Is Pop'n Twinbee Worth Playing Today? - SNESdrunk

Now available on the Nintendo Switch Online service...
New SNES-related video every Tuesday, and something else (Genesis, Game Boy, whatever) on Thursdays
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[@ValthorEldr]

This is probably one of the cleanest looking games I've ever seen, and that includes modern games.

[@duffman18]

There's a spin off game of this called Pop'n Twinbee Rainbow Bell Adventures which is also a kind of spin off of Rocket Knight Adventures and that game has some of the nicest and cleanest 16 bit graphics I've ever seen, even nicer than this game in the video. It plays just like the rocket Knight/sparkster games but Konami did what they did to gradius converting it into parodius to rocket Knight and ended up with this beautiful looking game. Fun to play too

[@frankschneider6156]

Take any of the Twin Bee shooters, they are pretty much all above par. Not necessarily the absolute best out there, but always good enough to make playing them fun. So the are a sure bet.

[@19Szabolcs91]

@@frankschneider6156 Honestly, this SNES TwinBee was the only really great one imo. The rest have some really big flaws, like how the bells instantly turn back to neutral after shooting it one more time which makes getting them really hard, and if you have stuff like double shots, next to impossible. Also the other TwinBee games don't give you a lifebar, only this one does.

[@Der_Kleine_Mann]

@@19Szabolcs91 What? Rainbowbell adventures has life bars too. But In form of three hearts.

[@19Szabolcs91]

@@Der_Kleine_Mann That is a spinoff, not a main Twinbee shoot'em up game, and you know that.

[@MilesCW]

Ah, Pop'n Twinbee. The Twinbee-series was at their peak at that time. @SNES Drunk, some fun trivia for you: The 1st world theme is the actual main theme of the later Twinbee era and is called "Twin Memories". Madokas voice actor (the girl you rescue in the first world, Mariko Kouda) actually sings it and it shouldn't be hard to find that track somewhere on YT. I highly recommend also checking out the "Sound Fantasia" soundtrack on YT. Like you have said it in the video, Konami killed it back then with their music.

[@CuppaKofe]

I really hope the trend of more obscure games being added to the online service is here to stay. It's giving a lot of exposure to gems that rarely get talked about in retro circles. I love the Twinbee series, and i hope we get more of Konami's amazing catalogue too.

[@johhatomii2691]

I hope so too...

[@danielgervasi9567]

Since I’m the first comment just want to give you a shout out and say I’ve been enjoying your content for a while now. Thanks for reviewing this - hadn’t heard of this game until the switch online announcement.

[@SNESdrunk]

Thank you for watching

[@kenthknicket6500]

@@SNESdrunk and I hope you have a great rest of your day. :)

[@cazamilfs8945]

@@kenthknicket6500 and I hope to download it sooner or later

[@focusmelvin]

@@SNESdrunk Hey SD is there away you can do a video of "The hardest top ten boss to beat" or something similar. Thanks for your work, peace.

[@Legsman258]

unless something has changed since i last did it, the emulator for NES and SNES on switch should have built in online multiplayer. you join a friend on the game select/library screen, allowing you to join as a second player once you start up a game as if you were on the same console. can't imagine why this game would be any different. thanks as always for the great vids!!

[@w00dyp0p]

That “Couple Mode” sounds AWESOME! Great way to include less-skilled players. I wonder what other co-op games incorporate such a feature?

[@nostartia]

Also, the giving each other energy mechanic is so clever for that matter. I used to play with my little niece and we finished it together. She was ecstatic.

[@Carnagelolpvp]

This is why I love your videos you just say what you think and dont drag it on for the coveted 10 min mark. You are a rare breed of awesome in the gaming community.

[@SNESdrunk]

Thank you for watching

[@Seafoamgaming]

I’m very excited to check this out next week! Pretty disappointed that some people are dismissing this as shovelware since it’s not DKC though...

