Retro Game Friday: Star Fox Command

This week for Retro Game Friday I’m covering a game I frequently forget exists. It’s Star Fox Command!

Plot Synopsis: The planet Venom’s forces were all but destroyed, and there is thought to be peace. This is not to be, however, as a race of beings known as the Anglar rise from the acidic oceans of Venom, thought to be unable to support life. The leader of the Anglar plans on destroying the Lylat system, which Fox McCloud and crew set out to save. The Star Fox team has broken up, but re-assembles to fight the threat…

Plot: The plot was not that great, and even more frustrating is that there is no true ending to the plot despite there being nine different endings. Unfortunately for Command the gameplay wasn’t enough to save it.

Gameplay: The gameplay was okay, but what would have been okay with just standard Star Fox gameplay was mired by the fact that you had to plot your flight path using the touchscreen of the DS. This feature was supposed to add strategy, but to me it was all pointless gimmicks made to a perfectly okay game in order to highlight the DS’s touch screen technology.

Characters: What was unusual for this game was the fact that it allowed the player to play as 14 different characters, ranging from Fox to Panther from Star Wolf.

Overall: A less than spectacular game marred by the unnecessary focus on the touch screen.

For those who like: Star Fox, Gimmicks.

Not for those who don’t like: Either of the above.

Retro Game Friday: Star Fox Assault

 

I was searching through my old game collection when I stumbled upon this game, having completely forgot it ever existed. It’s Star Fox Assault for this week’s Retro Game Friday!

Plot Synopsis: Star Fox: Assault takes place one year after the events of Star Fox Adventures. Andrew Oikonny, Andross’s nephew, assumes leadership over his dead uncle’s army and starts a rebellion against the Cornerian Army. The Star Fox team, consisting of Fox McCloud, Falco Lombardi, Krystal, Slippy Toad, and Peppy Hare (who has retired from piloting, and instead stays in the Great Fox with ROB to Guide the Star Fox team through missions), quickly fly in to assist them.

Plot: I honestly didn’t remember the game  at all until I found it in my old game drawer, in fact having read the plot summary online I still can barely remember it. The plot was decent I suppose, nothing great however.

Characters: Yay Krystal, the fox from Star Fox Adventures that Fox rescues is part of the team. Having been a guys only game except for Kat in Star Fox 64, I was excited to have another female in the crew. Slippy is just as annoying as before, and Falco just as snarky.

Gameplay: This returns the series back to it’s roots, with great space flying in an on rail level. The ground levels were extremely frustrating though. The multiplayer was okay, nothing great though. Honestly can’t remember anything else.

Art:  Everything looks fairly nice for a Gamecube game, although it’s not that great now.

Music: I suppose it sounded just like classic Star Fox games, although I honestly can’t remember even the character’s voices.

Overall: If you find this in a bargain bin of games, and have a Gamecube still connected to your TV go ahead and grab this, otherwise move on with your life.

For those who like: Star Fox, On Rail gameplay, Medicore multiplayer.

Not for those who don’t like: Any of the above.

 

Retro Game Friday: Super Smash Bros.

This week I’m covering the original casual fighting game. It’s Super Smash Bros.

Plot Synopsis: Wait you were expecting a fighting game to have a plot?

Plot: See above.

Gameplay: The gameplay was good, although some characters were ridiculously overpowered, like Fox or Samus or Ness. Having only 12 characters was the only downside to this game, but at the time it was a lot of characters.

Music: It took music from the various series represented in the game, as well as some original music. Nothing amazing though.

Art: It shows it’s age now, but back in the day it looked pretty freaking good.

Overall: If you’ve never played it you should give it a whirl, just don’t pay more than a few dollars for it.

For those who like: Nintendo games, Fighters, Casual fighting games.

Not for those who don’t like: Any of the above, or fighting games with a shallow learning curve.