Star Fox 64

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Star Fox 64, also known as Lylat Wars in Europe and Australia (due to trademark issues), is the second game in Nintendo's Star Fox series. It was released for the Nintendo 64 in 1997, and later ported to the China-only iQue in 2003.

The planned second game in the series for the SNES Star Fox 2, was scrapped, but a good deal of it was in Star Fox 64. Star Fox 64 was the first game to introduce support for the Rumble Pak"Star Fox 64 was the first game to feature Rumble Pak support." [GameSpy: Star Fox 64], GameSpy. URL last accessed 26 June 2006.. The game received very positive ratings from reviewers praising its smooth animation, detailed visuals, and use of multiple gameplay paths.[Star Fox 64 Reviews], GameRankings. URL last accessed 13 June 2006.[Star Fox 64 for Nintendo 64 Review], Gamespot.com. URL last accessed 13 June 2006. It was one of the top-selling games of 1997, second only to Mario Kart 64.

New features

Among the new features is the vastly hyped in-game sampled voice speech that has replaced the chatter from the original game. However, the original chatter referred to as Lylat in the language option-screen can be enabled. This feature is not available in the US-version of the game. The game relies much more heavily on dialogue than the original, and together with the cinematic sequences they drive the story forwards. This dialogue has also become the target of parody in recent years, especially the repetitive phrases of Peppy Hare.

Instead of the fixed series of levels of the original (determined by the difficulty level chosen), many of the levels branch out to two different levels, with the "upper" branch requiring the player to accomplish a certain task. If this task is not accomplished, then the player must take the "downward" route. The levels correspond loosely to the original difficulty levels, with routes colour coded blue, yellow and red to represent the easiest, medium and hardest levels of difficulty, respectively.

As well as the forced progression of the main game, some levels have an "all range mode", where the player can move freely around the rectangular arena, and engages in combat with various enemies. The Arwing has two new maneuvers as well: it can now perform a loop to get the drop on pursuing enemies, and, in all-range mode, it can Immelmann up-and-over to change direction (called a U-turn in the game.)

The game features the first appearance of the Star Wolf team, rivals of the Star Fox team, who were originally planned to be in the scrapped Star Fox 2.

Finally, to add replay challenge, the game features awardable "medals," which are earned by accomplishing a mission (not just surviving to the end of it) with all wingmen intact and having achieved a certain kill total (hits). These totals are often a high percentage of the total enemies on the stage, leaving little room for error. Obtaining medals would result in unlocking bonus features, such as a sound test and the ability to fight on tank and foot in multiplayer mode. Acquiring all medals would unlock a new "Expert" mode in which there were more enemies per level, the player's Arwing would take more damage (a direct collision with solid obstacles will destroy any of the Arwing's wings in one hit), and Fox would wear sunglasses similar to his father's; acquiring all medals on Expert mode would unlock a new title screen for the game.

Story

The wicked scientist Andross has been sent to exile on the deserted planet Venom, and one day strange activity is spotted from the planet, Corneria. An Arwing-team, the original Star Fox, consisting of Pigma Dengar, Peppy Hare, and led by James McCloud are sent to investigate. Upon their arrival, Pigma betrays the team and James and Peppy are captured by Andross. Peppy barely escaped, but James did not survive. Peppy then heads back to Corneria to tell James' son Fox about his father's fate. (Depending on the player's path, James' spirit (or possibly James himself) might be set free at the end of the game and he will help Fox escape from Venom.)

Upon learning the news of Pigma's betrayal a new Star Fox team is assembled consisting of Fox McCloud (the player), Falco Lombardi, Slippy Toad and Peppy Hare. Fox is the final hope of putting an end to Andross' madness and thereby securing the peace of the Lylat System.

A notable difference from the original game's story is that the Star Fox team, albeit being mercenaries in both games, already possess Arwings when they are called to help defend Corneria whereas in the original game they are recruited to act as pilots for the newly developed Arwings. However, in the Nintendo Power Official Player's Guide, the Arwings are referred to as four prototypes.

Multiplayer

The game features multiplayer support for up to four players simultaneously. Users can choose to play using either the Arwing spaceship, the Landmaster tank or as the pilot equipped with a bazooka. The two latter modes, however, have to be unlocked.

Stages

There are a total of sixteen stages in Star Fox 64; ten of these stages are planets, three of them are sectors, one of them is the asteroid field "Meteo" and two of them are Andross-controlled defense systems:

