Twin Cobra
From Sega Retro
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Twin Cobra | |||||
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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 | |||||
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Twin Cobra, known as Kyūkyoku 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. The US packaging calls the game Twin Cobra: Desert Attack Helicopter and in Brazil the packaging simply calls it Desert Attack Helicopter. Despite the difference in their names, the three versions are based on the 1 player only first Arcade version, Kyūkyoku Tiger, which makes the Mega Drive Japanese version the one with the adequate name (Though the Brazil one, at least, isn't misleading).
This Mega Drive port has increased difficulty by default but it can be adjusted and reduced in the options menu. Its overall presentation (With the "insert coin screen"), gameplay, levels layout and enemy patterns are faithful to the Arcade original unlike the PC Engine port which has stripped down gameplay and simplified presentation and stages design.
The game was also ported to several others systems of different generations like the NES; FM-Towns or PlayStation as part as Toaplan Shooting Battle Vol.1. The latter was the most faithful port.
In 1995 it received a sequel, Twin Cobra II / Kyūkyoku Tiger II, which would be ported exclusively to the Sega Saturn and released in Japan as Kyuukyoku Tiger II Plus.
Contents
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, but 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
Version differences
- The Japanese and western release are in fact different roms.
- Aside from unavoidable graphical differences, all home versions have a gray instead of a red helicopter.
Trivia
- The game has poor color palette usage, e.g. tanks in stage 1 are made from two parts. Their lower part shares the color palette with explosion sprites, making it bright yellow. while their upper part has the same colors, but draws them from a different palette. An IPS file that fixes the colors and brings them closer to the arcade version can be downloaded here: TODO
- The whole in-game action runs on a 64 color palette which never changes. 16 from these are reserved for hit confirmation effects (yellow/red flashing when hitting an enemy).
- 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
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.
© 1991 All Rights Reserved
Physical Scans
65 | |
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Based on 31 reviews |
NEC Retro has more information related to Kyuukyoku Tiger
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- ↑ File:Megatech UK 01.pdf, page 81
- ↑ File:Segapro UK 06.pdf, page 31
- ↑ File:SegaForce08UK.pdf, page 90
- ↑ 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 322
- ↑ 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 252
- ↑ Aktueller Software Markt, "Mai 1991" (DE; 1991-04-26), page 128
- ↑ Beep! MegaDrive, "March 1991" (JP; 1991-02-08), page 34
- ↑ The Complete Guide to Sega, "" (UK; 1991-05-xx), page 38
- ↑ Console XS, "June/July 1992" (UK; 1992-04-23), page 136
- ↑ Computer & Video Games, "May 1991" (UK; 1991-04-14), page 76
- ↑ Electronic Gaming Monthly, "June 1991" (US; 1991-xx-xx), page 22
- ↑ Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1, "" (RU; 1999-xx-xx), page 365
- ↑ Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide, "" (UK; 1993-11-18), page 113
- ↑ Famitsu, "" (JP; 1991-0x-xx), page 1
- ↑ Hippon Super, "March 1991" (JP; 1991-02-04), page 42
- ↑ Joystick, "Avril 1991" (FR; 1991-0x-xx), page 127
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "January 1993" (UK; 199x-xx-xx), page 95
- ↑ Mega Drive Fan, "May 1991" (JP; 1991-04-08), page 95
- ↑ Mega Play, "May/June 1991" (US; 1991-0x-xx), page 43
- ↑ MegaTech, "Xmas 1991" (UK; 1991-12-06), page 81
- ↑ Mean Machines Sega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-xx), page 142
- ↑ Power Play, "5/91" (DE; 1991-04-12), page 139
- ↑ 23.0 23.1 Sega Power, "October 1991" (UK; 1991-09-05), page 55
- ↑ Sega Pro, "April 1992" (UK; 1992-03-19), page 31
- ↑ 25.0 25.1 Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 68
- ↑ Sega Force, "August 1992" (UK; 1992-07-09), page 90
- ↑ Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 87
- ↑ Tilt, "Juin 1991" (FR; 1991-0x-xx), page 75
- ↑ Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 208
- ↑ Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 27
- ↑ Video Games, "2/91" (DE; 1991-06-07), page 91
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