Cosmo Police Galivan (1985)

Developer: Nichibutsu
Publisher: Imagine Software, Nichibutsu
Platforms: Arcade, Commodore C64/128/MAX, ZX Spectrum, PlayStation 4, Family Computer, Amstrad CPC
Genres: Shooter, Platform, Role-playing (RPG)

The 3D catalog: game boxes on wooden shelves, with the cat sitting at the counter next to its greeting.

The catalog in 3D

The same catalog has a room you can walk around in. The cat behind the counter is the AI Catbot, and they pick real games from it when you tell them what you feel like playing. Nothing is for sale, here or in there. Go in from here and this game is already out on the counter, with more like it waiting on the shelf next to it.

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How it feels

A fast-paced retro action game where you gradually power up from a melee fighter to a heavily armored gunner, with a short power-up window that adds tension.

retroactiondifficultprogressionpower-upsingleplayerarcade-like

About

Cosmo Police Galivan puts the player in control of a human being armed with a beam blade, which is only able to attack monsters in close proximity. As the game continues, the player character can use different powers - some ranged - to take out enemies and progress further. Eventually, the player will have the option of becoming a metal-armored officer with considerably more fire-power, though this power-up state will vanish if too much damage is taken. The player character will also level-up after destroying so many enemies, improving their health and "cosmo points" - a stat similar to mana that is used to power the player character's special attacks. The game's world is a network of caves that the player can explore for necessary items and bonus areas. The NES version expands this aspect, providing some Metroidvania-esque exploration. Some impediments are in place to restrict further exploration until the right item is found, as well.

Screenshots

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More by Nichibutsu

This page is from Underplayed Gems, a catalog of older and overlooked games. Not quite it? You can browse by platform and genre, or take this one into the 3D catalog and ask the Catbot for something closer.