Twin Cobra#Ports

The game ran on the Toaplan Twin Cobra hardware (PCB), featuring a Motorola 68000 CPU clocked at 7 MHz with additional chips (a Z80 CPU clocked at 3.5 MHz and a 320C10 chip at 3.5 MHz) as well as a Yamaha YM3812 sound chip clocked at 3.5 MHz. Toaplan's Flying Shark used the same arcade hardware board.System 16 - The Arcade Museum >{{cite web|url=https://www.system16.com/hardware.php?id=651|title=TOAPLAN TWIN COBRA HARDWARE|publisher=system16|access-date=2024-04-03}}

File:ARC Twin Cobra (Kyūkyoku Tiger).png

Twin Cobra is a military-themed vertically scrolling shoot 'em up game, in which players take control of the titular attack helicopter through ten increasingly difficult levels, each with a boss at the end that must be fought before progressing any further, in order to defeat an assortment of military enemy forces like tanks, battleships, and artillery as the main objective.Twin Cobra Installation Manual (Arcade, US)Twin Cobra Instructions (Nintendo Entertainment System, US)Twin Cobra instruction manual (Sega Genesis, US){{cite web|last=Zverloff|first=Nick|url=http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/twin-cobra/|title=Twin Cobra|publisher=Hardcore Gaming 101|date=9 July 2012|access-date=2020-05-16}}{{cite web|url=http://shootingstar.game.coocan.jp/kyukyoku.html|title=究極TIGER|publisher=Shooting Star|access-date=2020-05-16|language=ja}} The title initially appears to be very standard, as players control their craft over a constantly scrolling background and the scenery never stops moving until a helipad is reached. Players have only two weapons at their disposal: the standard shot that travels a max distance of the screen's height and three bombs.

The bombs are powerful weapons capable of obliterating any enemy caught within its blast radius and collecting "B" icons adds an extra bomb stock. A new gameplay addition compared to its predecessor are power-up items that appear via enemy carriers; There are four types of weapons in the game that can be switched between after destroying incoming carriers by picking up color-changing icons ranging from red, blue, green and yellow, while "S" icons increases the helicopter's firepower. Other items scattered throughout the levels such as 1-ups and star-shaped gold medals, which grants a 3000-point bonus by collecting them, can also be picked up along the way. Players are given two lives initially and bonus lives are awarded at certain point thresholds and every point threshold thereafter.

Depending on the region, the title uses either a checkpoint system in which a downed single player will start off at the beginning of the checkpoint they managed to reach before dying, or a respawn system where their ship immediately starts at the location they died at. Getting hit by enemy fire or colliding against enemies will result in losing a life, as well as a penalty of decreasing the helicopter's firepower to his original state and once all lives are lost, the game is over unless the players insert more credits into the arcade machine to continue playing. After completing the last stage as with previous titles from Toaplan, the game begins again with the second loop increasing in difficulty and enemies fire denser bullet patterns.

File:Twin Cobra art design.png graphics.]]

