Home /
ColecoVision

Rip Cord

ColecoVision

ColecoVision

The aircraft that the parachutist jumps out of flys from right to left across the top of the screen, at a random height. A number of helicopters fly about at random. If the parachutist hits a helicopter or misses a scoring platform, he falls into the sea. Depending on which platform is landed upo...

Download

0/5 Votes: 0

Report

Developer
Exidy

Released on
2016

Size
1–2 Players

Version
ColecoVision

Requirements
ColecoVision

Downloads
Action

Publisher
Collectorvision Games

ESRB Rating
Not Rated

Report this app

Images

Description

The aircraft that the parachutist jumps out of flys from right to left across the top of the screen, at a random height. A number of helicopters fly about at random. If the parachutist hits a helicopter or misses a scoring platform, he falls into the sea. Depending on which platform is landed upon, the player can score 10, 20 or even 50 points. The scoring platforms are located on respectively three mountain cliffs, a tower, a base and an island.

Rip Cord

Overview & History

Released in 1983 by Coleco exclusively for the ColecoVision, Rip Cord adapts the pulse-pounding thrills of competitive skydiving into an immersive 8-bit cartridge experience. Designed during the height of the golden age of arcade-style home ports, the game captures the high-altitude hazards of free-falling through unpredictable atmospheric conditions while managing split-second timing. Unlike standard platformers of its era, Rip Cord challenges players to balance horizontal positioning, obstacle avoidance, and precise parachute deployment across increasingly perilous aerial stages.

Gameplay Features & Mechanics

The action unfolds in two distinct phases per level. First, players plunge through a vertical corridor of clouds, battling turbulent winds, erratic birds, and stray weather balloons that threaten to throw the skydiver off course. Movement requires constant micro-adjustments to stay centered and avoid terminal collisions. The second phase begins the moment the ripcord is pulled. Here, the perspective shifts as players must steer their canopy toward a floating target zone while dodging hostile aerial hazards. Scoring relies heavily on proximity to the bullseye, safe altitude management, and smooth landing execution. Failing to pull the cord before hitting the ground level results in an immediate loss of a life, making altitude tracking a core survival mechanic.

Keyboard Controls

Arrow Keys / D-Pad: Move skydiver left/right in freefall and steer the parachute
Action Keys: Pull Rip Cord / Deploy brake
Enter: Start / Pause