Cobra Triangle

Water splashes, a motorboat tears down a canal, and ahead of you appear whirlpools, waterfalls and enemy vessels. Cobra Triangle is no ordinary race, it is an action ride on the water's surface where one moment of inattention means capsizing.

The game combines motorboat racing with action elements, because besides fast driving in an isometric view you shoot at enemies, collect upgrades and complete a variety of tasks. The individual levels differ in their goals, from simply reaching the finish through rescuing swimmers to boss battles. This variety set Cobra Triangle apart from ordinary racing titles.

Behind the game stands the studio Rare, a British team that became famous on the NES for technically impressive and inventive games. Cobra Triangle came out in the late 1980s and used the same isometric style that Rare put to good use in its other titles as well, thereby building a recognisable signature.

Culturally, the game is prized precisely for its diversity and pace. Instead of monotonous driving in circles, it offered constantly new challenges, so the player never knew what awaited them in the next level. This variability kept up the tension and motivated further progress.

The isometric perspective lent the water's surface depth and overview, thanks to which jumps over whirlpools and the positions of enemies were easy to judge. Collecting upgrades then added a layer of strategy, where you had to weigh how to strengthen your boat for the coming challenges.

Cobra Triangle thus remains an example of how Rare managed to squeeze a fresh and entertaining game even out of a simple concept.

Why play: Action motorboat races full of varied tasks and battles that show why the studio Rare had a reputation as magicians on the NES.