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* MagicKnight: Sparkster and Axle Gear to a certain degree.
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* MagicKnight: Sparkster and Axle Gear Axel Gear, to a certain degree.degree.
* MagmaMan: In the pyramid stage, when Sparkster enters the pyramid, there are pits of lava. From one of them, a fire elemental emerges, and Sparkster must therefore defeat it before proceeding any further.
* MagmaMan: In the pyramid stage, when Sparkster enters the pyramid, there are pits of lava. From one of them, a fire elemental emerges, and Sparkster must therefore defeat it before proceeding any further.
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* NinjaPirateZombieRobot: Anthropomorphic opossums who wear mediaeval knights' armour with jetpacks!
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* NinjaPirateZombieRobot: Anthropomorphic opossums who wear mediaeval medieval knights' armour armor with jetpacks!
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* PlantPerson: In the first stage, a miniboss appears in the form of a tree elemental.
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Adding \"Terrible Trio\"
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* TerribleTrio: At least one per 16-bit game.
**''Rocket Knight Adventures'' (Genesis): Emperor Devligus Devotindos, Captain Fleagle, Axel Gear
**''Sparkster: Rocket Knight Adventures 2'' (Genesis): King Gedol, Paeli, Axel Gear
**''Sparkster'' (SNES): Generalissimo Lioness, Colonel Wolfheim, Axel Gear
**''Rocket Knight Adventures'' (Genesis): Emperor Devligus Devotindos, Captain Fleagle, Axel Gear
**''Sparkster: Rocket Knight Adventures 2'' (Genesis): King Gedol, Paeli, Axel Gear
**''Sparkster'' (SNES): Generalissimo Lioness, Colonel Wolfheim, Axel Gear
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* GoodAnimalsEvilAnimals: The Possums (with the exception of Axel Gear) are the heroes, and the animal villains depend on the game. In ''RKA'', the villains are Pigs, in ''RKA 2''', the villains are Lizards, and in ''Sparkster'', the villains are Wolves.
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* GoodAnimalsEvilAnimals: The Possums (with the exception of Axel Gear) are the heroes, and the animal villains depend on the game. In ''RKA'', the villains are Pigs, in ''RKA 2''', 2'', the villains are Lizards, and in ''Sparkster'', the villains are Wolves.
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* GoodAnimalsEvilAnimals: The Possums (with the exception of Axel Gear) are the heroes, and the animal villains depend on the game. In ''RKA'', the villains are Pigs, in ''RKA 2''', the villains are Lizards, and in ''Sparkster'', the villains are Wolves.
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->''"Just look at him: he's a knight with a jetpack! '''YOU CAN'T TOP THAT!!!"'''''
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->''"Just look at him: he's a knight with a jetpack! '''YOU '''[[NinjaPirateZombieRobot YOU CAN'T TOP THAT!!!"'''''THAT]]!!!"'''''
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* FreakyFridayFlip: In ''RKA 2'', one of King Gedol's attacks is a spell where he can swap bodies with Sparkster, and the player can briefly control Sparkster in Gedol's body.
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** Emperor Devlicus is possibly an {{Engrish}} variation of "Diabolicus".
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* SpaceDoesNotWorkThatWay: The series has been guilty of this from time to time.
** [[BatmanCanBreatheInSpace Sparkster Can Breathe In Space]]: This is one of the biggest offenders considering how fast he travels in space.
** [[BatmanCanBreatheInSpace Sparkster Can Breathe In Space]]: This is one of the biggest offenders considering how fast he travels in space.
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* SpaceDoesNotWorkThatWay: The series has been guilty of this from time to time.
time, specifically in the first game with an AsteroidThicket of absurd density as background.
** [[BatmanCanBreatheInSpace Sparkster Can Breathe In Space]]:This is one of Can't even be handwaved because the biggest offenders considering how fast he travels pig troopers and Axel Gear wear spacesuits when fought in space.space. For all it's worth, Sparkster did have some kind of spell cast on him by the princess...
** [[BatmanCanBreatheInSpace Sparkster Can Breathe In Space]]:
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In October 2009, it was announced that Sparkster will return after a 15-year absence in a new 2.5-D adventure, tentatively titled {{Rocket Knight}}. According to the story, there haven't been any new games in the past 15 years because nothing's ''happened'' in 15 years. And when an army of Wolves attacks, Axel and the Devotindos are fighting ''alongside'' the possums. Apparently when Sparkster defeats you, you ''stay'' down.
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* ButtMonkey: Captain Fleagle from the first game.
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* RoyalsWhoActuallyDoSomething: Princess Sherry, who powers up Sparkster's rocket pack so he can chase after the Pig Star in the first game.
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* HeelFaceTurn: Axle Gear and the Devotindos in ''Rocket Knight''. [[spoiler: Not.]]
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No trope by this name exists.
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* "GO" Arrow: Like multitudes of other side-scrollers, a flashing arrow (accompanied by a sound) tells you to proceed a certain way to the next scene after you've killed all the enemies. There's also an OhShit version of this in the fourth level: [[spoiler:When negotiating the outside of the pig battleship, you are directed by yet another arrow to stand on the pig battleship's nose), it will fall off, and a rapidly-flashing GO Arrow beckons you to jump to the ''left'' (in odd contrast to most GO Arrows), and grab onto a rail on the ship's underside. You'll fall to your death if you don't.]]
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* "GO"Arrow: Like multitudes of other side-scrollers, a flashing arrow (accompanied by a sound effect) arrow tells you to proceed a certain way to the next scene after you've killed all the enemies. There's also an OhShit version of this in the fourth level: [[spoiler:when you stand on the pig battleship's nose (as yet another arrow directs you to), it will fall off, and a rapidly-flashing GO Arrow will beckon you to jump to the left, and grab onto a rail. You'll fall to your death if you don't.]]
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* "GO"Arrow: "GO" Arrow: Like multitudes of other side-scrollers, a flashing arrow (accompanied by a sound effect) arrow sound) tells you to proceed a certain way to the next scene after you've killed all the enemies. There's also an OhShit version of this in the fourth level: [[spoiler:when [[spoiler:When negotiating the outside of the pig battleship, you are directed by yet another arrow to stand on the pig battleship's nose (as yet another arrow directs you to), nose), it will fall off, and a rapidly-flashing GO Arrow will beckon beckons you to jump to the left, ''left'' (in odd contrast to most GO Arrows), and grab onto a rail.rail on the ship's underside. You'll fall to your death if you don't.]]
