I just picked this up and I'm really have a lot of fun. It's really quirky with some unique enemies(knifes and forks FTW) and cool powerups. Compared to Xevious is must faster, modern and easy going. If you get the right combo of power ups you can totally dominate the game. The 3D effect is pretty cool, especially the end level transition but it's a shame that it uses the curtain borders.

Anyone else want to share their impressions/discuss the game?

You impressions are making it more likely that I'll buy it but the borders look annoying and like all the 3D classics it seems overpriced.

The borders are kind of annoying but they kind of have to keep the aspect ratio unless they completely expand the view and then it would be empty at the sides unless they add more enemies but then that could adversely affect the difficulty... and so and so on. Also I think the price is definitely fair for the game; It has a nice level of complexity, looks nice, plays really well and you can definitely get a lot of play time out of it.

The curtain borders really lost my interest with the game completely. I'm continuously playing Xevious anyway so I'm good.

I like this game so far. Its like the colorful cousin to Xevious. In fact I'll put it right next to Xevious on my 3DS menu

Got it and after 10 minutes of playing it, I can say I like it better than Xevious. The 3D is almost the same with Xevious where you have Sprites in two separate layers, giving it a sense of depth. What I like about the 3D though is how some of the landscapes pop up from the ground. I was initially disappointed with the curtains though, but it never was distracting. The gameplay is like most vertical scrolling shmups, go through a series of hectic enemy waves only to reach the level boss. The power-ups make this game a step up from Xevious. So far I'm enjoying every aspect of it.

Believe me, Twinbee is worth at least twice as much even without 3D. It's a true classic.

I get to review this one, so unless there are serious problems with this version that weren't present in the original, it's going to be favorable.

What was the general opinion of the Arcade original? Was it well liked?
I got the sequel on Wii VC and I really enjoyed it. I would imagine I'd like this too.
Xevious was okay but it just seems to loop the same scenery over and over.
It never really has an ending or different bosses.
Plus the music is almost nonexistant. That game is just way too old now.

Yes. It's considered one of the greatest classics of all time in Japan (as is Xevious, for that matter).

...that's how Twinbee plays, too.

Okay... I'm officially addicted to this game now.

I'd say Twinbee has more visual variety, even if a lot of it is just pallet swapping. It's a lot more colourful and enemy variety seems to be much better. I'd also say the music and sound design of Twinbee has more variety too, especially with the power up theme. hums theme

Xevious has catchy music too, so there

Either way, someone who disliked Xevious because it "was just the same over and over, with little variety or any kind of end" probably wouldn't like Twinbee either.

Uh, no it doesn't.

I want them to make a more well known game to a 3D Classic at some point. Their choices have been pretty weird thus far IMO. Give me A Link to The Past and Super Mario Bros. 3 as 3D Classics. I'd buy them day one.

The jingle. It's catchy dammit.

The game looks fun but the curtains are really making the game look cheap.
Is there a option to just change them to traditional black borders?

TwinBee is a blast! It seems to have more enemy varieties than Xevious and the power-ups are nice to have as well.

I've got all of the 3D Classics so far and so far this one's my favourite (not that there's really too much competition besides Xevious).
I've been playing it for the last few hours, it's pretty addicting... but unfortunately it's now 4am so I better get off to bed.

Yeah, I agree there. I liked Xevious though(even if Twinbee is better:P).

Here's the thing, though: you'd buy either of those day one (or, enough people would) anyway, so there's no incentive to make them 3D Classics.

Take a lesser-known (but high quality) game and give it a 3D effect, and you've got a lot more interested buyers than you would otherwise.