Review: Star Fox Command - Nintendo DS

Star Fox Command - Nintendo DS
Developer: Q-Games/Nintendo

iBT Score: 86%

In the spring of 1993 Star Fox was released to the SNES. It was the first game to include the Super FX chip, displaying complex 3D models with polygons which was still new and uncommon in console video games. Star Fox was a huge success and went on to become one of Nintendo’s major franchises with several sequels released since.

Star Fox Command marks the franchise’s first game on a portable system, as well as its first foray into online gaming.

Controls:
The entire game is played and controlled by the touch screen, which also doubles as the map and radar as it displays the location of the enemy. The aircraft follows the stylus around, making for a very interesting and new way to control your ship. Slide the stylus in any direction, and the aircraft will follow. Sliding the stylus to the left or right will make the aircraft turn. Sliding downwards to fall, and upwards to rise. You can double tap on the upper half of the screen to activate your afterburners, and double tapping on the lower half accesses your airbreaks to slow down.

Controlling your aircraft with the stylus might be a little disorienting at first. However, after a very short learning curve it becomes clear how advantageous to game play the new controls are. Aiming is completely accurate, and firing your primary weapon is done by the d-pad. The new control scheme makes the player feel like they have completely control of the ship.

Graphics & Sound:
The game looks great. Solid graphics all around, and it has the Star Fox look, feel and sound to it. The game has great presentation, and it’s very easy to navigate the menus. The sound stays true to the original Star Fox, with the characters speaking in their own language.

Lasting Appeal:
There are multiple endings to this game, which will make you go back and play over and over. Once you have finished the single player mode, you must hope on to mutliplayer. The multiplayer on Star Fox Command is a lot of fun and one of the highlights of this title. It’s basic, competitive and very well done. You basically go up against other aircraft in single player teams. It’s a Star Fox death match. You must take out the other players and take their star to eliminate them and win. You can play off-line with up to 5 other people, or take the battle online against 3 others. Star Fox Command offers hours and hours of fun game play.

Story:
Star Fox Command boasts a deep, branching storyline with memorable characters and multiple endings. The main plot of the story unfolds as follows… Years ago, a scientist named Andross went mad with power. Defeated by Star Fox and banished to the toxic planet of Venom, he dedicated his life to terraforming Venom into a lush, green world that his grandchildren would be happy to call home. Shut off from the rest of the galaxy and hated by all, Andross and his dream were eventually forgotten.

Fast-forward to the present day. A group of aliens called the Anglars, who discovered a way to survive in the toxic Venom Sea, launch an all-out assault on the Lylat system. The Cornerian military turns to team Star Fox for help but are shocked to find that personal issues have forced the team to disband. Fox McCloud, the team leader, agrees to take on the Anglar threat alone … but soon finds himself overwhelmed. After some consideration, he agrees to regroup the team and take another run at the Anglars.

But in order to enter the Venom Sea and take out the Anglars, team Star Fox will need to find the device invented by Andross so long ago. Can they do it? Will the team survive long enough to put aside their personal differences and fight as one? The world waits…

In Closing:
If you are a Star Fox fan, this game is definitely a must buy for you. However you do not have to be a Star Fox fan to enjoy endless hours of great game play. This game stays very true to the Star Fox universe and it’s tons of fun. Game difficulty varies, but it’s really only as hard as you want it to be. Make sure to check out the multiplayer (online or offline) on this game.

iBT scores this game 86%
Star Fox Command is available for purchase now.