Tails Adventure

Tails Adventure was a game released in 1995 for the Sega Game Gear. It is the second title featuring Tails as the lead protagonist.

Plot
The plot is slightly different depending on whether you're playing the Japanese or Western release of this game. This places Tails' Adventure in two slightly different time frames as Japan has it take place before he meets Sonic, and the Western release has it take place after the events of Sonic the Hedgehog 2 and Sonic the Hedgehog 3.

Japanese
Taking place before the first meeting of Sonic and Tails, the story takes place on Cocoa Island, a tiny, beautiful island resting atop coral reefs where the Chaos Emeralds are said to have been hidden since ancient times. It is also the place, where Tails lives in his own research lab located on the south side of the island.

One day, Tails was enjoying an afternoon nap under the shade of the green forest near his house until an explosion echoed through the forest. Waking up, Tails found the forest in flames while Flicky arrives, shouting about the arrival of the Battle Kukku Empire. The leader of the imperialistic empire, Great Battle Kukku XV is looking for Chaos Emeralds to conquer the world and has sent a battalion of his troops around the island. Spotting the silhouette of a giant mecha in flames, Tails mustered up all his courage to stand up against this threat and set off on his first adventure.

Western
Having parted ways from Sonic for a little vacation time from their adventures, Tails has traveled to his favorite holiday spot called "Tails Island". While taking a little rest in the forest however, Tails was awoken as a loud noise was heard and the forest got set ablaze. Spotting a flying fortress in the horizon attacking the island, Tails discovered an army of birds sweeping the island. Having no time to figure out what these birds were up to, Tails sets off on his own to save the island and its inhabitants

It is a platformer in which Tails must save an island by gathering Chaos Emeralds. On the island, a Flicky warns him of the Battle Kukku Army, an army of birds. On of the key concepts in the game is the Remote Robot, a mini robot version of Tails. It is used to crawl under small gaps.

Gameplay
Unlike most Sonic titles that focus on speed, Tails' Adventure is based on the 'Metroidvania' style of platformer, focusing instead on exploration, puzzle solving, item gathering and upgrading your items to progress through the game.

At the beginning of his adventure, Tails has access only to a basic bomb weapon which he can either throw at an angle at opponents, or take to the skies and drop the bomb from above onto them.

As Tails progresses though he will be able to get access to other item such as:


 * 1) A hammer that allows Tails to take out enemies in front of him without needing to angle his bombs.
 * 2) A remote bomb, useful for sliding through gaps to destroy breakable blocks and enemies that Tails otherwise cannot get through.
 * 3) A large bomb that when detonated will take out all enemies on screen at once.
 * 4) Triple bomb, which is a direct upgrade to Tails' starting bomb.
 * 5) A helmet item that acts as a shield, preventing Tails from taking any damage but at the cost of not being able to move whilst out
 * 6) Napalm bombs that create a pillar of fire as they travel across the floor that are useful for taking out airborne enemies
 * 7) Speed up shoes that do exactly as they suggest when equipped
 * 8) Super Glove, which allows Tails to pick up heavy objects and throw them.
 * 9) Night Goggles, a key item that allows Tails to see in the dark
 * 10) Teleport device, an item which allows Tails to return to his workshop immedietly from any level.
 * 11) A wrench which allows Tails to fix machines
 * 12) An item radar that helps Tails locate items he missed
 * 13) A radio which allows Tails to change the music of a level
 * 14) The 'Sonic' item that allows Tails to perform a spindash
 * 15) The 'Knuckles' item that gives Tails a short range punch attack
 * 16) The 'Fang' item that when equipped will cause enemies to drop more rings.

One very important item Tails will need to progress however is the 'Remote Robot ', a small roboticized, non anthromorphic version of Tails that is able to squeeze through gaps Tails himself cannot get through and later can be upgraded into a transforming submarine, called the Sea Fox, allowing Tails to traverse the seas and rivers of Cocoa/Tails Island.

The Sea Fox itself can be upgraded to be able to shoot torpedos, discharge electricity, fire anti-air missiles and even fly with a rocket booster item.

Tails can freely swap between all his different items at his house, but he can only carry four items at a time so players must choose carefully what Tails brings along, as exiting the stage means traversing it back to the start.

Other gameplay differences from regular Sonic games include the way the rings system works. Rings are now hit points rather than always scattering. As Tails takes hits he will lose set amounts of rings depending on the damage he takes, and when he runs out of rings he will get a game over, setting players back to the start of the game. These rings can be replenished and are found by defeating enemies, by blowing up bricks and walls or just around the level. The Fang item will greatly increase the chances of enemies dropping rings.

Tails' health points as well as the longevity of his flight can both be upgraded by collecting the Chaos Emeralds which boost Tails' health permenantly and allow him to stay airborne for far longer.

Trivia

 * This is Tails' third outing as the lead protagonist following Tails and the Music Maker and Tails' Sky Patrol, although it is the second following Tails' Sky Patrol released in Japan.
 * This title is noted as one of the few titles in the series that both Sonic and Dr. Eggman are missing from, although Sonic's likeness does appear as a special item allowing Tails to perform a spindash when equipped.
 * This title is also the only Sonic title to be based off the 'Metroidvania' style of gameplay.
 * Tails has access to a hammer that looks suspiciously like the one Amy Rose wields. If this is the same hammer it'd be the very first appearance of it.
 * There are only six Chaos Emeralds in this game. The turquoise Chaos Emerald is missing from this title.