[@kd3422]

The music in this game is amazingly nostalgic, I’m so glad they released a pal vers. I didn’t know it wasn’t released in NA

[@azuza2525]

That opener harmony is amazing! I was curious about this one. Id love to be good at shoot em ups but im just not. Still enjoy playing them. Another great video SNESDrunk

[@Spenerico]

That stage 1 theme pops in my head so often! I've got great memories of this game as well as Rainbow Bell.

[@Jinx_Skeel]

this so called "couple mode" really seems to be a good idea that no other game i've heard of takes advantage...

[@Wyrmington]

I thought it sends you to a dating app False advertising

[@dcrock1592]

Thanks for another great overview! Love your content and I hope YOU have a great rest of YOUR day, bro!!!

[@chrometoaster8279]

I'm from Germany and i owned the game back in the Day. It's a very great Game. I only can recommend it.

[@vel2118]

sieht echt cool aus

[@jaymethysell5111]

SNESDrunk said cute 'em up!!! He once said he would never use that phrase.

[@DanTJones]

My childhood! The early 90’s ruled.

[@BabusGameRoom]

COUPLE MODE! Wow, that's awesome. Never even considered that could be a thing!

[@duffman18]

Pop'n Twinbee Rainbow Bell Adventures is like the parodius of Rocket Knight Adventures (get it? With the title being similar). If you like the rocket Knight/sparkster games you _MUST_ play Rainbow Bell Adventure. It shares all the same mechanics, except with a cutesy vibe. If parodius is a cute-em-up, rainbow bell adventures is a cute-former (as opposed to platformer). Plus there's a few new things like you can use the rocket to fly indefinitely until you go into space. It's really fun. A very good game for younger people too as it's pretty easy. Looks beautiful too, really nice graphics

[@tollban]

One of my all-time fav shooters!!!

[@Froge0]

I really like this game honestly. The music is dope and the graphics are really colourful and pretty. It's so calm that it's easy to play with a inexperienced second player, which is a rarity for these games.

[@barryschalkwijk9388]

yup i can play this with anyone, they can just stick to the right and hold fire and enjoy the sound and awesome graphics.

[@marianocinquegrani7595]

One of my favorites games on the platform. Thanks for this review!

[@elimgarak4667]

I love it! Reminds me a lot of Cotton 100%! Also, that couple setting is really awesome and unique. And you better have a great rest of your day!

[@TomMendy]

I loved this game back in the days. But I liked even more the other pop n' tween bee wich was an action platformer up to 2 player (or even 3) with a lot of different ways to end the level.

[@DanoLefourbe]

I completely forgot about that one. Yeah, it was awesome too!

[@SrSacaninha]

Pop n' tween bee rainbow bell adventures. I searched a lot for it back in the day.

[@duffman18]

Yeah I love that game. It's a parodius style treatment of the rocket Knight /sparkster series (hence the names being similar, rocket Knight Adventures, rainbow bell adventures, plus Twinbee was in the parodius games). But it has a bunch of extra things like you can just fly indefinitely until you reach space, for no reason, it doesn't do anything, it's just there for the fun of it. Looks beautiful too

[@pablokatt]

I can't believe how well it look!! Amazing!!

[@Dorian_Scott]

This game still looks really good to this day! Not a lot of games from back in the day are like that, so it really stands out in that regard.

[@justinr1094]

This is my new favorite co-op game on the SNES, period. I adore this game!

[@cinemagamingnews]

Great review as always. It's very inspiring for my channel. Keep up the great work

[@sbi168]

Always loved this and rainbow bell adventures. Played them both so Much back in the day.

[@ArasuTooru]

Thank you very much for this review. I've seen so many negative reception for this title in the Switch Online service that it's a shame, as this game is very funny and the multiplayer aspect is great.

[@Freaky144]

People only do that cus it's not dkc or earthbound

[@penismightier9278]

I've never been a fan of games with a bomb button (Twinbee, Dragon Spirit, etc). The power up system in the Twinbee really leaves a lot to be desired for me. The bells are always in the way when I'm trying to kill enemies or I let them go by me while I try to kill something. Now the Twinbee platformer on SNES was amazing.

