Star Fox Command Review

By Keza MacDonald Published 11 September, 2006

Nope. Nothing like Lylat Wars.

Version tested: DS

Considering the natural freedom of touch-screen control, it's surprising that there haven't been more flight-based games on the DS. It's been crying out for a Pilotwings since day one (Freedom Wings, the only real flight game released thus far for the system, hardly fills the void). A proper Star Fox, though - a gorgeous, unforgiving, explosive, on-rails and above all flight-based Star Fox, not this Adventures and Assault nonsense - would surely be the next-best thing. Memories of the quirky and delightful Lylat Wars have encouraged me to really look forward to Star Fox DS; of all the N64 ports that have mysteriously failed to materialise on the DS, Lylat Wars must surely be near the top of the world's Most Wanted list.

Unfortunately Star Fox Command is nothing like Lylat Wars. Well, almost nothing. It has all the same characters in it and is still a space shooter, but it's not on-rails and it has none of the personality. Somewhat appropriately, it begins by systematically assassinating all of the characters that have ever appeared in Star Fox games, sending them off to get married or become military commanders or form their own squadrons or, in the case of Adventures' Krystal (who for some bizarre reason has become a brazen hussy for Star Fox Command and frequently switches romantic allegiance), run off with a member of the infamous Star Wolf team, leaving Fox McCloud broken-hearted and alone. As the game runs its course, the Star Fox team is brought back together in the face of a common enemy, whose troops are threatening the Lylat System once again. Without wanting to ruin what little story there is, this enemy isn't very impressive, but next to Lylat Wars' creepily disembodied tyrant lurking at the end of a series of claustrophobic tunnels on a deserted planet, we doubt that any foe would seem all that awe-inspiring.

'Star Fox Command' Screenshot 1

If only we could say the same.

Anyway, that's enough talking about Lylat Wars. That's the last time it will be mentioned for at least a paragraph. Structurally, Command is more a strategy game than anything else. Each mission presents you with a map, upon which several enemy clusters and a few bases usually lurk, sometimes behind fog of war (easily dispersed with the stylus). The Great Fox mothership sits in a corner, and Fox and whichever allies he has accrued typically deploy there at the start of a mission. By drawing routes for the little spaceships you determine where they will end up at the end of each turn, and consequently which enemies they will engage. At the end of each turn there's a little battle sequence where you take control of the characters directly and fight off aggressors in an Arwing, collecting the 'cores' of key enemies as they are defeated. Typically, an area will be absolutely packed with various foes and it will be necessary to defeat only a certain number; shooting extra ships out of the air leads to bigger scores, but a little timer at the top of the screen is always counting down, usually necessitating a quick exit from any given battlefield as opposed to a full-blown clearout.

The battle sequences are undoubtedly the highlight. A triumphant glimpse of Star Fox games past, they are deft and action-packed and the touch-based control is perfectly intuitive. The balance between the restriction of the timer and the allure of higher scores, too, is excellent, with just the right element of risk and reward to encourage you to do more than the bare minimum in battle.

Unfortunately there are only three types of battle, which over five or six hours of single-player game really isn't enough; it quickly becomes boring. You're either shooting down a certain number of enemies, blowing up a base (which is exactly the same as shooting down a certain number of enemies, except you have to fly through some beacons at the end), or tracking a missile (which is exactly the same beacon-following exercise as blowing up a base, except without the excitement of shooting things up a bit as a precursor).

'Star Fox Command' Screenshot 2

Somehow, we doubt that.

For the first few missions, Star Fox Command is exciting. But you quickly come to realise that every single mission is exactly the same, and throughout the game's short duration you're doing precisely the same thing again and again and again with different surroundings and different-looking enemies. These different locations are certainly pretty and retain Lylat Wars' quirky visual style, but the landscapes are all depressingly bland; they're nothing more than arenas. You won't be flying through waterfalls and columns here, or spinning under and over asteroids, or risking a narrow passage in pursuit of a power-up, or searching for deliciously subtle alternative routes through levels. You won't be targeting enemies in the middle of a chain either, as the superb multiplier system that made Lylat Wars such a difficult game to master has been abandoned entirely; points are now based simply on kills.