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* GlacierWaif: Sparkster and Axle Gear.
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* GlacierWaif: Sparkster and Axle Gear. Gear.
* "GO"Arrow: Like multitudes of other side-scrollers, a flashing arrow (accompanied by a sound effect) arrow tells you to proceed a certain way to the next scene after you've killed all the enemies. There's also an OhShit version of this in the fourth level: [[spoiler:when you stand on the pig battleship's nose (as yet another arrow directs you to), it will fall off, and a rapidly-flashing GO Arrow will beckon you to jump to the left, and grab onto a rail. You'll fall to your death if you don't.]]
* "GO"Arrow: Like multitudes of other side-scrollers, a flashing arrow (accompanied by a sound effect) arrow tells you to proceed a certain way to the next scene after you've killed all the enemies. There's also an OhShit version of this in the fourth level: [[spoiler:when you stand on the pig battleship's nose (as yet another arrow directs you to), it will fall off, and a rapidly-flashing GO Arrow will beckon you to jump to the left, and grab onto a rail. You'll fall to your death if you don't.]]
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* GlacierWaif: Sparkster and Axle Gear.
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* GlacierWaif: Sparkster and Axle Gear.
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* IdiosyncraticDifficultyLevels: The difficulty levels include names like "Child" and [[HarderThanHard "Crazy Hard"]].
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* IdiosyncraticDifficultyLevels: The difficulty levels include names like "Child" "Children" and [[HarderThanHard "Crazy Hard"]].
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* OneHitPointWonder: Unlock the Crazy Hard of RKA 1 ([[DifficultyByRegion or just select Hard difficulty in the US version]]) and you'll become this.
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* OneHitPointWonder: Unlock the Crazy Hard of RKA 1 ([[DifficultyByRegion or just select Hard "Hard" difficulty in the US version]]) and you'll become this.this. Not only will one hit from ANYTHING kill you dead, but you only receive one life and no continues. Your only hope of getting any more than one life lies in collecting the 1UP icons, and passing certain score thresholds.
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* TennisBoss: The miniboss in the fourth level of the first game tosses explosives at you. You can't reach him with your normal attacks, so you have to hit the bombs back at him to damage him.
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* TennisBoss: The miniboss first time you face Captain Fleagle in the fourth level of the first game game, he tosses explosives at you. You can't reach him with your normal attacks, so you have to hit the bombs back at him to damage him.
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* CheekyMouth: If you go frame by frame in ''Sparkster'', you notice the cheeky mouth teleport across the AmbidextrousSprite in the turning animation.
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* ConvectionShmonvection: The lava areas.
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* ConvectionShmonvection: The lava areas. Specifically the first of these featuring lava with a reflective surface.
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* HumongousMecha: Sparkster and Axel Gear have a giant robot fight in the first game.
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* HumongousMecha: Sparkster and Axel Gear have a giant robot fight in the first game.and second games.
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* ShrinkRay: One of the bosses in the Genesis sequel can use this on Sparkster, rendering him harmless for several seconds.
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* RearrangeTheSong: The first level themes from the first game and its sequel see multiple rearrangements over the course of the series, and most of the music in the SNES game is rearranged versions of tracks from the sequel. Then rearranged again in the ''Rocket Knight''. [[WhatDoYouMeanItsNotAwesome Orchestral style]]
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* RearrangeTheSong: The first level themes from the first game and its sequel see multiple rearrangements over the course of the series, and most of the music in the SNES game is rearranged versions of tracks from the sequel. Then rearranged again in the ''Rocket Knight''. [[WhatDoYouMeanItsNotAwesome [[MundaneMadeAwesome Orchestral style]]
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->''Just look at him: he's a knight with a jetpack! '''YOU CAN'T TOP THAT!!!'''''
-->--'''WebVideo/TheHappyVideoGameNerd'''
-->--'''WebVideo/TheHappyVideoGameNerd'''
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-->--'''WebVideo/TheHappyVideoGameNerd'''
-->-- '''WebVideo/TheHappyVideoGameNerd'''
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* TheCameo: Sparkster appeared as a cameo in several Konami games, such as ''{{Snatcher}}'', ''{{Contra}}'', ''VideoGame/MitsumeteKnight'', ''[[GanbareGoemon Ganbare Goemon 2]]'', and ''New International VideoGame/TrackAndField''. Most oddly of all, a human version of Sparkster appears in Konami's ''Jikkyou Powerful Pro Wrestling '96 : MAX VOLTAGE'', where he bears a passing resemblance to HulkHogan.
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* TheCameo: Sparkster appeared as a cameo in several Konami games, such as ''{{Snatcher}}'', ''{{Contra}}'', ''VisualNovel/{{Snatcher}}'', ''VideoGame/{{Contra}}'', ''VideoGame/MitsumeteKnight'', ''[[GanbareGoemon Ganbare Goemon 2]]'', and ''New International VideoGame/TrackAndField''. Most oddly of all, a human version of Sparkster appears in Konami's ''Jikkyou Powerful Pro Wrestling '96 : MAX VOLTAGE'', where he bears a passing resemblance to HulkHogan.
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Rename per TRS thread.
* ComedicUnderwearExposure: Enemies are stripped to their underwear when defeated in ''Rocket Knight Adventures'', ''Sparkster'', and sometimes in ''Rocket Knight''.
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* ISeeLondon: Enemies are stripped to their underwear when defeated in ''Rocket Knight Adventures'', ''Sparkster'', and sometimes in ''Rocket Knight''.
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* CollisionDamage: A slightly odd example--in the first game, the distressed pigs on fire just fleeing past you in the castle do the same damage if they touch Sparkster as the armoured ones attacking him with swords earlier on.
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* BadassAdorable: Sparkster, especially in his end-of-level victory animation.
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* NinjaPirateZombieRobot: Anthropomorphic opossums who wear mediaeval knights' armour with jetpacks!
