Twin Cobra

Overview

Released in 1987, Twin Cobra, known as Kyukyoku Tiger in Japan, is a standout title in the shoot ’em up (shmup) genre, developed by Toaplan and distributed by Taito. Widely considered the spiritual successor to Tiger Heli, this game elevates the arcade experience with its sharp gameplay and relentless action, pitting players against waves of enemies in both aerial and ground combat.

In Twin Cobra, you pilot the TC-17 assault helicopter, tasked with taking down the forces of Commander Anziga, the ruthless leader of the fictional nation of Kaban. Your mission? Penetrate Kaban’s defenses, destroy its military bases, and eliminate all threats along the way. The game’s intensity lies in its fast-paced action, requiring quick reflexes and precise strategies as you battle helicopters, tanks, and stationary gun emplacements.

With its fast-paced action and constant challenges, Twin Cobra is a landmark in the shmup genre and remains a popular choice for retro game enthusiasts and maybe even for the regular gamers. What we have here for you to play is the international (World) release of the classic, ready to be ran online, in your browser (HTML5). We also have an updated (and paid) edition of the arcade’s original published by Bitwave Games in 2023 for Windows available in our download link.

Gameplay

The core of Twin Cobra revolves around classic vertical scrolling shoot ’em up mechanics, where collecting power-ups upgrades/changes your weaponry. By taking out larger enemy helicopters, you can grab colored orbs that change your attack style:

• Red (Multi-Missile) – A linear shot that spreads in multiple directions.
• Blue (Multi-Cannon) – A spread shot that covers a wide frontal area.
• Yellow (Multi-Direction Bazooka) – Shoots in four directions, forming a cross pattern.
• Green (Auto Machine Gun) – A continuous forward-firing laser beam.

As you progress, each level ends with your helicopter landing on a carrier ship, where your bonuses are tallied. Twin Cobra improves upon its predecessor in many ways, from the removal of destructible bombs on your helicopter to the retention of your score even when you continue. This makes chasing high scores a more accessible challenge.

By the way, the original arcade version is notorious for it’s unforgiving difficulty level.

Controls

• Arrow Keys – Move
• Button 1 – S (Fire)
• Button 2 – X (Bomb)
• Shift – Insert coin
• Start – Enter
• Attention – These controls are default for Player 1. Hover your mouse into the lower part of the screen and a control bar will show up. Click on the gamepad icon and set the Player 2 controls if you want to play Twin Cobra with a friend.
• These default controls can be changed in-game.

More shoot ’em up

• Air War 1941
• Galaxy Force [Master System]
• Zero Wing
• Doodle Defender
• Sky Knight
• Retro Space
• Thunder Blade [Master System]
• Space Invaders
• Fire Storm
• Invace Spaders

Twin Cobra gameplays, tips or walkthroughs

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