Twinbee (video game)

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TwinBee/RainbowBell
Developer(s)	Konami
Release date(s)	March 5, 1985 March, 2007
Genre(s)	Vertical Shooter
Mode(s)	1 to 2 player co-operative
Platform(s)	Arcade Computers: MSX, Sharp X68000 Consoles: Famicom, Famicom Disk System Handhelds: Game Boy Advance, PlayStation Portable (as part of TwinBee Portable), Nintendo DS (as part of Konami Classics Series: Arcade Hits)
Input	8-way joystick, 2 buttons
Arcade cabinet	Upright
Arcade system(s)	Konami GX400
Arcade display	Raster, 224 x 256 pixels (Vertical)

Twinbee is an arcade vertical scrolling shooter video game published and developed by Konami in 1985.

[edit] Gameplay

The game play in Twinbee is simple, and has its foundation in Namco's Xevious. Players use Twinbee or Winbee in a short string of six levels that repeats indefinitely, with a boss at the end of each. Both characters start the game with a single shot for aerial enemies, and the ability to launch bombs, which are able to destroy ground targets. When either character is hit in the wings, they will lost them and they are unable to launch bombs and their firepower will reduce. When this happens, and "ambulance bee" will appear and it will repairs any character wings after touching it, enabling them to be able to shoot bombs again.

One of Twinbee's more defining features is the bell power-up. When the player shoot clouds, bells will pop out and travel to the bottom of the screen. Depending of the color of the bell when it is touched, a specific power-up will be obvtained. The bell color can be changed by continuously shooting until it turns in the desired color. However, if it is shot too many times, the bell will turn into a symbol that will kill the player who touches it.

Another feature is the possibility to play with two players simultaneously. In this mode it is possible to combine the two characters by joining them side by side. After doing this, one player can control both of them at the same time and their combined firepower is more powerful. On the downside, they are a bigger target and one hit will kill both characters, regardless of who received the attack.

[edit] Versions and ports

Twinbee originally appeared on arcades. It was later ported to MSX and Famicom. The Famicom version was re-released on Japan-only in the Famicom Mini label for the Game Boy Advance. This game will be officially released for the first time outside Japan as part of the Konami Classics Series: Arcade Hits for the Nintendo DS in March, 2007 under the name RainbowBell. Super Famicom counted with a sequel named "Pop'n Twin Bee".