Star Fox 64

Infobox VG| title = Star Fox 64
Lylat Wars


caption =
developer = Nintendo EAD
publisher = Nintendo
designer = Shigeru Miyamoto (game producer)
Takao Shimizu (game director)
Takaya Imamura (art director)
composer = Koji Kondo
Hajime Wakai
engine =
released = Nintendo 64
^JPN April 27, 1997
^NA July 1, 1997
^EUR October 20, 1997
iQue
^CHI November 21, 2003
Virtual Console
^NA April 2, 2007
^JPN April 17, 2007
^AUS April 20, 2007
^EUR April 20, 2007
genre = Rail shooter
modes = Single-player, multiplayer
ratings = Nintendo 64
ESRB: K-A
OFLC: G8+
Virtual Console
ESRB: E
OFLC: PG
platforms = Nintendo 64, iQue, Virtual Console
media = 96-Mb cartridge
requirements =
input = Nintendo 64 Controller, Classic Controller (Wii), GameCube Controllernihongo|"Star Fox 64"|スターフォックス64|Sutā Fokkusu Rokujūyon, known in Australia and Europe as "Lylat Wars" due to trademark issues, is a scrolling shooter video game for the Nintendo 64 video game console. It was released on April 27, 1997 in Japan, on July 1, 1997 in North America and on October 20, 1997 in Europe and Australia. It was later ported to the China-only iQue on November 21, 2003. It is a video game remake of the original "Star Fox", ["Why did you make Star Fox 64 a remake of the original Star Fox?" "Star Fox 64 Player's Guide". Nintendo Power. ("an interview between Nintendo Power and Shigeru Miyamoto")] and the first game in the "Star Fox" series to be released on the Nintendo 64. It was made available for download on the Wii's Virtual Console on April 2, 2007 in North America, April 17, 2007 in Japan and on April 20, 2007 in Europe, Australia and New Zealand.

The planned second game in the series for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System, "Star Fox 2", was canceled due to the upcoming release of the Nintendo 64, but some of its features were used in "Star Fox 64", such as all range mode. It was the first game to introduce support for the Rumble Pak. ["Star Fox 64 was the first game to feature Rumble Pak support..." [http://cheats.gamespy.com/nintendo-64/star-fox-64/ GameSpy: "Star Fox 64"] , "GameSpy". Retrieved on 2006-06-26.] The game received positive ratings from reviewers and critics who praised its smooth animation, detailed visuals, voice acting, and use of multiple gameplay paths.cite web | title = "Star Fox 64" for Nintendo 64 Review | publisher = GameSpot | url=http://www.gamespot.com/n64/action/starfox64/review.html | accessdate=2006-06-13]

The music in "Star Fox 64" was composed by Koji Kondo and Hajime Wakai. Some music, most notably "Star Fox Theme", was used in the later games of the series.

Gameplay

In "Star Fox 64", the player controls one of the vehicles piloted by Fox McCloud, usually an Arwing, as it travels on a fixed-rail that generally moves straight forward. The player's vehicle can be maneuvered around the screen to dodge obstacles and shoot incoming enemies with laser cannons, and can also perform a somersault to get behind enemies or dodge projectiles.cite book | year=1997 | editor=Nintendo | title=Star Fox 64 Instruction Booklet | pages=| publisher=Nintendo of America | language=English | id=] All vehicles except the Blue Marine can also charge up their laser cannons to unleash a powerful lock-on laser.

As well as the forced progression of the main game, some levels and bosses take place in "all-range mode" (available also in multiplayer battles), where the player can move freely around a rectangular arena and engage in combat with various enemies. The Arwing can also perform one new maneuver in all-range mode: an Immelmann up-and-over to change direction. In-game, this is called a U-turn. You can also do an aileron roll, mistakenly referred to throughout the game as a barrel roll, to deflect enemy projectiles.

Returning from the original "Star Fox" game are wingmen that fly beside the player in Arwings and are sometimes pursued into the player's field of view by enemies. The longer it takes the player to save the wingmen the more damage they will take, eventually leading to that wingman retreating to the "Great Fox" for repairs. If one of the wingmen has returned to the "Great Fox", that wingman cannot help the player in the next mission, but returns after that. If kept in the game, each character can provide support for Fox. For example, Slippy can show the life bar of a boss character, Peppy can provide useful in-game tips at points and Falco can help open up routes to harder levels.

Among "Star Fox 64"'s features is the in-game sampled voice speech that replaced the chatter from the original game. However, the original chatter, referred to as "Lylat" in the language option-screen, can be enabled in the PAL version, though the feature is not in the Japanese and American NTSC versions. The game relies much more heavily on dialogue than the original, and together with the cinematic sequences, they drive the story forward. This dialogue has also become the target of parody in recent years, especially some of Peppy Hare's instructions such as "Do a barrel roll!"Fact|date=December 2007.