Twin Cobra{{'}}s creation process and history was recounted through various Japanese publications by composers Masahiro Yuge and Tatsuya Uemura, both of which collaborated with the soundtrack using guitar and marked the second time Toaplan made use of FM synthesis.{{cite web|url=https://vgmdb.net/album/1245|title=D28B-0008 | KYUKYOKU TIGER -G.S.M.TAITO 2-|work=vgmdb.net|publisher=VGMdb|access-date=2020-05-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170803090922/http://vgmdb.net/album/1245|archive-date=2017-08-03|url-status=live}} ([http://shmuplations.com/toaplanmusic/ Translation] by Shmuplations. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191022183049/http://shmuplations.com/toaplanmusic/|date=2019-10-22}}).{{cite magazine|last=Abeto|first=Kobatsu|title=東亜プランインタビュー|magazine=PSG|volume=10|publisher=F.S.G Club|date=September 1989|lang=ja}} ([http://shmuplations.com/toaplan-psg/ Translation] by Shmuplations. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170531193430/http://shmuplations.com/toaplan-psg/|date=2017-05-31}}). Yuge stated that the basic structure for the game was already decided during development of Slap Fight by pursuing the excitement of shooting and dodging, settling on the bomb and shot system, claiming that firing a bomb relieved stress from players, as they wanted to make a game that was fun by looking at and get passionate about it.{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/stream/gamest0049#page/69/mode/2up|title=東亜プラン|magazine=Gamest|issue=49|publisher=Shinseisha|date=September 1990|pages=68–69|lang=ja}} ([http://shmuplations.com/toaplan-gamest/ Translation] by Shmuplations. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191107033548/http://shmuplations.com/toaplan-gamest/|date=2019-11-07}}).{{cite web|url=https://sweeprecord.com/toaplan-shooting-toku/|title=東亜プラン シューティングクロニクル 特設ページ|work=SweepRecord|publisher=SuperSweep|date=27 October 2011|access-date=2020-05-16|language=ja|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200215231114/https://sweeprecord.com/toaplan-shooting-toku/|archive-date=2020-02-15|url-status=live}} ([http://shmuplations.com/toaplan-chronicleqa/ Translation] by Shmuplations. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191002072400/http://shmuplations.com/toaplan-chronicleqa/|date=2019-10-02}}). Yuge also claimed that the word "Kyūkyoku" for its Japanese title derived from a translation of Going for the One, the eight studio album by English progressive rock band Yes, as it was not a popular word at the time and although the Japanese title was initially rejected by then-president of Toaplan, he was determined to implement it.{{cite web|url=https://sweeprecord.com/srin-1100/|title=東亜プラン シューティングクロニクル|work=SweepRecord|publisher=SuperSweep|date=14 November 2011|access-date=2020-05-16|language=ja|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191021030143/https://sweeprecord.com/srin-1100/|archive-date=2019-10-21|url-status=live}} ([http://shmuplations.com/toaplan-chronicle/ Translation] by Shmuplations. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180711134859/http://shmuplations.com/toaplan-chronicle/|date=2018-07-11}}).{{cite magazine|last1=Kiyoshi|first1=Tane|author2=hally (VORC)|last3=Yūsaku|first3=Yamamoto|title=東亜プラン特集 - 元・東亜プラン 開発者インタビュー: 弓削雅稔|magazine=Shooting Gameside|volume=4|publisher=Micro Magazine|date=3 February 2012|pages=41–48|lang=ja|isbn=978-4896373844}} ([http://shmuplations.com/toaplan-yuge1/ Translation] by Shmuplations. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190906023744/http://shmuplations.com/toaplan-yuge1/|date=2019-09-06}}). The concept of using a bomb came up during development of Tiger-Heli, where the team questioned how to make a shoot 'em up game more engaging for players but it was never intended for defensive purposes according to them, as the mechanic was instead implemented to provide an aggressive feeling against enemies on difficult situations, however enemies were made tougher to keep gameplay balance.{{cite magazine|last1=Kiyoshi|first1=Tane|author2=hally (VORC)|last3=Yūsaku|first3=Yamamoto|title=東亜プラン特集 - 元・東亜プラン 開発者インタビュー: 上村建也|magazine=Shooting Gameside|volume=4|publisher=Micro Magazine|date=3 February 2012|pages=33–40|lang=ja|isbn=978-4896373844}} ([http://shmuplations.com/toaplan-uemura1/ Translation] by Shmuplations. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190906023755/http://shmuplations.com/toaplan-uemura1/|date=2019-09-06}}).

Twin Cobra was also, alongside Slap Fight, one of the earliest projects Toaplan made use of game design documents, with both Uemura and Yuge stating that ideas by the team were first written in text using A4 paper before reading it during meetings. Several features were integrated into the project by diverse factors such as items swirling around the screen, which was inspired by a donburi bowl, while the slow speed of the helicopter was due to make the title akin to puzzle games and require a level of strategy.{{cite magazine|author1=Iona|author2=VHS|author3=K-HEX|title=東亜プラン FOREVER|magazine=Floor 25|volume=9|date=June 2009|pages=1–70|lang=ja}} ([https://www.gamengai.com/#/cmnt-info?id=2332 Translation] by Gamengai. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201010170328/https://www.gamengai.com/#/cmnt-info?id=2332|date=2020-10-10}}). Yuge stated that cooperative gameplay was originally not developed but were requested in doing so after completing the single-player version due to simultaneous two-player titles being "a big trend" in overseas regions and being conscious of the American market, as the game had a realistic war setting. Around five members collaborated with the project on a six-month development period including Uemura and Yuge acting as programmers, as well as three designers. Artist Kōetsu Iwabuchi, who previously worked on Guardian, was responsible for the artwork. Despite being published by Taito, Uemura stated that the publisher allowed them to reveal the project was made by Toaplan. Uemura also claimed the project was influenced by Halley's Comet, as he wanted to portray the feeling of aiming and shooting.

Twin Cobra was first released across arcades worldwide in October 1987 by Taito in Japan and Europe, as well as Romstar in North America. An album containing music from the title and its predecessor was co-published exclusively in Japan by Scitron and Pony Canyon in November 1988.

