Corneria: fourth planet of the Lylat System. Star Fox 64 3D: four hundredth remake of a Nintendo game (approximately). All joking aside, Star Fox is a mostly straightforward port of one of the finest games on the N64. Upgraded graphics, some of the best 3D on the system, and an overhauled offline multiplayer mode make for a mostly stellar – if overpriced – re-release of the finest game in the series.
Back in 1997 Nintendo released this fantastic arcade-style space shooter (Rumble pack included in the set!) that featured some of the most famous memes in the history of the industry; and if you don’t know what I’m talking about, then you probably consider Facebook or the Apple store to be your primary gaming platform. The rest of you no doubt fondly remember playing the game over and over again before Nintendo seemed to intentionally decimate the franchise by making poor decisions.
With that abridged history lesson behind us it’s time to focus on this remake proper. While this 3DS remake is incredibly straightforward when it comes to the main campaign, developer Q-Games has introduced a revamped multiplayer. The original was a fun distraction in the days before online console gaming, but its sterile environments meant that it got old quickly. Q has tossed them all out in favor of fully-rendered maps that take actually resemble something approximating to Corneria, Venom, and the other locations that they are supposed to be set in. Gamers can either take the classic mode for a spin or use the new settings that introduce additional items via Mario Kart-style question mark boxes.
There are three different modes (timed, score-based and survival) offered and they can all be played with any combination of human or computer-controlled bot players. Put aside any worry that the enjoyable multiplayer of the original would be ruined by newfangled tinkering, because this is the definitive Star Fox competitive experience. The only problem is that Nintendo and Q-Games seemed to develop it with 1997 in mind.
That’s right; the Big Stubborn N has once again released a multiplayer title in which they have eschewed online play for local multiplayer. There is nothing wrong with having local play, of course; unless it comes in replacement of online. This is an absolutely inexcusable move that weighed heavily against the game when it was time to hand out the scores. I don’t know about you, but I know all of one person who owns a 3DS and when the two of us get together to game, we do it on that fancy-smancy new fad called the internet. Maybe you have heard of it; Nintendo has not.
Judging by the embarrassingly low 3DS adoption rate to date, it is probable that most other early adopters are in a similar position. Regardless of whether or not this applies to you, we are in 2011 here and it is pathetic that one of the world’s largest game publishers was unable to work an online component into their game. It wreaks of a rushed development cycle in order to pump the game out in time to bolster a weak lineup heading into the holiday season. Either that, or Nintendo knew they could get away with cutting corners because legions of their fans will no doubt by the game regardless. Heck, I did, and I am literally looking at my original copy of the N64 version (box, rumble pack and all) as I write this.
This review has thus far focused almost entirely on the multiplayer mode, and there is a reason for that: the single player campaign is almost exactly the same thing it was 14 years ago. That is not the worst thing in the world by any means, as its wonderful level design, branching paths and replay-ability are as great as they ever were. If you have never experienced it, then know that you are in for one of the finest space shooters you have ever experienced. For those of you that have played it, you are in for the same, but it’s all old hat at this point.
That being said, there are a few small but neat new tricks hidden up Star Fox 64 3D’s G Diffusers. For starters, players can choose to experience the original game precisely the way it was back in the day by playing classic mode, or fire up the 3DS version that optimizes things for the circle pad and gyro controls (more on that, shortly). In all honesty, unless you play both versions back-to-back, even the seasoned veteran is unlikely to notice the subtle differences. More obvious is the welcome ability to swap between the three mission routes as you go, but the only alternative at any given time is the next easiest path.
The visuals have been overhauled a good deal and the 3D might just be the finest the system has had yet. Fugly ghosting issues that have plagued previous 3DS releases are almost nonexistent here. The music is as fantastic as it always was and the lovably-hammy voice acting is back along with the laughably bad Chuck E. Cheese style lip-syncing.
As for the controls, they match up extremely well to the system when using the circle pad. Gyro controls are (thankfully) optional and are great for anyone who wondered what it felt like to be William Wallace after he was captured and tortured by the English. I have seen some other outlets hail them, and the most believable explanation for this is that those sections of their reviews were ghost written by a member of Nintendo’s marketing team. Since they are optional, though, players can go ahead and ignore them and move about their business.
Aside from the stupendously atrocious decision to not include online play, there is nothing wrong with Star Fox 64 3D. In fact, this is a tremendous game that oozes charm and has a near infinitely replay-able campaign. Had it released at a budget price and with online, it would have been a must-buy for 3DS owners. As it stands, this is great remake that is hampered by a ridiculous price tag and an even more ridiculous offline-only multiplayer. I therefore leave it in your own hands to decide whether the graphical bump and local competitive play is worth spending four times the amount of money on as the Wii’s Virtual Console version.
