Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Stinger delivers a dynamic blend of vertical and horizontal scrolling shooter action that keeps players on their toes from start to finish. The core loop of blasting weird alien creatures and colossal, cotton-candy–themed bosses is consistently thrilling, as each level introduces novel enemy formations and attack patterns. Whether you’re dodging spiraling energy beams or weaving through swarms of candy-striped insects, the game balances intensity and accessibility with surprisingly tight controls.

One of Stinger’s most innovative mechanics is its bell-based power-up system. By repeatedly shooting bells that drift down from fluffy clouds, players can cycle through multiple color-coded abilities—ranging from rapid-fire shots to homing missiles and shield boosts. This adds a layer of strategy: do you snag the next bell quickly to upgrade your firepower, or risk waiting for a rare color that suits your playstyle? The mechanic rewards precision and situational awareness, elevating simple shooting into a thoughtful resource management challenge.

The two-player co-op mode shines by encouraging teamwork and coordination. When TwinBee (cyan) and GwinBee (green) align their crafts in tandem, their individual guns fuse into a rippling laser beam, ramping up damage output significantly. In practice, it fosters a sense of camaraderie as players jockey for formation, protect each other’s ghost icons after getting shot down, and capitalize on combined firepower to clear waves of enemies. Fans of the Japanese release even get a three-player mode with WinBee (magenta), making the experience even more chaotic and cooperative.

Graphics

Visually, Stinger embraces a bright, whimsical aesthetic that’s hard to find in other shooters of its era. The backgrounds range from pastel-hued cloudscapes to neon-lit alien fortresses, each stage brimming with playful details like candy-coated terrain or mechanical octopuses firing rainbow lasers. This colorful palette not only sets it apart but also helps readability, allowing players to quickly distinguish friend from foe amid the onslaught.

The sprite work for both the TwinBee jets and the diverse array of enemies is crisp and lively. Each of the bizarre bosses—from giant gelatinous blobs to clockwork butterflies—comes to life with smooth animations and inventive attack telegraphs. Even small details, like the jolt of Stinger’s ghost icon after a life is lost or the glimmering trail of the ripple laser, are thoughtfully crafted to enhance the visual feedback during high-octane moments.

Despite its cartoonish style, Stinger doesn’t sacrifice clarity for charm. Hitboxes feel fair and transparent, and projectiles stand out crisply against background elements. This helps maintain fast-paced combat without frustrating ambiguity about what’s a threat. Overall, the visuals strike a perfect balance: they’re whimsical enough to feel fresh and memorable, yet functional enough to support the frantic shooting that keeps players coming back.

Story

At first glance, Stinger’s narrative premise might sound tongue-in-cheek: Professor Cinnamon, Earth’s leading candy scientist, is kidnapped by the invasion-minded aliens of Attackon, and it’s up to two boxing-glove–armed ships to rescue him before our planet becomes a giant scoop of cotton candy. Yet this playful setup injects the game with a sense of fun that permeates every stage. The stakes may be absurd, but they’re delivered with enough charm to keep you invested.

Each level introduction teases the next threat with lighthearted flair—whether it’s a trio of donut-shaped UFOs or a candy-corn cannon nest—reinforcing the notion that you’re in a whimsical, sugar-coated battlefield. Even boss encounters feel like set-pieces in a madcap cartoon, complete with cheeky animations and catchy musical stings. The narrative never overreaches; it’s content to serve as a colorful backdrop for the explosive action, but it does so with tongue-in-cheek personality.

While there are no deep cutscenes or extensive dialogue trees, the scoring screens and victory screens do a commendable job of celebrating player achievements—complete with Professor Cinnamon’s grateful wave or a cheeky wink from your jet. The story’s brevity is a strength here, letting the game maintain its brisk pace without weighing down the action with unnecessary exposition. It’s the perfect example of “fun over finesse,” and it works remarkably well for the genre.

Overall Experience

Stinger stands out as a joyful remix of classic shoot ’em up tropes, packed with enough quirks to feel distinct from its peers. Its blend of horizontal and vertical stages keeps the gameplay fresh, while the bell-based power-up system injects strategic depth. Cooperative mode adds layers of teamwork and replayability, especially if you can wrangle a third player in the Japanese version.

The audiovisual presentation is equally impressive: vivid backgrounds, expressive sprites, and a bouncy soundtrack that perfectly captures the game’s whimsical tone. Even after repeated playthroughs, each level’s sight and sound cues manage to feel just as engaging as the first time. This combination of style and substance ensures that Stinger remains a pleasure to revisit.

Ultimately, whether you’re a die-hard shmup fan or a casual gamer looking for colorful co-op fun, Stinger has a lot to offer. Its short, punchy campaign is ideal for quick sessions, yet there’s enough challenge and variety to entice perfectionists chasing high scores. If you’re on the fence, know that this is one intergalactic rescue mission that delivers consistently entertaining gameplay wrapped in sugar-coated spectacle.

Retro Replay Score

6.6/10