[@chrisfordeditor]

Thank you for another great video!

[@galacticwarlock2271]

I only played the first Stinger. I would love this! I love juggling the bells.

[@StephenYap3]

Thanks so much for reviewing this. This is my favorite TwinBee game and one of my favorite shmups of all time. Glad to see it coming to US at last...

[@tulip811]

I got this game 2 years ago. The music makes me so happy

[@benwiseman3051]

I loved playing this as a kid

[@atflst6053]

I played this with a friend back in the day, good memories. As far as i remember it was the first shmup i played in co-op.

[@D.Rodri.]

For who doesn't know, there is a PSP game called TwinBee Portable that has almost all the TwinBee games in case you're new to them.

[@kurisu7885]

When I saw this one o nthe lsit up upcoming Switch online games it was one of the ones I got excited for, and you pretty much articulated why,.

[@starlightwitch12]

I remember playing this in the PSP TwinBee Portable compilation, and also there is a Gameboy game that is also named Pop'n TwinBee, but it is actually the European release name of Twinbee Da! which is a completely different game.

[@JELLEMAN625]

That's a pretty speedy response to the nso announcement! I'm impressed, keep it up!

[@SNESdrunk]

To be fair, this was a super easy one to write and get footage for. That's the nice thing about shootemups, they're so straight-forward

[@SPac316]

Looking forward to playing this on the online service.

[@Michirin9801]

YES! Very much so, the game is brilliant, soothing and cute~♥

[@Grigeral]

Loved this game as a kid...

[@NowUndefined]

Great breakdown of this one, it's not for me but I appreciate the work you put into this video

[@lukethedrifter3363]

Nice harmony on the "Snes Drunk"

[@grahamherbert3612]

Was playing Pop n on my SNES this morning.

[@Staff7]

nice work dude

[@emperorIng360]

The Switch description does note that they modified the PAL release to run at 60hz, or the full speed of the game (as would be on the Japanese release). Unless the game is PAL exclusive they should just try and avoid ever using the icky PAL format for anything... but Nintendo is lazy like that. Great to see a review of this on NSO! This was a delightful game to learn - the first loop is a good introduction to shmups and full of personality, and the ultra-hard "special round" after you beat the game gives lots of challenge to those more experienced in the genre.

[@hard4games]

So timely!

[@allnamesaretakenful]

I played a shooter in the late 80s that was 3 or 4 player co-op and I can't find it anywhere on those online lists. I can't remember the name and I only saw it in one place in NY. Anyone know of a shoot-em up that that a horizontal scroller where it had different ships with different shapes and abilities?

[@gi_nattak]

Love that Big Airship song!

[@GrandConceptsMedia]

Check out “Stinger” for NES - it was actually released in NA in the mid 80s and was the only Twinbee release we got. Plays very similarly.

[@mikeching6374]

I think Stinger was the original Twinbee for NES, just renamed for the US 90's market....

[@kengoku1766]

Can't wait to play since I never had it on my SNES

[@mcorleonep]

I played the hell out of this on my SNES mini thanks to the Drunk’s recommendation. Great game!

[@anonony9081]

does anyone know what the pop'n prefix is supposed to represent I know kohnami went on to make a pop'nmusic game which is great but I wasn't aware that they had other pop'n games

[@z.s.n.]

Wow especially good intro that time.

[@kingdip91]

I loved this game as a kid

[@vel2118]

what’s better this or parodius? btw are these twi related cause the cover art has very similar colors and designs

[@ix8750]

When I first started trying to play some shootem ups I played this one as an alternative when the "one hit death titles" had me frustrated or discouraged. Are there any more forgiving shmups that let you take a few hits or have a checkpoint system?

[@Michirin9801]

Try the Soldier series or Blazing Lazers on PC engine (TG-16) when you get hit in those you just power down, you only die when you get hit while at your minimum power level. I must also suggest Magical Chase, that one gives you a full-on lifebar and health recovery items! That said though, these are games you're gonna have to play any way you can, especially this last one...