Instead of the fixed series of levels of the original (determined by the difficulty level chosen), many of the levels branch out to two and sometimes three different levels, with the "upper" branch requiring the player to accomplish a certain task. If the task is completed, the end of the level will read "Mission Accomplished". However, if this task is not achieved, the ending will read "Mission Complete", and the player must take the "downward" route. The levels correspond loosely to the difficulty levels of the original "Star Fox", with routes color coded blue, yellow, and red to represent the easy, normal, and hard levels of difficulty respectively. There are a total of 25 different routes the player can take through the game. Each path brings the Star Fox team into contact with Star Wolf, a nemesis squadron originally slated to appear in the unreleased "Star Fox 2".

Finally, to add replay challenge, the game features awardable "medals", which are earned by accomplishing a mission with all wingmen intact and having achieved a certain hit total. These totals are often a high percentage of the total enemies on the stage, leaving little room for error. Obtaining medals results in unlocking bonus features, such as a sound test and the ability to use the Landmaster tank and fight on foot in multiplayer mode. Acquiring all medals unlocks a new "Expert" mode in which there are more enemies per level, the player's Arwing takes more damage (a single direct collision with solid obstacles will destroy either one of the Arwing's wings and rid the player of any laser upgrades), and Fox wears sunglasses similar to his father's. Acquiring all medals on Expert mode unlocks a new title screen for the game; a medal on Venom in Expert mode allows players to use the Star Fox team as foot soldiers in multiplayer mode.

The score counter for single-player mode will not exceed 511 per level, limiting player score potential.

Multiplayer

"Star Fox 64" features multiplayer support for up to four players simultaneously. At first users can only choose to play using the Arwing spaceship, but by earning certain medals in Story Mode, players can choose the Landmaster tank, or the ability to play as the pilot on foot. Unlike the main game, only one laser upgrade and one smart bomb is provided, given to the first player to pick it up (players start with single lasers and no smart bombs); thus, players cannot upgrade to hyper lasers, although players can upgrade to twin lasers, and can only carry a maximum of one smart bomb at a time. Notably, multiplayer is the only place where players can use a Landmaster with upgraded lasers.

Vehicles

The Arwing is the primary craft used by the Star Fox team. It is a spacecraft armed with one standard laser (which can be upgraded to twin or hyper lasers) and is capable of firing smart Bombs which help clear the area of enemy craft. The Arwing's laser can also lock on to enemies and fire a charged-up blast that damages nearby enemies as well. The Arwing can now perform somersaults and U-turns (U-turns are only available in all-range mode); and still retains its laser-reflecting barrel rolls. The Arwing can also use its boost meter to perform three special moves to avoid collisions and get the drop on pursuers: boost, brake, and the aforementioned somersault.

A tank-like vehicle called the Landmaster is only used on two levels in the entire game, MacBeth and Titania. The Landmaster has one standard laser, which can be upgraded to twin lasers. Like the Arwing, the Landmaster can do a barrel roll, fire Smart Bombs, and lock on to enemies with its lasers. The barrel roll performed by the Landmaster, however, is used only as an evasionary tactic because it does not deflect lasers. The Landmaster can hover a short while in addition to being able to perform a boost.

The Blue Marine, a submarine designed by Slippy Toad, can only be used on Aquas, which houses a primarily aquatic environment. The Blue Marine has one standard laser which can be upgraded to twin or hyper lasers, and also has an unlimited supply of torpedoes which not only damage enemies but also allow the player to see when there is limited light. The torpedoes can also lock on to enemies just as the charged up lasers can in the other vehicles.

Story

While the plot of "Star Fox 64" is largely the same as the plot of the original "Star Fox", "Star Fox 64" goes into more detail about the storyline. The events of this game are known as the Lylat Wars, named after the game's European title. Strange activity is spotted on the planet Venom, part of the Lylat system, where the evil scientist Andross has been exiled. [ Five years later, General Pepper notices strange activity coming from Venom. ("Star Fox 64")] The governing planet, Corneria, sends the Star Fox team to investigate. They consist of pilots James McCloud, Peppy Hare, and Pigma Dengar. After arriving at Venom, Pigma betrays the team, causing James and Peppy to be captured by Andross. Peppy barely escapes Venom, but James does not return. Peppy returned home to tell James' son Fox about his father's fate.

