Miyahon
05-22-2004, 12:19 AM
http://img5.photobucket.com/albums/v22/myahon/titlescreen.jpg
Okay so you are all asking your self "Why is he reviewing a game that is almost a decade old?" Because I just got it. And because no one else here has played it. I know why too. IT WAS NEVER RELEASED IN JAPAN OR ANYWERE!
The only way I am reviewing it is through this Beta copy. It's glitchier than an E-machine running Windows ME. It is intended for testers or it was in 1995. How did I get my grubby mits on it? I sold my soul to Bowser. any way lets get down to business.
We all know this game has a LOT to live up to. Starfox 1 was revolutionary. This takes it to the next level. And you'll notice a lot of ideas were harvested from this never released game that ended up in Starfox 64 (the walker became the tank, the charge-up shot, the 360 degree arena, the Great fox got a redesign, and the characters did too, don't you recognize some of them?)
http://img5.photobucket.com/albums/v22/myahon/select.jpg
you all heard rumours of the death of Slippy, unfortunately its not true you can even play as him.
Oh that reminds me the Great Fox has two bay doors in this game
http://img5.photobucket.com/albums/v22/myahon/greatfox.jpg
From the second this game opens and you see a metal dragon (known as the mirage dragon) destroy the great fox and eat an arwing you know your in for a ride. Then you start playing and realize there is a turn based overworld.
It opens with a big disaster, a laser has destroyed part of corneria, and Andorf is back, yeah they call him andorf here must be a japanese thing. (not a missprint, the end credits are the only part in english)
many of the levels pit you with turn based missiles flying at your base, and you trying to fight enemys. In typical RPG fashion the screen fades into battle. But battle here is more of a mix between Starfox 1 and a primitive Starlancer. By the way you must defeat the enemy in range in a hurry or risk them running out of range. If this was released in 1995 it would have blown minds. Also in typical RPG fashion you control multiple characters at the turn based part. you select them at the select screen.
http://img5.photobucket.com/albums/v22/myahon/turnscreen.jpg
Then they give you thumbs up and in a brilliant burst of graphics not seen again until the N64 you are off.
So with all this Over-world elements how does the regular game play? SPECTACULAR! The graphics (despite the awful short draw distance) are even better than Starfox 1.
Check the molten world of Macbeth for your self.
http://img5.photobucket.com/albums/v22/myahon/macbeth.jpg
So no surprises yet? How about that the arwing whenever near land or sea can transform into a MECH! Which is integral to gameplay as sometimes you have to transorm over a ship and land the walker on it. (In fact most levels have a puzzle were you must use the walker to set off switches)
http://img5.photobucket.com/albums/v22/myahon/walker.jpg
But how does it all play? Surprisingly well especailly on Fortuna which is my personal fave. that splash is from fish that jump in and out of the water by the way, yeah I was surprised too. and don't worry your mech/arwing is water proof. (I love the 360 degree arena levels)
http://img5.photobucket.com/albums/v22/myahon/fortuna.bmp
It runs very smoothly at 15 to 20 frames per second which is as good as starfox 1. All in all it rules. And would make a beutiful GBA port if they could fix that draw distance. (especailly when inside ships in which it becomes a major chore not to wreck) And you go inside ships a lot more in this one too.
I'm sorry to say I have yet to beat it (or understnad the plot as I don't speak Japanese)
all in all
Graphics 9/10 (draw distance dropped it a notch)
Sound 10/10 (the midi reminded me of a sci-fi Zelda constantley)
Gameplay 10/10 (in most parts but keep in mind this is more varied than Mario Party)
Wow factor 9/10 ('nuff said)
And with that let me ride off into the sunset
http://img5.photobucket.com/albums/v22/myahon/sunset.jpg
so does anyone else get the irony of me reviewing a beta testers version of a game and posting it in beta testing?
Okay so you are all asking your self "Why is he reviewing a game that is almost a decade old?" Because I just got it. And because no one else here has played it. I know why too. IT WAS NEVER RELEASED IN JAPAN OR ANYWERE!
The only way I am reviewing it is through this Beta copy. It's glitchier than an E-machine running Windows ME. It is intended for testers or it was in 1995. How did I get my grubby mits on it? I sold my soul to Bowser. any way lets get down to business.
We all know this game has a LOT to live up to. Starfox 1 was revolutionary. This takes it to the next level. And you'll notice a lot of ideas were harvested from this never released game that ended up in Starfox 64 (the walker became the tank, the charge-up shot, the 360 degree arena, the Great fox got a redesign, and the characters did too, don't you recognize some of them?)
http://img5.photobucket.com/albums/v22/myahon/select.jpg
you all heard rumours of the death of Slippy, unfortunately its not true you can even play as him.
Oh that reminds me the Great Fox has two bay doors in this game
http://img5.photobucket.com/albums/v22/myahon/greatfox.jpg
From the second this game opens and you see a metal dragon (known as the mirage dragon) destroy the great fox and eat an arwing you know your in for a ride. Then you start playing and realize there is a turn based overworld.
It opens with a big disaster, a laser has destroyed part of corneria, and Andorf is back, yeah they call him andorf here must be a japanese thing. (not a missprint, the end credits are the only part in english)
many of the levels pit you with turn based missiles flying at your base, and you trying to fight enemys. In typical RPG fashion the screen fades into battle. But battle here is more of a mix between Starfox 1 and a primitive Starlancer. By the way you must defeat the enemy in range in a hurry or risk them running out of range. If this was released in 1995 it would have blown minds. Also in typical RPG fashion you control multiple characters at the turn based part. you select them at the select screen.
http://img5.photobucket.com/albums/v22/myahon/turnscreen.jpg
Then they give you thumbs up and in a brilliant burst of graphics not seen again until the N64 you are off.
So with all this Over-world elements how does the regular game play? SPECTACULAR! The graphics (despite the awful short draw distance) are even better than Starfox 1.
Check the molten world of Macbeth for your self.
http://img5.photobucket.com/albums/v22/myahon/macbeth.jpg
So no surprises yet? How about that the arwing whenever near land or sea can transform into a MECH! Which is integral to gameplay as sometimes you have to transorm over a ship and land the walker on it. (In fact most levels have a puzzle were you must use the walker to set off switches)
http://img5.photobucket.com/albums/v22/myahon/walker.jpg
But how does it all play? Surprisingly well especailly on Fortuna which is my personal fave. that splash is from fish that jump in and out of the water by the way, yeah I was surprised too. and don't worry your mech/arwing is water proof. (I love the 360 degree arena levels)
http://img5.photobucket.com/albums/v22/myahon/fortuna.bmp
It runs very smoothly at 15 to 20 frames per second which is as good as starfox 1. All in all it rules. And would make a beutiful GBA port if they could fix that draw distance. (especailly when inside ships in which it becomes a major chore not to wreck) And you go inside ships a lot more in this one too.
I'm sorry to say I have yet to beat it (or understnad the plot as I don't speak Japanese)
all in all
Graphics 9/10 (draw distance dropped it a notch)
Sound 10/10 (the midi reminded me of a sci-fi Zelda constantley)
Gameplay 10/10 (in most parts but keep in mind this is more varied than Mario Party)
Wow factor 9/10 ('nuff said)
And with that let me ride off into the sunset
http://img5.photobucket.com/albums/v22/myahon/sunset.jpg
so does anyone else get the irony of me reviewing a beta testers version of a game and posting it in beta testing?