TWINKLE STAR SPRITES

game aged so well! music, character design, even solo gameplay is awesome! super cute too! underrated, hidden gem. and game is almost 20 years old, you know...!
EDIT: i don't get all the port complaints, to be honest - having a blast with this game!

A staple on the genre. The port might not be the best but goes for real cheap, it's an essential VS piece.

I had seen the game in Japanese arcades before but never played it until now.
It's a pretty niche title and looks like it was released in the '90s. Gameplay-wise, it's kind of like Puyo Puyo in the way you try to sabotage your opponent, but it's actually a shmup rather than a match-3 game. Like Metal Slug, it's probably a lot more fun with a friend.
Really cool arcade game, especially for just €1 during a sale!

Highly Recommended 9/10*
I don't give it a 10 just because it doesn't support gamepad natively, but steam input get the works done, there are already community inputs. Its the same game from 1996, and i love it, gorgeous looking pixel art, lovely character designs, amazing voice acting, and addictive gameplay, its a 1v1 shoot em up, each one on one side, the more combos you make destroying enemies, the more your opponent gets attacked. Great classic, cant complain at all.

Best game ever. Buy for yourself and some friends. To fix lag, set game resolution to match your monitor default. Beyond that its perfect to me, the original slowed down with alot on the screen too.

Twinkle Star Sprites, developed by SNK Corporation in collaboration with ADK and later brought to modern platforms by Dotemu, is a one-of-a-kind experience that fuses the frenetic pace of a shoot ’em up with the strategic tension of a competitive puzzle game. Originally released in 1996 for the Neo Geo arcade system, it has since gained cult status as one of the most creative and charmingly chaotic games in SNK’s catalog. Its arrival on Steam reintroduces this classic to a new generation of players while preserving the heart of what made it special: its unique blend of cute aesthetics, reflex-based gameplay, and head-to-head intensity. Beneath its sugary exterior lies a fiercely competitive system that rewards precision, timing, and the ability to think several moves ahead.
The core premise of Twinkle Star Sprites is deceptively simple. Two players face off in a vertically scrolling arena, each confined to their own half of the screen. Enemies appear in waves, and the goal is to shoot them down as efficiently as possible, chaining multiple kills together to create explosive combos. Every chain you create sends projectiles, known as “attack waves,” to your opponent’s field, cluttering their screen with hazards and forcing them to defend under mounting pressure. If the opponent destroys an incoming attack wave, it rebounds back toward you, creating a fast-paced tug-of-war that grows more intense with every exchange. This system blends the elegance of puzzle games like Puyo Puyo with the intensity of bullet hell shooters, turning what would otherwise be a standard arcade shooter into a battle of endurance and counterplay.
At first glance, the game’s aesthetic seems almost disarmingly cute. The art style is filled with bright colors, hand-drawn sprites, and characters who look like they’ve stepped out of a magical girl anime. Yet this sweetness masks a surprisingly hardcore challenge. Each character, from the cheerful heroine Load Ran to her rivals, possesses distinct attack patterns and “bomb” abilities that influence the rhythm of play. Learning to exploit these abilities and anticipate your opponent’s tactics becomes crucial, especially in multiplayer matches where every decision can flip the momentum in seconds. The visual presentation enhances the excitement rather than distracting from it; explosions, chain reactions, and enemy clusters fill the screen with spectacle while maintaining enough clarity for skilled players to react instinctively.
The balance between accessibility and depth is one of Twinkle Star Sprites’ most impressive achievements. Newcomers can grasp the basics almost instantly—shoot enemies, avoid attacks, and keep chaining kills—but mastery requires understanding the subtleties of timing and spacing. Building long chains without leaving yourself vulnerable is a constant risk-reward calculation, and reacting to your opponent’s barrage requires both reflexes and foresight. It’s easy to lose yourself in the chaos, yet the satisfaction of turning the tide with a perfectly executed combo or a well-timed bomb is immense. Each match feels like a duel rather than a simple score chase, filled with reversals, desperation moves, and bursts of adrenaline.
Visually, the Steam version retains the charm of the original arcade release, with crisp sprite work and vibrant backgrounds that capture the spirit of 1990s arcade design. Each stage is colorful and alive, framed by fantastical settings such as floating islands, starry skies, and ornate castles. The characters are bursting with personality, animated through expressive poses and charming voice clips that add levity to the high-stakes gameplay. Complementing the visuals is a cheerful, energetic soundtrack that combines upbeat melodies with whimsical sound effects. The audio design plays a key role in maintaining the game’s intensity, with every explosion, combo chain, and counterattack punctuated by satisfying cues that signal both danger and opportunity.
While Twinkle Star Sprites shines brightest in competitive multiplayer, its single-player content offers a respectable challenge as well. The arcade mode pits you against a series of AI opponents, each more aggressive than the last, culminating in a frantic battle that tests your endurance and precision. However, the game’s structure clearly prioritizes dueling over solo play. The story is light and comedic, mostly serving as a pretext for the action rather than a narrative centerpiece. Once the arcade campaign is cleared, the real longevity comes from mastering the mechanics and taking the fight to friends or online opponents. The versus mode remains endlessly replayable due to the unpredictability of human opponents and the wide variety of character matchups.
Despite its many strengths, Twinkle Star Sprites does show its age in certain respects. The game’s learning curve can feel steep for players unaccustomed to fast-paced arcade systems, and the visual chaos—especially during late-game chain reactions—can occasionally overwhelm the senses. The single-player mode, while entertaining, lacks the depth or structure of more modern shoot ’em ups, and those looking for a narrative or extensive progression system may find the experience somewhat limited. Nevertheless, these are minor shortcomings when weighed against the game’s sheer originality and infectious energy. It remains a standout example of how inventive game design can transcend technical limitations and still feel relevant decades later.
As both a competitive experience and a nostalgic artifact, Twinkle Star Sprites has lost none of its charm or power. It captures the best aspects of arcade culture—simple rules, lightning-fast gameplay, and deep replayability—while standing apart through its unique head-to-head format. Every match is a dance of aggression and defense, where one mistake can lead to a dazzling defeat and one perfect combo can reverse the tide in seconds. Its fusion of magical whimsy and mechanical precision makes it a timeless gem within the shoot ’em up genre. Whether you’re chasing high scores, learning character matchups, or simply enjoying the spectacle of explosions and stars, Twinkle Star Sprites remains a joyful reminder of how creativity and competition can coexist in perfect harmony.
Rating: 7/10

This is an enjoyable arcade shmup battle game which can run on potato computers. It's a great tourney game. While I enjoy the 1P mode, the VS play is a unique experience. You must pay attention to the entire screen, not just your own, because you'll be launching your own salvos while also countering your opponent's moves and simultaneously dodging their spam sentries. It gets really hectic but is a ton of fun.