Overview
Shoot clouds, juggle bells. TwinBee wrapped vertical shooting in candy colours and cheerful design, pioneering what would become the “cute-em-up” aesthetic. The distinctive bell power-up system—shoot bells to change their colour and effect—added strategic depth, while two players could link their ships for combined attacks.
Fast facts
- Developer: Konami.
- Genre: Cute-em-up shooter.
- Innovation: Bell juggling power-ups.
- Players: Two simultaneous.
Bell power-up system
| Colour | Effect |
|---|
| Yellow | Points |
| Blue | Speed up |
| White | Twin shot |
| Red | Laser |
| Green | Options |
| Flashing | Shield |
Bell mechanics
| Action | Result |
|---|
| Shoot bell | Changes colour |
| Catch bell | Gain power |
| Let fall | Lost opportunity |
| Juggle | Cycle through colours |
Two-player link
| Feature | Effect |
|---|
| Ships connect | Fire combined beam |
| Cooperative | Strategic teamwork |
| TwinBee + WinBee | Both ships |
Ground attacks
| Target | Method |
|---|
| Ground enemies | Arm punch |
| Buildings | Bomb targets |
| Dual combat | Air and ground |
Cute-em-up style
| Element | Characteristic |
|---|
| Colours | Bright, cheerful |
| Enemies | Cute designs |
| Ships | Bee-shaped |
| Tone | Light-hearted |
Series entries
| Title | Year | Platform |
|---|
| TwinBee | 1985 | Arcade |
| Stinger | 1987 | NES |
| Detana!! TwinBee | 1991 | Arcade |
| Pop’n TwinBee | 1993 | SNES |
Genre influence
| Game | Connection |
|---|
| Fantasy Zone | Sega’s cute-em-up |
| Parodius | Konami parody |
| Cotton | Witch shooter |
See also