History VideoGame / TwinkleStarSprites

[[PlayerVersusPlayer Competitive Mode]] is where things gets interesting. Unlike most [[ShootEmUp Shoot 'em Ups]] where players play cooperatively, ''Twinkle Star Sprites'' is a competitive shooter where one player is pitted against another or the computer across the screen, where each player has their own half of the field. Players can choose one of nine characters (thirteen, if you count the four [[SecretCharacter secret characters]]) and do battle by destroying enemies, ideally in a chain explosion that clears the wave. This launches purple fireballs (how many depend on how long the chain is) the other player's side of the screen. Purple fireballs can be volleyed right back (either with a player attack or another chain explosion) to the other player's side, where they will flash green. If these flashing green fireballs are destroyed individually, they turn into a character-specific extra attack on the opponent, but if destroyed in a group of 3 or more through a chain explosion, they become a Boss Attack to really mess up the other player's game. The gameplay can quickly get even more hectic with the appearance of a Fever orb (activated only by a bomb or an enemy explosion), which doubles the speed and rate at which fireballs are shot.

[[PlayerVersusPlayer Competitive Mode]] is where things gets interesting. Unlike most [[ShootEmUp Shoot 'em Ups]] where players play cooperatively, ''Twinkle Star Sprites'' is a competitive shooter where one player is pitted against another or the computer across the screen, where each player has their own half of the field. The game itself is rather short, so its main attraction is in Versus Mode, where players can choose one of nine characters (thirteen, if you count the four [[SecretCharacter secret characters]]). Players attack each other by destroying enemies and their explosions can be chained together to wipe out more enemies. When the chain ends, fireballs (how many depend on how long the chain is) are volleyed over in varying trajectories across the screen to the other player's side. These fireballs can be shot back by destroying them or if they get caught in another chained explosion. If these flashing fireballs are destroyed again individually, you will perform a character-specific extra attack, but if destroyed in a group of 3 or more indirectly (as in, by the explosions of enemies around it), you will perform a boss attack, which summons a mini-boss to the opponent's field to really mess up their game. The gameplay can quickly get even more hectic with the appearance of a Fever orb (activated only by a bomb or an enemy explosion), which doubles the speed and rate at which fireballs are shot.

In Story mode, you play as Load Ran with her faithful Rabbicat as they try to find the [[MacGuffin Magical Twinkle Star]] and save their world from the evil Mevious and his henchmen. Along the way, she encounters friend and foe alike after the Twinkle Star themselves or are trying to stop Ran from doing so. Free Character mode lets you play as one of the other characters and lets you see what would happen if they got the Twinkle Star.

This is where it gets interesting. Unlike most [[ShootEmUp Shoot 'em Ups]] where players play cooperatively, ''Twinkle Star Sprites'' is a competitive shooter where one player is pitted against another or the computer across the screen, where each player has their own half of the field. The game itself is rather short, so its main attraction is in Versus Mode, where players can choose one of nine characters (thirteen, if you count the four [[SecretCharacter secret characters]]). Players attack each other by destroying enemies and their explosions can be chained together to wipe out more enemies. When the chain ends, fireballs (how many depend on how long the chain is) are volleyed over in varying trajectories across the screen to the other player's side. These fireballs can be shot back by destroying them or if they get caught in another chained explosion. If these flashing fireballs are destroyed again individually, you will perform a character-specific extra attack, but if destroyed in a group of 3 or more indirectly (as in, by the explosions of enemies around it), you will perform a boss attack, which summons a mini-boss to the opponent's field to really mess up their game. The gameplay can quickly get even more hectic with the appearance of a Fever orb (activated only by a bomb or an enemy explosion), which doubles the speed and rate at which fireballs are shot.

''Twinkle Star Sprites'' is a CuteEmUp created by Creator/{{ADK}} in 1996. It was initially released as an arcade game for the Platform/NeoGeo platform and is available for the Platform/SegaSaturn, Platform/SegaDreamcast, and as well as [[Platform/MicrosoftWindows Windows]], [[UsefulNotes/AppleMacintosh Macintosh]], [[Platform/{{Unix}} Linux]].

''Twinkle Star Sprites'' is a CuteEmUp created by Creator/{{ADK}} in 1996. It was initially released as an arcade game for the UsefulNotes/NeoGeo platform and is available for the UsefulNotes/SegaSaturn, UsefulNotes/SegaDreamcast, and as well as [[UsefulNotes/MicrosoftWindows Windows]], [[UsefulNotes/AppleMacintosh Macintosh]], [[UsefulNotes/{{Unix}} Linux]].

There is a sequel on the UsefulNotes/Playstation2 called ''Twinkle Star Sprites: [[GratuitousFrench La Petite Princesse]]'', released in 2005, though [[NoExportForYou it was not released stateside]]. It introduced a new cast of characters (mostly clones of the original cast), as well as having a few returning characters (namely, Load Ran, Dark Ran, Really Till, Yan Yan-Yung, Memory, and [[SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute technically]] Kim) for a total of fifteen characters (Load Ran, Really Till, and the final boss Mikoto are unlockables). The rest of the cast usually shows up in the story mode at some point as a cameo, but were ultimately not playable (Arthur, Mevious, and even the titular character Sprites herself is this).