All of this makes Star Fox Command a bit of a shallow experience. This isn't helped by the awful dialogue that pops up between missions. Aside from the occasional transparent in-joke about the hateful Slippy the Toad , it's completely devoid of either imagination or subtlety. Perhaps subtlety is generally too much to ask of a videogame story, but the horrible, tortured, completely superficial romance between Fox and Krystal sets new standards of arbitrariness in game dialogue and the reunion scenes between Fox and his various old squad-mates lack any sense of significance whatsoever (they're all along the lines of "Hey Fox!" "Falco, you're late!" "Yeah, sorry!" "That's OK! ROB, Set course for Corneria."). The story might as well not be there, it seems so very shallow and irrelevant; like a casting call of Star Fox characters and nothing more. Once you've completed the game once, you gain the right to follow alternative routes in the story, but you'll only be doing so to see a few new (identical) missions - the story sadly provides no incentive whatsoever.

Viewed alongside Other Games Of Its Kind, Star Fox Command isn't bad at all. The combat itself is well handled and exciting at first, although it does become repetitive, and nothing about it is particularly frustrating or deficient. Placed in the context of the Star Fox series, however, it is profoundly disappointing. It lacks Lylat Wars' balleticism, subtle difficulty curve and queer beauty, and its dialogue and plot really are extraordinarily bad. If this wasn't stamped with the Star Fox brand, though, none of that would matter nearly as much (and besides, this is at least better than Star Fox Assault). Star Fox Command is not what most of us wanted Star Fox DS to be, but it is a competent if unvaried space combat game. And if that's all you want, I don't suppose you'd find it particularly offensive.

6 / 10

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About Keza MacDonald

Read more articles from Keza by visiting the Keza MacDonald archive page.

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Comments (43) Latest comment 5 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • kincaide #1 6 years ago

    I imported this, and wasn't too impressed either. Chucking it on ebay later today.
    Found the strategy part of the gameplay too trial and error, and the flying part not fluid enough, with enemies popping up as you get right close up to them, etc.

    Don't get me wrong, it is kind of enoyable, but now I have Lego Star Wars II on the DS, this simply won't get played

  • JohnnyWashnGo #2 6 years ago

    Oh dear :(

  • Tiger_Walts #3 6 years ago

    'balleticism'

    Is that even a real word?

  • Steroyd #4 6 years ago

    Unfortunately Star Fox Command is nothing like Lylat Wars.

    Jesus Christ it's not that hard to imitate Lylat wars, this sounds like the game was shoehorned into using the stylus come on Ninty you're killing one of my favourite series.

    All the other series have made that nice transition to the gamecube and DS but Star Fox has gone to the crapper ever since. :(

  • Dizzy #5 6 years ago

    Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

    Damn I had such high hopes for this one.

    /scratches off list

  • Huntcjna #6 6 years ago

    Well I have had it for a couple of weeks now and I bloody loved it! I admit it can be a bit marmite if your not a fan of the stratergy element but its tight, well put together, online is good and its fun to play.

    Thats all I ask of a DS game really, gets an 8 in my book.

  • Xerx3s #7 6 years ago

    :\

  • AcidSnake #8 6 years ago

    Could someone please list the jokes made at Slippy's expense?
    He deserves them...
    Amphibian freak...

  • FooAtari #9 6 years ago

    Was this developed in-house?

    Oh well, for some reason I never expected it to be that great.

  • Huntcjna #10 6 years ago

    The review's pretty poor to be honest it doesn't mention the online mode (which is excellent) and seems hung up on how its not Lylat wars. Well as much as I loved Lylat war's I would have been a pretty pissed off gamer if they had just ported it to the DS and charged me £30 to play it again.

