Twin Cobra II

NA flyer

**Twin Cobra II**, known in Japan as **Ultimate Tiger II** (究極タイガーII, *Kyukyoku Tiger II*) is a vertical scrolling shooting game developed by Takumi and released in 1995 by Taito for arcades. The game was originally under development by Toaplan but with the company's eventual bankruptcy in 1994 the project was finished by Toaplan's offshot company Takumi and released under Taito's license for their F3 arcade board. It later received a port for the Sega Saturn in 1997 entitled **Ultimate Tiger II Plus**.

## Gameplay

The player's own helicopter (blue for 1P, red for 2P) is controlled by an 8-way lever and 2 buttons (shot and bomb). The pilot is male on the 1P side and female on the 2P side.

The following items appear when certain places are destroyed:

* Weapon Change Item: When you acquire this item, it changes the shot of your helicopter according to the color it was when you acquired it. If you acquire an item of the same color as the main weapon currently equipped, it will power up. Score points when you acquire an item in the color corresponding to the main weapon you have equipped while at full power.
* Bonus Item: Star-shaped items. There are two types: those floating in the air and those falling to the ground. Score will be increased by acquiring these items.
* Bomb Items: When you get this item, one bomb stock is added. The maximum number is 5. When the maximum number of bombs are in your possession, each bomb will turn into a "Hyper Bomb".

There are four types of main weapons that can be used by the helicopter. The colors in parentheses correspond to the colors of the weapon change items. Only the "green" type can be equipped with different weapons for 1P and 2P, so there are actually three types of main weapons that can be used by the player's helicopter.

* Red Fang (red): Initial equipment. Fires a shot that thrusts toward the front of the helicopter. The attack radius widens as it is powered up. It concentrates attacks in the frontal direction and is not suitable for wide-area attacks. By repeatedly pressing the shot button, the attack power can be increased by one level.
* Blue Smasher (blue): A shot that spreads out in a fan shape. The attack radius increases as the power increases. While it can attack a wide area, it has less firepower. By repeatedly pressing the shot button, the attack power can be increased by one level.
* Thunderclaw (green): Can be used only by the first player's helicopter. It fires missiles clad in energy at the front of the helicopter and also fires auxiliary missiles to the side. The auxiliary missile has the function of tracking the enemy aircraft when the energy-clad missile hits it. It does not change even if the shot button is repeatedly pressed.
* Bincho Laser (green): Only the 2P side's helicopter can use this function. Shoots a powerful laser at the front of the helicopter. It penetrates enemy aircraft that have no durability, and also generates an electric shock that damages enemy aircraft that are in a position to catch the laser. It does not change even if the shot button is repeatedly pressed.

In addition to the regular bombs, this game offers an enhanced type of bomb called the Hyper Bomb. Hyper Bombs generate a blue blast that lasts longer and is more destructive than regular bombs. It also has the effect of transforming engulfed enemy aircraft into bonus items.