--
Tails Adventure -- It's a bird!
It's a plane! No, it's a flying fox! With BOMBS! Yep, the fact is
that Tails got his own "Adventure" years before Sonic got his. While
there is no comparison at all to be made between the Game Gear and
Dreamcast, Tails' third solo romp is a gem in its own right.
--
Story -- Tails is enjoying some
vacation time at his favorite holiday spot: a small island he
discovered and named after himself. But alas, Tails Island is
attracting some unwanted tourists. A violent bird army has set their
sights on the island, and intend to take it by force if necessary.
While catching some Z's in front of his hut one peaceful afternoon,
Tails is rudely awakened by a shower of missiles! Those bad birds
have napalmed the woods around Tails' home, setting them ablaze. If
some schmuck came and threw bombs at your home, would you sit
around and do nothing? Didn't think so. Tails sets off, bombs
in-hand, to set the laws of Tails Island straight with the intruding
army.
--
Gameplay Info -- Take
everything you know about Sonic...and throw it right out the window.
There's no speedy tricks around here...no loop-de-loops, no
corkscrew twists, no killer whale chase scenes. Platform-jumpin',
bomb-hurling, and puzzle-solving are the rules in Tails Adventure.
The object is to get from one side of the level
to the other. The catch is that to make it through some levels,
you'll need certain items and/or weapons. These items, of course,
may not be accessible until you've obtained another item
necessary to reach the first item. In short, there's alot of
backtracking going on, and in this respect it resembles an
action-RPG.
Tails walks, jumps, flies, and throws various
explosives. You start the game with a ten HP power bar (HP being
measured by Rings, of course), Regular Bombs to hurl, and about two
seconds of air time on the flight guage. HP is raised and the flight
guage is extended each time you obtain a Chaos Emerald. There are
six in total, and once you've found them all your HP should be up to
99 and you should have about 12 seconds of flight time. There are
also 26 new weapons & items to locate throughout the game...most
are necessary to advance, but a few are just there for kicks. Here's
a list of everything:
- Regular Bomb -- You start the game with these babies, and
they're presumably Tails' key form of offense. Blows up all
enemies and your basic stone barriers. (Bean the Dynamite should
sue.)
- Large Bomb -- Destroys all on-screen enemies, but takes
several seconds to detonate after placing. Also useful for those
stubborn, thick stone barriers.
- Remote Bomb -- This handy little sucker will only detonate
when you trigger it. Not very effective against enemies, but a
necessity on many puzzles. Carry this item with you into nearly
every level, as it's almost always needed...
- Napalm Bomb -- Throw this puppy on the ground to create a wave
of flame that destroys everything in its path, including objects
above. It's the only way to clear through tall grass.
- Triple Bomb -- An enhanced version of the Regular Bomb. Once
you obtain this item, you'll never need the Regular Bombs again.
Don't dare trek into any new level without packing these along.
- Wrench -- The last item in the game, the Wrench's only use
comes in the final level, where you'll be using it to work
machines and reverse the direction of conveyor belts.
- Helmet -- By ducking under this giant bowl, all enemy fire
will be reflected, and Tails will be safe from any damage. The
downside is that you can't move at all while using it...
- Remote Robot -- The most important item in the game,
barring only the Regular and Triple Bombs. Once you snag this
mechanical pup, pack him along to every level. Nearly all
of the game's puzzles revolve around maneuvering the robot to open
the path for Tails himself, so learn this canine's tricks early.
- Hammer -- Take out your frustrations on enemies and certain
stone barriers with this fine mallet. (Amy Rose should sue.)
- Teleport Device -- This is a handy little item that should
prove extremely useful while exploring new levels to determine
what items you'll need to pack along, as well as when returning to
old levels to pick up items you couldn't reach the first time.
Warps you back to Tails' House from any location.
- Night Vision -- You'll need these infra-red goggles to light
up dark levels. I mean, unless you think you're good enough to
play them in pitch black...
- Speed Boots -- Anyone who's ever played a Sonic game in his
life (and I don't think you'd be here if you haven't) should be
familiar with this item. Gives Tails the ability to run and fly at
a faster speed.
- Super Glove -- You can't have a self-respecting action-RPG
without a Power Glove item, which naturally allows you to lift
obscenely heavy objects. (It's yet to be explained exactly how
wearing a glove raises a character's strength, but there are some
questions better left unasked...)
- Fang -- Everyone's favorite weasel gives Tails a lesson in
Ring-pinching. Carry this item along with you into any level to
increase the chances that a destroyed enemy will drop a Ring.
