11-11-2006, 03:48 PM
What can I say, I just wasn't cut out to be a reporter. Here's my favorite review I have written so far, with a little bit of editing:
Star Fox: Command
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Q-Games
Genre: Flight/Action
Number of Players: 6
Star Fox: Command, the latest installation to the well-known Star Fox series draws back to its roots, as Nintendo has been doing lately, to a flight-based game. However, the game offers a new system of controls, making it a new experience for any level of gamer. As a fan of Star Fox 64, I was pleased to see something other than Adventures and more long-lived than Assault. Before the release of the game, a number of comments started to dissuade my enthusiasm, but not for long. I had already reserved it, and I was looking forward to forming my own opinion.��
The single-player game, like its youngest predecessor, Star Fox: Assault, is seemingly short. The relief lies in knowing there are multiple paths and endings you can take if you replay the game. It definitely is worth playing again to unlock different levels and endings. The gameplay is rather unique, even though it holds true to flying. Planets are attacked individually on a map, where your draw your course using the touch screen, then fight various enemies or infested cities on a 3-D level. The experience proves a little repetitive, but the different scenery and enemies add a bit of variety to the game.
While your course is important to protecting the Great Fox, most of the fun comes from running into an enemy, mother ship, or missile. Although predictable and fairly easy, the objectives make the game almost into a collection of mini-games, while still retaining a story line. The bosses are the most exciting, but still not at the level they could be.
The story of the game intrigues to a fan such as I, but to a new gamer it would seem dull and lifeless. Basically, the team of Star Fox has dissipated, and you, as Fox, begin solo to defeat a new enemy to the Lylat System, the Anglars. Depending on the paths you choose to take, you can follow many different storylines with many different characters. Much of the story is told through dialogue, with no cinematics, just pictures when a story is told. Most of the in-game dialogue is, as in most games, frequently repeated. One enemy often says, "I am sick of seeing your face." I often think, "I am sick of hearing you say that." The dialogue is mediocre, and the characters appear more real while fighting. Many people probably just skipped the dialogue and went straight to the missions, but if you are a Star Fox fan, I recommend reading what the characters are saying. There were some surprises in the story, which got me more excited than the game itself.
The mutli-player WiFi improves from past games. The battles usually load quickly, and finding opponents takes much less time than Mario Kart or Metroid Prime. There seems to be a better level-matching system in this game, because most of the opponents I have faced have been, as I, beginners. The games become a little boring after a while, but thankfully the time runs out and a new, faster-paced match starts.
Command does not seem to push the limits graphically for the DS. As most games, the graphics are an improvement from N64 days, even to a handheld. However, the game doesn't really push its limits. The only time the graphics go into a level of detail occur after each mission. The objectives, however, look bleak and dull. The scenery looks appealing, but not as high-detail as such games like Metroid Prime: Hunters.
Ringing true to the Star Fox series, the music and sound is incredible. Each level absorbs you into the game, if not graphically, by sound. The music was excellently composed, and the sounds make it feel like a Star Fox game, if nothing else. The only major disappointment is the persistent ringing while waiting for WiFi battles. That noise is enough to drive anyone insane, and give them a plane ticket to psycho.
Although I may have sounded harsh in my review, the game actually is a lot of fun. It has one thing even some of the most entertaining games do not have: the addictive factor. It's the kind of game you can't stop playing, and just want to do the same thing over and over. Admittedly, it does get boring at times, but it will bring back a rush of excitement after this entertainment lows. One such excitement is being reunited with old and new partners. They can really help out when you're getting whooped by the enemies.
I give Star Fox: Command 8.5 barrell rolls out of 10.
Pictures from ign.com.
Star Fox: Command
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Q-Games
Genre: Flight/Action
Number of Players: 6
Star Fox: Command, the latest installation to the well-known Star Fox series draws back to its roots, as Nintendo has been doing lately, to a flight-based game. However, the game offers a new system of controls, making it a new experience for any level of gamer. As a fan of Star Fox 64, I was pleased to see something other than Adventures and more long-lived than Assault. Before the release of the game, a number of comments started to dissuade my enthusiasm, but not for long. I had already reserved it, and I was looking forward to forming my own opinion.��
Whatever happened to "Do a Barrel Roll!"?
The single-player game, like its youngest predecessor, Star Fox: Assault, is seemingly short. The relief lies in knowing there are multiple paths and endings you can take if you replay the game. It definitely is worth playing again to unlock different levels and endings. The gameplay is rather unique, even though it holds true to flying. Planets are attacked individually on a map, where your draw your course using the touch screen, then fight various enemies or infested cities on a 3-D level. The experience proves a little repetitive, but the different scenery and enemies add a bit of variety to the game.
Don't let those enemies get that close the Great Fox. ROB doesn't play well with others.
While your course is important to protecting the Great Fox, most of the fun comes from running into an enemy, mother ship, or missile. Although predictable and fairly easy, the objectives make the game almost into a collection of mini-games, while still retaining a story line. The bosses are the most exciting, but still not at the level they could be.
Be careful Fox! That enemy's using the rainbow beam on you!
The story of the game intrigues to a fan such as I, but to a new gamer it would seem dull and lifeless. Basically, the team of Star Fox has dissipated, and you, as Fox, begin solo to defeat a new enemy to the Lylat System, the Anglars. Depending on the paths you choose to take, you can follow many different storylines with many different characters. Much of the story is told through dialogue, with no cinematics, just pictures when a story is told. Most of the in-game dialogue is, as in most games, frequently repeated. One enemy often says, "I am sick of seeing your face." I often think, "I am sick of hearing you say that." The dialogue is mediocre, and the characters appear more real while fighting. Many people probably just skipped the dialogue and went straight to the missions, but if you are a Star Fox fan, I recommend reading what the characters are saying. There were some surprises in the story, which got me more excited than the game itself.
Who are you talking to?
Fox, you didn't just drink the punch, you went back for seconds.
The mutli-player WiFi improves from past games. The battles usually load quickly, and finding opponents takes much less time than Mario Kart or Metroid Prime. There seems to be a better level-matching system in this game, because most of the opponents I have faced have been, as I, beginners. The games become a little boring after a while, but thankfully the time runs out and a new, faster-paced match starts.
Yes class, and if you click OK you will learn left and right.
Command does not seem to push the limits graphically for the DS. As most games, the graphics are an improvement from N64 days, even to a handheld. However, the game doesn't really push its limits. The only time the graphics go into a level of detail occur after each mission. The objectives, however, look bleak and dull. The scenery looks appealing, but not as high-detail as such games like Metroid Prime: Hunters.
There's only three... Did you expect them to just let you win?
Ringing true to the Star Fox series, the music and sound is incredible. Each level absorbs you into the game, if not graphically, by sound. The music was excellently composed, and the sounds make it feel like a Star Fox game, if nothing else. The only major disappointment is the persistent ringing while waiting for WiFi battles. That noise is enough to drive anyone insane, and give them a plane ticket to psycho.
Although, they have been noted to contain trace amounts of lead and uranium.
Although I may have sounded harsh in my review, the game actually is a lot of fun. It has one thing even some of the most entertaining games do not have: the addictive factor. It's the kind of game you can't stop playing, and just want to do the same thing over and over. Admittedly, it does get boring at times, but it will bring back a rush of excitement after this entertainment lows. One such excitement is being reunited with old and new partners. They can really help out when you're getting whooped by the enemies.
I give Star Fox: Command 8.5 barrell rolls out of 10.
Pictures from ign.com.