Tails Adventure

Overview

Tails Adventure (also known as Tails Adventures) is a 2D action-adventure side-scrolling platformer developed by Aspect and published by Sega for the Sega Game Gear on September 1995 (in Japan and Europe) and November 1995 (in North America).

The third game in the Sonic the Hedgehog series to feature Miles "Tails" Prower as the main protagonist (after Tails and the Music Maker and Tails' Skypatrol), Tails Adventure takes place on a tiny island (Cocoa Island in the Japanese version, Tails Island in the English version) where Tails is taking his vacation. After being awoken by a large explosion, he is told by a Flicky that the island is being invaded by an army of birds (known as the Battle Kukku Army, led by Grand Battle Kukku 15th) for its chaos emeralds.

Unlike other 2D platformers in the series, Tails Adventure is played in a much slower and more methodical pace, as Tails will have to use a number of items (including weapons and special abilities) and backtracking to reach new areas in the island.

It was later included as a hidden mini-game in the 2003 game Sonic Adventure DX: Director's Cut and in the 2005 compilation Sonic Gems Collection. It digitally re-released for the Nintendo 3DS (via Virtual Console) on April 2013 (in Japan) and June 2013 (worldwide).

Gameplay

Unlike games in the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise, Tails Adventure is a much slower platformer that features several puzzles, and an emphasis on back tracking and item collection. Tails' main form of attack is using weapons that he has collected throughout the game; his starting weapon is a small bomb. Health is represented by a numerical value next to a Ring Item Box in the top left corner of the screen. The starting amount of health is 10 and as the player collects Chaos Emeralds the value will increase eventually maxing out at 99 once all six emeralds are collected. Health can be replenished by collecting Golden Rings that are dropped by defeated enemies and blown up rocks. Tails also has the ability to fly but this is limited by a gauge that appears under the item icon; to begin with, Tails can fly for 3 seconds and maxes at 15 seconds.

In total there are 26 items for Tails to collect across the game's 12 levels. Some items act as weapons while other items are used to solve puzzles, however the player can only choose to take four items into each of the games levels. To change the equipped item during gameplay, the player has to pause the game and scroll through them using the D-Pad. The player can see what item they have equipped by looking at the icon placed under the health.

One of the more useful items is the Remote Robot which is used to solve a large number of the game's puzzles and is often used clear the main path for Tails. When using the the Remote Robot, Tails stands in place while the player takes control of the robot. The robot controls very similarly to Tail in that it can walk, jump, and fly but it has many advantages that Tails does not; the robot's flight ability is not limited by a gauge and it can also walk on many environmental hazards like lava and spikes. If an enemy hits the Remote Robot, it will automatically return to Tails. The robot can also fit into small spaces that Tails himself cannot. During underwater segments, the Remote Robot will turn into the Sea Fox which was first seen in Sonic Triple Trouble.

Item List

• Regular Bomb: The only item the player starts with, it is mainly used to destroy blocks of stone and enemies. It can be thrown while crouching, jumping, and dropped while flying.
• Large Bomb: The Large Bomb is designed to destroy stronger stone blocks but can only be used while the player is on the ground. It is placed directly where Tails is standing.
• Remote Bomb: The Remote Bomb is thrown like the Regular Bomb but this bomb will roll along the floor until it runs into a wall. The Remote Bomb has to be detonated by the player by pressing the 1 button a second time.
• Napalm Bomb: Also thrown like the Regular Bomb, the Napalm Bomb isn't lethal until it lands on the floor. Once that happens it creates a trail of fire that crawls across the floor.
• Triple Bomb: An extremely powerful version of the Regular Bomb.
• Wrench: This item is used in the Final Zone.
• Helmet: Tails pulls out a giant helmet and hides under to prevent damage from attacks. While using the helmet, Tails cannot move.
• Remote Robot: A small robot that Tails can use to collect items in areas that Tails himself cannot get into.
• Hammer: A melee alternative to the Regular Bomb, it can be used to kill enemies and destroy stone blocks.
• Teleport Device: When this item is used Tails is immediately transported back to his house.
• Night Vision Goggles: Used primarily in Poly Mountain 2, this enables Tails to see in the dark.
• Speed Boots: These boots increases Tails' walking speed.
• Super Gloves: The Super Gloves give Tails the ability to carry large items.
• Fang: Increases the chances that Rings will drop when enemies are killed or when stone blocks are broken.
• Knuckles: This allows Tails to punch enemies and stone blocks.
• Sonic: Tails is able to use Sonic's Spin-Dash technique.
• Item Radar: This item is used to spot items that the player may have missed in any stage.
• Radio: The Radio is used to change the music playing in the background.
• Chaos Emeralds: There are six total and each one increases the player's maximum health by 10. Once all six are collected, the player's max health is increased to 99.