3D Classics: Twinbee

Of the four games that Nintendo has pulled out of the vaults of time and re-released with 3D effects on the 3DS, two of them are vertical shoot-em-ups – and for me, that's a perfect ratio. I love these games, and the 3D treatment has only made them better. Case in point: 3D Classics Xevious. Now, Xevious was never my favourite shmup – its music is incredibly annoying and the enemies are staid and boring. I know that Xevious is hailed as a true classic in Japan, but it has never held much of a place of interest in my heart. But the 3D conversion was so good, the controls so smooth, that Nintendo managed to make Xevious really enjoyable for me. Its 3D had a noticeable impact on the gameplay and it has made for one of the best pick up and play games on the 3DS released so far.

Now Twinbee, on the other hand: that is a completely different story. Twinbee was a Famicom game that never got localized as an NES game until, well, now. And there's no better time to take on a cute, challenging shmup than with this 3D classics release, which does many of the same things that the 3D version of Xevious did, only grafted onto a better game.

In every possible way, Twinbee should be treated as one of the greatest vertical shmups released in the 80s. Its music is amongst the catchiest found on the NES (which is quite a feat, considering the quality of chiptune compositions by the time that Twinbee was released) and its aesthetics are precise and lovely, creating a world of whimsy in a genre that isn't exactly noted for its whimsicality. Really, though, none of that would matter if Twinbee didn't play well – and it absolutely does.

Moreso than other examples in this genre, Twinbee utilizes a risk/reward gameplay mechanic that remains fun on your first playthrough or your fiftieth. In addition to shooting down enemies and avoiding enemy fire, you can also shoot the clouds to release bells into the sky (it's also a pretty surreal game, FYI). You have to shoot the bells to add to a points multiplier, and shooting the bells also changes the color of the bell, unlocking various powerups for your ship. Juggling the bells while also firing at enemies and keeping yourself alive is challenging and rewarding, creating a sort of tactical element to the gameplay that isn't often seen in the shmup genre – a genre that privileges twitch reflexes over any sort of calculation. The fact that Twinbee includes both makes it a triumphant example of the genre, nearly thirty years after its release.

In comparison to the myriad iPhone and Android games that have flooded the market, paying $5 for a simple 3D upgrade of an old game seems like highway robbery. But when that game is the previously unreleased, and generic masterpiece Twinbee, it's absolutely worth it. And portability, meaningful 3D, and silky smooth controls are just the icing on this already-delicious cake.