Twin Cobra was converted to multiple platforms by various third-party developers including the PC Engine (1989), Nintendo Entertainment System (1989), Sega Genesis (1991), X68000 (1993) and the FM Towns (1994). The PC Engine port, developed by A.I Company, was released exclusively in Japan by Taito.{{cite web|author=CRV|url=http://gdri.smspower.org/wiki/index.php/A.I|title=A.I|website=gdri.smspower.org|date=31 October 2007|accessdate=2020-05-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190716233153/http://gdri.smspower.org/wiki/index.php/A.I|archive-date=16 July 2019|url-status=live}} The NES port, developed by Micronics, was first released in Japan CBS/Sony and later in North America by Sammy.{{cite web|url=http://www.nintendo.com/consumer/downloads/nes_games.pdf|title=NES Games|publisher=Nintendo|access-date=2020-05-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140611225644/http://www.nintendo.com/consumer/downloads/nes_games.pdf|archive-date=2014-06-11|url-status=live}} The Genesis port, developed by GRC, was first published in Japan by Treco, then in North America by Sega and later in Brazil by Tectoy.{{cite web|author=CRV|url=http://gdri.smspower.org/wiki/index.php/Graphic_Research|title=Graphic Research|website=gdri.smspower.org|date=27 August 2006|accessdate=2020-05-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190716233153/http://gdri.smspower.org/wiki/index.php/A.I|archive-date=16 July 2019|url-status=live}}{{cite encyclopedia|url=https://sega.jp/fb/segahard/md/soft_licensee.html|title=ソフトウェア一覧（ソフトライセンシー発売）| メガドライブ|encyclopedia=SEGA HARD Encyclopedia|publisher=Sega|date=2020|access-date=2020-05-18|language=ja}} On 30 August 1996, Banpresto released a compilation for the PlayStation exclusively in Japan titled Toaplan Shooting Battle 1, which included both arcade versions of Twin Cobra and its prequel, an arranged soundtrack by Uemura and other additions.{{cite web|url=https://www.jp.playstation.com/software/title/slps00436.html|title=東亜プラン シューティングバトル1|work=PlayStation Official Site Software Catalog|publisher=Sony Interactive Entertainment|date=2020|access-date=2020-05-16|language=ja}} In November 2019, Twin Cobra was re-released for iOS and Android mobile devices only in Japan by MOBIRIX Corporation under the name Kyukyoku Tiger Classic.{{cite web|url=http://tatsujin.tokyo/index.html|title=TATSUJINに続き『究極TIGER 』がモバイルゲームとなって帰って来ました !『究極TIGER CLASSIC 』の登場です！|publisher=TATSUJIN Co., Ltd.|date=13 November 2019|access-date=2020-05-16|language=ja|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200516214404/http://tatsujin.tokyo/index.html|archive-date=16 May 2020|url-status=live}} A port for Samsung Smart TV platform is also available through a Samsung TV's games panel.{{Citation needed|date=May 2020}}

Twin Cobra was later included by M2 as part of their M2 ShotTriggers publishing label.{{cite news|last=Romano|first=Sal|url=https://www.gematsu.com/2020/04/toaplan-shoot-em-ups-twin-cobra-truxton-ii-flying-shark-and-out-zone-coming-to-consoles|title=Toaplan shoot 'em ups Twin Cobra, Truxton II, Flying Shark, and Out Zone coming to consoles - M2 porting the late 80s and early 90s titles|work=Gematsu|date=18 April 2020|access-date=2020-04-23}}{{cite web|last=McFerran|first=Damien|url=http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2020/04/m2_is_making_a_stupidly_expensive_shooter_more_affordable_on_home_consoles|title=M2 Is Making A Stupidly Expensive Shooter More Affordable On Home Consoles - Along with some other amazing Toaplan titles|work=Nintendo Life|publisher=Nlife Media|date=18 April 2020|access-date=2020-03-23}}{{cite web|last=Wong|first=Alistair|url=https://www.siliconera.com/toaplans-flying-shark-twin-cobra-truxton-ii-and-out-zone-coming-to-modern-platforms/|title=Toaplan's Flying Shark, Twin Cobra, Truxton II, and Out Zone Coming to Modern Platforms|work=Siliconera|publisher=Curse LLC|date=19 April 2020|access-date=2020-04-23}}{{cite web|last=Moyse|first=Chris|url=https://www.destructoid.com/out-zone-twin-cobra-and-other-classic-toaplan-shmups-coming-soon-from-m2-587574.phtml|title=Out Zone, Twin Cobra, and other classic Toaplan shmups coming soon from M2 - Save your quarters|work=Destructoid|publisher=Enthusiast Gaming|date=20 April 2020|access-date=2020-04-23|archive-date=31 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201031000532/https://www.destructoid.com/out-zone-twin-cobra-and-other-classic-toaplan-shmups-coming-soon-from-m2-587574.phtml|url-status=dead}} An arcade version, alongside the PC Engine, Nintendo Entertainment System and Sega Genesis versions, were included in the Kyukyoku Tiger-Heli compilation for Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 as part of M2's Toaplan Arcade Garage label in 2022.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.ndw.jp/nd200708-315/|title=Switchにくる! 東亜プランの4タイトル|magazine=Nintendo Dream|issue=315|publisher=Tokuma Shoten|date=July–August 2020|lang=ja}}{{cite news|last=Romano|first=Sal|url=https://www.gematsu.com/2021/07/toaplan-shoot-em-up-collection-kyukyoku-tiger-heli-announced-for-ps4-switch|title=Toaplan shoot 'em up collection Kyukyoku Tiger-Heli announced for PS4, Switch - Includes various versions of Kyukyoku Tiger and Tiger-Heli|date=July 15, 2021|work=Gematsu|access-date=2021-07-16}}