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** Similarly, in the English manuals and source materials for the first game, the princess was named "Shelly" not "Sherry".
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* TitleConfusion: At the time of its release, the first game was often mistakenly just called "Sparkster" by fans, which led to considerable confusion when the next two games had "Sparkster" as a subtitle and their actual title, respectively.
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-->--'''TheHappyVideoGameNerd'''
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* ColorCodedForYourConvenience: Sparkster's armor is "good" blue, while Axel Gear's is "evil" purple (red in ''Rocket Knight''). Also, there's an awful lot of green on the baddies' uniforms and vehicles.
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* GoodColorsEvilColors: Sparkster's armor is "good" blue, while Axel Gear's is "evil" purple (red in ''Rocket Knight''). Also, there's an awful lot of green on the baddies' uniforms and vehicles.
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* TheCameo: Sparkster appeared as a cameo in several Konami games, such as ''{{Snatcher}}'', ''{{Contra}}'', ''MitsumeteKnight'', ''[[GanbareGoemon Ganbare Goemon 2]]'', and ''New International VideoGame/TrackAndField''. Most oddly of all, a human version of Sparkster appears in Konami's ''Jikkyou Powerful Pro Wrestling '96 : MAX VOLTAGE'', where he bears a passing resemblance to HulkHogan.
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* TheCameo: Sparkster appeared as a cameo in several Konami games, such as ''{{Snatcher}}'', ''{{Contra}}'', ''MitsumeteKnight'', ''VideoGame/MitsumeteKnight'', ''[[GanbareGoemon Ganbare Goemon 2]]'', and ''New International VideoGame/TrackAndField''. Most oddly of all, a human version of Sparkster appears in Konami's ''Jikkyou Powerful Pro Wrestling '96 : MAX VOLTAGE'', where he bears a passing resemblance to HulkHogan.
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[[quoteright:320:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/rka_level_1.png]]
[[caption-width-right:320:In about 0.1 seconds, this pig and his [[MiniMecha mech]] will be very unhappy.]]
->''Just look at him: he's a knight with a jetpack! '''YOU CAN'T TOP THAT!!!'''''
-->--'''TheHappyVideoGameNerd'''
Zebulos, a MagicalLand full of [[FunnyAnimal Funny Animals]] in the world of Elhorn, has a problem. Long ago, during the reign of El Zebulos, the first monarch, an invading power used a giant warship called the Pig Star to wreak havoc. They were defeated at great cost, and the dreaded Pig Star was [[SealedEvilInACan placed under a magical seal]] to keep future enemies of Zebulos from using it. Since then, the descendants of El Zebulos have kept the Key to the Seal safe, and an elite order of fighters, the Rocket Knights, was founded to protect the royal family from harm. Sparkster, the current leader of the Rocket Knights, came to power after a traitorous Knight, Axel Gear, killed his superior. He banished Axel Gear, but this proved to be a bad move. Our story begins when Sparkster, hearing of a new invasion, speeds to the capital to find that Axel Gear has returned as the stooge of the aggressive Devotindos Empire and kidnapped the Princess while the Empire's troops burn the castle, hoping to get the Key to the Seal as ransom. What Axel Gear doesn't know is that only the Princess herself knows where the Key is...
''Rocket Knight Adventures'' is a side-scrolling action platform game series by {{Konami}} with diverse and distinctive gameplay mechanics such as short-range jetting in eight directions (including ricocheting off walls and around corners), charged attacks, swordplay, the occasional bit of [[ShootEmUps shmup-style]] sustained flight, and [[HumongousMecha much]] [[FightingGame much]] [[MinecartMadness more]]. The original game, on the [[SegaGenesis Sega Mega Drive/Genesis]], spawned two more games: ''Sparkster: RocketKnightAdventures 2'', a sequel also on the Mega Drive, and ''Sparkster'', a game on the SNES which takes place in an alternate continuity. The series may owe its existence to the [[SonicTheHedgehog Sonic]] series, which put FunnyAnimal mascots in vogue and likely influenced the series's art style.
In October 2009, it was announced that Sparkster will return after a 15-year absence in a new 2.5-D adventure, tentatively titled {{Rocket Knight}}. According to the story, there haven't been any new games in the past 15 years because nothing's ''happened'' in 15 years. And when an army of Wolves attacks, Axel and the Devotindos are fighting ''alongside'' the possums. Apparently when Sparkster defeats you, you ''stay'' down.
----
!!This series provides examples of:
* AdvancingWallOfDoom: Three in Rocket Knight Adventures - one of which is part of a boss battle.
* AirborneAircraftCarrier: At least one per game.
* AlwaysSomeoneBetter: Sparkster is this to Axle Gear.
* AmericanKirbyIsHardcore: More subtle example. US covers actually used Japan originated promotional artwork, but edited Sparkster's anime smile into a angry scowl. Interestingly the European covers used an identical box art as the US, but edited it to reuse the original cheerful Sparkster art.
* AnimeHair: Sparkster has some under his helmet.
* APupilOfMineUntilHeTurnedToEvil: [[spoiler: When Sparkster is chosen by their master instead of Axle Gear to lead the others, Axle Gear retaliates by killing his master.]]
* ArtEvolution: Sparkster, and to a lesser extent the other characters and the surrounding environment, have a distinctly different look in each game that goes beyond simple graphical upgrades.
* AttackItsWeakPoint: Almost all bosses use some form of this trope.
* AwesomeMcCoolName: Axel Gear.
* BandLand: The sixth level in ''Sparkster'' for the SNES is composed primarily of giant musical instruments, in a rather odd contrast to the grim, warlike (if still somewhat whimsical and cartoonish) feel of most of the other settings.
* {{BFG}}: Axel Gear comes at you with one in Stage Six of the original game. Also doubles as a WaveMotionGun.
* BlackKnight: Axel Gear is a marginal example.
* CallToAgriculture: Apparently what Sparkster was doing in those 15 years before the 2010 game. Even got himself a family.
* ChainReactionDestruction: Bosses and minibosses are prone to that and being non-mechanical won't save them for that.
* ClimaxBoss: Axel Gear. Especially when you face him head-to-head with no mechs nor anything.
