Tails' Skypatrol

-- General Info --

Title: Tails' Skypatrol
System: Sega Game Gear
Developer: SIMS & JSH
Genre: Action
Rating: n/a

-- Release Info --

Japan: April 28, 1995 (Tails' Skypatrol)

-- Media --

· Box art
· The villains

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-- Tails' Skypatrol -- Long before Tails was stepping out of Sonic's shadow by saving cities from missile attacks, he was getting solo practice by chasing down railcart-riding witches. Tails' Skypatrol marks the second of three solo adventures for our fox buddy. Too bad it was only released in Japan. (You know, I didn't even know this game existed until I saw it in the Sonic Jam "Hall of Fame.")

-- Story -- Hey, beats me. There's this witch on a railcart, this wolf on a scooter, this bear (at least I think that's what he is) on a rocket, and this female rabbit in a flying carrot. The witch seems to be the leader of the operation...

-- Gameplay Info -- You control Tails flying left to right through auto-scrolling levels, dodging obstacles, collecting items, and busting Badniks (by means of beaning 'em with a Ring). Think horizontal shooter meets Sonic and you're on the right track. Get hit by an enemy or projectile, and you'll fall...hit the ground, and it's lights-out. If you're quick, though, you can recover by hitting the action button before kissing dirt. The other way to lose lives is by getting smashed between the side of the screen and a wall, or by running out of energy on the flight meter. The flight meter can be replenished by collecting candy (mint candy, I presume). Items for the collecting include:

Crystals -- Look like Chaos Emeralds, collect for points
Candy -- Replenish flight meter
1-Ups -- Oh, come now
Flags -- Temporary invincibility
Bells -- Mark your place in the level

It's short, but it's actually kind of fun. The graphics are certainly above average for Game Gear, and the levels are plenty deep with lots of branching paths and some clever design. It isn't easy, though, and it can be quite frustrating to try and make it through to the end. Nonetheless, it isn't a bad start for our man Miles, and he certainly goes up a notch with his later GG solo run, Tails Adventure. To quote the little guy himself: "That wasn't too bad!"

-- Screenshots -- Title Screen

-- Codes & Cheats --Secret Options: Simultaneously hold UP on the D-pad and button 2 at the title screen, then press start. This accesses a secret options screen with a BGM test, SFX test, and level-select.

Information compiled and arranged by Jared "Green Gibbon!" Matte. Make no mistake, this site is a part of SonicNEXT. All Sonic related materials are copyright Sega Enterprises. SonicNEXT is created by Zifei Wu. Space provided by VGHQ.com. People have asked what I look like. See that bear on the rocket? Thassa me! My mom looks like the witch.