Twin Cobra was released on Steam in February 2023. Bitwave Games was responsible for the port of this version.

{{Expand section|date=August 2021}}

According to Masahiro Yuge and Tatsuya Uemura, Twin Cobra proved to be a popular hit for Toaplan, though Flying Shark was "the biggest" hit for them. In Japan, Game Machine listed it on their 1 January 1988 issue as being the fourth most-successful table arcade unit of the month, outperforming titles such as Thundercade and Rainbow Islands: The Story of Bubble Bobble 2.{{cite magazine|title=Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25 - テーブル型TVゲーム機 (Table Videos)|magazine=Game Machine|issue=323|publisher=Amusement Press, Inc.|date=1 January 1988|page=37|lang=ja}} It went on to become Japan's highest-grossing arcade conversion kit of 1988.{{cite magazine |title=Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25: '88 / "Game of the Year '88" By Game Machine |magazine=Game Machine |issue=348 |publisher=Amusement Press, Inc. |date=15 January 1989 |pages=10–1, 26 |lang=ja |url=https://onitama.tv/gamemachine/pdf/19890115p.pdf#page=6}}

Computer and Video Games reviewer Clare Edgeley gave an overall positive outlook to the arcade original.{{cite magazine|last=Edgeley|first=Clare|url=https://archive.org/stream/computer-video-games-magazine-077#page/n89/mode/2up|title=Arcade Action - Twin Cobra|magazine=Computer and Video Games|issue=77|publisher=EMAP|date=March 1988|pages=90–91}}{{cite magazine|last=Edgeley|first=Clare|url=https://archive.org/stream/computer-video-games-magazine-078#page/n118/mode/1up|title=Arcade Action - Twin Cobra|magazine=Computer and Video Games|issue=78|publisher=EMAP|date=April 1988|page=119}}

