Star Fox

Rumors has it that Retro Studios (the studio that breathed new life into Metroid with the Metroid Prime-trilogy and Donkey Kong Returns) are gonna revive the Star Fox-series with a game to the Wii U. Would be nice with a new entry for the series since the last true new game was back in 2006. I probably can give a better run-down of this series compared to Fire Emblem since I actually played all the games in the series. And I have a hunch you don't actually care about the circus that is the social democratic search for a new party leader, especially since everything that comes out is "we want Wallström" and "No".

The first game was Star Fox, or as it was called here in Europe, Starwing. Just pure coincidence that we got it in the family since we bought it second hand on a whim, or we, my oldest little sister did. i guess it was the funny animals on the box. Didn't play it that much since it took me a long time to get how you played it, but I actually finished it on the easiest route. Today I feel a bit sadness that I don't have it anymore. The music was wonderful although the graphics aren't that good looking today. A bit blocky if you asked me, but it was a fun ride.

Next game is the one from Nintendo 64 in 1997 called Lylat Wars in Europe. I didn't get this one, I wanted it, but never got it until they rereleased to the Wii VC and 3DS. The one to the 3DS was much better since the controls didn't feel that awkward. A more advanced version than the original, but the music wasn't that awesome. Don't get me wrong, it was good, but I missed the beat from the first stage of Corneria from the original.

Next one was probably the one I really delved into and absolutely love of the Star Fox games. Star Fox Adventure by Rare, the gods of video games during that time. They mostly seemed to have fallen pretty deep at the moment. I didn't care if it was a Zelda knock-of, it was fun in its own way, nice music, gorgeous graphics and a story that didn't feel that far-fetched. Although, since I didn't play Star Fox 64, I had some trouble knowing how to kill Andross since I never fought him like that before. In Starwing it was just shoot the eyes, no one said anything about his hands. Although I can probably agree on that Tricky can be kinda annoying some times. I actually waited for this game since the N64 days, but then titled as Dinosaur Planet. It was pushed forward all the time until the GameCube came out and then it was changed to a Star Fox-game. Funny enough the same happened to Retro Studios Metroid Prime (pushed forward to Gamecube that is). Another funny thing to note is that this was one of the games we won by pre-order it. The other one was Super Mario Sunshine. Yes, we won the games in two different drawings. That is really lucky.

After Adventure I was pretty muck hooked on the series and waited patiently for the next game, Star Fox: Assault. Now you could actually use your blaster. This was a confusing game for me the first time I played it. It had similar control scheme as Lylat Wars, but since I never played it I had some trouble getting used to it compared to Adventures Arwing-controls. Most notable that in Adventure you could just keep the A-button down to fire at the enemies, but in all other games you had to push it. I know, not much, but it caught me of guard. Then we have the plot, which basically feels like a Star Trek Borg episode. The biggest issue was that I didn't know any of the characters beside the main six that appeared in Adventure. I still enjoyed the game and finished it, but it felt rushed. The first chapter for example didn't have any voices in the intro until your team shows up and just made it feel... unfinished.

So after that less of a stellar game, what happens next? Star Fox Command for the DS. The worst game in the series. Controls felt awkward which made it a bit of an ordeal to finish. Especially fly through the circles over and over again. And it felt it was just two different sorts of missions. Shot everything and then fly through a couple of rings or fly through rings destroying missiles. No, I really hope they make a fun new game that ties the knots story-wise. If it gonna be only flying and/or walking? It doesn't matter really, if it works for the story go ahead. Just don't make it gimmicky like this last game.