Star Fox 64 (N64) review

This review was originally published in 2016, and we are updating and republishing it to mark the arrival of N64 games on Nintendo Switch Online.

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Despite Star Fox 64 (or Lylat Wars in Europe) being only the second game (released) in the series, Nintendo decided it was time to reboot and, similarly to the SNES original, this Nintendo 64 title sees exiled scientist Andross causing problems in the Lylat system. It is up to you as Fox McCloud and the rest of your Star Fox team to fight your forces and save the day.

As before, saving the day involves a lot of rail-shooter action, but there are a lot of differences from the previous game in addition to the increased fidelity that comes from the 64-bit hardware. Star Fox 64 takes its inspiration from the then-unreleased Star Fox 2, including the “full-range mode” that the game occasionally switches to, allowing free movement in an arena while fighting enemy forces. The new U-turn maneuver is useful for chasing down an enemy that has just whizzed past, and in a couple of missions here we see Fox take control of the tank-like Landmaster to provide a change of pace. There is also an underwater mission.

The game originally came bundled with the Nintendo 64 Rumble Pak, which added some welcome comments to the great controls as you duck, dive, shoot and, yes, work your way through the branching levels avoiding impacts and explosions and , in general, shooting them. with the Star Fox team by your side.

The game is a lot of fun to play, your Arwing’s movement feels natural as you gently descend to pick up a power-up or frantically turn to deflect enemy fire. There is an epic feel to the game as you progress through the missions and the battle varies depending on the situation. The blocking function of your lasers is useful to get rid of the enemies, but if there are many, sometimes it is easier to shoot and of course you can “use the bombs wisely”.

There are a few different paths through the Lylat System, and how you do it on a mission affects where you end up next. There are also a variety of planets visited and space battles. Sometimes you will be fighting enemies (including the rival Star Wolf team), and other times you will be taking out waves of attackers and weaving between obstacles: brake, push, and the new loop maneuver that is implemented to carry you through the stage. in one piece.

Visually there was a big step up from the SNES game; The added power of the Nintendo 64 offers more polygons that, in combination with textures, added much more detail to the locations, while the cinematic moments will help you immerse yourself in the story. Years later, the SNES game has a striking minimalist look, but the increased visual complexity shown here also holds up well – it certainly moves much smoother than the 16-bit title, and there are plenty of wonderful-looking environments to visit. Although the game’s most blocking moments stand out these days.

As for the audio, there is good humming music; a mix of action and adventure that works well with on-screen events. Other tracks can be loud and there are some very effective sound effects as you go through the levels (or bump into things). While the original Star Fox (except in a few cases) used a collection of sound effects to create a language for the team’s radio communications, they are here entirely in English, although the original PAL region release includes a Lylat ‘babble’ if I prefer that. Some duff line reading aside, the talk works well and adds to the thrill of the missions and the game’s goofy B-movie vibe.

The game can be completed quickly, but the frenetic action makes the game enjoyable; The multiple paths add some variety too, with the difficulty well judged getting harder and harder as you go. Fight your way through a difficult mission and the increase in difficulty is quite remarkable. Get it right on a mission and you’ll receive a medal, and earning medals on all missions will keep you busy for some time.

Also adding to the longevity of the game is the multiplayer mode, available for up to four players, they can shoot each other or compete in a time trial mode where they shoot down as many enemy ships as possible in the allotted time. Earning medals here unlocks some alternate ways to play these modes, but no matter how you choose to fight, it’s fun if you can find three willing pilots.

conclusion

There are many enjoyable battles as you move around the screen, eliminating enemies and avoiding colliding with obstacles in Star Fox 64. The full-range mode (and the tank and submarine missions) add variety to your game and the multiplayer mode offers a lot of fun. . The game can be completed quickly, but there are alternate paths to review and medals to earn. All of that adds up to replayability, but the main reason to return to this cinematic rails shooter is that it remains a total delight.