Twinbee 3: Poko Poko Daimo - NES

Twinbee 3 is the third game in the series of vertically-scrolling surreal cute 'em ups. Once again you take the role of either Twinbee or Winbee (Gwinbee having been kidnapped by the final boss) as they fly through the fantasy kingdom shooting the hell out of their... uhm... enemies, or whatever they are.

As in other games in the series you can gain power-ups after defeating certain amounts of enemies by shooting the magical bells they leave behind, depending on the amount of times you shoot them, they change color and thus give different power-ups such as multiple shots, options, etc.

If correctly powered-up both ships can join-up to perform a screen-clearing attack, and you can choose your starting stage from any of the first four stages (the fifth and last remaining locked until you clear all the others).

Gameplay Highlights

Signature "Bell" Power-Up System: Shoot the clouds to reveal bells, then hit them repeatedly to cycle through colors. Catch specific colors to upgrade your speed, firepower, add lasers, or create invulnerable barriers.

Cooperative Action: Join forces with a friend for two-player simultaneous arcade action, maneuvering TwinBee and WinBee through vibrant, vertical-scrolling stages.

Strategic Difficulty Options: Unlike many shooters of its era, TwinBee 3 includes an "Option Mode" allowing you to adjust the difficulty, set your starting lives, and even choose which stage to start on, making it accessible for newcomers and challenging for veterans.

The "Soul Reviving" Mechanic: Never fear losing your upgrades. If you lose a ship, a ghost version of your previous craft remains; retrieve it to instantly recover the power-ups you had collected before being destroyed.

Whimsical World Building: Explore five distinct, surreal areas—including the floating Air Island and a bizarre Dungeon coal mine—filled with unconventional enemies like musical instruments, banana-shaped crocodiles, and toothy dragons.

Innovative Gemini Tactics: When two players align their ships vertically, they can trigger a powerful, star-shaped beam that circles the screen, obliterating any nearby enemies.

Product Details

Platform: Family Computer (Famicom) / Nintendo Entertainment System (NES)

Genre: Vertical-Scrolling Shoot 'em up ("Cute 'em up")

Players: 1–2 Players

Language: Japanese

Developer: Konami

Publisher: Konami

Release Year: 1989

ESRB Rating: N/A (Original Japanese exclusive; contains cartoon-style fantasy violence)

* This game was released exclusively in Japan for the Famicom. While it is designed for use on original Famicom hardware, it can be played on an NES with the use of a physical pin-converter or by using an import-friendly console.