Tails' Sky Patrol

Name: Tails' Sky Patrol

Other Names (Nicknames): Sky Patrol

Release Dates:
April 28th, 1995 - Japan

Quality: 8-Bit, Side-Scrolling Platformer

Game System(s): Sega Game Gear

Also released on:
(1). Gamecube - Sonic Adventure DX
(2). PC - Sonic Adventure DX
(3). Gamecube - Sonic Gems Collection

Developer(s): SIMS and JHS

Character Introductions: Witchkart (though unimportant)

Region Game Takes Place On: Some island covered with a long rail.

Concept Introductions: Tails' Sky Patrol is a rather weird one. Like Tails' other most popular spin-off game, Tails' Adventures, this one adapts a new style of gameplay. The focus is simple: get to the end of each stage. However, the screen is always scrolling to the right, so you can't turn around. You must always head towards the right, and if you hit the ground, a wall, or anything for that matter, you fall and you lose a life. In this game, Tails is always in flight mode, yet the meter is always decreasing, and the only way to increase it is by getting candy (this is probably where the "Tails loves Mint Candy" schtick came in).

Concept Deductions: Almost the entire average style of Sonic gameplay is deducted. Chaos Emeralds aren't even in the games. There are special jewels to add to the score, but they are not Chaos Emeralds.

Storyline:

           Tails' Sky Patrol is about how Tails decides to take a vacation away from all of the hustle and bustle of hanging around with the blue hedgehog who just can't seem to sit still. Instead, Tails goes off to search for his own adventure.

           In time, Tails stumbles upon an old, uninhabited island that is covered by a long railroad that stretches along its entirety. Upon hearing a rumble on the tracks, Tails quickly runs and takes refuge behind a nearby bush. Zooming past was an old witch in a minekart as she zoomed down the tracks. Turns out this old hag, aptly named the Witchkart, claimed this island for herself and threatened to turn any oppressors or trespassers into crystal with her black magic. Once she left, Tails then decided it was time for him to make things right...

Personal Criticism/Opinion:

           Like quite a few Sonic games, Tails' Sky Patrol was distributed exclusively in Japan. It didn't even officially hit US shores (save transactions over import game sites and Ebay) until it was implemented in Sonic Adventure DX: Director's Cut as a bonus game. So until then, most US/Europe fans had to resort to ROMs to get a hint of it. And quite frankly, I actually say I could have lived without it, I suppose.

           Tails' Sky Patrol is nothing short of okay. It's not a prime Sonic title, but it's not too bad either. The gameplay premise is pretty tough, making the game a trifle hard to beat. I couldn't even beat the training course the first time I played. Eventually I gathered some fortitude and took on the game to a future win (with a savestate function).

           The game only consists of four levels other than the training course: Rail Canyon (the name of which which was later used as a Sonic Heroes Zone), Ruin Wood, Metal Island, and Dark Castle. Dark Castle is incredibly tough, so good luck. Overall, there isn't really a lot to say about Tails' Sky Patrol. It's just a run-of-the-mill Sonic spin-off.

Let's see some GAMER'S PERSPECTIVE:

Replay value? It is purely a "Beat it once and put it down forever game." Simple as that.

Graphics? Hmm, the graphics are a tough question to answer, since the shading and sprite work for some reason differ depending on the object. Some of the objects and sprites have outlines while others don't. The shading and highlighting are pretty average for a Game Gear game and a lot of the assets of the stages were recycled from Genesis games. The training course looks a lot like Emerald Hill while the underground part of Ruin Wood looks like Mystic Cave. They are pretty much just average.

Music & Sound Effects? The music is generic, to put it simply. Skippy, looping tunes to contribute to the gameplay style. It's one of the few soundtracks that haven't been ripped and released as a music collection by the fans, next to Sonic Blast.

Storyline? The storyline is pretty much run-of-the-mill for a Sonic game; the hero of the game has to save the island from some evil-doer. Chaos Emeralds aren't involved, however, so that's a new one.

OVERALL RATING? I rate Tails' Sky Patrol as a 5/10