G.I. Joe: Wrath of Cobra Review

The G.I. Joe franchise has long been a staple of American pop culture, originating as a line of action figures in the 1960s and evolving into a multimedia phenomenon. Over the years, it has included comic books, animated series, and live-action films. One of its most beloved iterations is the 1980s cartoon G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero, which inspired countless fans with its iconic characters and action-packed storytelling. G.I. Joe: Wrath of Cobra is a side-scrolling beat ’em-up game that seeks to recapture the nostalgia of that cartoon while delivering a retro gaming experience. Unfortunately, while the game shows promise in its visual style, it falls short in almost every other aspect.

A Nostalgic Visual Delight

The standout feature of Wrath of Cobra is its visual presentation. The game employs a vibrant, comic-inspired art style that perfectly captures the look and feel of the original G.I. Joe cartoon. The character designs are faithful to the beloved heroes and villains, such as Duke, Snake Eyes, and Cobra Commander, while the environments are filled with small details that evoke the 80s-era animation.

From the tropical jungles to the high-tech Cobra bases, the game excels at creating a world that feels alive and nostalgic. The use of bold colors, fun animations, and smooth transitions adds to the artistic appeal. For fans of the franchise, this 16-bit visual fidelity is a treat, as it brings their favorite characters and settings to life in a way that feels true to the original material. However, while the graphics shine, they remain the game’s only major strength. The excellent art direction sets high expectations, but the rest of the game struggles to match this level of quality.

Simply Repetitive Gameplay

G.I. Joe: Wrath of Cobra is a side-scrolling beat ’em-up, a genre known for its straightforward gameplay where players progress through linear levels, fighting waves of enemies along the way. The controls are easy to learn, with basic attacks, combos, and a few special moves tied to simple button inputs. On paper, this simplicity could work well for a retro-inspired game. Unfortunately, the execution leaves much to be desired.

Combat quickly becomes repetitive. The enemy variety is minimal, with most fights consisting of button-mashing against the same few enemy types over and over again. There is little room for strategy or creativity in how battles play out, and the combat system lacks the depth needed to keep players engaged. Even the boss fights—moments that should feel climactic and exciting—are underwhelming, offering little challenge or unique mechanics to differentiate them from regular encounters. Adding to the frustration is the game’s uneven difficulty curve. Some sections are surprisingly easy, requiring little effort to progress, while others become unfairly challenging, throwing large numbers of enemies at the player. This inconsistency feels more frustrating than rewarding, detracting from the overall experience.

G.I. Joe: Wrath of Cobra is a relatively short game, clocking in at just a few hours of playtime. However, its lack of variety means that even this brief runtime can feel drawn out. There are only a handful of levels, and the lack of fresh ideas or mechanics makes the experience grow stale well before the end. This is a major missed opportunity, as the rich G.I. Joe universe offers plenty of material for creative gameplay elements that could have spiced up the experience.

A Lightweight Game with Heavy Problems

One of the most surprising shortcomings of Wrath of Cobra is its technical performance. For a 2D game with relatively simple mechanics, you would expect smooth and polished gameplay. Unfortunately, that is not the case here. The game is plagued by several bugs and glitches, ranging from minor visual hiccups to more significant issues like characters getting stuck in the environment.

The most egregious problem is the frequent frame rate drops, especially on the Nintendo Switch. In a fast-paced game where timing and fluidity are crucial, these performance issues are especially noticeable and disappointing. It is hard to forgive such technical shortcomings in a game that is not particularly demanding in terms of graphics or processing power. G.I. Joe: Wrath of Cobra had the potential to be a love letter to fans of the franchise or 16-bit era, but it fails to deliver an enjoyable experience beyond its nostalgic art style. While the visuals are faithful and impressive, the gameplay is repetitive, the difficulty is inconsistent, and the technical issues undermine what should have been a polished, lightweight game.

For die-hard fans of G.I. Joe, the art direction might justify a brief playthrough, but for most players, Wrath of Cobra is unlikely to leave a lasting impression. This is a game that could have been so much more with better design, greater variety, and more attention to technical polish. Sadly, it ends up feeling like a missed opportunity, a reminder that great visuals alone cannot carry a game.

The review code was provided by the publisher