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Tails' one and only game is a different kind of Sega platformer

Sidekicks don't get much love, let alone their own games. It was 18 years before Luigi got his own game: Luigi's Mansion (unless you count Mario is Missing!, but we all know that's not a real game). However, Tails beat Luigi to the punch by six years with his own game. Tails Adventure was released for the Game Gear in 1995. It was developed by Aspect and published by Sega. The best part about this platformer is that Sonic is not in it at all; therefore, the gameplay is not focused on speed, but rather exploration and observation. 

Tails' unique abilities are used very effectively in the game. By jumping and holding the button, Tails can fly using his two tails for a short time. A flying gauge will pop up when flying, and the gauge will increase as you progress in the game. Tails can also use certain gadgets and weapons which he acquires throughout the game. He starts off with bombs, but will eventually find neat stuff like a remote-controlled robot, a hammer (which looks more like a croquet racket), a helmet (which Tails uses as a shield), and special attacks based on Sonic and Knuckles' moves. There are tons of items to find, and exploration is key in finding all of them. 

The game offers a simple map of the island where Tails lives. You can visit Tails' home at any time, which allows you to check your equipment, look at the dock, or put in a password. Out of all the items in the game, you can only hold four, and you choose them at the equipment option in Tails' home. You can switch between items by pressing start and then choosing which item to use. Certain areas will require certain items in order to progress, so you'll need to return to Tails' home often to equip them. The problem is, you can't simply jump out of a level; you'll have to either beat the level or find one of the exits (as most levels have multiple exits). 

You don't want to die in TA as you only have one life, then it's Game Over. You can put in a password to pick up where you left off, but putting in the long password can be tedious. Rings are your life, so you always want to have as many as possible. You'll start out with ten rings as your max, but you'll be able to hold ten more after each level. The enemies can be annoying, sometimes standing in place, sometimes throwing bombs at you, and sometimes shooting out little rocks at you. Bombs are the standard weapons; Tails will throw them out in an arc. The problem is, hitting the enemy can be difficult and frustrating because you have to hit them directly (those bombs have a tiny explosion!). 

The level design is great, taking advantage of Tails' flying ability and items. You can find hidden areas by bombing walls and floors. The remote robot is important in getting into small sections where Tails cannot go himself. All this exploration reminds me a little bit of Metroid. However, the exploration is TA's greatest strength and weakness. Using the right items is necessary to progress throughout the game, meaning you'll have to go back to certain levels to gain access to a certain area that was impossible prior. Each level must be visited atleast twice, and retreading old ground is tedious. 

Despite these flaws, however, TA is an enjoyable game. Level design is great, and there's a lot of cool gadgets to use. Finding items is always a satisfying experience. You may think that the game would be easy since Tails can fly, but the developers also knew this; sometimes the game will force you to jump instead of fly by shooting a strong wind at Tails if he flies. These sections can be challenging, jumping from one small platform to the next, but they're certainly not unfair. 

One standout moment in the game is when Tails must fly upwards while avoiding a dive-bombing bird. The bird will shoot down at you beak first, then come up on the other side of the screen and do it again until you finally reach the top, which is high! Along the way, watch out for spikes! This part is made even more challenging when the wind picks up beneath you and pushes you upwards. It was a fun and challenging section. The submarine sections are also neat. 

Final Verdict--4 Stars: Recommended

Despite its flaws, Tails Adventure is an enjoyable little game. It's certainly superior to many Sonic games, although it feels completely different from those. If you enjoy exploration and love finding hidden objects, you will enjoy this game. Give it a try, if you can: it's available for download on the 3DS Virtual Console for only a few bucks. It's a shame that this game never received a sequel, but atleast we have one Tails game. Unlike many of the other Sonic characters, he deserves it. 

Join me every Saturday as we take a look back at all kinds of retro games, good and bad.