Released: August 28th, 2006
Developer: Q Games
Publisher: Nintendo
Genre: Space Shooter
Flying furries in Fortuna, what could be better? Unfortunately, Fox hit a rock, flipped out of control, and crash during the Gamecube era. Now he's on the DS, and has he recovered?
Yes he has, at least a little bit. Story-wise, Star Fox Command takes place after Assault. Although, the beginning intro directly talks about Star Fox 64. Anyway, some time after Assault, the Star Fox team disbands (how many times have they disbanded now? It's about 3 times isn't it?) and the Lylat System is at peace. One fine day, the Anglar race decides to up-rise and destroy the Lylat System. The race lives in the oceans of Venom, which is why they could attack with such surprise. (Venom is a very toxic planet and no living thing, apart from the Anglars, could live there) Fox McCloud sets out to stop them from destroying everything and receives help from his former teammates along the way.
A nice, simple story. Not too much detail about the Anglar though. They just appear and do nothing but smash and destroy. Each character also has their own story that is driven in-between the battles. Slippy has met a woman (I know, I gasped too) named Amanda. Falco has gone solo. Peppy is now the general of the Corneria Army. Krystal went and joined Star Wolf after Fox forced her off the team. (he was afraid of her getting hurt) If you're lost, don't worry. You'll pick up bits of the character's history and personalities as the game goes on.Each mission begins with a briefing before hand. Rob 64 (or another character) has some small talk to move their stories along, then a "Guys. This planet/section/land needs help. Let's do thiiis!" Lylat is more like it's 64 counterpart, although with certain planets missing. (Zoness is one) A planet exclusive to the Star Fox, Nintendo Planet comic is also mentioned in-game. (You can't go there, however)
When you begin a level, you start out on the map screen (pictured above). The Great Fox (the big ship that holds all the Arwings and Fox lives there basically) is stationed, and sends Fox out. Fox only has a certain amount of fuel, and when he runs out he'll crash and die. So you have a limited number of turns to complete the mission. The mission will also end if the Great Fox is attack by enemies or missiles. To complete it properly, you have to go destroy the enemy bases, kill all the enemies, and destroy all the missiles.Certain missions, and all enemy bases, will give you extra turns. Health, extra time (explain later), and ammo for the Great Fox can also be picked up on the map screen. It moves like a turn-based strategy game. You can move a certain distance, end your turn, then you may move again. The Great Fox can defend itself with the missiles you pick up for it. It takes smooth planning to get through each mission. If the Great Fox is touched by an enemy, it's destroyed. Personally, that's crap. Why does this big, huge ship get destroyed by a bunch of tiny ones? You don't even get a chance to go back and save it. It's just "BOOM, Good-bye cruel world!" What happened to the Great Fox's guns? It used to have usable guns (as seen in Star Fox 64).
The enemy missiles can be hit from anywhere.. To stop them, you have to make head on contact. It does take a little to get used to this basic system. You eventually go "Ok, Falco will wait for the missile, Krystal will patrol around the Great Fox, Slipping will head out to the base..." and plan it like that. Fog also surrounds certain areas. You can clear pieces of it to find the enemies, bases, items, and all those things. Each turn, the fog grows thicker, so you end up cleaning some of it out again.
It is a little frustrating, when you are right next to an enemy base, then it launches a missile so you end up in a rush to go back and stop it. But honestly, you get used to this part of the game. It is different, but you become a master of planning. Besides, it's oodles of fun to get into the actual fights (which you will be, all the time) and this is where the game really shines.The style of fighting is just like in "all range mode" in Star Fox 64. You are free to fly anywhere you want. The objective is to take down a certain number of certain enemies. To count them as "defeated" you have to pick up stars they drop. It's a little odd, when you're playing as a newbie, but you quickly get used to the idea and it becomes second nature to pick up the stars. To add to this, there is a timer. If you don't defeat the enemies before the timer runs out, you die. At first it's like "OH BALLS, a timer?!?!" but it is nothing to panic about. Enemies will drop more time, there is time on the map screen (successfully barrel rolling enemy attacks gives you more time too), and really, the fighting is easy. If there was no time, the game would be even easier and it'd just be a walk in the park with no challenge whatsoever.
