Bells & Whistles (1991). Play online

Summary

Bells & Whistles drops you into a bright, vertically scrolling sky where you pilot TwinBee or WinBee alongside a buddy. The core loop is classic TwinBee: blast clouds to unleash rainbow‑colored bells, shoot them to swap power‑ups, and keep an eye on the bottom‑screen meter—hold the shot button to charge a devastating "Big Shot" before unleashing it.

Beyond the usual yellow, white, blue, green, and red bells, you’ll find a quirky purple bell that blankets your ship in a protective tail‑shield and a black bell that deliberately slows you down for tighter control. Mini‑bells and lucky stars make a cameo, while GwinBee adds a tactical twist: pair with it or align two player ships side‑by‑side for a massive spread, or stack them vertically for a five‑way barrage. In a second loop the challenge ramps up, and a fresh credit can net a "free" power‑up to keep the buzz alive.

European arcades sang its praises—Game Machine listed it a top‑three hit in Japan’s March ’91 charts, and Power Play lauded its candy‑colored visuals. Gamest handed it multiple honors, including Best Shooting and Best VGM, cementing its status as a beloved, if slightly under‑the‑radar, vertical shooter.

Storyline

Detana!! TwinBee takes place several years after the original TwinBee. TwinBee and his sidekick WinBee—known in the audio drama as Light and Pastel—are relaxing on their island when a distress signal arrives from the distant planet Meru. Princess Melora begs for help, warning that the evil alien Iva’s forces are invading her world. Without hesitation, the duo launch into space to confront the threat.

The game is a classic vertical‑scrolling shooter spanning seven stages. Players control TwinBee (player 1) or WinBee (player 2), shooting down waves of enemies and collecting power‑ups. Their mission is to defeat Iva’s minions and ultimately save Planet Meru. The story unfolds through bright, colorful visuals and upbeat music that capture the series’ whimsical tone.