- Knuckles -- Bombs are OK, but sometimes it's just more
satisfying to belt those bent birds' beaks in. So make like
everyone's favorite echidna and implant your fist into some face.
(Knuckles should sue.)
- Sonic -- Tails borrows Sonic's spin with this item, although
the control is more like that of a slingshot. Like Knuckles'
punch, it's more of a cute series tie-in than a functional goodie.
(Tails is in some serious legal trouble.)
- Item Radar -- This time-saving piece of equipment will let you
know if there's an item you missed still in the level. If you
don't get a read on the radar, don't waste your time.
- Radio -- While completely useless to gameplay, this
beat-buster is the game's only trace of a sound test. It just so
happens that you can continue the level while jamming to your
choice of tune...
- Proton Torpedo -- The Proton Torpedo is to the Sea Fox what
the Regular Bombs are to Tails. Your standard underwater weapon,
they fire straight ahead.
- Vulcan Gun -- A smaller, rapid-fire version of the Proton
Torpedo. This is particularly handy in the Battle Fortress
dogfight...
- Extra Speed -- Created solely for Lake Crystal, this
boost-builder is the only way to get up that level's waterfalls.
- Extra Armor -- A starry forcefield protects the Sea Fox,
making it invincible as long as this item is selected.
- Anti-air Missile -- This projectile shoots straight
upward...handy for surprising enemies from below, and busting open
barriers above.
- Spark -- Creates a strong electrical field around the Sea Fox,
clearing the screen of all enemies and mines.
- Mine -- Like the Anti-air Missile, except you drop 'em rather
than shoot 'em upward. Catch enemies from above, or destroy
barriers directly below.
- Rocket Booster -- This attachment allows the Sea Fox to
fly...the only way to play Battle Fortress 1.
And now here's a list and description of all
twelve levels:
- Tails' House -- This is where you start every game. Gear up
before heading out, or switch to the Sea Fox.
- Poloy Forest -- The first area attacked by the bird army, this
flaming forest recalls memories of the inferno Robotnik made out
of Angel Island. A good place to get familiar with Tails' various
moves.
- Volcanic Tunnel -- As the name suggests, it's an underground
cavern flowing with magma. The terrain's your worst enemy here, so
expect more old-fashioned platforming than brain-teasing puzzles.
- Polly Mountain 1 -- Here you're exploring the outside ledges
of Polly Mountain. This level's got a bit of everything, so keep
on your toes. Notice the music is a re-vamped version of the Aqua
Lake Zone BGM.
- Caron Forest -- This eerily quiet jungle is a level of
puzzles. You're going to have to learn to use Tails' Remote Robot
in some creative ways...
- Green Island -- You're gonna have lots of bug trouble in this
woodsy island. You'll definitely want to pack along the Napalm
Bomb, as it's the only way to destroy bee hives.
- Cavern Island -- You'll need your Remote Robot and a good
sense of direction to find your way through this massive maze...
- Lake Rocky -- The first underwater level, this is a good place
to get used to the Sea Fox's controls. (Betcha didn't know the
Remote Robot was the Sea Fox all along, didja?)
- Lake Crystal -- You play salmon in this battle against the
raging current from a waterfall. The only way you'll make it over
the cliffs is with the Extra Speed attachment.
- Polly Mountain 2 -- It's back to Polly Mountain, only this
time you're exploring the inside. The Night Vision goggles are a
necessity, and remember...when you find yourself stuck under a
bridge, use the Remote Bomb (I was stuck on that damn puzzle for
three months...).
- Coco Island -- There's more to this unusual island than meets
the eye...
- Battle Fortress 1 -- The Sea Fox takes to the air in this
dogfight. All you'll really need are adequate horizontal shooter
skills.
- Battle Fortress 2 -- All of Tails' learned abilities will be
put to the test in the final battle inside the Bird Army aircraft.
Pack along the Triple Bomb, the Remote Bomb, the Remote Robot, and
the Wrench.
--
Screenshots --
--
Codes & Cheats --Ultimate Password:
The following password will take you to the last level with all
available items: ADE7-AA2A-51A6-6D12
--
Trivia --
- One of the BGMs in Tails Adventure is a revamped version of
Sonic 2's Aqua Lake Zone.
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. Is Tails wise enough to realize he can equip that Remote
Robot pup with a camera and send it into girls' showers? They'll
flock over it in all states of undress and say how cute it
is...prime footage,
baby!
|