Cosmic Arc
A modern reimagining of the 1982 Atari 2600 Imagic classic
Mission Overview & Story
The sun of Alpha Ro is fading fast! Soon it will flicker out completely. The Cosmic Ark races through deep space to rescue defenseless alien creatures from doomed planets. Meteor showers bombard the Ark, threatening its Atlantean crew, while planetary defense systems make this mission of mercy doubly treacherous. Time and energy slip away — work fast or the beasties will disappear for all time!
Phase 1 — Asteroid Shower (Deep Space)
The Cosmic Ark battles its way through a treacherous asteroid shower while drifting through deep space. Fire your laser cannon in any of four directions to blast incoming space debris. Firing costs 1 energy unit — aim with discipline rather than spraying blindly. After destroying 8 asteroids, the Ark safely descends toward the planetary surface.
Phase 2 — Shuttleship Rescue (Planet Surface)
If you survived the asteroid field, the Cosmic Ark descends and lands. Deploy your shuttleship by holding down on the controls. Pilot the craft directly over a beastie, then press and hold the tractor beam button until the creature is safely hoisted aboard. Try to capture both beasties and return to the Ark before the warning klaxon sounds. Successfully rescuing both rewards a Full Energy Shield Restore!
Beware: Automatic planetary defense turrets patrol the edges of the surface, moving up and down while firing energy bolts. A direct hit costs valuable energy and causes the shuttleship to drop any beastie currently being carried.
Controls Reference
Keyboard Controls
| Action | Key |
|---|---|
| Start / Deploy Shuttleship | Space or ↓ Down |
| Deep Space: Fire Cannon | ← → ↑ ↓ (tap arrow in firing direction) |
| Planet: Steer Shuttleship | ← → Move Left / Right |
| Planet: Tractor Beam | Space (press & hold over creature) |
Gamepad Controls
| Action | Button / Input |
|---|---|
| Start Game | A Button (press & release) |
| Deep Space: Fire Cannon | D-Pad / Left Stick (tap direction) |
| Planet: Deploy Shuttleship | Hold Down on D-Pad / Left Stick |
| Planet: Steer Shuttleship | D-Pad / Left Stick Left & Right |
| Planet: Tractor Beam | A Button (press & hold until aboard) |
Scoring & Multipliers
| Event / Target | Points | Effect / Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Destroy an Asteroid | 10 pts | +1 Energy |
| Capture a Beastie | — | +12 Energy |
| Capture Both Beasties (before klaxon) | 1,000 pts | Full Shield Restore |
| Asteroid Strikes Ark | — | -12 Energy |
| Fire Laser Cannon | — | -1 Energy |
Pro Strategies & Survival Tips
- Prioritize beastie rescues — the +12 energy per capture and full-restore bonus are the only reliable way to sustain long runs.
- Beasties are skittish and will dodge the shuttleship. Anticipate their movement and cut them off rather than chasing.
- Planetary defense turrets cannot be destroyed. Learn their firing rhythm and dash between shots.
- If the full-rescue bonus is out of reach, at least capture one beastie before the klaxon to offset the energy cost of the next asteroid wave.
Gallery & Artwork
