Difference between revisions of "Twin Cobra"

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Twin Cobra

System(s): Sega Mega Drive

Publisher: Treco (US Sega though Treco is credited)

Developer: Toaplan

Toaplan with GRC doing sound

Genre: Shoot-'em-Up

Number of players: 1

Release	Date	RRP	Code

Twin Cobra, known as Kyuukyoku Tiger (究極タイガー) in Japan, is a 1987 arcade shoot-'em-up by Toaplan ported to the Sega Mega Drive in 1991 and released in Japan, the US and Brazil.

This Mega Drive variant of the game is slightly misleading. The name "Twin Cobra" (or Twin Cobra: Desert Attack Helicopter as listed on the packaging) originates from the localised arcade name for Kyuukyoku Tiger, but the "twin" implies "two", when it is in fact only a one-player game. In Japan, the arcade Kyuukyoku Tiger was originally released in a single-player only-form - a product which did not make it to the US, but is what this Mega Drive port is derived from.

In Brazil this was partially rectified by simply calling the game Desert Attack Helicopter on its packaging, though it uses the Twin Cobra name in-game.

Gameplay

The game auto scrolls like most shoot'em ups, A boss awaits at the end of each stage. The game loops after clearing it.

shoots. and drop bombs (which is available in a limited supply). These have very big radius and power, furthermore absorb all bullets while the explosion lasts, but also have a (intentional) delay. Autofire cab be turned on or off. Using an autofire controller can give higher firing rates than the game's internal autofire.

Powerups are collected in the usual manner but are scarce as only green helicopters drop them. Compared to other game's power up carriers, these are exceptionally well armored. It's worth mentioning that weapons and weapon power ups are different items.

Weapons

Red: Standard straight shot, widening the more you power up
Green: narrow, strong laser
Blue: Spread shot
Yellow: forward and sideway shot, becomes cross shaped when powered up

Mega Drive version

By default the Mega Drive port of Twin Cobra is harder than its arcade counterpart, but this difficulty it can be adjusted in the options menu. Its overall presentation (complete with the "insert coin screen"), gameplay, levels layout and enemy patterns are faithful to the arcade original, unlike a rival PC Engine version which stripped its gameplay down and offers simplified presentation and stage design.

The Mega Drive Twin Cobra has a very simplistic way of handling colour, choosing a 64 colour palette at the start of the game and sticking with it regardless of what is happening on screen. This leads to some curious design choices, such as the tanks in stage 1 being bright yellow, as their palette is shared with explosions. On top of this, 16 of those colours are reserved for hit confirmation effects (yellow/red flashing when hitting an enemy), giving even less choice for stages and objects.

The helicopter in all home versions of the game is grey as opposed to the original red colour scheme. There is also some noticable load times before boss fights

History

Legacy

The game was also ported to several others systems of different generations like the NES; FM-Towns and PlayStation as part as Toaplan Shooting Battle Vol.1, the latter being the most faithful port.

In 1995 it received a sequel, Twin Cobra II/Kyuukyoku Tiger II, which would be ported exclusively to the Sega Saturn and released in Japan as Kyuukyoku Tiger II Plus.

A boss in Namco's shoot'em up Dangerous Seed is called "Ultimate Tiger", which is a direct translation of Twin Cobra's name. This could be a deliberate reference.

Production credits

Kyuukyoku Tiger

Publisher: Hajime Satomi
Producer: Hiromitsu Kususe
Assistant Producer: Tatsuhiko Tsuchida, Takashi Ohga, Midori Sawada, Takashi Kuroda, Akihiro Murayama
Program Designer: Hyakumangoku Hamada, Oshiete Kawacyan
Art Creator: Numataroh, Etoh Shiwasu, Kencyan Arumon Mark-2, Harada Riku-Shicyoh, Arumon Puls, Hashiuri Yuki, Kidokoro Mai
Music Arranger: Raika no Papa
Super Data Maker: Dotsukanpo Itoh
Executive Director: Yoshiaki Sawada
Special Thanks: Damenanoyo-N Shigecyan, Silpheed, Silence Takahashi, Dadida Syohji, Tetorisu Kudasai Maccyan, Bakkin Tamayama, Yukimi Papa, Urakureani Man 7, Egawa Bucyoh, Yamanaka San, Hex Dec Bin Imoto
Presented by: Treco

Source:

In-game credits

Twin Cobra

Publisher: Hajime Satomi
Producer: Hiromitsu Kususe
Assistant Producer: Tatsuhiko Tsuchida, Takashi Ohga, Midori Sawada, Takashi Kuroda, Akihiro Murayama
Program Designer: Hyakumangoku Hamada, Oshiete Kawacyan
Art Creator: Numataroh, Etoh Shiwasu, Kencyan Arumon Mark-2, Harada Riku-Shicyoh, Arumon Puls, Hashiuri Yuki, Kidokoro Mai
Music Arranger: Raika no Papa
Super Data Maker: Dotsukanpo Itoh
Executive Director: Yoshiaki Sawada
Special Thanks: Damenanoyo-N Shigecyan, Silpheed, Silence Takahashi, Dadida Syohji, Tetorisu Kudasai Maccyan, Bakkin Tamayama, Yukimi Papa, Urakureani Man 7, Egawa Bucyoh, Yamanaka San, Hex Dec Bin Imoto
Presented by: Sega Enterprises Ltd.

Source:

In-game credits

Magazine articles

Main article: Twin Cobra/Magazine articles.

Physical scans

Sega Retro Average

Publication

Version

Score

1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)

70