* ColorCodedForYourConvenience: Sparkster's armor is "good" blue, while Axel Gear's is "evil" purple (red in ''Rocket Knight''). Also, there's an awful lot of green on the baddies' uniforms and vehicles.
* ComicBookAdaptation: In ''SonicTheComic''. Its storyline was set after the games, after Sparkster has left Elhorn for a long time and then returned to find the Princess is brainwashed and the country occupied by new reptilian invaders. This adaptation had a few grimdark elements, one of the opening panels of the conquered nation being two former knights involved in a bloody street fight for a crowd.
* TheComputerIsACheatingBastard:
** In ''RKA 2'', Axel Gear's mech can do one thing that Sparkster's can't: fire a projectile from its chest. But it's easy to guard, and his mech is temporarily immobile after using it, pretty much guaranteeing you a free hit.
** In the same game, when you get to face Axel in a head-to-head fight, [[spoiler: he creates a pincer barrier which will start closing until it gets you, Axel's attack tend to last longer than yours, and he can hover as much as he likes]].
* ConvectionShmonvection: The lava areas.
* DarkIsEvil: Axel Gear's armor is dark and he is ''definitely'' evil.
* {{Determinator}}: After Sparkster destroys most of its body, the final boss of the first game follows him off the exploding Pig Star and ''keeps fighting him as they re-enter Elhorn's atmosphere''.
* DiagonalCut: The coup de grace is delivered to ''RKA 2's'' BigBad in this manner.
* DifficultyByRegion: ''RKA'' has the same difficulties in all regions, but with different names: Japan and Europe have Normal (Japan)/Easy (Europe), Hard, [[HarderThanHard Very Hard, and Crazy Hard]], while the US has Children, Easy, Normal, and Hard. Notably, Very Hard and Crazy Hard require codes to unlock, but all four difficulties are freely selectable in the US version.
* TheDragon: Axel Gear, to whoever the current BigBad is.
* DrivenByEnvy: [[spoiler: Sparkster's promotion to leader of the Rocket Knights is what fuels Axel Gear's jealousy.]]
* TheEmpire: The enemies in each game are part of one.
* EnemyMine: Sparkster and Axel Gear and the pigs vs. the wolves in ''Rocket Knight''.
* EternalEngine: Due to the fondness of the series for ridiculously huge war vehicles and mechanical fortresses, a large proportion of its levels are some sort of variation on this.
* EverythingsBetterWithPrincesses: Princess Sherry in the first game definitely counts for this, as do Cherry and Flora.
* EverythingsBetterWithSpinning: In ''RKA 2'', the fully-powered version of the directional rocket attack involves this, as well as the non-directional one.
* EvilCounterpart: Axel Gear, to Sparkster.
* EyeBeams: Used by some bosses.
* {{Fanfare}}: One of the levels has this as the background music.
* FatBastard: The emperor in the first game. [[spoiler:General Sweinhart too, once he does a FaceHeelTurn.]]
* FlashOfPain.
* FlyingBrick: Sparkster, to the point where he actually ''flies'' in some sequences.
* [[FollowTheMoney Follow The Gems]]
* FunnyAnimal: Sparkster and most of the other people of Zebulos are anthropomorphic opossums, and the invading armies over the three games include such fauna as pigs, lizards, snakes, wolves, and lions.
* GettingCrapPastTheRadar: The giant robot bosses of the fifth stage of ''RKA 2'' have chest-mounted turrets that look amazingly like huge, pendulous breasts. That fire out of their nipples.
* GlacierWaif: Sparkster and Axle Gear.
* GoofyPrintUnderwear: Most non-robotic {{Mooks}} are reduced to this when you "kill" them in RKA: Their armor falls off and reveals their underwear in a manner strongly reminiscent of ''VideoGame/GhostsNGoblins'', and they run or fall off the screen with an embarrassed look on their face. Does not apply to the lizards in RKA2, brought back (though with briefs) for the wolves in ''Sparkster'', and applies to the pigs but not the wolves in ''Rocket Knight''.
* GottaCatchThemAll: ''RKA 2'' has seven golden swords the player can collect. [[HundredPercentCompletion Finding all of them]] unlocks Gold Sparkster and the [[MultipleEndings complete ending]].
* GreenHillZone: The first stage is a grassy plain with no environmental hazards.
* HailfirePeaks: In a particularly impressive example, the second level in ''RKA 2'' manages to combine ShiftingSandLand, LethalLavaLand, TempleOfDoom, and EternalEngine.
* HarderThanHard: The Japanese and European versions of ''RKA'' and all versions of ''Sparkster'' contain difficulties called "Very Hard" and "Crazy Hard". As noted in DifficultyByRegion above, the US version of ''RKA'' made the equivalents Normal and Hard
* TheHero: Sparkster, of course.
* HeroicMime: Played with in that ''no'' character has any lines. Characters may be shown apparently conversing, but we can only infer what they're talking about by what happens immediately afterward.
* HorseOfADifferentColor: There are more than a few exotic steeds in the series. Triceratops or [[MechanicalHorse mechanical]] ostrich, for example.
* HumanCannonball: Not being enough launching yourself with a jetpack in the seventh level of Sparkster (SNES) you are shot into space with a cannon.
** In the original ''Rocket Knight Adventures'', the king shoots Sparkster into the pig battleship in this fashion after Stage 3.
* HumongousMecha: Sparkster and Axel Gear have a giant robot fight in the first game.
* IdiosyncraticDifficultyLevels: The difficulty levels include names like "Child" and [[HarderThanHard "Crazy Hard"]].
* InstantAwesomeJustAddMecha: The enemies have a massive and varied arsenal of animal-like vehicles and autonomous machines. Also, each game features at least one boss fight where Sparkster and Axel Gear pilot giant mechs and engage in a giant-sized boxing match. ''RKA 2'' goes further: it has an entire level that consists of driving a mech through the baddies' capital city and annihilating everything in your path.
* ISeeLondon: Enemies are stripped to their underwear when defeated in ''Rocket Knight Adventures'', ''Sparkster'', and sometimes in ''Rocket Knight''.
* {{Jerkass}}: Axle Gear, no doubt about it.
