TaleSpin

n/a

Mega Drive Game Gear
TaleSpin
System(s): Sega Mega Drive, Sega Game Gear
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Sega, Disney Software Interactive Designs Sega InterActive
Distributor: Tec Toy (BR) Hent Gruppen (SE rental) Samsung (KR) Consumer Electronics (ZA)
Licensor: The Walt Disney Company
Sound driver: GEMS
Genre: Action
Number of players: 1-2 1
Release Date RRP Code US 1992-11 1034 US ▼ (Sega Channel) 199x SUBsub EU 1992-12-14 1034 EU (Classic) 1994-08-19 DE 1993-02 DM 99.9599.95 PT 199x UK 1992-12-14 £34.9934.99 1034 SE (Rental) 199x AU 199x CA 199x BR 199x KR 199x GM93027JG AS 199x ZA 199x US 1993-03 2412 EU 1993 2412 UK 1993-06 £29.9929.99 2412 BR 199x 075240

TaleSpin is a 1992 action game for the Sega Mega Drive and Sega Game Gear by Sega based upon Disney's television show TaleSpin.

The game is different from the games of the same name published by Capcom for the NES and Game Boy and by NEC for the TurboGrafx-16.

Story

The game involves the adventures of Baloo and Kit Cloudkicker, two bears delivering cargo for Rebecca Cunningham, another bear, and their freight business, Higher for Hire. They live in the city of Cape Suzette, a setting similar to a coastal American city in the 1930s. Baloo and Kit face up against the tiger tycoon Shere Khan in a contest to earn a lifetime work contract from the city. They have seven days collect cargo from exotic locations around the world. Shere Khan wants to put Rebecca out of business, so he hires air pirates, led by Don Karnage, to do his dirty work.

Gameplay

Mega Drive version

Sea Duck

The game is a side-scrolling platformer. The player can choose to play as either Baloo or Kit. There is also a two-player mode in which both characters are played simultaneously. The goal of each stage is to find ten pieces of cargo. Some stages have more than ten pieces, but only ten are necessary to open the customs office (the stage exit). Baloo and Kit face numerous enemies and environmental hazards in the course of finding the cargo. There is a fight against a boss in the customs office of each stage.

Baloo and Kit play similarly. Both can be moved around with and and jumps. Kit can also jump higher than Baloo and squeeze into smaller spaces. + jumps off platforms. when in front of or on top of a cargo box or an empty box collects it. Empty boxes can be collected in this way and dropped with to reach higher platforms. shoots the character's weapon: Baloo is armed with a paddle ball that is stronger and Kit has a slingshot that shoots further.

In two-player games, Kit can ride piggyback on Baloo; to do this, both characters must be positioned close to one another and Baloo must press while Kit presses .

After every second stage, there is flying sequence where Baloo pilots the Sea Duck, their seaplane, with Kit tethered to the back of the plane on an airfoil (akin to wakeboarding). These play similarly to horizontally scrolling shoot-'em-up games. As Baloo, is used to accelerate the Sea Duck and slows down, makes the Sea Duck climb and dives, and fires the grease gun. As Kit, makes the airfoil climb and dives and fires Kit's slingshot. In single-player games as Baloo, Kit is absent. In single-player games as Kit, the computer controls the Sea Duck, but the player can influence its control by holding and pressing or to make the Sea Duck climb or dive respectively. alone makes it level off.

Baloo, Kit, and the Sea Duck all have health gauges that are depleted when hit by enemies. If they run out of health, they lose a try. If they lose all their tries, the game ends unless the player has a continue to use. Additionally, there is a global timer throughout the game that starts at seven days and counts down as the game progresses. Baloo and Kit must complete the contest before time runs out or the game ends.

Items

Ground

	Speed Limit Sign
	Temporarily increases the player's movement speed.
	Lucky Penny
	Grants the player temporarily invulnerability.
	Hamburger
	Replenishes some health.
	Star
	Awards the player with an extra try.
	Clock
	Gives the player a bit more time on the global timer.
	Ice Cream
	Temporarily freezes enemies.
	Empty Box
	Can be collected with and stacked with to reach higher areas.
	Power Box
	Contains a power-up item. Jump on it to break it open.
	Cargo Box
	Can be collected with . Collect at least ten to unlock the stage exit.
	Other Boxes
	These boxes solely act as platforms and cannot be picked up.

Air

	Wrench
	Repairs damage to the Sea Duck.
	Grapefruit
	Temporarily gives the Sea Duck a spread shot.
	Flying Crate
	Adds to the player's cargo count. Appears solely on the last stage.
	Sun
	Banishes the lightning cloud that appears during the stormy parts of the flying stages.