    In a way I can understand the reviewer's problems with the story arc (which is thin at best) but it just seems like impatience and lack of love for the stratergy/action mix which really promotes the score.

    Im still sticking with my 8. :)

  • JetSetWilly #11 6 years ago

    Quite a contrast to the IGN review.

  • joey #12 6 years ago

    I too am glad it's not a port of the N64 game.

    While I have issues with the game, for a quick blast it is great, and the download play is just what a handheld dogfight should be, quick, simple and fun.

    Think 6 is fair, it's a good, well made, fun game. Not a classic, but it does drag the SF game back towards space combat. I imported the US version for about £20, which is about what it worth.

  • Aretak #13 6 years ago

    "I loved Lylat war's I would have been a pretty pissed off gamer if they had just ported it to the DS and charged me £30 to play it again."

    But would you have been happy if they'd developed a considered and refined sequel to Lylat Wars, retaining the excellent gameplay and narrative offered by said title?

  • djchump #14 6 years ago

    I think it's pretty good fun. Not setting the world on fire for originality and diversity, but still a very competent little game.
    The nice flying controls on the touchscreen give me hope that "DS Air" will be a decent dogfighting game :-)

  • smelly #15 6 years ago

    meh - never did like starfox.

  • dr_zoidthrob #16 6 years ago

    @ kincaide

    What's Lego SW II like on the DS?

  • Azazel #17 6 years ago

    Lylat Wars - sounds like some kind of tampon battle.

  • Chtulie #18 6 years ago

    "this sounds like the game was shoehorned into using the stylus"

    Controls aren't the issue. In fact they're quite, veyr good.
    It's the lack of rails and the presence of online multiplayer that makes it diffirent from the N64 version and causes troubles.

    Funny enough, it the beginning of the DS' life, it was the prospect of nothing but N64 ports (like the SNES ports that marked the early days of the GBA) that caused untold dread.

  • Jesus: Action Figure #19 6 years ago

    Multiplayer has been keeping myself and work colleagues hooked for days now.

    Until we played Bomberman DS =P

  • kincaide #20 6 years ago

    @dr_zoidthrob

    Check here:
    http://ww w.eurogamer.net/forum_thread_po...

  • dr_zoidthrob #21 6 years ago

    Thanks, I missed that!

  • faux_carnation #22 6 years ago

    bah...I was looking forward to this till I found out that all the battles were arena-based. review confirms my ambivalence.

  • SlackMaster #23 6 years ago

    I imported and wasn't all that impressed... Didn't expect the game to shove you into a tiny sandbox then when combat is finished move back to a grid and turn based movement.

    Was hoping for something similar or better than Starfox 64 but this isn't a patch on it.

  • Freek #24 6 years ago

    Come on Nintendo, Lylat Wars 2 for the Wii. On rails, no shitty on foot sections, (and if you have to) one bonus level with another vehicle. Simpel.
    You failed this much at making a decent StarFox game, you're bound to get it right at some point.

  • Flojomojo #25 6 years ago

    I'm disappointed at all the people calling for a Lylat Wars/Starfox 64 remake. I like the fact that Nintendo tried something a little different with this game, and it's great fun for what it is -- a unique action/strategy hybrid with great graphics and decent online play. It would have been neat to have one of the old games stuck in there as a bonus, but if that had been the meat of the game, I suspect we'd be hearing cries of "cash-in!" and "milking."

    This game has gotten me thinking that X-Wing and TIE Fighter could be ported over to the DS without losing much. Even the simple smooth-shaded 3D graphics would look sweet on the DS top screen, while the bottom screen could be used for analog control, ship settings, tactical maps, etc.

  • zErOb_cOOl #26 6 years ago

    "Nope. Nothing like Lylat Wars."

    Shame.

  • jmctavish #27 6 years ago

    The score isn't a surprise. As soon as I saw some footage of this I knew it would be cack. It's a shame because I thought the SNES and N64 games were genius.