* JetPack: Look at the title.
* TheKingdom: Zebulos. Renamed to Zephyrus in ''Rocket Knight''.
* LargeAndInCharge: The emperor in the first game, [[spoiler: although this is actually subverted as he is nothing but a robot created by the Pig Star's computer which is the REAL enemy.]]
* LawyerFriendlyCameo: [[DragonBall Gold]] [[SonicTheHedgehog Sparkster]] and [[StarWars the Pig Star]], at the very least.
* MagicKnight: Sparkster and Axle Gear to a certain degree.
* MascotWithAttitude: Sparkster. He was much more down-to-earth than others of his time.
* MassHypnosis: AllThereInTheManual; this is how the BigBad gets his troops.
* MechaMooks: Hardly uncommon, but interspersed with regular flesh-and-blood {{Mooks}}.
* MilitaryMashupMachine: All over the place, including such oddities as space submarines whose front portions can [[TransformingMecha turn into giant mechs]].
* MiniMecha: There are several varieties of enemies that pilot these.
* MirrorBoss: Axel Gear, the only recurring enemy in the series.
* TheNapoleon: Captain Fleagle from the first game, who even dresses like the Trope Namer.
* OminousPipeOrgan: Axel Gear is seen playing one at the end of the aforementioned BandLand [[spoiler:the sixth level of Sparkster for SNES]].
* OneHitPointWonder: Unlock the Crazy Hard of RKA 1 ([[DifficultyByRegion or just select Hard difficulty in the US version]]) and you'll become this.
* ParentalAbandonment: AllThereInTheManual; Sherry and Cherry's mother died from unknown causes years before RKA. Sparkster meanwhile is a [[ConvenientlyAnOrphan war orphan]] who was raised by the Rocket Knight, Mifune Sanjulo... [[spoiler: until Mifune was murdered by Axel Gear ten years before the first game.]]
* PosthumousCharacter: Mifune Sanjulo, Sparkster and Axle Gear's former teacher [[spoiler: who was killed by Axle Gear before the first game began.]]
* {{Razor Wind}}/{{Sword Beam}}: Sparkster and Axle's swords can do this, except, for some reason, in ''RKA 2''.
* RedEyesTakeWarning: The emperor in the first game. [[spoiler: Even more so during his RoboticReveal and during the sequence where you have to fight multiple clones of the prototype emperor robot.]]
* RearrangeTheSong: The first level themes from the first game and its sequel see multiple rearrangements over the course of the series, and most of the music in the SNES game is rearranged versions of tracks from the sequel. Then rearranged again in the ''Rocket Knight''. [[WhatDoYouMeanItsNotAwesome Orchestral style]]
* ReptilesAreAbhorrent: Most of the enemies in ''RKA 2''.
* TheRival: Axel Gear.
** [[spoiler: RivalTurnedEvil: It was their master's choice to make Sparkster the new leader that led to Axel Gear's path of evil.]]
* RoboticReveal: [[spoiler:After you fight him normally and "kill" him, Emperor Devligus Devotindos in the first game is revealed to be not only a {{Terminator}}-like robot, but one of many such robots stocked aboard the Pig Star.]]
* RuleOfCool: Sparkster and the other Rocket Knights are heavily armored, sword-wielding opossums with the ability to fly about with rocket packs and fire waves of energy from their swords, not to mention occasionally piloting HumongousMecha, flying through walls of bricks or solid steel, flying through space without a spaceship...yeah. Arguably shades into NinjaPirateZombieRobot territory.
* SaveThePrincess
* ScreamsLikeALittleGirl: Sparkster himself.
* ShoutOut:
** The side-scrolling shooter (or in one part of the Mega Drive sequel, ''[[RocketPunch puncher]]'') segments contain minibosses strongly reminiscent of ''[[{{Gradius}} Gradius's]]'' bosses, to the point of having a series of shields blocking a vulnerable "core" (usually the vehicle's pilot). More speculatively, it's possible that the mech fights are intended as a ShoutOut to Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots. Another boss is a shout out to the boss of the waterfall in the original Contra.
** [[spoiler: In the Golden Sparkster ending from the Climax Studios' game, Bill Rizer shoots at Sparkster, proclaiming revenge. This acts as a continuation of the Contra: Shattered Soldier ending with the Sparkster cameo.]]
* SpaceDoesNotWorkThatWay: The series has been guilty of this from time to time.
** [[BatmanCanBreatheInSpace Sparkster Can Breathe In Space]]: This is one of the biggest offenders considering how fast he travels in space.
* SpellMyNameWithAnS:
** The name of the world the series takes place in is supposed to be named for the titular country in Samuel Butler's ''Erewhon'', but because of the way the Japanese version of this got initially rendered into English the name became "Elhorn". This appears to be treated with equal validity to "Erewhon" by fans and references, even today.
** In the Japanese version of the games, the kingdom Sparkster lives in is called "Zephyrus" but was mistranslated as "Zebulos" in the English version and remained unchanged for years. For the new Rocket Knight game, Konami has dropped "Zebulos" for the English version in favor of the original "Zephyrus".
* SpikeBallsOfDoom: Sometimes bosses and minibosses carry them.
* SpritePolygonMix: ''Rocket Knight''.
* SteamPunk: [[SchizoTech Sort of.]] The setting combines SteamPunk elements with more traditional fantasy and sci-fi elements.
* SuperMode: Gold Sparkster in ''RKA 2''. His attacks do more damage and his rocket charges faster.
* TennisBoss: The miniboss in the fourth level of the first game tosses explosives at you. You can't reach him with your normal attacks, so you have to hit the bombs back at him to damage him.
* TenSecondFlashlight: Can get pretty irritating in levels with a lot of enemies or traps.
* TheCameo: Sparkster appeared as a cameo in several Konami games, such as ''{{Snatcher}}'', ''{{Contra}}'', ''MitsumeteKnight'', ''[[GanbareGoemon Ganbare Goemon 2]]'', and ''New International VideoGame/TrackAndField''. Most oddly of all, a human version of Sparkster appears in Konami's ''Jikkyou Powerful Pro Wrestling '96 : MAX VOLTAGE'', where he bears a passing resemblance to HulkHogan.
