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TwinBee (Japan) (Disk Writer)

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About TwinBee

TwinBee, originally released in arcades in 1985, came to the Famicom Disk System in 1986 via the Disk Writer kiosk system. Konami developed and published this vertically scrolling shooter, which helped define the 'cute 'em up' subgenre alongside Sega's Fantasy Zone. The FDS version brought the colorful arcade action into Japanese homes on a floppy disk, complete with the characteristic two-player cooperative mode that lets a friend join in as TwinBee or WinBee. You control a cute, anthropomorphic airplane that flies upward through a series of stages, blasting enemies and avoiding their projectiles. The key twist from typical shooters is the bell system: shoot the floating clouds to reveal bells, then hit them to change their color and collect them for points, power-ups, or extra lives. The game also features a unique 'power-up' where collecting a certain number of bells turns your ship into a more powerful form. Two players can play simultaneously, each with their own ship, making it a chaotic but fun couch co-op experience. What makes this FDS version worth revisiting today is its historical significance as an early arcade-perfect port that captures the innocent charm of the original. It's a simpler, more forgiving shooter than many of its contemporaries, with a cheerful soundtrack and bright visuals that still hold up. While later compilations have included TwinBee, playing it on the Famicom Disk System through emulation gives you the authentic feel of an early Japanese home conversion - a piece of gaming history that's both accessible and genuinely fun to play for a few rounds.

GAME INFO

Platform: Famicom Disk System
Genre: Shooter
Publisher: Konami
Developer: Konami
Released: 1986
Players: 1-2
Region: Japan

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How to play TwinBee online

To start playing, wait for the game to load from the disk image - there's no health bar or lives counter visible on the title screen, so you'll pick your settings using the D-Pad and confirm with X or S. The game defaults to one player; press Start to begin. If you want two players, player 1 presses Start first, then player 2 presses his assigned Start key (usually the same button on the same keyboard, so you'll alternate after the first confirmation). The core loop is straightforward: fly upward, shoot enemies and clouds, and catch the bells that pop out. Each enemy you destroy may drop a bell; hitting it repeatedly changes its color from white to yellow to green to red (the most valuable). Collecting bells in a row without missing increases your score multiplier, and grabbing a blue bell gives you a temporary speed boost. The game ends when all lives are lost, but continues are available by pressing Start at the game over screen. A couple of important tips: don't button-mash the attack button - hold it down for rapid fire. Also, the barriers that sometimes appear can be destroyed by shooting them, but you can also navigate through the gaps. If you're playing alone, the default ship is TwinBee; the second ship WinBee has slightly different handling. The game is entirely in Japanese, but the menus are minimal - basically just a start screen and a high score entry. Navigate with the D-Pad and confirm with X.

CONTROLS

Controls

Arrow Keys: D-Pad / Movement
X: A button (jump / confirm)
S: B button (run / attack / cancel)
Enter: Start / Pause
V: Select

TwinBee FAQ

Which regions was TwinBee released in?

TwinBee was originally released in Japan for arcades in 1985, and the Famicom port arrived in 1986 exclusively in Japan. It did not see an official Western release on the Famicom Disk System, though the arcade original was later released outside Japan on the Nintendo DS compilation Konami Classics Series: Arcade Hits.

Can players save progress in TwinBee?

No, TwinBee on the Famicom Disk System does not include a save feature. Like many early arcade ports, it relies on a high score system and continues - you can continue from where you died by pressing Start at the game over screen, but there is no way to save and resume a session later. The game is designed to be played in a single sitting.

Is TwinBee an official release, a fan hack, a prototype, or another kind of build?

TwinBee (Japan) (Disk Writer) is an official release from Konami. It is a legitimate port of the 1985 arcade game, distributed via Nintendo's Disk Writer kiosks in Japan. There are no known hacks or modifications in this specific ROM; it represents the standard retail version that could be written to blank FDS disks at participating stores.

All Famicom Disk System games