"It is true that this title takes some liberties with what defines the shoot 'em up, here we are directing a character on the ground and not a ship. But on reflection, this character can be handled without any other constraint than those imposed by all shoot 'em up!
Green lands

Let's move on to a very sketchy storyline (it's basically saving your world again) to take a look at what makes Twinkle Tale a totally must-have title. Space enthusiasts and other ultra sophisticated cruisers will be at their expense: the heroine is a very cute and above all very brave witch who will have to go through eight levels in order to put an end to the chief of the forces of evil and thus return to her. kingdom of serenity.
The setting of Twinkle Tale blends into a first-rate heroic-fantasy environment of astonishing variety. It is not uncommon to have to survey several very diverse places within one and the same level, thanks to a careful script and a formidable consistency. Go from country roads to infested dungeons before connecting the end of the level on footbridges where you are awaited by flying enemies who will frame the screen ... So many sequences of situations that give the game a very successful narrative dimension!

The graphic beauty of the game is astonishing: shimmering environments, detailed sprites and sublime end-level bosses are an eye-delight worthy of the best bike productions, and accompanied by aural enchantment to match. We might as well sum up by saying that Twinkle Tale is simply a technical peak that has nothing to envy to the references on Megadrive that are MUSHA Aleste or Thunder Force III.
Smart and sophisticated gameplay

The game has another point in common with Technosoft productions and in particular with Elemental Master, which it is very similar to: the player can change his shot at any time and opt for a weapon more suited to the situation. There are three types of fire: deployed, direct and self-guided.
Deployed fire is useful but its power is very limited except in melee, direct fire can be more effective on some more resistant opponents and self-guided fire will do wonders on distant or moving enemies. And the game has the elegance of not focusing on any of these three weapons: each of them will be indispensable at one time or another. Proof of an exemplary construction!

Each weapon has three power levels, and for good measure your witch will have three summons that will act as a bomb. These ultimate attacks are of two types: direct and self-guided. With such an arsenal, there is no doubt that you are well equipped to face the hordes of skeletons, golems, bats and other evil spirits!

A long journey

Twinkle Tale is an authentic adventure. The game is long and you will only have one life to triumph. Of course, that doesn't seem like much; but this severity is compensated by a very present evolutionary aspect and the possibility of lengthening your vitality by triumphing over tight obstacles. The script for the title is an asset: a courageous heroine who will show her bravery will hardly be forgotten along her journey and very often will find something to heal her wounds and will benefit from the assistance of allies who meet her they will not go to the pipe breaker with you, will nevertheless be of great help to you, especially towards the end of the game and its procession of moments of sometimes diabolical difficulty.

Twinkle Tale is a rare and expensive game, but it should not be overlooked. On the contrary, it is up to you to get it out of oblivion where it vegetates to give it the attention it deserves, and even more! Its incredible diversity makes it a game that is constantly renewing itself, and to avoid spoiling anything, you go from one wonderful place to another wonderful place without the slightest false note.

What to remember?

A success in every way: technical, artistic and fun. A cartridge worthy of all the compliments that will give you a lot of fun and joy, both in learning and in victory! The more unfair the forgetfulness, the more enchanting the discovery. With Twinkle Tale we hit the high end, to say it is not an exaggeration but recognition."

(source: shmupemall.com)