Eh, not much to say here. I like the inclusion of a lifebar rather than having one-hit kills. Other than that, I've played so many better shooters. There's not a whole lot of diversity in power-ups, and you can see all the game offers in the first level. It also has the same problem as the first game where a lot of enemy shots blend into the background. There are less projectiles to dodge than in the average shooter, but that's offset by the fact that you can't see all too clearly. It's an uncomfortable design choice to say the least. The boss fights are actually a lot of fun though, so that's neat. 2/6

In my opinion, the most important thing in a video game is not its story, nor its visuals, or even if it is a good game. To me, the most important thing in a game is to have fun. And, man, Pop'n TwinBee is a textbook example of fun.

I am not a shmup connoisseur, in fact I am far from it considering this is the only shmup I've ever played, but I feel like as far as shmups go this is on the much easier side. And, for this game in particular, that's a wonderful thing. Coated in a seal of fantastical, bubblegum wonder, like a Ghibli movie on a sugar high, this game is an aesthetic masterwork. Every new enemy and new stage just rings you in further and further to its dreamlike and humorous world. The whimsicality of its atmosphere also somewhat preps its gameplay, which I would not call "easy", but I would rather call "accessible" - it is a breeze to wrap your head around and just play.

I don't want to say it's a children's game, but it is somewhat catered toward a younger and less "hardcore" audience, given its aesthetics and gameplay that are, admittedly, reminiscent of a children's movie. This, however, means nothing. Above all, Pop'n TwinBee is a lesson to be learned about having fun. This game is something you can enjoy for as long as you are able to play it. It's something your mother, your father, your sister, your brother, anyone you know of any age can enjoy. Play this by yourself, play this with someone else, it doesn't matter. Just have fun, because that's what Pop'n TwinBee wants you to do.

Vertical shoot em up, TwinBee sequel made just for the SNES. Made to be easier than the other games in the series, you have a lifebar but reset a stage upon death. Three different option weapon formation types can be chosen at start and you have a forward shot that can be modified with upgrades, a strong punch attack, attack for ground targets, and a bomb weapon. Your punch attack can also be used to deflect enemy shots and has enough range and a hit box that continues for a short time after the initial blow that it can be used to wipe out stronger enemies or some formations before they can start attacking. Score is increased and upgrade are acquired by shooting into the center of clouds, which will release a bell that can be juggled by shooting it. As you shoot the color will change from the gold score version to other colors that can give you your option weapons, change your shot type, give a shield, or change your movement speed.

Bright pastel colors, varied emotive enemies, and detailed stage backgrounds you can appreciate with the slower nature of the game.


Screenshots: https://twitter.com/Legolas_Katarn/status/1609322942076444672

It do be more twinbee, though I wouldnt say its as good as Detana. Seeing as this isn't an arcade port, it's more on the easy side of things, and there's a health bar this time around which replaces traditional lives. The co-op is where this game shines as the game is hectic enough to be fun with 2 people yet still gives enough power ups for both players to be functional through the levels. Thanks to this game being on Switch Online I was able to play the multiplayer so shoutouts to that. the airship level is boring as hell, but all the other levels are fun. All in all, it's solid especially with a friend, but def not as cracked as detana.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eO5_a5iv6bo they do be shmoovin in the commercial tho

Pop'n TwinBee is very cute. Unlike Parodius, Harmful Park and all that ilk, the priority seems to be on bright, appealing presentation over filling a shooter with a bunch of mad shit. It's a really pretty little game, and a very fitting mid-transition point in Konami's history between their cartoon licences and Tokimeki Memorial. It's from the era when 2-player co-ops were really targetted at couples, and they wanted to make something that would appeal to girls more than Contra and Commando.

I'm not a big vertical shooter guy, but there's a lot of shared lineage with personal favourite, Parodius. The series staple of juggling bells until they turn the desired colour is straight out of TwinBee. TwinBee's much more restrained and less funny, though. There's not a lot to laugh at, though shooting a procession of parading babies is pretty good. Cuteness is the focus, and the little animated interstitials between levels are especially nice. Like the animations they'd play at either side of the ads in early 90s anime. The vintage is definitely part of the charm.

The game plays a little like Xevious, with the ability to both shoot in front of you, and bomb targets on the ground. Pop'n seems to forget about this for long stretches, though charitable players might suggest this adds to the game's sense of variety. There's stackable power-ups, including clones of your ship, much like the "Option" from Gradius. It's got enough going on to keep you interested.

The biggest knock against the game are the few duff levels. One has you flying over an airship, targetting turrets with bombs. It seems to go on forever, as you fly aside it, without much change to the background. There's no real checkpoint system either, and if you die on the boss after a level that might have gone on for ten minutes, you'll have to go right back to the start to try it again. I didn't actually finish the game, because I died twice on the last boss, so I just turned my SNES off and watched the explosion on YouTube.

Pop'n TwinBee is available on Nintendo Switch Online, and I'd recommend that anyone interested try it there, as the ability to make your own saves could really be a godsend for some of the longer levels. It is a game that looks really great on a CRT, though. There's some really nice waving and transparency effects on the underwater level that I don't think can be captured nearly as well on a modern display. That old Konami vibrance really shines here. A nice summer evening, drinking beer and playing the SNES.

To preface, I'm not a huge fan of shumps. I don't think they're bad but I never was interested in them. However, when Pop'n Twinbee got added to the SNES online app, I thought I may as well try it...

This game really outdid itself when it comes to the presentation. The visuals are striking and amazed me at every turn, and the music is just bouncy and fun. When it comes to the actual gameplay, way the "options" ala Gradius work in this game are very interesting, especially if you choose one of the other two modes for them. Surround effectively makes you a bullet spraying menace and Engulf puts up to 4 more mini Twinbees that, as the name suggests, "engulf" the screen. These put a twist on the otherwise normal (though really fun) shump gameplay. Multiplayer is also very fun and if you can give it a try, you should.