The controls are WONDERFUL The game is played on the touchscreen. You draw out the lines on the map screen, then use it the screen in battle. Just move the stylus around to move the Arwing. Double tapping the upper half makes you boost, and double tapping the bottom half puts on the breaks. Tap the screen again to stop. Quickly sliding the stylus back and forth makes you do a barrel roll. The barrel roll picks up nearby objects (like a magnet), repels enemy attacks, and is the key is destroying the mothership in the bases. (while boosting towards them, you have to do a barrel roll) Rob calls it a rolling attack, but he's a dirty liar anyway. The barrel roll lasts as long as the bar does (top screen, top right corner) The 3 buttons on the bottom screen also involve the Arwing use. The B drops a bomb (you can plant it anywhere using the bottom screen) the left button does a somersault, and the right button does a whoop that turns you the opposite direction. Every single button on the DS (apart from start) fires you lasers. You can also hold the button down for a charged attack.I gotta say, I'm surprised how well this all works. I figured you'd move with the crosspad and use A to fire, B for bomb, and the other 2 for slow down and speed up. (More like Star Fox 64 controls) Maybe you would prefer controls like these. After feeling Command's controls, I have no objection. It's just as fun as a traditional use. You can't change them either. You can only set it to inverse up and down.
During the battle, characters will talk to you (helping you out, or encouraging you) They never fly with you into battle. Even if you get 2+ characters into a battle, you only can play as 1 with no back up. Although, if you are taken down, you can immediately play another one can still take it down without wasting a turn. I'd rather have a computer flying around helping me though... It doesn't feel quite so lonely on the battle field then and it feels more like Star Fox. The music doesn't help either. It's very bland. They occasionally bring back maybe..2 songs from 64, but that's it. Why the blazes did they not put in the original Corneria theme from Star Fox into this game!? The backgrounds are bland as well. They sometimes are like "oh pretty" in space, but that's it.A lot of people did not like the character designs. Personally, I like them. I like Fox's personality too. He became so outward and odd during the Gamecube. In this game, he looks and acts a bit more of his 64 self, only a bit more mature. I liked it. It felt better. Slippy also has matured a bit, he isn't as annoying as he once was. Kat, Bill, and a million character either returned or were added. You can play as most of them. Each character has their own special type of Arwing. Fox gets the classic one (1 laser, a few bombs, charged lasers), Slippy gets the retarded Arwing (short recharge bar, no charged lasers, but more bombs), Krystal has an Arwing with twin lasers...and so on. So that factors in to who will be doing which battle. The characters also returned with Lylat speak. (The babble from Star fox) Again, it depends on who you are. I liked the language. Some say it's a distraction from the battle having to read what they say. But really...it doesn't. They speak in short sentences and it should take just a quick look to read what they say. And even if they speak in english, some people read the speak anyway. So what does it matter? (you can also put on the option to have the characters to speak in your voice. I've been too afraid to touch this option)
"If the game is so easy, what's the point of continuing to play?" Well, because it's fun. And if you're into it, there are around 15 characters to play as, and 9 or so endings to unlock. There are many, many paths to take. I guess it'll be hard to hold your interest unless you are already a Star Fox fan. I mean, there aren't even rankings, as in Star Fox 64. The online and multiplayer modes don't help. Both are just mindless flying around and shooting the other players. Why isn't there a cooperative mode? That would work well for this game. If somebody leaves during an online game, then the whole game ends instead of just going on. It's very annoying when somebody is losing, leaves, so now nobody can play and must find another game.The online and multiplayer is poor...I don't even touch those options. I'm satisfied just playing the single player. You cannot even pick your character/Arwing.
Star Fox Command is a pretty decent game. I cannot say if it's better than Assault or not, as they both have major ups and downs. I was just tickled pink at some of the stuff they brought back. Notice in the review, I said nothing about ground/tank/submarine combat. Because Fox stays in his Arwing. (ok...there is a submarine, but only Amanda uses it and it moves like an Arwing) Then again, it is very easy and bland. The gameplay is wonderful, but then there is no motivation to continue to play. + Lylat Speak
+ 100% Cockpit
+ Awesome controls
+ Basic, fun gameplay
+ Multiple paths/endings
+ More characters to play
+ Better than Assault?
- Lylat Speak
- Krystal's head is too big
- Horrible online/multiplayer
- No motivation to continue playing
- No rankings
- Anglar's have no background
- Better than Assault?
Star Fox Command gets a -4. It's a decent game, not revolutionary, and nowhere near as good as the pre-Gamecube ones. However, if your up to it, it's still worth a purchase.
