Sky Fortress Zone is the fourth Zone in Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode II. It takes place above the clouds in all 3 acts. The last two take place on a large aircraft. This Zone is a hybrid of Sky Chase Zone, Wing Fortress Zone and Flying Battery Zone.

Gameplay[]

In Act 1 and the Boss act, the gameplay is highly reminiscent of Sky Chase Zone from Sonic the Hedgehog 2. Here, the level is constantly auto scrolling to the right and the player(s) assume control of Sonic as he stands on the Tornado piloted by Tails. The player will have to fight the airborne Badniks as they move towards Sonic and Tails. In Single Player mode, the player is able to move the Tornado the same way as the playable character, while also being able to Spin Jump and Spin Dash with the Tornado automatically following Sonic's horizontal position. Pressing up or down on also move the biplane for the respective directions.

When playing Multiplayer mode in Act 1 and the Boss act, Tails' player controls the Tornado's movements independently of Sonic's movements. Unlike in Single Player mode, the Tornado won't automatically snap to Sonic's position if he Spin Jump or uses the Spin Dash, causing him to lose a life unless either player uses the 'Call Partner' (/ Xbox 360/PS3 respectively) or Tag Action commands (/ Xbox 360/PS3 respectively) to bring Sonic back on to the Tornado.

Acts 2 and 3 feature the traditional platforming sections as Sonic and Tails scale through the flying fortress itself. A recurring obstacle found in both acts is the exhaust burner, which periodically exhausts flame for a short while between intervals.

Overview[]

Act 1: The Tornado Takes Off![]

After passing through three zones on the ground and fighting off the combined forces of Dr. Eggman and Metal Sonic, Sonic and Tails pursue Eggman on the Tornado. Throughout the act, Metal Sonic pilots a new aircraft, launching Balkiries at Sonic and Tails and shooting homing energy balls. The act ends with either Metal Sonic crashing into the fortress and retreating, or falling out of the sky by being defeated by the duo.

Act 2: Infiltrating the Sky Fortress[]

The Tornado lands on the Fortress, so Sonic and Tails need to find Eggman on the fortress as they come across Cluckers from Sonic the Hedgehog 2 and new red Fullboars which charge at them. Will they find Eggman in this massive airship?

Act 3: Mile-High Mayhem[]

The act features several Ring Shooters and boosters which shoot fire. Usage of the Propeller Flying and/or the Copter Combo is required to fly across various gaps. The player should carefully observe the various patterns of the downward-facing flame boosters exhausting flames while flying across the gaps as getting hit by the flames will disrupt Tails' flight and send the duo falling to their deaths. Some boosters can be seen operating in separate groups (ie. one group of boosters are actively exhausting their flames at the same time while another group remains inactive, then the first group becomes active), while another row of boosters become active at entirely different intervals, becoming active one after another.

A couple of flight sections involves solid moving blocks which can be stood on but will crush the player(s) if they move against each other or the solid walls. At the end of the act, after one last Ring Shooter section, the player will be prompted to use the Rolling Combo to gain enough speed to reach the final platform but also destroy a series of block walls standing in the player's path to the Goal Plate.

Boss: Showdown in the Skies[]

Sonic and Tails get back onto the Tornado, when suddenly, Metal Sonic tries to hit them, but thanks to Tails' skills in flying the Tornado, as they escape they try to defeat Metal Sonic. Will the duo be able to do it?

Trivia[]

• Similar to the levels it borrows its tropes from, Sky Fortress Zone's name references both Sky Chase Zone and Wing Fortress Zone.
  • Interestingly, "Sky Fortress Zone" was an early name considered for Wing Fortress Zone in the early builds of Sonic the Hedgehog 2. It is unknown if this is intentional.
  • Also, the zig-zag shaped path at the beginning of Act 2 is similar to the zig-zag path at the beginning of Wing Fortress Zone.
• Like Sonic the Hedgehog 2, the Zone precedes a final showdown taking place in Eggman's Death Egg, this game being the Death Egg Mk. II.
• The Ring Shooters in Act 3 are similar to the ones in the Death Egg Zone from Sonic & Knuckles.

Videos[]

• Act 1
• Act 2
• Act 3

In other media[]

Books and comics[]

Sonic the Comic[]

Main article: Sky Fortress (Sonic the Comic)

In the Sonic the Comic comic series and its spin-offs published by Fleetway Editions, the Sky Fortress was a giant aircraft whose past was virtually identical to its game counterpart's. Robotnik used the Sky Fortress to launch a suprise attack on Sonic the Hedgehog who fell into the Hidden Zone.

Music[]