A sequel, Twin Cobra II, was originally under development by Toaplan but the studio closed down in 1994 until Taito allowed Toaplan offshoot Takumi Corporation to finish work on the project as their first release in 1995, before being ported to Sega Saturn in 1997 under the name Kyukyoku Tiger II Plus.{{cite magazine|title=Overseas Readers Column - Toaplan Goes Bust|magazine=Game Machine|issue=472|publisher=Amusement Press, Inc.|date=15 May 1994|page=26|lang=ja}}{{cite journal|last=Neal|first=David}}{{cite magazine|author1=Iona|author2=VHS|author3=K-HEX|title=東亜プラン FOREVER (3/5)|magazine=Floor 25|volume=9|date=June 2009|lang=ja}} ([https://www.gamengai.com/#/cmnt-info?id=2332&p=3 Translation] by Gamengai. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191122014305/https://www.gamengai.com/#/cmnt-info?id=2332&p=3|date=2019-11-22}}).{{cite web|last=Zverloff|first=Nick|url=http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/twin-cobra-ii/|title=Twin Cobra II|publisher=Hardcore Gaming 101|date=5 February 2011|access-date=2020-05-16}}{{cite encyclopedia|url=https://sega.jp/fb/segahard/ss/soft_licensee3.htmlml|title=セガサターン対応ソフトウェア（ライセンシー発売）- 1997年発売|encyclopedia=SEGA HARD Encyclopedia|publisher=Sega|date=2020|access-date=2020-05-16|language=ja|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200320230533/https://sega.jp/fb/segahard/ss/soft_licensee3.html|archive-date=2020-03-20|url-status=live}} Former Seibu Kaihatsu artist Toshinobu Komazawa claimed that Seibu borrowed ideas from Twin Cobra when developing Raiden.{{cite web|url=http://www.inhgroup.com/item/raiden04/|title=THE FLASH DESIRE 雷電III|website=inhgroup.com|date=2007|access-date=2020-06-02|language=ja|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190407204956/http://www.inhgroup.com/item/raiden04/|archive-date=7 April 2019|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}} ([http://shmuplations.com/seibukaihatsu2/ Translation] by Shmuplations. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191217170505/http://shmuplations.com/seibukaihatsu2/|date=2019-12-17}}). Artist Perry "Gryzor/Rozyrg" Sessions cited Twin Cobra as one of the main influences for Super XYX.{{cite web|last=Überwenig|first=Toma|url=https://shmupemall.com/interviews/team-grybanser-fox-rozyrg-interview-english-version-87569.html|title=[Interview] Rozyrg talks about Super XYX, its lengthy development & more!|work=Shmup'Em-All|date=November 30, 2020|access-date=2021-01-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210106211606/https://shmupemall.com/interviews/team-grybanser-fox-rozyrg-interview-english-version-87569.html|archive-date=2021-01-06|url-status=live}} The rights to Twin Cobra and many other IPs from Toaplan are now owned by Tatsujin, a company named after Truxton{{'}}s Japanese title that was founded in 2017 by former Toaplan employee Masahiro Yuge, and is part of Embracer Group since 2022.{{cite web|url=http://tatsujin.tokyo/custom.html|title=ライセンス事業|publisher=TATSUJIN Co., Ltd.|date=2019|access-date=2020-05-16|language=ja|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181225203847/http://tatsujin.tokyo/custom.html|archive-date=2018-12-25|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last=Bravo|first=Roberto|url=https://www.gamercafe.cl/2018/09/12/nueva-compania-tatsujin-asegura-tener-gran-parte-de-las-ips-de-la-extinta-toaplan/|title=Nueva compañía "Tatsujin" asegura tener gran parte de las IPs de la extinta Toaplan|publisher=Gamercafe|date=12 September 2018|access-date=2020-05-16|language=es|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191021030437/https://www.gamercafe.cl/2018/09/12/nueva-compania-tatsujin-asegura-tener-gran-parte-de-las-ips-de-la-extinta-toaplan/|archive-date=2019-10-21|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last=Bravo|first=Roberto|url=https://www.gamercafe.cl/2019/01/25/tatsujin-los-duenos-de-toaplan-anuncian-que-estan-trabajando-para-exa-arcadia/|title=Tatsujin, los dueños de Toaplan, anuncian que están trabajando para exA-Arcadia|publisher=Gamercafe|date=25 January 2019|access-date=2020-05-16|language=es|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191021031057/https://www.gamercafe.cl/2019/01/25/tatsujin-los-duenos-de-toaplan-anuncian-que-estan-trabajando-para-exa-arcadia/|archive-date=2019-10-21|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.4gamer.net/games/408/G040821/20190125146/|title=［JAEPO2019］TATSUJINやナツメアタリの参入が発表されたexA-Arcadia。出展コーナーの模様を紹介|work=4Gamer.net|publisher=Aetas Inc.|date=26 January 2019|access-date=2020-05-16|language=ja|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191021031252/https://www.4gamer.net/games/408/G040821/20190125146/|archive-date=2019-10-21|url-status=live}}{{Cite web |title=Embracer Group Announces the 11[th] Operating Group: Embracer Freemode |url=https://embracer.com/releases/embracer-group-announces-the-11th-operating-group-embracer-freemode/ |access-date=2025-02-14 |website=Embracer Group |language=en-US}}

{{notelist}}

{{reflist}}

• [https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/arcade/568076-twin-cobra Twin Cobra] at GameFAQs
• [https://www.giantbomb.com/twin-cobra/3030-11930/ Twin Cobra] at Giant Bomb
• [https://www.arcade-museum.com/game_detail.php?game_id=10231 Twin Cobra] at Killer List of Videogames
• [https://www.mobygames.com/game/twin-cobra Twin Cobra] at MobyGames
• [http://privat.bahnhof.se/wb831590/toaplansite/allyourbase/twincobra/index.html Twin Cobra] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191021022806/http://privat.bahnhof.se/wb831590/toaplansite/allyourbase/twincobra/index.html |date=21 October 2019}} at The Toaplan Museum
• [https://store.steampowered.com/app/2022910/Twin_Cobra/ Twin Cobra] on Steam

{{Toaplan}}

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