Star Fox 64 is now 14 years old. So if you were born when Star Fox first came out, then playing the N64 sensation on the 3DS will be a totally new and utterly enjoyable experience. However, for older gamers, Star Fox 3DS doesn’t offer many gameplay upgrades. there are no new levels and only a handful of passable features. Multiplayer is also limited to local download play. still, this is one of the N64’s best titles. Flying through space to take down the evil Andross’ minions using the 3DS’ built in gyroscope does make for an insanely good time. Just make sure that nobody is around to stare at you while you whisk your 3DS in every direction trying to survive a dogfight.
The Lylat system is in peril. Andross, a nefarious scientist who was banished to the planet Venom (not by Spider-Man), is back. He’s amassed an army and is making preparations to invade the planet Corneria. While Corneria may be a peaceful planet, it does have a cute puppy general named Pepper. He’s called out to Fox McCloud and his band of mercenaries to help save Corneria and rid the galaxy of Andross’ evil. Coincidentally, Fox’s father disappeared several years ago on a mission to Venom.
Fox has one of the coolest bands of sidekicks in the galaxy. Peppy is a beat-up bunny rabbit that used to fly with Fox’s father, James. Peppy has always got a bogey chasing him around and is often overly thankful when you save him. Fox tends to remind Peppy of James. Falco is a cocky falcon and probably one of the best Nintendo-owned sidekicks outside of the Mario and Zelda worlds. his sheer cool factor earned him a spot in several versions of Super Smash Bros. Falco’s witty banter keeps the game lively as he mocks Fox at every turn. Slippy is your classic young, wide-eyed sidekick who just wants to impress Fox whenever he can. Just make sure you watch his back when he flies into danger.
The N64 polygon visuals have had a sleek upgrade. there are more colors now on the 3DS version. Star Fox has got a vibrant flair from the moment you turn the game on. Even the stars on the menu screen show off the crisp feel. Also, the polygon style fits nicely on the 3DS system. it doesn’t feel like you’re playing a game that was made 14 years ago.
The controls are easy to pick up and the circle pad allows you to quickly maneuver your Arwing. the Left and right shoulder buttons are for hard turns, either button can be pressed twice for a barrel roll. Players can also pull the circle pad down and press the Boost or Brake button to perform a somersault or U-turn respectively. the somersault becomes especially important when facing off against the Star Wolf team. During the Star Wolf engagement, players are face off in a more difficult aircraft vs. aircraft dogfight. This board is more of an open world environment where playing with the gyroscope becomes extremely awesome. Players will find themselves whipping the 3DS left, right, up and down to take down enemy aircraft. the game hasn’t change, but the way you play it has. It’s great for this board, but overall sticking with the circle pad is the way to go.
Typical gameplay involves shooting down flying enemies that are coming directly at you. your basic weapon is the laser. Occasionally, you will also pick up bombs, which you can shoot out and trigger their explosions.
One thing, I never liked about Star Fox was that there are 15 boards in the game, but you only need to play 7 to win. all the boards have their own unique feel so it’s a little bit of a waste and there is no real incentive to explore. Players are given a map with a direct route to Venom. However, you can switch up and take alternate routes if one is too difficult – though difficulty is rarely an issue. it is annoying if you want to check out some of the other planets on the same play through. you won’t be able to backtrack and change course once you establish it.
Gamers can play 4-player multiplayer through download play. This was always one of the best features of Star Fox. you just have to find four players to play with. otherwise, playing against the computer is a waste. Players get to see the face attached to the aircraft of the gamers they’re playing with so it’s a blast to shoot down friends.
Star Fox 64 3D may not be a new title, but it is still a great one. most veteran gamers won’t jump on to this. Younger audiences however should definitely check it out if only to discover who that Falco character is in Super Smash Bros. This is one of the best N64 games ever made and even though it’s a port, I still totally dig it.
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