Cosmic Smash combines real-life sports squash & racquetball with break-blocking video games Arkanoid & Breakout into a unique solo experience. It was originally released as an arcade game in Japan and Europe, and then it was given a Dreamcast release only in Japan.
The game is super simple in that your job is to break all the blocks on each court before time runs out. Your time carries over between each stage, and finishing quickly nets you bonus seconds. Style finishes turn Cosmic Smash into a bit of a show; hit the last block with a charged shot and you’ll get a flashy replay. This is a small addition, but it keeps you entertained by seeing how cool you can make yourself look.
Branches on the map lead to different stages of varying difficulty. This mechanic is a carryover from its design as an arcade game, but it does increase replay value by encouraging multiple plays through every possible route.
Besides looking cool, the minimalistic style serves two major functions. First, it allows the game to run at a silky-smooth rate on the Dreamcast hardware. Second, it creates a futuristic, yet timeless aesthetic that retains its original appeal over time. Even when another ten years passes, this game will still look good in its own way.
I don’t see any chance for this style of game to ever be released on a disc again. Its austere graphics and lack of multiplayer would be a hard sell to retailers. Luckily, we now have digital distribution, which makes a re-release a whole lot more feasible. It also wasn’t ever released in the US before, so it can even be marketed as a brand new game! Slap on online leaderboards and you’re good to go. Additionally, it was developed in-house at Sega (by Sega Rosso), meaning they still own the rights and code.
While I would have a hard time convincing anyone to pay the $40 (or more on ebay) that I did for Cosmic Smash, a $10-15 download would be the perfect price point for this arcade port. For those interested in importing the original, the entire game is presented in English, so no worries there. It’s worth noting that this is one of the few Dreamcast games that was released in a (very cool, translucent) DVD case instead of the standard CD jewel case. Personally, I’m a sucker for having rare pieces in my collection… especially when it comes to the Dreamcast!
Original release date: September 13, 2001 (Japan only)
(Editor’s note: I apologize about the lack of posts recently – Dragon Quest IX is to blame!)
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