[@KyussTheWalkingWorm]

Iridion 2 on GBA looks amazing and is quite approachable. I was able to beat it as a kid thanks to the password system. Don't bother with the first game though.

[@Michirin9801]

Agreed, Iridion 2 is brilliant, mighty impressive, and rather approachable, I'd recommend it to anyone interested in the genre!

[@ix8750]

Thanks you guys! I appreciate the response and the suggestions, I'll look into these! I'll have to do a little research into the TG16/PCEngine I've never owned one and I haven't ever attempted looking Into the console and it's library "anyway I can" so I suppose now's a good time to start figuring that out. I might buy the mini TG16 just for fun when it comes out. I think it has a few interesting looking shmups on the pre loaded library. 🙂

[@timothykirby4406]

Soldier Blade on turbo graphix is awesome

[@joshwescott9809]

I always wondered what the cute em up genre was. Pretty cool

[@kiyoaki1985]

Yeah I always enjoyed this one, the graphics are a big part of it. Personally I'm not a fan of bullet hell because they're more about dodging and not so much about firing on things, while Twinbee is very much about destroying stuff. It's also just not insanely hard and easy to pick up.

[@duffman18]

That's what I love about the Gradius series. It's about attacking, not dodging. Well at least eventually with all the power ups, 4 options on the go etc. Then it becomes an onslaught, you just mowing down everything in front of you

[@nuclearsuplex7383]

Hey @SNES_Drunk I’ve been going through all of your videos and started a personal list. Games I need to buy before we never seen them again or they get too expensive. I grew up in the late 80s but I never owned any of these games, I only played ones my cousin picked up. I’m headed to Japan this year and I want to be prepared for spotting a “must have” title SNES or Super Famicom (even Sega Genesis). I hear in your videos that you sometimes take requests, please make a “must have” list for shopping in Japan. And please dumb it down for someone that isn’t as enlightening as you are (I honestly have never heard of SNES titles like Top Gear, Super Turrican, Front Mission: Gun Hazard, Live-A-Live, or Lufia). Your channel has broadened my horizons, I must purchase, and play these games!

[@SNESdrunk]

Here's my must have picks for Super Famicom: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iXywc6uigdadpKs and here's a SNES essentials list from many years ago: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bJ3QYn6dh9ljqs0

[@RetroMoments]

Definitely underrated game!

[@Manmade023]

1.35 reminded me of laputa!

[@oscarzxn4067]

The intro was very powerful

[@BigMacOrange]

Does anyone know which version they released on the us switch online? I think the wiiu vc version used the pal Rom.

[@trip2themoon]

The ntsc systems run at around 17% faster than the pal versions. To this day my American snes has been my best ever purchase.

[@joshuakleckner4975]

Great review. Has the snes drunk ever thought about reviewing the analogue super nt? Would love to see your take on it.

[@SNESdrunk]

Super NT is fantastic, especially for getting footage. Looks awesome on HDTVs. I think channels like My Life in Gaming and Game Sack do tech reviews 999x better than I ever could.

[@michaelmcgee2026]

New drinking game when binging these vids. Drink every time he mentions Parodius. I swear he has to bring up that game in every video.

[@obliviousfafnir01]

You should also check out Rainbow Bell Adventure. It's a platformer based on the Twinbee games.

[@digithead100]

1:08 those pineapples look like spongebob's house

[@rubenchinerperez5046]

This is a great game. And as allways fantastic review. Though I enjoy the other twinbee game for SNES more

[@jasonleman1396]

with this coming to the switch, I hope there is a chance the parodius games get a release! those games are stunning and crazy

[@TonyHStanley]

This is 1 of my favourite shoot 'em ups. I've beaten this game.

[@paulbennett2284]

I remember playing this on my SNES BTW isn’t “couple mode” just local co-op?

