Tail 'Gator

Updated on Dec 29, 2023

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Composer(s) Iku Mizutani Developer Natsume Mode Single-player video game Publishers Natsume, VAP		Initial release date 1991 Genre Action-adventure game Platform Game Boy

Similar Natsume games, Action-adventure games

Tail gator game boy ost 01 title screen

Tail 'Gator, known in Japan as Shippo de Bun (しっぽでブン), is a Game Boy video game released in 1991. In unofficial translations, the game is sometimes known as Crocodile. In the game, the player plays a small alligator known as 'Charly' which whacks his tail as attack.

Story

The story of the game is that a dragon warlord known as 'Basso Gila' teleported his castle and army to the peaceful animal kingdom of 'Moberry' in order to destroy it and establish his ultimate rule. The council of elders of Moberry put Charly the highland alligator on the task to send the invaders packing to unsure their well deserved freedom.

Gameplay

There are five areas in Tail 'Gator, each of them divided into four sections: Air, Land, Cave and Underwater, except for the fourth and fifth areas which are only Castle.

The player must complete all sections in order to advance to the next area, this is done by collecting all treasure chests in each level, they all contain random items except for the last chest which is always a key to unlock the door.

Each section has four levels, in area 2 section Land and area 3 section Underwater there are secret levels which are accessed by a hidden door that's partially revealed by obtaining the key. The fourth and fifth areas only have three levels.

When Charly kills an enemy (normally two tail swings) it will eventually respawn at its starting point.

Power-ups

All the power-ups that can be collected by destroying the treasure chests:

Heart: This will give Charly more H.P., every time Charly is hit by an enemy his H.P. will decrease, when Charly runs out of hearts the game is over, just like in every other game.

Power: This will fill Charly's power-line, when the bar is full Charly can use his special attack turning his tail attack into a power-wave that goes across the screen, if the power-wave already is activated this will increase his ammo

Bonus: This'll give Charly extra points, every time Charly collects a bonus without being hit, the points will increase. It starts from 100 and eventually goes no further than 10000; if Charly is hit, the points will start back at 100.

Bomb: This item will instantly kill every enemy on the screen, the more enemies there are, the more points can be earned, when a bomb is taken while no enemy is in view, it'll still give a 100 points

Super Power: This rarely seen item will fill Charly's power-line instantly, when taken while the power-wave already is activated it will increase its ammo to max

Key: This gives Charly access to the next area

Bosses

Area 1 section Cave, Frog Boss: leaps from one side of the battle area to the other, fires three balls at Charly, when Charly comes to close it will hit him

Area 2 section Underwater, Fish Boss: swims up and down, blowing bubbles that can be destroyed by a few tail swings, the bubbles can burst into three balls, the fish will eventually blow a very large bubble that fills the screen with balls

Area 3 section Land, Beaver Boss: goes side to side clubbing two rocks together that produces sparks

Area 3 section Air, Bird Boss: flies around shooting three balls and will eventually fire a very large Power-Wave

Area 5 section Castle, Basso Gila: Stands still in one place and fires all very big ball and when it hits the wall will burst into three smaller balls

Soundtrack

The game's soundtrack consists of 11 tracks, which display a copious amount of swing rhythm. They are Title Screen, Level Select (Area lobby), Air, Land, Cave, Underwater, Castle, Boss Theme, Level Complete, Ending Theme, Game Over.

Reception

Allgame gives Tail 'Gator a 4.5/5

References

Tail 'Gator Wikipedia

(Text) CC BY-SA