Cobalt

Cobalt

Logo of Cobalt
Developer	Oxeye Game Studio
Publisher	Mojang Studios
Release	2 February 2016 (Steam)
Technical Information
Platforms	Microsoft Windows, Linux (Works via Proton), Xbox 360, Xbox One
Engines	DaisyMoon, Bitsquid
Written with	Lua
Homepage	https://www.playcobalt.com/

Cobalt is a sci-fi 2D sidescrolling action platformer video game developed by Oxeye Game Studio with assistance from Fatsharkand PixelDiet. Cobalt entered public alpha in December of 2011 and was originally purchased through a Mojang account. After 5 years of public alpha and beta releases, Cobalt was ultimately published by Mojang Studios on February 2nd, 2016 to Steam, XBOX 360 and XBOX One. Cobalt features a wide variety of game modes, play styles, and significant mechanical depth to tie its disparate elements together into a single cohesive experience. The signature mechanics of Cobalt are combat rolls that enhance movement and deflect projectiles, Auto-aim initialized by sliding across surfaces which preserves momentum or sneaking to stealthily and silently approach and eliminate targets, and the automatic initialization of localized time dilation when the player is faced with lethal danger. The combination of these mechanics with responsive and tight controls produces a breakneck pace and unforgiving yet fair core gameplay loop that can be experienced across Cobalt's singleplayer/coop campaign mode, singleplayer challenge modes, or multiplayer PvP and PvE gamemodes. Multiplayer can be accessed locally though the use of up to 8 controllers, though a Local Area Network (LAN), or online though Steam or XBOX Live (separate purchase necessary for XBOX Live).

Gameplay

Cobalt is played with a standalone keyboard with the right hand over the arrow keys and the left hand over the leftmost character and modifier keys in the home and bottom keyboard rows or with a standard Xbox or Direct Input gamepad by default. More traditional keyboard and mouse (WASD) controls can be used by installing an official mod from the Steam Workshop which also enables manual mouse-aiming, or custom control layouts for keyboard and gamepad can be defined within the in-game settings. Cobalt's gameplay is primarily centered around combat, movement, and puzzle solving - depending on the chosen gamemode.

The base (vanilla) game has two main game types: Arcade and Story.

Arcade

Arcade is a game type comprised of 5 unique gamemodes with a focus on competition (multiplayer PvP and leaderboards for PvE singleplayer and cooperative gamemodes)

• Challenge - singleplayer gamemodes that require the player to reach a specific condition in order to complete the map. There are 3 types of Challenge:
  • Combat Challenge - the goal is taking out all targets.
  • Speed Challenge - the goal is quickly reaching the finish line.
  • Puzzle Challenge (Story and user maps exclusive) - the goal is finding an item.
• Deathmatch - multiplayer competitive gamemode where the player with most kills wins. Players can fight free-for-all or in teams, as weapon pickups spawn across the map.
• Plug-Slam - multiplayer competitive team gamemode where the team that scores the most in time wins. To score players need to get a ball plug over opponent goal line.
• Team-Strike - multiplayer competitive team gamemode where the team with most rounds won wins. Rounds are won by the team that has more players standing by the end or when all opponents have been eliminated. Between rounds players can repair, upgrade or change their classes.
• Survival - also known as Waves Survival, it is a multiplayer cooperative PvE gamemode that is beaten by surviving all of the waves. Between the waves players can buy and upgrade their armor and weapons and restock on ammo.

Story

Story is a linear campaign comprised of 7 chapters with optional shops and detours that incorporate Arcade elements - Challenges.

Chapter I - First Contact

Unlocks:

• Chapter II and VII
• Resupply Station Shop
• Cat Peak Speed Challenge
• Andromeda Slopes Speed Challenge

Chapter II - The Trappers

Unlocks:

• Chapter III
• Trade Caravan Shop
• Scientist of Destruction Combat Challenge
• Ice Queen Combat Challenge

Chapter III - Deathshrooms

Unlocks:

• Chapter IV
• Temple of Pi Shop
• Fort Furnace Speed Challenge
• Mycelian Ransom Combat Challenge
• Amazing Apartments Puzzle Challenge

Chapter IV - Trunkopolis Enclave

Unlocks:

• Chapter V
• Broken Bazaar Shop
• Hostage Situation Combat Challenge
• Predator Checkpoint Combat Challenge
• Matter of Trust Speed Challenge
• Bouncy Solutions Puzzle Challenge

Chapter V - Rocket City

Unlocks:

• Chapter VI
• New Tech Noir Shop
• Hottest Run Speed Challenge
• Molten Jump Canyon Speed Challenge
• Code Requisition Combat Challenge

Chapter VI - Arctic Vault

Unlocks:

• Resupply Station 2.0 Shop
• Elevator Dive Speed Challenge
• Energy and Matter Speed Challenge
• Clean Up Job Combat Challenge
• Predator Lake Combat Challenge

Chapter VII - E.T.A.C.

Unlocks:

• The Realist ending
• The Mentalist ending
• The Awakening ending

Items

• Weapons
  • Melee
  • Ranged
  • Throwable
• Equipment
  • Armour
  • Gear
• Consumables
  • Ammunition
  • Exchangable
  • Defensive
• Miscellaneous
  • Power Plugs
  • Artifacts
  • Other

Plot Synopsis

Agent Cobalt is a metalface sent by Borealis to investigate the mysterious disappearance of the human colony Trunkopolis on a planet known as Trunkopia.

Development History

In 2001, Daniel "thewreck" Brynolf had developed a platformer prototype called Blueface. Following the release of Harvest: Massive Encounter in 2008, Oxeye wanted to develop another, more in-depth game. Unable to come up with ideas, it was decided that Blueface had a sufficiently solid foundation to become a "better game". Beginning in August of 2009, work began on Project B. Initially, it looked rather similar to Blueface.

On 8 October 2010, Project B was officially renamed to Cobalt

See Also

• Category:Cobalt
• Cobalt WASD
• List of Cobalt Updates
• Cobalt Modding
• Harvest: Massive Encounter