SOTM April 2020 - Twin Cobra II/Kyukyoku Tiger II

[opt2not]

Whuddup shump fans, this month's game is Twin Cobra II / Kyukyoku Tiger II!

This fantastic game published by Taito for the F3 system was under development at the onset of Toaplan shutting it's doors, but was allowed to be completed by Takumi Corporation, an offshoot company.

There was only one port of this game, for the Sega Saturn under the title Kyukyoku Tiger II Plus. It's been reported that the Saturn version's scoring is a bit higher, so we're going to run 2 separate scoreboards: PCB/MAME and Saturn.

Good luck!


PCB/MAME

Twin Cobra II

Name - Score - Stage - Platform

1. Kidpanda - 8,852,280 - ALL - MAME 
2. ShootTheCore - 8,591,940 - All - Taito F3 
3. Beelzebub - 7,951,020 - ALL - MAME 
4. egg_sanwich - 7,679,110 - ALL - MAME
5.

Kyukyoku Tiger II

Name - Score - Stage - Platform
1. Dogg - 2,900,590 - 4 - Taito F3
2. gusmoney - 2,233,810 - 3 - Taito F3
3.
4.
5

SATURN

Name - Score - Stage - Platform - P1/P2
1. suicidekiller - 6,405,960 - 6 - Saturn - P1
2.
3.
4.
5.

 

[suicidekiller]

Neat game! Just popped in some coins and even managed to break my old highscore (4.6 Mil.). Next target is 5+ Mil. Lots of improvement left. However, I don't have a strategy for the level 3 boss rather than bomb away :/ Anyone ever managed to make use of a weapon apart from the Thunder Claw? It seems to me that's the only useful weapon in this game. Also anyone ever tried the Saturn exclusive mode?

suicidekiller - 4,760,150 - 5 - Saturn

 

[andsuchisdeath]

According to the shmups forum high score board, the scoring bug in the saturn port is present when playing as player one, but not as player 2.

They have split boards for Kyukyoku Tiger II and Twin Cobra II, but not a separate board for the saturn port.

 

[gusmoney]

gusmoney - 1,886,650 - 3 - Taito F3

Shmups forum game overview

 

[egg_sanwich]

egg_sanwich - 1,983,370 - 3 - mame - world ver

Fun game.

I agree with Asid, looks like there are regional differences. Would be worth breaking it down to JP/world versions or specify a preferred region.

 

[opt2not]

Alright, I've split Twin Cobra II from Kyukyoku Tiger II for the PCB/MAME score tables.

Also, from the shmups thread there seems to be a difference in the Saturn version if you play P1 or P2. So I've put a notation in the scoreboard for what side you're playing on for Saturn.

If anyone wants any additional changes made, let me know.

 

[andsuchisdeath]

Also, from the shmups thread there seems to be a difference in the Saturn version if you play P1 or P2.

No way, thats crazy

 

[opt2not]

Yeah there is a post in the highscore thread mentioning it's a glitch that relates to bonus points for same/current weapon pick-ups:

I've resolved why the scoring in Kyukyoku Tiger 2 Plus (Sega Saturn) is higher than the original arcade game.

In the arcade a player is awarded 500pts for picking up a 'like' or current weapon power-up. This does not change until Level 5 where 10,000pts are awarded, and each level after sees an increase of 10,000 more until 100,000pts are acheived from pick-up of a power-up while at max power.

In Saturn, a player is awarded a whooping 10,500pts for the 1st like power-up. The next level sees 20,500pts awarded and the max level gives 30,500pts. However, after Level 4 is reached the normal 10,000pts rolling max bonus picks up from the arcade game.

These rules apply even when switching weapons, so it relies simply on what level is being reached, meaning there is no way to avoid these 'like' weapon bonuses.

Saturn    Player1                                      Arcade      Player1
Level 1     *                                          Level 1       *
L2        10,500                                       L2          500pts
L3        20,500                                       L3          500pts
L4        30,500                                       L4          500pts
L5!       10,000                                       L5!         10,000pts
          20,000                                                   20,000pts
          30,000                                                   30,000pts
(continues at 10k increases until...)
LMax      100,000 (each power-up thereafter is 100k)   LMax        100,000pts (each power-up thereafter is 100k)

Edit: As I just discovered, the crazy part about this point glitch for 'like' weapon bonus is that it affects the blue ship (P1) only. P2/red ship is unaffected and has the normal 500pts bonus for picking up the next level of a current weapon. I wonder how Naxat messed this up.

Player 1, Arcade mode, KT2+, SSF


Player 2, Arcade mode, KT2+, SSF

 

[andsuchisdeath]

I still don't believe it...

 

[Kid Panda]

I may play this one. Prolly not though.

 

[suicidekiller]

Good improvement on my side. Finally made it to stage 6 (area 83) but I started there basically DOA with no power ups There are still several spots that should be done much better and especially with less bombs. Namely the two red planes (mid boss) on stage 2, those many little round vehicles that shoot red bullets in stage 3. Plus the level 3 boss still drives me nuts. I don't have no tactic at all Gotta watch some YT videos how to do it...

suicidekiller - 6,405,960 - 6 - Saturn - P1

 

[Kid Panda]

Watching a video kinda takes the fun out of learning it though

 

[suicidekiller]

I get your point, but just because I've watched a video doesn't mean I can pull it off myself

 

[egg_sanwich]

lol, died on last boss with bombs in stock.

egg_sanwich - 6,400,010 - stage 6 - mame - world

 

[egg_sanwich]

jeffgoldblum_andthereitis.gif

Aaaand got the clear this morning. This has definitely been the easiest 1cc I’ve gotten, I’ve only play about 6-7 credits total on this game.

egg_sanwich - 7,679,110 - all - mame - world

General strategy:
- max out green weapon
- don’t die
- bomb bosses

Biggest room for improvement would be to nmnb as long as possible.

I dunno, maybe I’ll try KT2 instead.

 

[opt2not]

Nicely done! Yeah I heard this game is a bit on the easy side. Which should be interesting for a score competition.

 

[Neodogg]

2nd day of the month...

 

[opt2not]

If people get bored of this one, we can always add a second game to this month. X-Multiply was the runner-up in votes, and was also ported to the Saturn...

 

[NERDtendo]

I acquired the game today so I can give it a try. I like the first Twin Cobra. That was the first vertical shmup I had for my Blast City.

 

[Neodogg]

A huge thank you to Gus$ for helping me to get my F3multi up and running! Got a little time this afternoon between ripping up hardwood floor and mowing grass...

Dogg - 2,900,590 - 4 - Taito F3

 

[c0nn0r]

This game has some of the most annoying bad music I have heard in a game in a long time.The end of level score tally music is nice, but the level music is fucking atrocious. What the fuck is up with those terrible off tune guitar samples? Jesus fuck.

 

[gusmoney]

gusmoney - 2,233,810 - 3 - Taito F3

 

[suicidekiller]

This game has some of the most annoying bad music I have heard in a game in a long time.The end of level score tally music is nice, but the level music is fucking atrocious. What the fuck is up with those terrible off tune guitar samples? Jesus fuck.

Nothing over the top, but still decent. I've heard worse for sure. The level 4 music is quite good btw.

 

[ShootTheCore]

Just getting on the leaderboards - better scores will be forthcoming. What are the differences between Twin Cobra II and Kyukyoku Tiger II on arcade anyway?

Twin Cobra II
ShootTheCore - 1464930 - 3 - Taito F3

 

[ShootTheCore]

Wow, that green weapon is so much better than the others by leaps and bounds!

Twin Cobra II
ShootTheCore - 7,375,750 - All - Taito F3