Star Fox Zero

Star Fox Zero

Star Fox Zero largely follows the gameplay of its predecessors, predominantly Star Fox 64, in which players control Fox McCloud as he pilots his Arwing craft through various levels. The game is controlled using the Wii U GamePad, with the left control stick used to maneuver the craft while gyroscopic controls can be used to aim weapons. A cockpit view is displayed on the second screen to assist with aiming.

Some of the game’s vehicles can transform in certain situations. For example, the Arwing can transform into the Walker which originated in the Super NES game Star Fox 2, which lets the player freely walk around on platforms. The Landmaster can transform into the Gravmaster, which can perform extended aerial maneuvers. A new vehicle introduced to the series is the Gyrowing, a drone-like helicopter which can lower a small robot called Direct-i that can enter small spaces and hack into computers.[ Players can also add laser upgrades and smart bombs to their ships. Special techniques, such as charge shot, barrel roll, Somersaults, U-Turns and rapid turn, can be performed. Two gameplay modes are featured in the game. The Scroll Mode puts the player in a predetermined path, while the All-Range Mode allows the player to move freely in a mission. If players lose all their ships in a mission, they must restart the entire mission in order to proceed.

Various elements return from previous games, including Fox’s teammates, Falco, Peppy, and Slippy, who can assist the player if they protect them from enemy attacks, as well as Star Wolf team rivals Wolf O’Donnell, Leon Powalski, Pigma Dengar, and Andrew Oikonny. Several level locations have also returned, including Corneria, Zoness, and Titania, while two new locations, Sector Alpha and Area 3, have been added. Players can scan the Fox and Falco Amiibo figurines to unlock the Retro Arwing, which is based on the model used in the original Star Fox game, and the Black Arwing, which sports a black and red color scheme, is stronger and faster but takes more damage, respectively.

Star Fox Zero Review

In terms of story, Star Fox Zero is essentially a retread of Star Fox 64 – which, in turn, was effectively Star Fox all over again. One-time scientific genius Andross has gone rogue, amassing a fleet of hostile craft and threatening the stability of the prosperous Lylat system. The military forces of Corneria enlist the mercenary Star Fox team to render assistance, with the ultimate goal being to take the battle to Andross’ base of operations and bring down the tempestuous tyrant once and for all.

For all of the fuss that was made over Star Fox Zero’s control system, it’s striking just how similar things are to the N64 classic which provides so much inspiration. The left analogue stick controls your crosshairs and the direction of your Arwing, while the second stick is in charge of boosting, braking, banking and those all-important barrell rolls – the latter executed by double-tapping left or right. Using a combination of the analogue sticks it’s possible to pull off somersaults and U-turns – essential moves during dogfights – but these are mapped to the X and B buttons as well. The Y button allows you to re-center the crosshairs should they drift off-target when using motion controls, the R shoulder button (or pushing down the right-hand analog stick) deploys your bomb and the A button triggers the Arwing’s newfangled Walker transformation. ZR controls your main weapon, while ZL locks your view onto the nearest target, or your main objective.

Star Fox Zero may have experienced a rather turbulant flight to market but the end result has been well worth the wait, especially if you’re a fan of the N64 instalment – and there can be few Star Fox fans out there who aren’t. In terms of pure mechanics, content and structure it’s a close match for the 1997 release, following the same non-linear branching pathways and packing each level with bonuses to collect and secrets to discover. The additions made to the Wii U title are generous, with the Walker, enhanced Landmaster and Gyrowing each bringing with them different tactics, strengths and gameplay possibilities. The only issue is that while these alternative modes of transport are fun to use in short bursts, the Arwing is much more fun to pilot – especially when you’re dashing through enemy armadas or engaging in thrilling dogfights using the game’s all-range mode.

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Summary
Star Fox Zero’s fun stages and impressive boss fight give me lot of reasons to jump back in and play them over and over, and especially enjoyed them in co-op until I got a hang of juggling two screens myself. I’ve played 15 hours and I still haven’t found everything. Learning to use the unintuitive controls is a difficult barrier to entry, though it comes with a payoff if you can stick with it.
Good
  • Flight is a constant source of joy
  • Lots of hidden items and alternate paths
  • New tricks add depth to legacy vehicles
  • Impressive set-pieces set the stage for explosive action
Bad
  • Third-person reticle is unreliable
  • Classic enemies and locations outweigh new elements
8
Great
Gameplay - 7.9
Graphics - 8
Audio - 8
Longevity - 7.9

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