Cobalt (video game)

This article is about the 2016 game. For the 2017 game, see Cobalt WASD. For other uses, see Cobalt (disambiguation).

Cobalt
Developer(s)	Oxeye Game Studio
Publisher(s)	Mojang Studios Microsoft Studios
Composer(s)	Mattias Häggström Gerdt
Platform(s)	Microsoft Windows Xbox 360 [1] Xbox One [1]
Release	2 February 2016 [2]
Genre(s)	Action
Mode(s)	Single-player, multiplayer

Cobalt is an action side-scrolling video game developed by Oxeye Game Studio and published by Mojang Studios. It was released on 2 February 2016 for Microsoft Windows, Xbox 360 and the Xbox One consoles.

Gameplay

Game modes

Cobalt has a story mode and 5 other multiplayer modes:

• Deathmatch: A type of the game mode where various weapons and throwables are spawned across the map, which are to be picked up. Players can play free-for-all deathmatch, or with teams. Up to 8 players can play in a multiplayer match.
• Team Strike: At the beginning of each round, players buy one of six classes, which each have certain advantages and disadvantages. Players then play in 4 vs. 4 eliminations. As soon as a team is eliminated, a new round begins. They can play in their character's current condition, repair their character, or sell it to get a new class. 8 players can participate in a multiplayer match.
• Plug Slam: Like deathmatch, various weapons are placed on the map. A plug is placed in the middle of the map. The goal is for the player to get the plug into the opponent's goal.
• Survival: At the beginning of a wave, players buy equipment, then must survive attacks, occasionally receiving objectives. Once a wave is over, players have the ability to upgrade their equipment.
• Challenge: These are time-driven challenges which test players' ability in speed and combat.
  • Speed: Speed challenges are time-based and require players to pass through all checkpoints until they get to the end. Obstacles may be present, such as enemies, turrets, and environmental hazards.
  • Combat: Combat challenges are also time-based and have targets that players must kill. Their score increases by performing actions like saving prisoners and taking out optional enemies.

Players play as the main character, known as Cobalt. Some key mechanics of the game include bullet time, rolling (to deflect bullets and/or increase speed), attacks, both ranged and melee, using various weapons of both kinds, which can deal damage and knock back throwables, all of which a player can combo together to produce an advanced level of play.

Development

Alpha

Cobalt was released in its alpha stage of development. Updates to subsequent versions of the game are free. The alpha version was initially only available for the Windows operating system. A macOS version was released on 27 June 2013, ^[3] but the game was later developed as Xbox 360, Xbox One and Microsoft Windows exclusive. ^[4]

The alpha version's main goals were:

• Local multiplayer
• Introducing both the single-player and co-op Adventure mode
• Introducing the level editor

Beta

Additional features were planned for the beta stage including a fully working level editor (and multiple editors), in-game level sharing between players, as well as the macOS and Linux ports of the game. Of these, the editors and the macOS port were released during the Alpha stage.

The Beta was never officially released as the game left Alpha, and the game was instead launched directly into its Gold version.

Gold

The final version of the game includes tools for sharing user-generated content (on Steam), a complete story mode, and same computer co-op multiplayer. Unlike the alpha, the main game's engine is powered by Autodesk Stingray ^[5] (as opposed to the in-house engine DaisyMoon). The macOS and Linux ports were ultimately scrapped ^[6] in favor of prioritizing networked play. ^[7]

Xbox port

The game was ported to the Xbox 360 and Xbox One by Fatshark. This version of the game has not been updated since release.

Reception

Reception

Aggregate score

Aggregator	Score
	PC	Xbox One
Metacritic	69/100 [8]	66/100 [9]

Review scores

Publication	Score
	PC	Xbox One
Destructoid	4/10 [10]	N/A
IGN	N/A	4.5/10 [11]
Polygon	N/A	7/10 [12]

Cobalt received "mixed or average" reviews, according to video game review aggregator website Metacritic. ^{[8] [9]}

See also

• Cobalt WASD

References

1. Makuch, Eddie (20 August 2013). "Mojang's Cobalt coming to Xbox 360, Xbox One". GameSpot . CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on 20 August 2013. Retrieved 20 August 2013.
2. Makuch, Eddie (4 January 2016). "See Microsoft's 2016 Xbox One and PC Exclusive Games Lineup Here". GameSpot . CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on 6 January 2016. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
3. Kaplan, Daniel (27 June 2013). "Cobalt now got Mac support in v121!". Mojang. Archived from the original on 20 May 2014. Retrieved 27 June 2013.
4. Yin-Poole, Wesley (4 January 2016). "The Xbox One and Windows 10 exclusives due out in 2016". Eurogamer . Archived from the original on 7 January 2016. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
5. "Oxeye Game Studio". cobaltwasd.com. Archived from the original on 12 December 2021. Retrieved 12 December 2021.
6. https://steamcommunity.com/app/357340/discussions/0/405691147597212152/ ^{[ bare URL ]}
7. http://www.oxeyegames.com/cobalt-launches-february-2/ Archived 6 February 2024 at the Wayback Machine ^{[ bare URL ]}
8. "Cobalt for PC Reviews". Metacritic . CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on 11 May 2025. Retrieved 8 February 2016.
9. "Cobalt for Xbox One Reviews". Metacritic . CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on 11 May 2025. Retrieved 8 February 2016.
10. Nakamura, Darren (16 February 2016). "Review: Cobalt". Destructoid . Archived from the original on 17 February 2016. Retrieved 16 February 2016.
11. Petty, Jared (8 February 2016). "Cobalt Review". IGN . Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on 10 February 2016. Retrieved 8 February 2016.
12. France, Roman (15 February 2016). "Cobalt review". Polygon . Vox Media. Archived from the original on 16 February 2016. Retrieved 15 February 2016.

External links

• Official website