Game Gear #2: Tails' Adventures

Developer: Aspect

Publisher: Sega

Release Date: November 1995

I finally played a Game Gear game that is exclusive to Game Gear, at least until it was released digitally on 3DS. Of course Sega couldn’t ever get anything quite right on Game Gear, so on the box art the title is singular but on the title screen it is plural. I’m going to keep it plural. Tails’ Adventures is one of the several mostly forgotten Sonic related games on Game Gear. It is one of the first Sonic spin-offs, coming out in the US just a few months after the equally obscure Knuckles Chaotix on 32X. Tails is a good character for a solo game. He’s well known and his flying ability allows for a different, more intricate type of platforming. Sadly, this long-forgotten game from twenty-five years ago is his only solo outing. I think in this case the association with Sonic actually hurts it. Although it has a similar look, Tails’ Adventures couldn’t play much more differently than a typical Sonic game.

 

Of course when you think about Sonic you think about speed. The levels in the early Sonic games go by in a blur. With all the winding paths it’s easy to complete a level without comprehending what you just did. Tails’ Adventures takes the opposite approach. It is a slow-paced game focused on items and exploration. To do well you have to learn the layouts of the levels and how to properly use the items you find. Where Sonic games take no preparation at all, Tails’ Adventures is almost impossible without reading the instructions first. It’s a bit unfair to compare the two, however, because this is a true solo adventure. Sonic is nowhere to be seen except for the briefest cameo as one of Tails’ items which allows him to do a spin dash. I recommend you forget about Sonic and play the game on its own merits, because Tails Adventures is a very good game on its own.

 

Tails’ Adventures is a game that knows how to work with the limitations of the hardware. Game Gear games had to be smaller and slower than their console counterparts, so the developers focused on sprawling levels that are full of secrets. Most of the levels have hidden paths and exits which open up more as you discover more items. Tails moves slowly, but the levels are well designed and challenging so it’s not hurt by the slower speed. Tails can’t jump on enemies to defeat them and instead has to rely on collected weapons. It’s fun breaking the Mario mold and throwing bombs at robots instead. The catch is that your are only allowed to take four items with you at a time. This is both a weakness and a strength. It makes the game even more of a puzzle with the planning involved, but also can get annoying when you end up with the wrong items and have to go back to Tails’ house to switch them.

 

So I had a very good time with Tails’ Adventures. I never felt bogged down by backtracking, and the levels were challenging and fun. It helps that you can find an item fairly early that will tell you if there any other hidden items in a given level. It is going well into the green section all the way up to number fifteen. That section of my list is filling up quickly with hidden gems that you should definitely check out. It’s a bit expensive on Game Gear, but as I said you can get it on 3DS without losing much of the original experience. So hurry up and get it! I’m still kicking myself for missing out on Alex Kidd in Shinobi World when it was on the Wii shop. Hurry up and get all those games before it’s too late.

 

Game Gear quality percentage: 1/2 or 50%

 

1. Zelda II: The Adventure of Link

2. Super Mario Odyssey

3. The Legend of Zelda

4. Galaga

5. Donkey Kong

6. Exodus: Ultima III

7. Pac-Mania

8. Wrecking Crew

9. Super Pac-Man

10. Pac-Man

11. Viva Pinata

12. Dragon View

13. Excitebike

14. Drakkhen

15. Arc the Lad

16. Clu Clu Land

17. Tails’ Adventures

18. Artifact Adventure Gaiden DX

19. Mickey’s Racing Adventure

20. Metro-Cross

21. Double Dragon

22. Ice Climber

23. Gaplus

24. Dragon Spirit

25. Pinball (NES)

26. Ninja Golf

27. Super Soccer

28. Walt Disney World Quest: Magical Racing Tour (GBC)

29. Red Sea Crossing

30. Baraduke

31. Evoland

32. Tennis

33. Renegade

34. Hogan’s Alley

35. Gamma-Attack

36. The Legend of “Valkyrie”

37. Galaxian

38. Dragon Crystal

39. Cosmic Commuter

40. Hot Pixel

41. PocketBike Racer

42. Wild Gunman

43. Defunct

44. Gyruss (2600)

45. Looney Tunes Racing

46. Squidlit

47. Baseball

48. Birthday Mania

49. Bad Street Brawler

50. Burly Men at Sea

51. WeakWood Throne

52. X-Men (HyperScan)

53. My Name is Mayo

54. Marvel Heroes

55. Ben 10

(Screenshots courtesy of mobygames)