* UnexpectedGameplayChange: Happens very, very frequently, with [[ShootEmUps Shoot Em Up]] and (rudimentary) FightingGame segments breaking up the platforming.
* TheVeryDefinitelyFinalDungeon: The last normal level of each game is on an enemy space station (slightly modified in ''RKA 2'', where it appears to be an OminousFloatingCastle in space), and the first game and the SNES game take this further by setting the final boss fight ''in re-entry'' and ''on a giant missile'', respectively. ''Rocket Knight'' has the final level in [[spoiler: a corrupted version of Zephyrus where the pigs have taken over and the general rules with a giant golden robot of himself. OhCrap.]]
* VillainExitStageLeft: In a rather odd example, Axel Gear always lives to fight another day, while the BigBad always dies.
* WhatMeasureIsANonCute: Zebulos's enemies tend to be ugly, or at least to belong to species with morally ambiguous or downright negative stereotypes.
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[[caption-width-right:320:In about 0.1 seconds, this pig and his [[MiniMecha mech]] will be very unhappy.]]
->''Just look at him: he's a knight with a jetpack! '''YOU CAN'T TOP THAT!!!'''''
-->--'''TheHappyVideoGameNerd'''
Zebulos, a MagicalLand full of [[FunnyAnimal Funny Animals]] in the world of Elhorn, has a problem. Long ago, during the reign of El Zebulos, the first monarch, an invading power used a giant warship called the Pig Star to wreak havoc. They were defeated at great cost, and the dreaded Pig Star was [[SealedEvilInACan placed under a magical seal]] to keep future enemies of Zebulos from using it. Since then, the descendants of El Zebulos have kept the Key to the Seal safe, and an elite order of fighters, the Rocket Knights, was founded to protect the royal family from harm. Sparkster, the current leader of the Rocket Knights, came to power after a traitorous Knight, Axel Gear, killed his superior. He banished Axel Gear, but this proved to be a bad move. Our story begins when Sparkster, hearing of a new invasion, speeds to the capital to find that Axel Gear has returned as the stooge of the aggressive Devotindos Empire and kidnapped the Princess while the Empire's troops burn the castle, hoping to get the Key to the Seal as ransom. What Axel Gear doesn't know is that only the Princess herself knows where the Key is...
''Rocket Knight Adventures'' is a side-scrolling action platform game series by {{Konami}} with diverse and distinctive gameplay mechanics such as short-range jetting in eight directions (including ricocheting off walls and around corners), charged attacks, swordplay, the occasional bit of [[ShootEmUps shmup-style]] sustained flight, and [[HumongousMecha much]] [[FightingGame much]] [[MinecartMadness more]]. The original game, on the [[SegaGenesis Sega Mega Drive/Genesis]], spawned two more games: ''Sparkster: RocketKnightAdventures 2'', a sequel also on the Mega Drive, and ''Sparkster'', a game on the SNES which takes place in an alternate continuity. The series may owe its existence to the [[SonicTheHedgehog Sonic]] series, which put FunnyAnimal mascots in vogue and likely influenced the series's art style.
In October 2009, it was announced that Sparkster will return after a 15-year absence in a new 2.5-D adventure, tentatively titled {{Rocket Knight}}. According to the story, there haven't been any new games in the past 15 years because nothing's ''happened'' in 15 years. And when an army of Wolves attacks, Axel and the Devotindos are fighting ''alongside'' the possums. Apparently when Sparkster defeats you, you ''stay'' down.
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!!This series provides examples of:
* AdvancingWallOfDoom: Three in Rocket Knight Adventures - one of which is part of a boss battle.
* AirborneAircraftCarrier: At least one per game.
* AlwaysSomeoneBetter: Sparkster is this to Axle Gear.
* AmericanKirbyIsHardcore: More subtle example. US covers actually used Japan originated promotional artwork, but edited Sparkster's anime smile into a angry scowl. Interestingly the European covers used an identical box art as the US, but edited it to reuse the original cheerful Sparkster art.
* AnimeHair: Sparkster has some under his helmet.
* APupilOfMineUntilHeTurnedToEvil: [[spoiler: When Sparkster is chosen by their master instead of Axle Gear to lead the others, Axle Gear retaliates by killing his master.]]
* ArtEvolution: Sparkster, and to a lesser extent the other characters and the surrounding environment, have a distinctly different look in each game that goes beyond simple graphical upgrades.
* AttackItsWeakPoint: Almost all bosses use some form of this trope.
* AwesomeMcCoolName: Axel Gear.
* BandLand: The sixth level in ''Sparkster'' for the SNES is composed primarily of giant musical instruments, in a rather odd contrast to the grim, warlike (if still somewhat whimsical and cartoonish) feel of most of the other settings.
* {{BFG}}: Axel Gear comes at you with one in Stage Six of the original game. Also doubles as a WaveMotionGun.
* BlackKnight: Axel Gear is a marginal example.
* CallToAgriculture: Apparently what Sparkster was doing in those 15 years before the 2010 game. Even got himself a family.
* ChainReactionDestruction: Bosses and minibosses are prone to that and being non-mechanical won't save them for that.
* ClimaxBoss: Axel Gear. Especially when you face him head-to-head with no mechs nor anything.
* ColorCodedForYourConvenience: Sparkster's armor is "good" blue, while Axel Gear's is "evil" purple (red in ''Rocket Knight''). Also, there's an awful lot of green on the baddies' uniforms and vehicles.
* ComicBookAdaptation: In ''SonicTheComic''. Its storyline was set after the games, after Sparkster has left Elhorn for a long time and then returned to find the Princess is brainwashed and the country occupied by new reptilian invaders. This adaptation had a few grimdark elements, one of the opening panels of the conquered nation being two former knights involved in a bloody street fight for a crowd.
* TheComputerIsACheatingBastard:
** In ''RKA 2'', Axel Gear's mech can do one thing that Sparkster's can't: fire a projectile from its chest. But it's easy to guard, and his mech is temporarily immobile after using it, pretty much guaranteeing you a free hit.
** In the same game, when you get to face Axel in a head-to-head fight, [[spoiler: he creates a pincer barrier which will start closing until it gets you, Axel's attack tend to last longer than yours, and he can hover as much as he likes]].
