Twinbee/Rainbow Bell: Arcade vs. MSX?

[spadgy]

So, having played a moddest amount of Rainbow Bell (The US version of the first Twinbee) on my DS in the 'Konami Classics Series: Arcade Hits', I'm thirsting to play it on a big screen with a stick.

So, I can't wait an age to pick up the PCB, or I can go for the PS1 'Konami Antiques: MSX Collection Vol. 2', which is the MSX version. I beleive the DS and PSP Twinbee's are ports of the arcade version, but I read that the MSX version is subtly different, and scores at a different rate.

So, my question is this - how different are the arcade and MSX versions, and is the MSX one as good?

I'm pretty sure the original Twinbee PCB is pretty rare now? And I'm not to keen on the NES build, and alas, I have no PCE, and the Wii VC version didn't get a UK release, I think...

[Shatterhand]

The msx version is good, but it's not as good as the arcade one. Everything is smaller, the graphics are a lot more simple and with less colors (All except the main hero sprite is made ofa single color), and the scroll is choppy as in most MSX games (Though this doesn't make much of an impact since there's basically no interaction with the background).

The level design is different in many spots... the enemies appear from different spots, in certain parts you will be attacked by different enemies than in the arcade version, and in many sections there are less enemies than in the arcade one. It doesn't necessarily make the game easier though.

If you get hit just ONCE you lose the ability to shoot ground targets (and the hospital item only shows up once per life too). If I remember correctly, when you have options, you still can only shoot one ground shot. Also, the MSX version is Yoko while the arcade one in tate.

I don't remember anything different about scoring. Of course, there are generally less enemies to kill, and I think there are also less ground targets, which would make a difference in your score.... but I believe like 75%-80% of your score in Twin Bee comes from getting the yellow bells, and this works pretty much the same way in both versions.

All in all, it's a dumbed-down port which is pretty good on its own, but it's not a substitute for the arcade version IMO.

I've never played the NES version, but I wouldn't be surprised if the NES one is very similar to the MSX one.

Also, the MSX Collection games on the PS1, if I remember correctly, ran at a slower speed than the real games. That was easily noticeable on Konami's Ping-Pong (Which heavily relies on its speed to be fun to play), but it was noticeable on every game I played on it. The Saturn one runs all games at their correct speed (though a few has some other bugs)

You could always run both games on a PC using an emulator to check it out by yourself.

Edit: Ok, I just gave a quick go at the NES version, and indeed is very similar to the MSX one. The MSX ones doesnt show your score and level when you finish a level in a separated screen (it plays straight pretty much like the arcade one), and also the Green bell is Green, not a flashing one like in the NES one. The MSX one has less colors for sprites and the scroll is choppier. Everything else seemed to be pretty identical in both versions. So if you don't dig the NES version there's no reason to like the MSX one.

[BrianC]

The FC Twinbee is closer to the arcade in some ways (no new enemies or evil black bell like MSX. The black bell is exclusive to MSX and appears when bells are shot too much. From what I remember, it makes you lose a life when caught), but is still a slight bit toned down (no baseball power up, less enemies on screen). From what I remember, neither the FC nor the MSX Twinbee give out 1000 points when destroying groups of enemies like in the arcade.

[Shatterhand]

The FC Twinbee is closer to the arcade in some ways (no new enemies or evil black bell like MSX. The black bell is exclusive to MSX and appears when bells are shot too much. From what I remember, it makes you lose a life when caught), but is still a slight bit toned down (no baseball power up, less enemies on screen). From what I remember, neither the FC nor the MSX Twinbee give out 1000 points when destroying groups of enemies like in the arcade.

There's no Black Bell on the arcade one? Well, so that's a difference It indeed kills you, and once a Bell is blackened, its color won't change anymore.

I also dont remember the MSX game giving out 1000 points when destroying groups of enemies, that's true. I do remember the arcade one does, I just forgot to mention that

[BrianC]

There's no Black Bell on the arcade one?

There's a bee that appears and flies at you instead if you shoot a bell too much in the arcade and FC version. Unlike the black bell, it can be shot. It's also worth a ton of points. The arcade bee is a bit faster and harder to hit, if I remember correctly.

[spadgy]

Thanks guys - great stuff! I'll submit my puny score on you hi-score board for the game now BrianC.

The DS version is great fun, but I really want to play this with a stick - I might just have to be patient and see if the PCB comes up. I've really know idea how rare it is...