Line #43 VideoGame/TailsSkyPatrol


1	[[quoteright:250:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/tailsskypatrol.png]]
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3	''Tails' Skypatrol'' is a game released for the Creator/{{Sega}} UsefulNotes/GameGear in 1995, developed by SIMS co. Ltd and JSH, and [[NoExportForYou only in Japan]] (prior to being ported to compilations). It features [[Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog Sonic's]] pal Miles "Tails" Prower, in the first of three SpinOff games the lovable fox cub received. In this game, Tails shoots a ring to grab things, and must save an island from the evil Witchcart, a witch who rides in a mine cart and turns trespassers into crystals.
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5	Notable for being the first game Chikayo Fukuda composed for, who would later go on to compose the music for many of Creator/CyberConnect2's games.
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7	A 2003 UsefulNotes/McDonalds Happy Meal LCD game was also released under the name of ''Tails' Skypatrol'', and keeps the flight based gameplay, but simplifies it into a high score endurance game where you grab rings.
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9	Also see ''VideoGame/TailsAdventure.''
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12	!! Tropes used:
13	* AbnormalAmmo: Carrotia uses carrots as missiles to attack Tails in her boss fight.
14	* AllThereInTheManual: The games story, [[ExcusePlot such as it is,]] is delegated to the manual. There are no in-game cutscenes or context to what's going on, or even names for the villains in-game.
15	* AmbiguouslyHuman: Witchcart, who certainly looks like a cartoon human, which would make her the only character in the pre-''VideoGame/SonicAdventure'' Sonic games (besides Eggman) to be a human.
16	* {{Balloonacy}}: Once in a while you'll have to grab a balloon to help you reach a area Tails would die trying to reach otherwise due to Tails being unable to stop moving left.
17	* BearsAreBadNews: Bearenger is a black bear who rides a missile and is quite a tough boss.
18	* BeneathTheEarth: The first part of [=RuinWood=] Area is set in a cavern (which is suspiciously similar in appearance to Mystic Cave Zone from ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2'').
19	* BigBad: Witchcart is the villain of the game, taking the brass ring from Eggman for a change.
20	* CheckPoint: Presented in the form of bells that you ring.
21	* ADayInTheLimelight: One of three spin-off games Tails got for himself.
22	* DolledUpInstallment: If you ever wonder why this game feels so radically different than any other Sonic game, that's because it wasn't intended to be originally. It was intended to be a ''Creator/{{Disney}}'' game. Early screenshots show Tails going up against WesternAnimation/{{Pete}}, and Witchcart's design is highly reminiscent of the disguise the Evil Queen used in ''WesternAnimation/SnowWhiteAndTheSevenDwarfs''. When the devs lost the license to the Disney characters, it was converted into being a pure Sonic title.
23	* ExcusePlot: Witchcart is turning intruders on an island into crystals, and Tails has to stop her and her minions. Go at it.
24	* FinalBoss: Again, Witchcart, who's fought at the end of the last stage.
25	* GenericDoomsdayVillain: Witchcart. She is given no characterization at all beyond "Evil witch who wants to take over an island and turn anyone who opposes her into crystals."
26	* GreenHillZone: The aptly named Training Area, the first level in the game, and [=RailCanyon=] Area, the second level.
27	* HauntedCastle: Witchcart's lair, [=DarkCastle=] Area.
28	* HitboxDissonance: Tails's hitbox is actually just ''one pixel''. To make up for it, everything ''else'' has a hitbox much larger than its appearance.
29	* InvincibilityPowerUp: An invincibility power-up exists in the game, but it lasts such a short time that it's borderline useless.
30	* KillerRabbit: Carrotia, a rabbit who rides a carrot-shaped plane, serves as the boss of [=MetalIsland=] Area.
31	* LevelsTakeFlight: [=MetalIsland=] Area, which, despite its name, takes place entirely in the sky.
32	* TheLostWoods: The second half of Level 3, [=RuinWood=] Area.
33	* MechaMooks: Witchcart has a modest set of machines at her aid to accompany the obstacles she set up for Tails.
34	* MeaningfulName: Witchcart is a witch who rides in a cart.
35	* MeaninglessLives: The game gives you infinite continues, which in some way compensates for its grueling difficulty.
36	* MinecartMadness: Witchcart, true to her name, rides in an automated minecart as her vehicle. Tails can sometimes latch his ring onto minecarts in the levels in order to drag himself around faster, but it can also drag himself to his doom if he doesn't let go in time.
37	* NintendoHard: Even though the game is surprisingly short (only five levels), you will have a hard time beating it. Among the factors that make it hard include the claustrophobic stage design, the constantly moving screen, and Tails' floaty controls, which leaves very little room for error, and not to mention that if you touch ANY surface beyond an item or some enemy attacks, you will die. The aforementioned HitboxDissonance throws in some nasty FakeDifficulty to top it off. The lack of a save or password function in the non ''Gems Collection'' versions make this game only beatable by the most dedicated gamers, and with this in mind, it's no surprise why this game didn't get released outside of Japan.
