"Hey Fox, Get This Guy Off Me!"

Publisher: Nintendo Developer: Nintendo Genre: Action Release: July 01, 1997 

The infamous cry from Slippy echoes in the memories of us all. How could we forget our favorite Nintendo frog mascot? I remember the day I came home from basketball camp only to see Star Fox 64 sitting in my parent's car. The box was large and for a good reason. You see my friends this game introduced us to the world of rumble well before Sony had time to rip off our favorite company. It was a unique concept that went on to great uses in games such as Zelda and Goldeneye. When I first turned the game on I knew I was in for what was to be one of Nintendo's greatest N64 titles. It was like an intro to a wonderful space opera. The credits fade in and the voice of R.O.B. informs us of planetary disasters from deep within the Great Fox's hull. The immensity of this game floored me from the beginning. It was like Metroid 3 meets Star Fox in one of the best narratives of the N64's library. I'll begin with the games beautiful graphics that stand up to even today's visual standards. Suck my balls and read this intelligent review.

Graphics

At a time when the N64 was sinking next to the PSone in terms of sales we needed something to boost the visuals to what a 64-bit machine was capable of. The first wave of games, Super Mario 64, Mario Kart 64 and Wave Race, were great but not enough to prove the dominance of Nintendo's superior system. Star Fox boasts some of the most fluid graphics since that era of videogames. Huge bosses that are reminiscent of Metroid 3 were the coolest part of the game. After each level you could look forward to an intense boss battle with huge beautiful explosions. The speed of this game was very impressive as well with crash course missions and twitch-thinking maneuvers. The particle effects and other eye candy were a wonder to look at and still are. There is rarely any slow down and it only occurs when the screen is chock full of ships, battle cruisers and other background art. This semi-sequel to the first adventure helps further establish Star Fox as a prime Nintendo franchise with relatable characters and a deep enthralling story. 

Sound

This was the games highlight when it was released due to the sheer amount of voice samples. Nintendo even sent out a promotional video to everyone they could to spark interest in the games revolutionary "chat" system. (Only a year later Rogue Squadron for the N64 crushed the amount of voice samples found in ST64). Although the voices were a bit muffled it really brought the diverse Lylatt System alive. All laser blasts and explosions are right on and will knock you out of your seat. The music is a mixed bag. I own the soundtrack but only for a few select tracks. The music on Zoness is my favorite followed by the submarine mission. The other tracks have their highlights but nothing like the original theme. Why not bring it back Nintendo? On the other hand we got a whole slew of new themes to hum along with so it equaled itself out. After everything is said and done though it was a great experience for the ears and should not be missed. 

Gameplay

The first Star Fox was not only a revolution in graphics but in intense gameplay as well. The game and levels were fast, massive and richly detailed. The best part lie in the controls, which were silky smooth. You could barrel roll to avoid enemy fire and get out of the way of falling objects. Now fast forward a few years and we have evolved into the master at work known as Star Fox 64 with flips, U-turns and charge blasts. Did I mention the tank and submarine levels? This game has it all and pulls it off so genuinely even though Argonaut didn't develop this time around. Tank levels consist of steering through tunnels and hillsides only to run into undying fleets of Andross's ships. As the tank you can hover in the air for a short while or barrel roll much in the same way as the archaic Arwing. Navigating the submarine is a different experience as it is much like a serene trip through the mysterious caverns of the unexplored seabed. I love the sub mission and wish they had included more like it. Instead of haphazardly firing shots everywhere the sub "auto-locks" on enemies and allows you to fire an illuminated torpedo. There are unlimited torpedoes so go crazy! Star Fox 64 also introduced something new called "All-Range Mode". ARM allowed players to battle in full 3D arenas with their enemies. For example in the first level set on Cornaria you run into a boss who runs around a country side destroying your shipmates. It is up to you to elude his rockets, fly through his legs and shove bombs up his ass. The game's overall presentation screams Star Wars while retaining its own universe and characters. This only makes me that much more excited for the sequel on Gamecube. 

Longevity

Multiplayer. The one feature that keeps players coming back time and time again to any good game. Goldeneye had its notorious deathmatch and Mario Kart included its most popular feature, battle mode. Star Fox 64 delivers in this area wonderfully but with some very minor flaws. First of all you get your choice of Arwing, Tank or Bazooka Man. Each vehicle as its own advantages and disadvantages. The Bazooka Man is small and hard to hit but at the same time is susceptible to smart bombs. The Arwing is fast and accurate but doesn't have the luxury of dime turns or hiding behind pillars. The tank is powerful and is very maneuverable. The only gripe is that it would have been nice to see an expansive deathmatch mode. Why only three levels Nintendo? Why not team play where four players could take part in a special mission? I think the Big N wanted to test the waters for future installments than get it all wrong. If you missed out on Star Fox 64 then do yourself a favor and pick it up before it stops selling at retailers. There is also something else to look forward to if you liked this game and it is called Sin & Punishment.

Overall: 90%

-Clay Withrow