Twinkle Star Sprites

Overview

Twinkle Star Sprites is a cutesy versus shoot-'em-up developed by ADK and published by SNK for arcades (running Neo Geo MVS hardware) in November 25, 1996. It is the last Neo Geo game developed by ADK.

Combining elements of a traditional vertical-scrolling shoot-'em-up and versus puzzle games, players attempt to survive waves of enemies while sending attacks to their opponent's playfield. It later received a 3D sequel in 2005 (exclusively in Japan) for the PlayStation 2, titled Twinkle Star Sprites: La Petite Princesse.

The story, as cutesy and nonsensical as it is, puts players in the role of magical child Load Ran who, along with her companion Rabicat, journeys to restore the world from darkness with help of the wish-granting Twinkle Star.

The game received numerous Japan-exclusive ports. It was released for the Neo Geo AES on January 31, 1997 and ported to the Neo Geo CD on February 21, 1997, Sega Saturn on December 18, 1997, and Dreamcast on March 23, 2000. The Dreamcast version includes numerous bugfixes and gameplay options while the Sega Saturn version includes new graphics, voice acting, and an anime-style intro video.

The original version was digitally re-released for the Wii (via Virtual Console exclusively in Japan on August 9, 2011 by D4) and PC (via Steam on May 26, 2016 by DotEmu). It was also included in some Humble NEO GEO Bundles starting in late 2015 for the PC, Mac, and Linux (both downloadable, with ROMs included, and on modern browsers), and was included in both the 2005 sequel (as a hidden unlockable) and the 2008 Japan-exclusive PS2 compilation ADK Damashii.

Gameplay

The gameplay is set to where the object is to reduce the opponents life bar to zero. One match is set to two out of three rounds much like a standard fighting game match.

The game is usually played with a joystick and two buttons but can also be played with any other form of controller with the two buttons being labeled as “A” or “B”. “A” being your shoot button and “B” being your bomb.

Life Bar

Each player/character starts out with a 5 heart life bar. Each time contact is made with an NPC Zako, 1 heart of the life bar is lost and half a heart is send to your opponent’s life bar. Shaking the joystick will recover from the stun faster.

After you recover from the stun you go into a weakened state in which you move slower and your shots are weaker and slower.

Getting hit by one of your opponent’s attacks you lose 3 hearts. Seeing as you only have a 5 heart life bar then taking two extra attacks to the face will result in death.

Shots

You shot a single shot by pressing the “A” button. Each shot has a different speed based off what character you are using. These are your general all around attacks that you will be using 90% of the time. These can be used for everything. Shooting Zako, your opponent’s attack Zako (kougeki Zako), or your opponent’s flashing Zako. These are also the attacks you’ll want to use to weaken stronger Zako to create combos.

Holding down the “A” button will charge up an attack. Each character has their own variety of charge attack and depending on which level your attack gauge is at affects what happens along with the charge shot. These attacks usually don’t result in combos but can clear a screen when you need to.

Attack Gauge

The attack gauge is located in the bottom left hand corner of the screen for both players side of the screen. There are 3 different levels of power and with each level comes a new bonus. Each time you destroy a formation of Zako your gauge fills a little. Getting a perfect formation kill will give you a bonus increase in your gauge along with extra points.

Level 1 will just shoot off a standard charge shot with no additional bonus. You can go below level 1 as this would take away your charge attack entirely.

Level 2 will launch and charge attack along with 2-4 of your character specific “extra attack” depending on the character to your opponents screen.

Max level will shoot a charge attack with a Boss Attack.

Fever Time

Fever time is activated by destroying the “orb” in a Zako combo. The orb looks like a blue ball with a crescent moon in it. You can’t start the combo by shooting the orb directly. You have to destroy it in a combo or by using a bomb.

When the orb is destroyed, a voice will yell “FEVER!” and you enter fever time. In this time you get double attack Zako from combos and they fly faster at your opponent. Also during this time no Zako with a bubble will appear around them.

Bombs

You start out with two bombs, but more can be collected from rotating coins that are dropped off by a flying bunny. Bombs will clear the entire screen of normal Zako and attack Zako but not of extra attacks. Bombs, though, will make you invincible so you easily avoid extras. Bombs are especially useful in getting out of a sticky situation.

Zako

Zako come in three types. NPC Zako, attack Zako, and flashing attack Zako.

NPC Zako are your standard enemies that show up in predetermined formations that are used to create combos. They also act as KO chances for your opponent if you get hit by one. They range from big to small and have different degrees of toughness to kill.

Attack Zako are what result in you getting combos off of NPC Zako and look like flying fireballs with faces. They fly in different patterns varying from straight down to across the screen at an angle. These can be shot by your opponent and sent back at you but this isn’t a good idea.

Flashing attack Zako are what result of your opponent shooting back your regular attack Zako. These look like flashing versions of the flying fireballs with faces. These do no more damage than regular attack Zako but they are actually a good thing to have on your screen.

Extra Attacks

Extra attacks are what you pick your character for. Each character has a different type of extra attack which are used to try to KO your opponent. These attacks cannot be killed by any shot or bomb and must be dodged to avoid damage. They are created ether by shooting off a level 2 charge shot or by shooting back a flashing attack Zako that your opponent sent to your screen. Getting these extra attacks is the reason why shooting flashing fireballs isn’t a good thing.

