Starfox 64 3D (3DS) Review

Starfox 64 3D is Nintendo’s second updated Nintendo 64 game for the Nintendo 3DS in a matter of months. For a Nintendo 64 nutter like me, this has been a great time. Don’t get me wrong, I would have loved some new games (hell any games on the 3DS) but Ocarina of Time? Lylat Wars? Sure why not! But it’s been a long time since 1997, so how does Starfox 64 3D hold up in the modern era and on a completely new platform? Have Nintendo and Q-Games done it justice? Short answer? Yes.

It’s a cliché and I’m pretty sure I used it in my Zelda review, but Starfox 64 3D is going to be two games to people. It’s either going to be a fantastic revamped nostalgia trip or a great and weird funky little space shooter. One thing for sure is that you’re guaranteed to have fun no matter who you are.

In Starfox you play as Fox McCloud, leader of the Star Fox team. The team consisting of Falco, Peppy and Slippy have been called up stop the evil Andross who has decided to attack most of the Lylat system for revenge after being outcast to Venom. The story is mostly there to guide you from shooting up one good looking locale to another, but its a good way to drive the action. The entire game is voiced out and mostly told through talking heads on the bottom screen, although there’s a couple of cool cut scenes which have been all redone.

So you’ve got the great base that is Starfox 64 and a 3DS, how do you combine the two together? First off, you bump up the graphics to a more acceptable modern standard and throw in 3D. There’s not much to say about the 3D, it’s used in a very subdued manner and while adding nice ‘space’ to the game, it is not all that exciting. The graphics in general though have been spit and polished with new backgrounds, updated world details, effects and tweaks, along with upgrades to the characters. It’s just a whole lot tidier.

The game plays out much the same as it did on the Nintendo 64. Depending on how you do in levels and what little secret (and not so secret) moves you can do, you’ll follow a branching path across the system. You’ll probably breeze through and the finish the game in one sitting but there’s much more to see. The multiple paths will keep you coming back a few times at least. Every level also keeps a track of how many kills you get with leaderboards built into the game. If the game actually feels a little easy and short, it’s because it actually is.

Starfox 64 3D isn’t a huge epic game in length, even on the harder expert mode you can unlock by fulfilling certain requirements. The games difficulty has three ‘settings’ though it’s not as simple as easy, medium or hard. There’s a N64 and 3DS mode. 3DS mode features a slightly tweaked challenge (not that I really noticed it) and allows full gyroscope and stick controls. N64 mode is exactly the same as the N64 version and has none of that fancy motion controls. In Nintendo 64 you can’t even choose between them, only in 3DS mode. Expert mode ramps up the difficulty in the same way as the Nintendo 64 version did.

So how about those motion controls? Surely, being motion controls they suck right? Well, no. Honestly, they’re quite awesome and it doesn’t take too long for you to be able to perform as proficiently as the gyro controls as you can on the stick. You can even hit a button to reset the ‘neutral spot’ on them so you can adjust on the fly. Playing this mode in 3D is possible, but you’ll have to follow Nintendo’s instructions and ‘move with the system’ to keep the 3D effect.

The Arwing is still a beauty to control whether you use the motion controls or not, It’s slick and fast and you can just point it where you need it and shoot no matter how you play. The circle pad is way better than the Nintendo 64 stick ever was. The Landmaster and the Aqua Marine return in their special levels and work great on the new stick too, although most of the action is in the Arwing.

In addition to the old fashioned story mode from the original game, there of course is the addition of the famous battle mode. It’s all single card so you don’t have to worry about your friends having the game. A new addition is the little live video feeds from other players cameras that show above the players. It’s really low resolution and has a slow framerate, but you can see the face of the person you shoot from the sky… even if they are in the same room as you. There is absolutely no online modes in the game which is disappointing, especially after Starfox Command had them on the Nintendo DS. It would have given the game just that little bit more value to the overall package had it featured it. There’s also a new level select mode which will let you play through any level you want again, which makes getting all those gold medals much much easier.

I touched on the graphics earlier but it’s worth mentioning again, this game is great looking in motion. It’s slick and fast and the lighting engine when there’s laser bits and explosions all over the screen just looking gorgeous. Levels like Fichina are floating with snow and look atmospheric, it’s not just fog on that planet anymore. Solar and Aquas have received a great revamp with the latter’s field of view much improved, it looks great under the water. Each of the levels look very true to the Nintendo 64 versions but feel much better.

The game’s soundtrack is iconic as ever with all the tunes you remember back and in pretty much untouched condition, what has been changed is the voice overs for all the characters. All of the voice work has been recorded with pretty much the same script being used, it’s not a bad job but it just sounds ‘different’. Falco, for one sounds even less enthusiastic to be there, but at least Slippy is still annoying. Classic lines though for the most part remain similar, so yes – do a barrel roll, use the boost to get through. But Star Wolf sounds like a total tosser, well more of one.

Starfox 64 3D is a great little package, it’s based off a short game to start with and Nintendo hasn’t added too much to the package to make it any more robust this time around. Simple things like online are left out but what’s there is very good. Nintendo 64 fans will play through the whole game and just feel ‘off’ with the voice acting, but if you haven’t played the original, you won’t even get what I’m talking about.

Graphics 8.5

Great looking graphics, solid framerate and a look that stays authentic to the original without looking old. 3D is there just to look pretty. But boy does it look pretty!

Gameplay 9.0

Retains the classic path-structure for the single player but with tweaks in either N64 or 3DS versions. Gyro and slide pad controls are excellent. Play with what suits you.

Sound 7.5

That soundtrack is back, itll get you pumped right from the get go. The new voice acting may irritate you if youve played the original, but its not bad by all means.

Tilt 7.0

Its still a very short game that only gets longer if you choose to replay it in the different ways it offers. Local multiplayer only is disappointing. I guess I should be thankful.

Value 8.0

I loved Lylat Wars, Starfox 64 3D has allowed me to play it again with a great new look and feel in my bed. What could be wrong with that?

Overall

Nintendos second N64 remake is great, its a good game made even better by the new platform its on. This is no lazy port but they could have done more. Do a barrel roll into stores and pick it up. Now Nintendo, how about a new one?