Twin Hawk

About

Twin Hawk is a vertically scrolling shooter from Toaplan that flips late '80s genre conventions. Instead of swarms of airborne foes, players target ground and naval units in fast-paced dogfights. The core mechanic revolves around a quirky smartbomb: pressing a button calls six allied bombers to shield your plane and rain fire. These planes die quickly under enemy attacks so timing their deployment matters. The game leans into aggressive fire rates and tight maneuvering, with wave after wave of tanks, ships, and armored vehicles. The Japanese release had stricter checkpoints and higher difficulty compared to international versions. Its alternate WWII story pits a rebel general against a fledgling nation, but the real draw is the gameplay. The bomber mechanic stands out among shooters of the era, offering calculated risk/reward combos. Though it never became a flagship title, Twin Hawk remains a niche favorite for its bold take on the formula. The Mega Drive port brought it to home audiences in 1990, cementing its cult status among shooter fans.

Storyline

At the end of an alternate World War II, a new European country is formed called Gorongo. General Giovanni of the Gorongo military was infuriated with the results of the war and what it meant to the country of Gorongo, initiating a rebellion against the country’s government that was widely followed by his soldiers. Holing themselves up on Bobo Island, south of Gorongo, Giovanni declared the occupation as the independent state of Fuangania and plotted to take over Gorongo. After taking over the town of Kusunoki, the Fuangania invasion – consisting of massive ground and sea attack forces – started to spread. Gorongo President Bratt ordered a counterattack that focused on the one type of firepower Giovanni lacked: an air force. The special air force "Daisenpuu" sets up a mountain base after spotting a secret Fuangania fortress under construction. However, nearing the end of their training, the airforce is spotted by the Fuangania and are preparing to attack. It's up to the player, in the role of the Wing Commander, to fly into Giovanni's secret base and take him and his commanding unit out.