Bosses

Bosses are a result of shooting a max level charge shot or by countering three flashing Zako in a combo with NPC Zako. You can reverse the boss by countering three or more flashing Zako while your opponents boss is on your screen. This will send their boss away and send one over to their side.

Each boss is different and lasts at the most 15 seconds if you don’t shoot at it. Each boss has two special attacks and also can spawn more attack Zako. The more times a boss is spawned in a round the stronger they get. They can be hurt by bombs.

Chains

Chains are what send attack Zako over to your opponent’s side of the screen to try to get a KO. Destroying a Zako will cause it to explode resulting in possibly destroying other Zako. This is what creates a combo. The bigger a Zako is that explodes the more Zako it will take with it. This is a basic combo and can be achieved by just shooting the NPCs in a normal mashing shooter fashion.

Zako have different amounts of hit points with purple being the strongest and the weakest being red. Bubbles will also appear on some Zako which requires a single shot to remove the shield and another shot to destroy the Zako.

The bigger a combo the more attack Zako you send to your opponents screen.

Perfect Chains

Shooting larger Zako until they turn red is the key to creating combos. Larger Zako create larger explosions which will destroy smaller Zako regardless of what color they are. If this explosion destroys all of the Zako in a formation you get a perfect formation bonus. This adds extra gauge to your attack gauge and give extra points.

Characters

Load Ran

• Charge: Blue energy burst. Similar to a fireball from Street Fighter.
• Extra: A bunny cat thing flies to your opponent’s screen and explodes.
• Boss: A large bunny cat thing- Shoots carrots, bombs, and stars.

Do Kesubei

• Charge: Alternating punching fists that are really good for destroying bosses.
• Extra: Robotic fists that explode into cat heads.
• Boss: Giant robot- Shoots laser eyes that scan the screen and bouncing triangles.

Nanja Monja

• Charge: Bolt of lightning that can be angled based on the direction you hold the joystick.
• Extra: A bouncing, turnip shaped fuzz ball drops down the screen and is very hard to dodge in numbers.
• Boss: A very large version of the turnip fuzz balls- Shoots spikes and lighting along with creating bouncing fuzz balls as extra attacks.

Tinker and Linker

• Charge: A large diamond that can be fired in 8 directions based on how you hold the joystick. Considered the best in the game because of how you can get perfect formations with it.
• Extra: A fairy that can bounce off walls and hit you in many different directions.
• Boss: A giant, sword wielding fairy- Sprays crystals, and diamonds and also spawns extra attacks.

Realy Till

• Charge: A flame that spreading in a cone shape and has very short range.
• Extra: Dragons fly down and turn at 90 degree angles at random points on screen.
• Boss: A giant dragon- Shoots fire, orange bullets, and spawns extra attacks.

Griffon

• Charge: Two saw blades shot out in a circular angle.
• Extra: Hippogriffs that fly straight down the screen.
• Boss: A large hippogriff- Shoots round electric rings and swords. Spawns extra attacks.

Yan Yanyan

• Charge: A large green wave that shoots in a crescent moon shape.
• Extra: Flying pigs that fly down screen and home in on the opponent.
• Boss: Large flying pig- Sends a wave of energy around him, shoots two booger waves, and spawns extra attacks.

Arthur Schmitt

• Charge: Large beam of energy that lasts for a second to act as a wave.
• Extra: Rockets appear at the bottom of the screen and fly upward.
• Boss: Super rocket- Shoots either a large, black bullet, mini rockets, or two laser beams. He only uses one attack.

Mackey and Pentell

• Charge: Shoots a bomb that will either explode on contact or, if the button is pressed again, explode remotely.
• Extra: A small demon bear flies at you and homes in on you.
• Boss: A giant demon bear- Shoots his arms, creates extra attacks, and throws pencils.

Dark Ran

Note: To play as Dark Ran, hover over Griffon and press down four times and press A or B.

• Charge: Similar to regular Ran’s, this time black.
• Extra: Just like Ran’s but black.
• Boss: Yet again. Just like Ran’s but black.

Sprites

Note: To play as Sprites, hover over Load Ran and press up four times. Press A or B.

• Charge: Just like Ran’s but with hovering energy balls.
• Extra: Mixture of Ran’s and Macky and Pentell’s. Homes in like MaP’s but explodes like Ran’s.
• Boss: Large rabbit cat in a dress- Shoots fireballs, an electrical attack. Creates extra attacks also.

Mevious

Note: To play as Mevious, hover over Griffon and press up four times. Press A or B.

• Charge: Three red balls shoot in a similar angle to Nanja Monja.
• Extra: Bats that fly in a lock onto your opponent.
• Boss: Large Bat- Attacks by shooting its tail or by diving in. Creates extra bats also.

Memory

Note: To select Memory, hover over Load Ran and press down four times. Press A or B.

• Charge: Balls with Memory’s face on them bounce around the screen clearing the whole screen. Has a very slow charge time.
• Extra: Different types of food appears surrounding the opponent and homes in on them.
• Boss: Huge cake- Fires forks, extra attacks, and orange bullets.