38	* NoobCave: Training Area, the first level in the game.
39	* OddballInTheSeries: Even more than ''VideoGame/TailsAdventure'', since this is one of the few games in the classic series with absolutely no platforming at all, and it has little in the way of speed elements; it's a rail shooter with puzzle elements, with the only regular character appearing being Tails--even Sonic and Eggman took a very rare leave of absence. The other characters, including the one shot villain Witchcart, are exclusive to this game. There are no Rings to collect or protect you with (and the ring Tails carries works as a boomerang) and there are no Chaos Emeralds or special stages.
40	* OffstageVillainy: We don't get to see Witchcart turning anyone into crystals.
41	* OneHitPointWonder: Tails, although this applies to him touching any surface beyond items or contraptions. An airborne hit will usually just stun him, although that often leads to crashing into a nearby surface.
42	* OutsideGenreFoe: Witchcart is more like a villain out of a fairy tale than the supervillain level threat Eggman posed; she was the first antagonist in the series to directly use magic instead of just robots to accomplish her goals, predating the more significant use of this kind of threat with Chaos in ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure''. Most notable is that unlike Chaos, her magic does not involve the use of the Chaos Emeralds, which are completely absent from ''Tails' Skypatrol''.
43	* PowerUpLetdown: The invincibility power up barely lasts ten seconds, and only pops up in situations where its barely of any use.
44	* ProjectileKiss: Carrotia's main attack is blowing kisses.
45	* PunnyName: Witchcart's name is a portmanteau of Witchcraft and Cart.
46	* RailShooter: The game is a mix of this and puzzle elements. The shooting is delegated to throwing a ring like a boomerang, though.
47	* SavageWolves: Hocke-Wulf is a wolf who serves as the boss of [=RailCanyon=] Area.
48	* ScoringPoints: The game has a high score system. You can also collect crystals to boost your high score once you beat a level.
49	* SinisterSchnoz: Witchcart has one on loan from [[VideoGame/CastleOfIllusion Mizrabel]].
50	* SpellMyNameWithAnS:
51	** For his [[ComicBook/SonicTheHedgehogArchieComics Archie Comics]] debut, Hocke-Wulf (ホッケウルフ) was [[AdaptationNameChange renamed]] Falke Wulf. In reality, Hocke-Wulf is named after Focke-Wulf (フォッケウルフ), a defunct German company which was known for manufacturing military aircraft such as a "Falke" model for the Luftwaffe during World War II.
52	** Archie also renders the rabbit's name (キャロッティア) as Carrotia, although ''[[AllThereInTheManual Sonic the Hedgehog Encyclo-speed-ia]]'' spells it as Carrottia. Due to how the word "carrot" is transliterated into [[UsefulNotes/JapaneseWritingSystem katakana]] (キャロット), either is correct.
53	* SpinOff: This game focuses on Tails, and Sonic and Dr. Eggman are nowhere to be seen.
54	* StockAnimalDiet: Carrotia fires carrots as missiles.
55	* SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute: Hocke-Wulf is quite similar to Fang the Sniper from ''VideoGame/SonicTripleTrouble''.
56	* TakenForGranite: Tails is threatened with this, as Witchcart will turn him (and anyone else on the island who opposes her) into crystals.
57	* TokenHuman: Prior to ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure'', Witchcart was the only human (or human like character) besides Eggman to appear in the classic series.
58	* TrademarkFavoriteFood: Mint Candies are power-ups in this game. His original character bio states that Tails loves mint candy.
59	* VideoGameFlight: The entire gameplay is built around Tails flying with a meter that depletes over time, but can be refilled by eating Mint Candies.
60	* VillainOfTheWeek: Witchcart, who only appeared in this game and was never heard from again in the video games, although she was later reimagined as a minor villain named Wendy Naugus (with her henchmen being heavily redesigned and renamed the Witchcarters [[MythologyGag as an ode to her old name]]) for the [[ComicBook/SonicTheHedgehogArchieComics Archie Comics]]. She and her minions (in their original portrayal) would then be the main villains of the ''Recap/Tails30thAnniversarySpecial'' one-shot from the [[ComicBook/SonicTheHedgehogIDW IDW Comics]]. Curiously, this game is one of the very few games in the franchise where Eggman is completely absent in favor of another villain.
61	* WickedWitch: Witchcart, who has the stock appearance of one (giant black hat and cloak, green skin and long nose). She doesn't ride a broomstick or own a cat, but she uses magic in her schemes and during your fight with her.
62	* WitchClassic: Witchcart wears black clothes and a pointy hat, uses magic as her primary method of attack, and has three henchmen.
63	* WizardNeedsFoodBadly: Tails periodically needs to eat [[PowerUpFood Mint Candies]] in order to fuel his flight meter.

Context VideoGame / TailsSkyPatrol