* ConvectionShmonvection: The lava areas.
* DarkIsEvil: Axel Gear's armor is dark and he is ''definitely'' evil.
* {{Determinator}}: After Sparkster destroys most of its body, the final boss of the first game follows him off the exploding Pig Star and ''keeps fighting him as they re-enter Elhorn's atmosphere''.
* DiagonalCut: The coup de grace is delivered to ''RKA 2's'' BigBad in this manner.
* DifficultyByRegion: ''RKA'' has the same difficulties in all regions, but with different names: Japan and Europe have Normal (Japan)/Easy (Europe), Hard, [[HarderThanHard Very Hard, and Crazy Hard]], while the US has Children, Easy, Normal, and Hard. Notably, Very Hard and Crazy Hard require codes to unlock, but all four difficulties are freely selectable in the US version.
* TheDragon: Axel Gear, to whoever the current BigBad is.
* DrivenByEnvy: [[spoiler: Sparkster's promotion to leader of the Rocket Knights is what fuels Axel Gear's jealousy.]]
* TheEmpire: The enemies in each game are part of one.
* EnemyMine: Sparkster and Axel Gear and the pigs vs. the wolves in ''Rocket Knight''.
* EternalEngine: Due to the fondness of the series for ridiculously huge war vehicles and mechanical fortresses, a large proportion of its levels are some sort of variation on this.
* EverythingsBetterWithPrincesses: Princess Sherry in the first game definitely counts for this, as do Cherry and Flora.
* EverythingsBetterWithSpinning: In ''RKA 2'', the fully-powered version of the directional rocket attack involves this, as well as the non-directional one.
* EvilCounterpart: Axel Gear, to Sparkster.
* EyeBeams: Used by some bosses.
* {{Fanfare}}: One of the levels has this as the background music.
* FatBastard: The emperor in the first game. [[spoiler:General Sweinhart too, once he does a FaceHeelTurn.]]
* FlashOfPain.
* FlyingBrick: Sparkster, to the point where he actually ''flies'' in some sequences.
* [[FollowTheMoney Follow The Gems]]
* FunnyAnimal: Sparkster and most of the other people of Zebulos are anthropomorphic opossums, and the invading armies over the three games include such fauna as pigs, lizards, snakes, wolves, and lions.
* GettingCrapPastTheRadar: The giant robot bosses of the fifth stage of ''RKA 2'' have chest-mounted turrets that look amazingly like huge, pendulous breasts. That fire out of their nipples.
* GlacierWaif: Sparkster and Axle Gear.
* GoofyPrintUnderwear: Most non-robotic {{Mooks}} are reduced to this when you "kill" them in RKA: Their armor falls off and reveals their underwear in a manner strongly reminiscent of ''VideoGame/GhostsNGoblins'', and they run or fall off the screen with an embarrassed look on their face. Does not apply to the lizards in RKA2, brought back (though with briefs) for the wolves in ''Sparkster'', and applies to the pigs but not the wolves in ''Rocket Knight''.
* GottaCatchThemAll: ''RKA 2'' has seven golden swords the player can collect. [[HundredPercentCompletion Finding all of them]] unlocks Gold Sparkster and the [[MultipleEndings complete ending]].
* GreenHillZone: The first stage is a grassy plain with no environmental hazards.
* HailfirePeaks: In a particularly impressive example, the second level in ''RKA 2'' manages to combine ShiftingSandLand, LethalLavaLand, TempleOfDoom, and EternalEngine.
* HarderThanHard: The Japanese and European versions of ''RKA'' and all versions of ''Sparkster'' contain difficulties called "Very Hard" and "Crazy Hard". As noted in DifficultyByRegion above, the US version of ''RKA'' made the equivalents Normal and Hard
* TheHero: Sparkster, of course.
* HeroicMime: Played with in that ''no'' character has any lines. Characters may be shown apparently conversing, but we can only infer what they're talking about by what happens immediately afterward.
* HorseOfADifferentColor: There are more than a few exotic steeds in the series. Triceratops or [[MechanicalHorse mechanical]] ostrich, for example.
* HumanCannonball: Not being enough launching yourself with a jetpack in the seventh level of Sparkster (SNES) you are shot into space with a cannon.
** In the original ''Rocket Knight Adventures'', the king shoots Sparkster into the pig battleship in this fashion after Stage 3.
* HumongousMecha: Sparkster and Axel Gear have a giant robot fight in the first game.
* IdiosyncraticDifficultyLevels: The difficulty levels include names like "Child" and [[HarderThanHard "Crazy Hard"]].
* InstantAwesomeJustAddMecha: The enemies have a massive and varied arsenal of animal-like vehicles and autonomous machines. Also, each game features at least one boss fight where Sparkster and Axel Gear pilot giant mechs and engage in a giant-sized boxing match. ''RKA 2'' goes further: it has an entire level that consists of driving a mech through the baddies' capital city and annihilating everything in your path.
* ISeeLondon: Enemies are stripped to their underwear when defeated in ''Rocket Knight Adventures'', ''Sparkster'', and sometimes in ''Rocket Knight''.
* {{Jerkass}}: Axle Gear, no doubt about it.
* JetPack: Look at the title.
* TheKingdom: Zebulos. Renamed to Zephyrus in ''Rocket Knight''.
* LargeAndInCharge: The emperor in the first game, [[spoiler: although this is actually subverted as he is nothing but a robot created by the Pig Star's computer which is the REAL enemy.]]
* LawyerFriendlyCameo: [[DragonBall Gold]] [[SonicTheHedgehog Sparkster]] and [[StarWars the Pig Star]], at the very least.
* MagicKnight: Sparkster and Axle Gear to a certain degree.
* MascotWithAttitude: Sparkster. He was much more down-to-earth than others of his time.
* MassHypnosis: AllThereInTheManual; this is how the BigBad gets his troops.
* MechaMooks: Hardly uncommon, but interspersed with regular flesh-and-blood {{Mooks}}.
* MilitaryMashupMachine: All over the place, including such oddities as space submarines whose front portions can [[TransformingMecha turn into giant mechs]].
