Instead of a rails space shooter, Star Fox DS is a timed, free-flight, goal-based game. At the beginning of the mission, Fox team is given 100 clock ticks to complete their mission. On the map screen, paths are drawn with the stylus, one for Fox and one for Slippy, which direct the pilots to their destination. Players being in the lower-left corner from the Great Fox, and can fly to various labeled target areas. In addition, enemy fighter groups are also visible on the map screen. These enemies may target the Great Fox, and it is up to Fox team to defend their transport while on their mission, meaning that the group may have to stop what they’re doing in order to fly back and protect their ship.
The E3 demo featured several difficulty levels, each of which sent the Star Fox team to various locations both in space and on the surface of planets. Once in a mission area, time counts down. Several targets are designated, which must be destroyed, or the mission is not completed. Time extension items can be collected, which help in making it possible to track down all of the enemies. On certain stages, a mothership may begin to attack. Once all of the targets are destroyed, the mothership can be destroyed by flying along a designated path, in an apparent kamikaze attack on its core. However, Fox escapes unharmed.
Arwing ships are controlled simply by pointing the stylus on the lower screen (over top of the map, much like Metroid Prime Hunters) to direct the ship (there is no Y-axis inversion). Rolls can be performed by circling the stylus on the screen. Rolls as well as U-turns and bomb launches can be performed by pressing the appropriate button on the touch screen. All other controller buttons can be used to shoot the blasters. Holding the button charges the blaster as usual. At least on the demo, there was no option to change to more standard controls.
The graphics are highly reminiscent of Star Fox 64. Newer characters such as Krystal and Beltino Toad still make their appearance, with Krystal sporting a new dress. The character art has been changed to give the characters a somewhat plastic look. Translation does not seem complete as the featured text was brief and not in character. Web browsing fans may get a little chuckle as Fox’s new Arwing is named FireFox.
Fans of Star Fox have a reason to celebrate as Nintendo has shown they are still serious about keeping the Star Fox franchise alive. Not all fans may appreciate the game, since it is more open-ended than the most popular games in the series, but the game is apparently in an advanced stage, and shows much promise.
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Originally posted by: Requiem of Darcness
I am curious to see if they will put in voice, I actually had the whole Star Fox 64 script memorized. Yeah I know, I'm a dork. A 6ft 230lb dork, but a dork nonetheless.
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Originally posted by: Requiem of Darcness
Hmmm...it will be interesting to see if the Star Fox 2 style gameplay holds up after all these years. I really enjoyed Star Fox and Star Fox 64, hopefully this game is as enjoying as those too. I am curious to see if they will put in voice, I actually had the whole Star Fox 64 script memorized. Yeah I know, I'm a dork. A 6ft 230lb dork, but a dork nonetheless.
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Originally posted by: Guitar SmasherQuote
Originally posted by: Requiem of Darcness
I am curious to see if they will put in voice, I actually had the whole Star Fox 64 script memorized. Yeah I know, I'm a dork. A 6ft 230lb dork, but a dork nonetheless.
Yeah, I had it memorized too. Then one day I realized that EVERY single line of text was sexual innuendo. After that I felt dirty.
