COBRA'S ARC
Dinamic Software, 1986
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Solution by Exemptus - June 2025
Overview and general hints:
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In this icon-based adventure, you need to find The Cobra Temple and get the
treasure there held. The original game is in Spanish but does not have a text
interface: input is done through icons. The screen shows four windows: our
inventory, a picture of the current location, an auxiliary window for some
command options (such as Load / Save), and the icons for commands. These are,
from left to right then top to bottom, as follows:
Icon Meaning
=====================
O-Arrow Go West
N Arrow Go North
S-Arrow Go South
E-Arrow Go East
Spyglass Look around
Cassette Load/Save Game
Stop End Game
Hand (Coger) Take
Fire Mystic Force
Hand (Usar) Use [requires pointing at object]
Compass Directions [with respect to Cobra Temple]
Door in Go In
Door out Go Out
Ear Speech On/Off toggle
Output text, such as the description of the location, shows in the middle of the
screen. The game also uses synthesized speech to read out the text, but this
slows down the interaction considerably (luckily it can be turned off). Besides,
the speech sound is very quiet in the original Spectrum version, unless boosted.
Actions are very limited as a result of the interface. The map is fixed, but
most objects are scattered randomly about. There are some insta-death locations
and many one-way connections, plus a number of places where characters may
appear -- some of them deadly unless we have the right object. There is no DROP
action: if the location has an object we may TAKE it. The LOOK action just gives
an enlarged view of the object's icon on the location, if there is any, so it is
pretty useless. The COMPASS action gives the overall direction in which the
Cobra Temple is, which is also of no use at all. Some locations allow IN or OUT
actions.
The player begins at random in one of three possible locations. This is directly
taken from a board game which was fairly popular in Spain in the late 70s, as
well as the setting for the game.
Some characters give clues as to what to do, others are a hindrance in one way
or another, or else do nothing. The game requires a fixed set of steps, which
can be completed in no particular order:
* Finding a raft to cross the sea and reach the north part of the map
* Killing at least one guardian dragon with a sword
* Finding and killing the Cobra Prince (PrÃncipe Cobra)
* Finding and killing the Sorcerer (Hechicero)
* Finding the key to the Cobra Temple
Due to the random nature of the game, an exact walkthrough is not too practical,
but it can be solved by following these steps:
(1) Get the raft, which is always in the same location (Orilla del mar).
(2) Systematically traverse all the land locations and get the objects that you
come across. The game tells you when there is something in your location
("Ves algo en el suelo"). Use the map to avoid those locations with insta-
death, as well as those with the Sorcerer and Cobra Prince (always fixed)
until you have the right objects with you.
(3) The golden cup (copa de oro) kills the Cobra Prince. This is automatic.
(4) The silex kills the sorcerer (you need to USE it).
(5) The sword (espada) kills both dragons.
(6) Note where characters appear, particularly Dragora, which may show up in
either of several locations. She asks you to seek the hourglass ("Busca el
reloj de arena").
(7) Find the hourglass and bring it to Dragora, who will exchange it for the
key to the Cobra Temple.
(8) Note that the barbarian Gurka will steal your key if you happen to meet him
once you have it. This may or may not happen. If you can go to the Cobra
Temple entrance without meeting Gurka, then do so, and skip step (9).
(9) Find Gurka again on the map. He will have vanished from the former location
and reappeared a bit later (at the same or a different location). Once you
find him, kill him with the sword and get the key back.
(10) Once at the Cobra Temple entrance, kill the dragon with the sword if you
already haven't. Enter the Temple and get the treasure.
Other characters are basically useless. Wambel, which you find just by moving
from your starting location, tells you that your Mystic Force will help you
defeat the Cobra Prince. In fact, the Mystic Force command gets you nothing
useful and you may totally ignore it. Graudler the Philosopher gives you the
tip that you'll need the silex to defeat the Cobra Prince, which is fake news:
it's the Sorcerer who you defeat this way. And both dwarves are just for
decoration. Sivilix happens to be at two different locations, to add to the
confusion.
Finishing the game does not require it, but additional points are earned by
going through all locations and killing both dragons (there is a second one in
a cavern within Glouster Castle).