* MiniMecha: There are several varieties of enemies that pilot these.
* MirrorBoss: Axel Gear, the only recurring enemy in the series.
* TheNapoleon: Captain Fleagle from the first game, who even dresses like the Trope Namer.
* OminousPipeOrgan: Axel Gear is seen playing one at the end of the aforementioned BandLand [[spoiler:the sixth level of Sparkster for SNES]].
* OneHitPointWonder: Unlock the Crazy Hard of RKA 1 ([[DifficultyByRegion or just select Hard difficulty in the US version]]) and you'll become this.
* ParentalAbandonment: AllThereInTheManual; Sherry and Cherry's mother died from unknown causes years before RKA. Sparkster meanwhile is a [[ConvenientlyAnOrphan war orphan]] who was raised by the Rocket Knight, Mifune Sanjulo... [[spoiler: until Mifune was murdered by Axel Gear ten years before the first game.]]
* PosthumousCharacter: Mifune Sanjulo, Sparkster and Axle Gear's former teacher [[spoiler: who was killed by Axle Gear before the first game began.]]
* {{Razor Wind}}/{{Sword Beam}}: Sparkster and Axle's swords can do this, except, for some reason, in ''RKA 2''.
* RedEyesTakeWarning: The emperor in the first game. [[spoiler: Even more so during his RoboticReveal and during the sequence where you have to fight multiple clones of the prototype emperor robot.]]
* RearrangeTheSong: The first level themes from the first game and its sequel see multiple rearrangements over the course of the series, and most of the music in the SNES game is rearranged versions of tracks from the sequel. Then rearranged again in the ''Rocket Knight''. [[WhatDoYouMeanItsNotAwesome Orchestral style]]
* ReptilesAreAbhorrent: Most of the enemies in ''RKA 2''.
* TheRival: Axel Gear.
** [[spoiler: RivalTurnedEvil: It was their master's choice to make Sparkster the new leader that led to Axel Gear's path of evil.]]
* RoboticReveal: [[spoiler:After you fight him normally and "kill" him, Emperor Devligus Devotindos in the first game is revealed to be not only a {{Terminator}}-like robot, but one of many such robots stocked aboard the Pig Star.]]
* RuleOfCool: Sparkster and the other Rocket Knights are heavily armored, sword-wielding opossums with the ability to fly about with rocket packs and fire waves of energy from their swords, not to mention occasionally piloting HumongousMecha, flying through walls of bricks or solid steel, flying through space without a spaceship...yeah. Arguably shades into NinjaPirateZombieRobot territory.
* SaveThePrincess
* ScreamsLikeALittleGirl: Sparkster himself.
* ShoutOut:
** The side-scrolling shooter (or in one part of the Mega Drive sequel, ''[[RocketPunch puncher]]'') segments contain minibosses strongly reminiscent of ''[[{{Gradius}} Gradius's]]'' bosses, to the point of having a series of shields blocking a vulnerable "core" (usually the vehicle's pilot). More speculatively, it's possible that the mech fights are intended as a ShoutOut to Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots. Another boss is a shout out to the boss of the waterfall in the original Contra.
** [[spoiler: In the Golden Sparkster ending from the Climax Studios' game, Bill Rizer shoots at Sparkster, proclaiming revenge. This acts as a continuation of the Contra: Shattered Soldier ending with the Sparkster cameo.]]
* SpaceDoesNotWorkThatWay: The series has been guilty of this from time to time.
** [[BatmanCanBreatheInSpace Sparkster Can Breathe In Space]]: This is one of the biggest offenders considering how fast he travels in space.
* SpellMyNameWithAnS:
** The name of the world the series takes place in is supposed to be named for the titular country in Samuel Butler's ''Erewhon'', but because of the way the Japanese version of this got initially rendered into English the name became "Elhorn". This appears to be treated with equal validity to "Erewhon" by fans and references, even today.
** In the Japanese version of the games, the kingdom Sparkster lives in is called "Zephyrus" but was mistranslated as "Zebulos" in the English version and remained unchanged for years. For the new Rocket Knight game, Konami has dropped "Zebulos" for the English version in favor of the original "Zephyrus".
* SpikeBallsOfDoom: Sometimes bosses and minibosses carry them.
* SpritePolygonMix: ''Rocket Knight''.
* SteamPunk: [[SchizoTech Sort of.]] The setting combines SteamPunk elements with more traditional fantasy and sci-fi elements.
* SuperMode: Gold Sparkster in ''RKA 2''. His attacks do more damage and his rocket charges faster.
* TennisBoss: The miniboss in the fourth level of the first game tosses explosives at you. You can't reach him with your normal attacks, so you have to hit the bombs back at him to damage him.
* TenSecondFlashlight: Can get pretty irritating in levels with a lot of enemies or traps.
* TheCameo: Sparkster appeared as a cameo in several Konami games, such as ''{{Snatcher}}'', ''{{Contra}}'', ''MitsumeteKnight'', ''[[GanbareGoemon Ganbare Goemon 2]]'', and ''New International VideoGame/TrackAndField''. Most oddly of all, a human version of Sparkster appears in Konami's ''Jikkyou Powerful Pro Wrestling '96 : MAX VOLTAGE'', where he bears a passing resemblance to HulkHogan.
* UnexpectedGameplayChange: Happens very, very frequently, with [[ShootEmUps Shoot Em Up]] and (rudimentary) FightingGame segments breaking up the platforming.
* TheVeryDefinitelyFinalDungeon: The last normal level of each game is on an enemy space station (slightly modified in ''RKA 2'', where it appears to be an OminousFloatingCastle in space), and the first game and the SNES game take this further by setting the final boss fight ''in re-entry'' and ''on a giant missile'', respectively. ''Rocket Knight'' has the final level in [[spoiler: a corrupted version of Zephyrus where the pigs have taken over and the general rules with a giant golden robot of himself. OhCrap.]]
* VillainExitStageLeft: In a rather odd example, Axel Gear always lives to fight another day, while the BigBad always dies.
* WhatMeasureIsANonCute: Zebulos's enemies tend to be ugly, or at least to belong to species with morally ambiguous or downright negative stereotypes.
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