Sometime later, Andross launches an attack across the Lylat system and a new Star Fox team, consisting of Fox McCloud (the player), Falco Lombardi, Peppy Hare, and Slippy Toad, is sent to investigate. [General Pepper: We need your help Star Fox! Andross has declared war! He’s invaded the Lylat System and is trying to take over Corneria! Our army alone can’t do the job, hurry Star Fox! ("Star Fox 64")] After battling their way through several stages, including planets and asteroid fields, and defeating their rivals Star Wolf (Wolf O'Donnell, Leon Powalski, Pigma Dengar, and Andrew Oikonny), Star Fox reaches Venom and defeats Andross. Afterwards, General Pepper asks the members of the team to become members of the Cornerian army, but they decline the offer. [General Pepper: Star Fox, we are in your debt. I would be honored to have you as a part of the Cornerian--
Fox: " [interrupting Pepper] " Oh no, Sir. We prefer doing things our own way. ("Star Fox 64")]

If Venom is approached from Bolse, a false, robotic Andross serves as the final boss, and at the end of the credits Andross' laugh is heard and his head is seen, indicating that he is still alive, hence a bad ending. If Venom is approached from Area 6, when Andross' face is destroyed, he reveals his true self: a floating brain with two floating eyes. After defeating the brain, James McCloud, Fox's father, appears and shows Fox the way out. When he narrowly escapes, they return to Corneria for a victory celebration. When they are offered membership into the Cornerian Army, Fox and his team decline, preferring to "do things their own way." Upon leaving, a credit sequence featuring the team running across a sunset background, with the Great Fox rising up from over the horizon is shown. The credits end with the Great Fox and the Star Fox team flying off in their Arwings into the skies.

After the credits, there is a bill from Star Fox which presents the number of enemies killed and multiplies it by 64, resulting in the amount of money due. General Pepper receives a statement based on the price (which varies from the number of enemies killed). If the price is below $70,000 (1093 or fewer enemies killed) he will say, "This is one steep bill....but it's worth it." The second thing he says, if the price is over $70,000, is, in a rather shocked tone, "Whaat?!" Then the player presses a button to stamp the bill, thus bringing the player back to the Main Menu.

Reception

VG Reviews
Allgame = Rating|4.5|5cite web | title=Star Fox 64 > Overview| publisher=All Game Guide | url=http://www.allgame.com/cg/agg.dll?p=agg&sql=1:20633 | accessdate=2007-01-07]
IGN = 8.7 of 10cite web | url=http://uk.ign64.ign.com/articles/150/150419p1.html |title=IGN: Star Fox 64 Review | work=IGN | accessdate=2008-03-27]
EGM =
Fam = 36 of 40Fact|date=March 2008
GSpot = 8.3 of 10
Edge = 9 of 10 [cite web | title = Edge Online | publisher = Edge Online | url=http://www.edge-online.co.uk/edgedb/search.php?gamename=star+fox+64&x=0&y=0 | accessdate=2006-07-24] |
compilation = yes|
GR = nowrap|90% (based on 13 reviews) [cite web | title=Star Fox 64 reviews | publisher=Gamerankings | url=http://www.gamerankings.com/htmlpages2/198759.asp | accessdate=2006-07-24]
MC = nowrap|88 of 100 (based on 16 reviews)cite web | title=Star Fox 64 Reviews | publisher=metacritic.com | url=http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/n64/starfox64 | accessdate=2006-07-24] Acclaimed by many reviewers, "Star Fox 64" received critical acclaim and was one of the top-selling games of 1997, second only to "Mario Kart 64". [cite book | author=Famighetti, Robert | title=The World Almanac and Book of Facts | publisher=World Almanac Books | year=Nov 1, 1998 | id=ISBN 0-88687-832-2] In the first five days of the game's U.S. launch, over 300,000 copies were sold, surpassing the record previously held by "Mario Kart 64" and "Super Mario 64". [cite web | title=Star Fox Paves Record Breaking Path | publisher=ign.com | url=http://ign64.ign.com/articles/061/061078p1.html | accessdate=2006-07-24] Sales were considerably less in Japan, where it sold 75,595 copies during the first week of sale. [cite web | title=N-sider.com: Star Fox 64 | publisher=n-sider.com | url=http://www.n-sider.com/gameview.php?gameid=44 | accessdate=2006-07-24] The game also took the #73 spot in "Nintendo Power's" "Top 200 Nintendo Games Ever"Citation|year=February 2006| title=NP Top 200|periodical=Nintendo Power|volume=200|pages=58-66.] GameSpot noted that "Star Fox 64" is "an instant classic" and was impressed by the voice acting. Glenn Rubenstein, the reviewer, noted that the game is "a pleasure to look at" and liked the cinematic quality of the storyline. Although other reviewers such as IGN said that the game is "extremely repetitive" and that the music quality was not as good as the original "Star Fox", they still praised the branching system and "intelligently designed levels" which compensate for those points.

"Star Fox 64" toys were included with doll, however failed to do it.

The recent review on VC paints a similar picture on Gamespot. It earns a (7.6/10), praising for simple, enjoyable shooting gameplay, lots of voice-acting, nice to look at despite its graphic age and finding hidden paths adds replay value. [ [http://au.gamespot.com/wii/action/starfox64/review.html Star Fox 64 for Wii Review - Wii Star Fox 64 Review ] ]

References

External links

* [http://web.archive.org/web/20011127075047/http://starfox64.com/ Official website] (archive)