[@abc2390986]

It makes enemies to focus firing on Player One which is really good due to the nature of the gameplay. P2 with less skill is unlikely to get hit often while P1 can set up enemy projectiles and parry them all at once.

[@PowerSkunk92]

You mentioning other great shoot em ups has me wondering if you've ever played, heard of, or would be willing to do a video for a little PS1 game called "Einhander". If you dig R-Type and Gradius, Einhander would probably be right up your alley.

[@sketchrfl]

this is a fantastic game, thats also really cool the switch is getting it soon.

[@cliffjumper1984]

always love me some snes drunk at lunch. love me some twin bee. and highly enjoy going into the comments on switch retro game releases. people get SO mad when they dont get the games they want. it's a good time :p

[@blacksunshine7485]

What a coincidence. Played this last night. Awesome game

[@ArtDocHound]

Rock on, SNESdrunk!

[@ajiwjaiwjaiwaji]

i played this game many many many many many years ago

[@simonpeterdavies9077]

I loved this game I'd love to download it but I can't find it on any download sites 😍😪😁

[@Rohald20]

This game looks awesome!

[@stucazzo2000]

Ok, gonna import this one I think. Thank you!! Also, why is there so much English text in a Japanese game? I’ve seen so many Japan Saturn games where there’s more English text than Japan text. What is the reason for this?

[@brettg1695]

SNES drunk this game did convert me to suddenly become a shoot em up fan

[@mellow1474]

NSO uses the pal version but they made it 60hz

[@nilkilnilkil]

90's konami... So good...

[@brandonwilliams6119]

I wish we can also get Rainbow Bell Adventures since it’s a Platformer aside from a Shoot’em up.

[@Dj.D25]

I played this on an emulator years ago and had a lot of fun with it. I especially love the graphics since they look almost 32 bit in style. It's a shame Konami doesn't care about Twinbee anymore. They haven't released any games in this franchise for like over 20 years from my knowledge.

[@Hektols]

It's very likely that studies said that a new game wouldn't be profitable.

[@esmerylan]

After what they did to Contra, I'm not sure it would be a good thing if they did ever release another TwinBee.

[@Dj.D25]

@@esmerylan I don't think it really matters anymore? Konami doesn't care about their IP's or making console games anymore. The only video games they still seem to care releasing are arcade games, especially their Bemani rhythm games, where they usually release a new version every year.

[@One_Missing_Worker]

Lovely harmony. I think that was a 3rd and a 5th?

[@ShauingOfficial]

Yup, with an octave as well. A D major chord.

[@louisdellalucca8969]

My was very similar to how you described. I didn't use those exact words. If I list it here, I'd probably get in trouble 🤣. This game is crazy addictive

[@Bordelll]

1:45 It looks like a nereis, a marine worm? A distant relative of the earthworm

[@terrysucrana1318]

The platform sequel was pretty good too

[@vicman3122]

Konami should make a Twinbee Collection

[@dingletang7256]

Thanks for doing this video and adding to the hype to make this game more expensive.

[@christophlange5053]

Hm, the nintendo trailer showed Palcom as the publisher, so my bet is, that they are using the PAL version (if my memory serves me right, Palcom was Konamis publisher for PAL regions). Fun fact: In PAL regions, the Game Boy title Gradius was changed to Nemesis, also the cover art for ship design (the Vic Viper) is also more similar to in-game sprite.

[@awelcruiz]

They adjusted the speed of the PAL version to run at the NTSC standard 60MHz, though.

[@Undeadspelldragon]

I know you don't have a Switch but a quick heads up. This will have 2 player online. Any 2 player game is playable that way in the app. Single player games all allow online "pass the controller" play

[@roxasthebandicoot4492]

I love it.

[@Randomark3087]

Never heard of the game, but it does look fun. Still hoping for the Pocky & Rocky games.

[@Citizen_J]

Fuck yeah, twin B was one of my fav games for NES.

[@natejoe9924]

This game actually looks good I like the graphics