Stages

	The Jungle
	The boss fight is against Gibber, who is armed with a strong magnet.
	The Lost City
	The boss fight is against Mad Dog, who is armed with a gun.
	Italy
	The boss fight is against Mad Dog, whose gun works differently from the previous encounter with him.
	Greece
	The boss fight is against Mad Dog and is a repeat of the first fight with him.
	Egypt
	The boss fight is against Dumptruck, who is armed with an oscillating fan.
	India
	The boss fight is against Gibber and is a repeat of the first fight with him.
	New York
	The boss fight is against Dumptruck and is a repeat of the first fight with him.
	San Francisco
	The boss fight is against Don Karnage, who attacks by throwing his sword at the player.
	Pirate's Cave
	The player must end the first segment with at least 90 pieces of cargo to progress to the final fight. This can be achieved by collecting the air cargo that falls over the course of the level or by collecting enough extra cargo in the previous levels. The boss fight is against the Iron Claw, the flagship of Don Karnage and his air pirates.

Game Gear version

Sea Duck

The Game Gear version follows the Mega Drive version closely in gameplay mechanics and even level design. There is no two-player mode in this version. As before, the player can play as Baloo or Kit, who move around with and , shoot their weapon with , jump with , crouch with , and jump off platforms with +. The player must collect ten boxes in each stage to open the exit. Boxes are picked up with and empty boxes are dropped with .

The flying sections are similar, with the D-Pad moving the Sea Duck around and shooting its grease gun. Flying sequences are always played as the Sea Duck alone and without Kit, regardless of which character is being played, and have no stormy sections.

The player's health is shown as a number in the corner of the screen; all other information (such as the number of boxes collected and the time remaining) is shown on the pause screen when  START  is pressed.

The stages and bosses are the same as in the Mega Drive version, except the final stage consists solely of the boss fight and omits the cave section (which also removes the gameplay incentive to collect extra cargo in any of the earlier stages).

Items

Ground

	Lucky Penny
	Grants the player temporarily invulnerability.
	Hamburger
	Replenishes some health.
	Star
	Awards the player with an extra try.
	Clock
	Gives the player a bit more time on the global timer.
	Ice Cream
	Temporarily freezes enemies.
	Empty Box
	Can be collected with and stacked with to reach higher areas.
	Power Box
	Contains a power-up item. Jump on it to break it open.
	Cargo Box
	Can be collected with . Collect at least ten to unlock the stage exit.

Air

	Wrench
	Repairs damage to the Sea Duck.
	Grapefruit
	Temporarily gives the Sea Duck a spread shot.
	Star
	Awards the player with an extra try.

Stages

	The Jungle
	The Lost City
	Italy
	Greece
	Egypt
	India
	New York
	San Francisco
	The Iron Claw

Production credits

Mega Drive version

Game Design

• Michael Latham, Steve Ross, Doug Nishimura

Sega Credits

• Producer: Michael Latham
• Game Testers:
  • Lead tester: Vincent Nason
  • Chris Cutliff, David Forster, Roman Greco, Eric Rawlins, Crisi Albertson, Conan Tigard, Ivan Foong, Kurt Tindle, Jef Feltman, Unni Pillai
  • Test Manager: Steve Apour
• Product Manager: France Tantiado

Disney Credits

• Producer: Patrick Gilmore

Interactive Designs

• Programmers: Tony Ikeda, John Kuwaye, Jack Loh, Robert Morgan, Christopher Warner
• Artists: Barbara Meyers, Joan Igawa, Steve Ross, David Russ, Bob Barett
• Music: Paul Gadbois, Dave Delia
• Art Director: Maureen Kringen
• Technical Support: Ala Diaz, Frank Lucero, Hooell Monleon

Source:

In-game credits

---

Sega Credits

• Assistant Product Manager: France Tantiado

Disney Credit

• Account Executive: Cathy G. Fortier

Interactive Designs Credits

• Manual by: Ruth Zultner Writing Services and Arcadian Design

Source:

US manual

Game Gear version

• Game Design: Michael Latham, Steve Ross, Doug Nishimura

Sega Credits

• Producer: Michael Latham
• Lead Tester: Chris Sinclair
• Testers: Rey Alferez, Javone Alonzo, Greg Becksted, Harry Chavez, Chris Cutliff, Marc Dawson, Gerald DeYoung, Alex Fairchild, Greg Fleming, Ivan Foong, David Forster, Richie Hideshima, Keith Higashihara, Dermot Lyons, Heather Meigs, Bill Person, Tim Spengler, Siegie Stangenberg, Ben Szymkowiak, Conan Tigard, Kurt Tindle, Jeff Todd, Jon Van, Jeff Wagner, Erik Wahlberg, Paul Walker, Gabriel Watts
• Special Thanks to: Jayvone Alonzo
• Test Manager: Steve Apour
• Assistant Product Manager: France Tantiado

Disney Credits

• Producer: Patrick Gilmore
• Account Executive: Cathy G. Fortier

Sega Interactive Credits

• Project Manager: Nancy Nakamoto
• Programmers: Tony Ikeda, Terry Kirch, Bob Morrison, Roy Pitchford, Geoff Stevens
• Art Director: Kevin Lee
• Artists: Sandy Christensen, Michael Chung, Jim Freed, William Kier, Barbara Mayers, Isabel Przytarski
• Music: David Delia, Paul Gadbois
• Technical Support: Frank Lucero

• Manual by: Ruth Zultner Writing Services and Arcadian Design

Source:

US manual

Magazine articles

Main article: TaleSpin/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

CA TV advert

File:MD GG QC TVAdvert.mp4

Mega Drive print advert in (ES) #8: "Diciembre 1992" (1992-xx-xx)

Mega Drive print advert in (ES) #9: "Enero 1993" (199x-xx-xx)
also published in:

• (ES) #16: "Enero 1993" (199x-xx-xx)

Mega Drive print advert in (BR) #32: "Abril 1993" (1993-04-01)
also published in:

• (BR) #21: "Abril 1993" (1993-04-xx)

Game Gear print advert in (ES) #12: "Abril 1993" (1993-xx-xx)
also published in:

• (ES) #19: "Abril 1993" (1993-xx-xx)

Print advert in (KR) #1993-09: "xxxx" (199x-xx-xx)

Print advert in (RU) #60: "xxxx xxxx" (2002-09-05)
also published in:

• (RU) #61: "xxxx xxxx" (2003-02-07)

Physical scans

Mega Drive version

Sega Retro Average
Publication Score Source

{{{{{icon}}}|L}}
Based on 0 review

Sega Retro Average
Publication Version Score (RU) 40 (DE) 60 (FR) 74 (RU) 60 (UK) 75 (UK) 64 (IT) 64 (UK) 59 (ES) 69 (FR) 85 (FR) PAL 86 (UK) PAL 58 (UK) NTSC-U 52 (FR) 87 (UK) PAL 63 (UK) PAL 59 (FR) 84 (DE) 67 (UK) 86 (UK) PAL 75 (UK) PAL 61 (UK) PAL 71 (UK) PAL 54 (SE) 88 (UK) PAL 68 (RU) 68 (BR) 81 (FR) 90 (RU) 53

	69
Based on 29 reviews

TaleSpin

Mega Drive, US
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, US (Alt)
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, CA
Cover

Mega Drive, EU
Cover
Cart Manual PCB

Mega Drive, EU (alt)
Cover

Mega Drive, EU (Telstar Double Value Games Pack-in)
Cover

Mega Drive, EU (Classic Mega Drive)
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, PT

Mega Drive, SE (rental; Hent; black)
Cover

Mega Drive, AU
Cover
Manual

Mega Drive, BR
Cover
Cart

Mega Drive, KR
Cover
Cart

Mega Drive, Asia
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, ZA
Cover

Game Gear version

Sega Retro Average
Publication Score Source

{{{{{icon}}}|L}}
Based on 0 review

Sega Retro Average
Publication Version Score (SA) 75 (IT) PAL 75 (FR) 74 (UK) 62 (FR) 87 (UK) PAL 70 (DE) NTSC-U 57 (FR) 67 (UK) 73 (CZ) 74 (CZ) 74 (UK) PAL 61 (UK) PAL 35 (UK) PAL 40 (UK) PAL 52 (DE) PAL 42

	64
Based on 16 reviews

TaleSpin

Game Gear, US
Cover
Cart Manual

Game Gear, EU
Cover
Cart Manual

Game Gear, BR
Cover
Cart

Technical information

Main article: TaleSpin/Technical information.

References

Games based on Disney animated television series for Sega systems
	TaleSpin (1992) | Bonkers (1994) | Gargoyles (1995)
	TaleSpin (1993) | Bonkers Wax Up! (1994)
	Bonkers Wax Up! (1995)