  • AdamWest #28 6 years ago

    Was this developed in-house?

    Yeah, it was made by some of the guys that did the first Starfox game even.

  • Sid-Nice #29 6 years ago

    I got this on import and I think it has some of the best Balleticism ever see in a handheld game. :)

  • rider2006 #30 6 years ago

    I was looking forward for this game to get a brilliant score, may get this game now when it's on sale.

  • Chtulie #31 6 years ago

    "Yeah, it was made by some of the guys that did the first Starfox game even."

    As 1up has pointed out, it has a lot of similarities to the eventually canned SNES starfox 2.

  • JSD124 #32 6 years ago

    Any chance of a separate multiplayer review then?

  • dudefella #33 6 years ago

    I'd actually buy Lylat Wars ported to the DS. It's a great on-the-go game, and it's still immensely fun these days, it's aged more gracefully than any other N64 title bar the Zelda games imo.

  • The_Silhouette #34 6 years ago

    this game works for me just because its on a portable. the strategy adds a bit, the combat is for the most part excellent, and any repetition is mostly cancelled by the "pick up and play" nature of the ds. I'm thinking 6 is a tad low for a score, especially without a proper review of the online play. Honestly that's all mario kart is good for once you're past the single player, so why the sudden focus on campaign?

  • Nikanoru #35 6 years ago

    As 1up has pointed out, it has a lot of similarities to the eventually canned SNES starfox 2.


    Ah, that explains why it's not much good then. Starfox 2 sucks balls.

  • Chtulie #36 6 years ago

    Starfox 2 wasn't finished either.

    And to another comment:
    If there's an analogue option, or an analogue like option, why use digital anyways? Would you prefer controlling Lylat Wars with the N64's d-pad rather then the analogue stick?

  • Venkman90 #37 6 years ago

    If this was a PSP game of the same magnitude (a big Nintendo franchise) it would be rife with "PSP is teh d00med" etc...

    I ebay'd my DSlite and havent missed it much, at least im not missing a good starfox game

  • Bea #38 6 years ago

    I've been playing for almost 2 weeks and it's really grown on me. Not that I hated it to begin with, but there is real depth to the action and strategy. Where at first you're struggling with the controls, later it becomes very immersive as you're spinning through laser shots, blowing through a map of dozens of enemies in a blissful moment of ringing, blasting, and buzzing (if you have a rumble pack, there are some cool effects there too.)

    The stylus is more precise than analog/buttons controls, giving the action quickness and freedom unlike any console shooter I've played. The strategy part is really genius as levels rarely pan out the same on repeat, playing like a simplified Advanced Wars without the grid.
    Edited by 1 at 12/09/06 @ 04:40

  • LennyZero #39 6 years ago

    SFC isn't too bad - but I'd rather of had a game where you go through level to level, rather than jumping in and out of battles.

    I gave it a 7.

  • Bill_Gates_Bitch #40 6 years ago

    so..another shite game on the ds then. ;)

  • melw #41 6 years ago

    Hmm yeah, I'd like to hear also comments about multiplayer - the game sounds just like Mario Kart, single player is short fun and multiplayer is where the real thing is. Still not sure if I'm going to get this or not, please share your experiences!

  • AcidSnake #42 6 years ago

    What are it's multiplayer details?
    Not the score, but how many players can link up with a single game for instance?
    And what are the restrictions?

    I don't think my friends would buy it, but with a single game linking to some of them I'd be able to get a few multiplayer games going

  • jgoreham #43 5 years ago

    I just bought this before I came to England, and I'm having a ball with Star Fox Command. I think it's really fun, and that the control scheme is fairly intuitive. I'm so thankful that there are no stupid 'on foot' missions. The review here is very contrary to a lot of the reviews I've read in magazines like Game Informer and websites like 1up and IGN, and I rather agree with those guys, so I'm very curious to see if gamers and reviewers in Europe just have a different attitude than we do in North America.