In celebration of the Neo Geo's 25th anniversary, an port of the arcade version was released on Windows, Macintosh, and Linux through Creator/HumbleBundle in late 2015. For those that missed the Humble Neo Geo 25th Anniversary Bundle, the game became available through the Humble Store a mouth later either individually or through bundles of other Neo Geo titles. Another port of the arcade version was released through UsefulNotes/{{Steam}} on May 2016 and Website/GOGDotCom a year later with online multiplayer and Achievements.

* UpdatedReRelease: The Saturn version has an [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHWva01uNcE animated intro]], an extra character, some visual upgrades, full voice-acting, a few minor gameplay tweaks, and the ability to emulate the arcade and UsefulNotes/NeoGeo's slowdown or disable them altogether. The Dreamcast version, however, was a straight port of the Neo Geo version with better music and slowdown options like a the Saturn version, as well as the option to fix the scorebug from the arcade version.

* {{Bishonen}}: Arthur Schmitt asks the Twinkle Star to make him the most handsome man in the world so he can impress Ran.

For similar games, see ''Franchise/TouhouProject'''s ''[[VideoGame/TouhouYumejikuuPhantasmagoriaOfDimDream Phantasmagoria of Dim. Dream]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/TouhouKaeidzukaPhantasmagoriaOfFlowerView Phantasmagoria of Flower View]]'', as well as VideoGame/{{Seihou}}'s ''Kioh Gyoku''.

* PandaingToTheAudience: Meirin's sidekick is a roly-poly panda.

* BrainwashedAndCrazy: In Story mode, [[spoiler:Mevious brainwashes Memory and orders her to attack Sprites before withdrawing due to a back injury. Sprites then has to [[IKnowYoureInThereSomewhereFight knock some sense back into her mother]].]].

* CharacterNameAndTheNounPhrase: Dark Ran asks to have the game named after her. The Twinkle Star changes it to ''Twinkle Star Dark Ran''.

* EmbeddedPrecursor: The original arcade version of ''Twinkle Star Sprites'' can be unlocked in ''La Petite Princesse'' if you beat Character Mode with Load Ran, Really Till, and Mikoto. However this requires unlocking them first through Story Mode, and Really Till's encounter is randomized in Stage 4.

* LovableSexManiac: Kim/Do Sukebe. Despite this, he somehow manages to get a wife and a significantly less perverted son.

** [[EvilCounterpart Dark Ran]] speaks in a slightly lower tone than Load Ran.

For similar games, see VideoGame/{{Touhou}}'s ''[[VideoGame/TouhouYumejikuuPhantasmagoriaOfDimDream Phantasmagoria of Dim. Dream]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/TouhouKaeidzukaPhantasmagoriaOfFlowerView Phantasmagoria of Flower View]]'', as well as VideoGame/{{Seihou}}'s ''Kioh Gyoku''.

** [[Main/BigBad Mevious]], despite [[Main/DudeLooksLikeALady his looks]], has a very deep and intimidating voice.
** [[Main/EvilCounterpart Dark Ran]] speaks in a slightly lower tone than Load Ran.

* NintendoHard: While competitive mode can be fair if both players are skilled, Story and especially Character Modes are ''brutal''. [[Main/TheComputerIsACheatingBastard The Computer is A Cheating Bastard]] plays a major role in this, and 1cc-ing the game almost feels like a [[LuckBasedMission Luck-Based Mission]]. Memory is a rather nasty [[Main/SNKBoss SNK boss]], and unlike [[VideoGame/TouhouYumejikuuPhantasmagoriaOfDimDream future]] [[VideoGame/{{Seihou}} games]] of the genre, there is no way to exploit the AI or have them progressively weaken.

In celebration of the Neo Geo's 25th anniversary, an port of the arcade version was released on Windows, Macintosh, and Linux through UsefulNotes/HumbleBundle in late 2015. For those that missed the Humble Neo Geo 25th Anniversary Bundle, the game became available through the Humble Store a mouth later either individually or through bundles of other Neo Geo titles. Another port of the arcade version was released through UsefulNotes/{{Steam}} on May 2016 and Website/GOGDotCom a year later with online multiplayer and Achievements.

There is a sequel on the VideoGame/PlayStation2 called ''Twinkle Star Sprites: [[GratuitousFrench La Petite Princesse]]'', released in 2005, though [[NoExportForYou it was not released stateside]]. It introduced a new cast of characters (mostly clones of the original cast), as well as having a few returning characters (namely, Load Ran, Dark Ran, Really Till, Yan Yan-Yung, Memory, and [[SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute technically]] Kim) for a total of fifteen characters (Load Ran, Really Till, and the final boss Mikoto are unlockables). The rest of the cast usually shows up in the story mode at some point as a cameo, but were ultimately not playable (Arthur, Mevious, and even the titular character Sprites herself is this).