credits) :

STAFF

Main Programmer
Kazenoofuu
Sub Programmer
Alice

Main Designer
Wozl
Sub Designer
Gell Gee

Sound And Music
Endooo
Special Thanks
Rzv Dna

Presented by
Asmik


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Japanese Phonecard
Japanese Phonecard


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Cosmic Epsilon manual Registration Card
Click on picture to enlarge

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Continue:
Wait until the Game Over message appears on screen, then hold Select and press Start. At the title screen, press Start again to start at the beginning of the stage where you died.

Level select:
At the title screen, press A, B, Right, Left, Right, Left, Down, Down, Up and Up. A "Stage Select" message should appear under the Asmik logo allowing you to pick a level.
"Another World" mode:
At the title screen, press Up, Down, Left, Right, A, Down, Up, Left, Right and B. A "Another World!" message should appear under the Asmik logo and allow you to play the game with a different color palette.

Konami code:
At the title screen, enter the Konami code (up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right, B and A). A "I am not Konani" message should appear under the Asmik logo.


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Cosmic Epsilon was a delightful surprise. Well, in truth, I was honestly expecting a generic and average rail shooter - there's so much the Famicom hardware can do, really. And then, the first thing that strikes you is how smooth and incredible the ground animation is. And the rest of the game follows along the same lines - the controls are responsive (yet a bit stiff), the action is fast and intense, and some bosses are particularly impressive, without forgetting the surprisingly good speech synthesis featured between levels, and the stereo/3D option. The game also introduces an interesting stage layout that surprises you at every corner, such as the deep space jump righ after saving the Earth, the third level that gets you to dive under water, or the final stage which I won't spoil here. There is only one dark spot to this idyllic picture... Cosmic Epsilon is extremely hard and the robot/ship hit-box is larger than it should have been to my taste. All in all, the game is definitively a hidden gem and a technical marvel, and a lot more than a mere Space Harrier clone.




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