Tails’ Skypatrol

Original release: 28th April 1995
Developer: Biox, SIMS
Publisher: Sega
Original Platform: Game Gear

Despite its cute style, this might be the most difficult Sonic game. You control Tails as he flies around with his ring gadget. You can throw this to enemies and interact with objects using it.

The screen will automatically scroll to the right, and you need to interact with objects like mine carts, weights, balloons and poles to get Tails into the right position. There are also enemies that shoot at you. If you touch the ground or ceiling, you die. When enemies hit you, Tails will spin out of control for a bit (and if he touches the ground, he dies). Some objects will also cause Tails to die. With how small the Game Gear’s screen is, you don’t get much time to react. So there will be a lot of death.

If that doesn’t sound bad enough, then you’re in look. Tails has a limited flight meter. If this runs out, you die. So you have to make sure you collect sweets to fill this up while avoiding everything else.

This game is difficult in a rather frustrating way.

One other odd thing is the boss design – they look like they were made for a different game, they look like characters from a toddler’s TV show.