Twin Cobra

From Sega Retro

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TwinCobra MDTitleScreen.png

Twin Cobra
System(s): Sega Mega Drive
Publisher: Treco (US Sega though Treco is credited)
Developer:
Genre: Shoot-'em-Up

















Number of players: 1
Release Date RRP Code

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.

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. B shoots. A and C 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

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.
  • 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.
  • The game has noticable load times before boss figths.

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

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
66 №114, p76[1]
78 №15, p127
78 №5, p95
39 №5, p95
32 №5, p95
81 №1, p81[2]
80 №23, p55
60 №23, p55
60 №23, p55
87 №6, p31[3]
28 №18, p68
50 №18, p68
80 №18, p68
71 №8, p90/91[4]
Sega Mega Drive
 64
Based on
14 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)
70
[5]
1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)
40
[6]
Aktueller Software Markt (DE)
67
[7]
Beep! MegaDrive (JP) NTSC-J
60
[8]
The Complete Guide to Sega (UK) NTSC-J
88
[9]
Console XS (UK) NTSC-J
80
[10]
Computer & Video Games (UK)
66
[1]
Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U
75
[11]
Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1 (RU)
60
[12]
Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide (UK)
78
[13]
Famitsu (JP) NTSC-J
53
[14]
Hippon Super (JP) NTSC-J
20
[15]
Joystick (FR) NTSC-J
78
[16]
Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK) NTSC-J
55
[17]
Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK) NTSC-U
39
[17]
Mega Drive Fan (JP) NTSC-J
65
[18]
Mega Play (US) NTSC-U
75
[19]
MegaTech (UK) NTSC-J
81
[2]
Mean Machines Sega (UK)
81
[20]
Power Play (DE)
80
[21]
Sega Power (UK) NTSC-J
63
[22]
Sega Power (UK) NTSC-U
50
[22]
Sega Pro (UK)
87
[3]
Sega Pro (UK) NTSC-J
54
[23]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
50
[23]
Sega Force (UK) PAL
71
[4]
Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
54
[24]
Tilt (FR)
70
[25]
Tricks 16 bit (RU) NTSC-U
46
[26]
Tricks 16 bit (RU) NTSC-J
70
[27]
Video Games (DE)
80
[28]
Sega Mega Drive
 65
Based on
31 reviews

Twin Cobra

Mega Drive, US
TwinCobra MD US Box.jpg
Cover
TwinCobra MD US Cart.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, JP
TwinCobra MD JP Box.jpg
Cover
TwinCobra MD JP CartTop.jpg
TwinCobra MD JP Cart.jpg
Cart
TwinCobra MD jp manual.pdf
Manual
Mega Drive, BR
TwinCobra MD BR Box.jpg
Cover
TwinCobra MD BR Cart.jpg
Cart
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NEC Retro has more information related to Kyuukyoku Tiger
  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 File:CVG UK 114.pdf, page 76 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:CVG UK 114.pdf_p76" defined multiple times with different content
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 File:MegaTech UK 01.pdf, page 81 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:MegaTech UK 01.pdf_p81" defined multiple times with different content
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 File:SegaPro UK 06.pdf, page 31 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:SegaPro UK 06.pdf_p31" defined multiple times with different content
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 File:SegaForce UK 08.pdf, page 90 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:SegaForce UK 08.pdf_p90" defined multiple times with different content
  5. ↑ 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 322
  6. ↑ 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 252
  7. ↑ Aktueller Software Markt, "Mai 1991" (DE; 1991-04-26), page 128
  8. ↑ Beep! MegaDrive, "March 1991" (JP; 1991-02-08), page 34
  9. ↑ The Complete Guide to Sega, "" (UK; 1991-05-xx), page 38
  10. ↑ Console XS, "June/July 1992" (UK; 1992-04-23), page 136
  11. ↑ Electronic Gaming Monthly, "June 1991" (US; 1991-xx-xx), page 22
  12. ↑ Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1, "" (RU; 1999-xx-xx), page 365
  13. ↑ Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide, "" (UK; 1993-11-18), page 113
  14. ↑ Famitsu, "" (JP; 1991-0x-xx), page 1
  15. ↑ Hippon Super, "March 1991" (JP; 1991-02-04), page 42
  16. ↑ Joystick, "Avril 1991" (FR; 1991-0x-xx), page 127
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "January 1993" (UK; 199x-xx-xx), page 95
  18. ↑ Mega Drive Fan, "May 1991" (JP; 1991-04-08), page 95
  19. ↑ Mega Play, "May/June 1991" (US; 1991-0x-xx), page 43
  20. ↑ Mean Machines Sega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-xx), page 142
  21. ↑ Power Play, "5/91" (DE; 1991-04-12), page 139
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 Sega Power, "October 1991" (UK; 1991-09-05), page 55
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 68
  24. ↑ Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 87
  25. ↑ Tilt, "Juin 1991" (FR; 1991-0x-xx), page 75
  26. ↑ Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 208
  27. ↑ Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 27
  28. ↑ Video Games, "2/91" (DE; 1991-06-07), page 91
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