• Corneria: The governmental planet of the Lylat System. When the game begins, Corneria City is already under attack by Andross' forces. This is Starfox's homeworld. This level is well known for many hidden enemies.
• Meteo: An asteroid belt located near Corneria. It is one of two levels in the game that contains a warp zone for going to a different level. This is probably the longest level in the game.
• Fortuna: A frozen planet, home to a single large base facility, where a bomb has been planted. If the player takes the easy route, this is also the first level where the Star Wolf team is encountered. Any member of the Star Wolf team that gets defeated on Fortuna does not return for Bolse later on in the game (though they will return on Venom if the player takes the hard route.)
• Sector X: A sector full of space junk, rumoured to contain a base, as well as a secret weapon. This is the other of the two levels which contain warp zones. This is also the only level in the game that can take you to 3 different levels.
• Titania: A desert planet which can only be traversed via the Landmaster Tank. If Fox fails to prevent Slippy from being attacked by Spyborg in Sector X and subsequently stranded here, he has no choice but to travel there and rescue Slippy. Titania contains one of Andross' bio-weapons named Goras, which is keeping Slippy hostage.
• Bolse: A satellite that acts a defense system for Venom. It is possible for the Star Wolf team to show up here as well. Bolse has a complex enemy core which fights back more the closer it gets to being destroyed.
• Katina: A barren planet except for the Cornerian base, much like Fortuna. An assault force centred around an enormous mothership has been deployed by Andross to destroy the base. Bill Grey is encountered here. This is the level that can vary the most in the time taken for completion.
• Solar: Presumably the sun of the Lylat system, though it is depicted as being much smaller than most of the other bodies in the system. It is thought to be the home of a secret bio-weapon developed by Andross. Temperarures on Solar reach over 6000'C.
• Macbeth: A heavily-industrialized planet storing munitions for Andross' war effort, many of which are transported by the giant train the level is centered around. This level can go seemingly for ever, thus why it is called the forever train.
• Sector Y: An area of space which is the site of a ferocious battle between the Cornerian fleet and Andross' spacecraft. The Star Fox team have to stop as many of the enemies as possible from getting to Corneria. If they don't stop enough, they need to go to Katina to end the war and get help.
• Aquas: An ocean planet, thought to be home to another of Andross' bio-weapon projects. This is the only level where Fox can use the Blue Marine.
• Zoness: A terribly-polluted planet flooded by waste. Falco and Peppy's comments during the level imply the pollution is the result of deliberate action by Andross' forces. Katt Monroe is encountered here. Katt helps to destroy the searchlights that are there to spot intruders.
• Sector Z: Venom's "restricted space" sector, focal point of a missile defense system. The level is centered around the Great Fox, which must be protected from a series of missiles and enemy ships that have ambushed it.
• Area 6: A series of defensive lines that defend an access corridor to Venom. There are many mines there.
• Venom: The barren planet on which Andross's base is located; it appears to be the largest in the Lylat System. Andross dwells inside the core of the planet.

It should be noted that, while the above list contains only fifteen areas and nine planets, the planet Venom is actually two different stages (Venom 1 and Venom 2); visiting it from Bolse triggers an on-rails shooter level, whereas visiting from Area 6 triggers an all-range-mode level where Star Fox must battle Star Wolf in their new form.

Vehicles

• Arwing — The primary craft used by the Star Fox team in the game, the Arwing is a spaceship armed with one standard laser (which can be upgraded to twin or hyper lasers) and is capable of firing Nova Bombs which help clear the area of enemy craft.Though the Nova Bombs aren't as effective in all-range places such as Katina
• Landmaster — A tank-like vehicle, the Landmaster is only used on two levels in the entire game. The Landmaster has one standard laser, which can only be upgraded to twin lasers in multiplayer mode. Like the Arwing, the Landmaster can also fire Nova Bombs.
• Blue Marine — This recently-finished submarine by Slippy 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 torpedos which not only damage enemies but also allow the player to see when there is limited light.

Trivia

Star Fox 64 contains a few references to other works, mainly movies.

• The opening music sounds very similar to the opening music from Star Wars, composed by John Williams. [Star Fox 64 Original Cuts], Altpop.com. URL last accessed February 25, 2006.
• Peppy's line (which is repeated by James McCloud on hard Venom), "Never give up! Trust your instincts," is very similar to Obi-Wan Kenobi's advice to Luke Skywalker when he is force training. His line is, "Trust your feelings."
• On the planet Katina, the Invader II class fighters and the enemy mothership all closely resemble the alien vessels in the film Independence Day. [Game Trivia for Star Fox 64], Mobygames.com. URL last accessed February 25, 2006. The character Bill Grey is also a reference to William Grey, one of the protagonists of the film.
• On Solar, the boss resembles an alien from ''Independence Day.
• The ending music resembles the ending music from Independence Day by David Arnold at the beginning. [Starfox 64], Elecplay.com. URL last accessed February 25, 2006.
• The ending sequence where the Star Fox team walks down a hall with soldiers on each side resembles the ending of . Also, Peppy says "I have a bad feeling about this", a line commonly used in all of the Star Wars movies, and Falco says "I'm here to rescue you"—a line some believe to be a reference to "I'm Luke Skywalker, I'm here to rescue you." [Star Fox 64 - GameCritics.com] Gamecritics.com. URL last accessed February 25, 2006. Peppy shouts "It's a trap!" in a similar tone to Admiral Ackbar.
• There is a small reference to the 1979 film in the game. When the player fights the large robot boss, Spyborg, it occasionally says, "Where is the creator?" and, "I must be complete." This is a reference to the Star Trek character "V-Ger," a machine who was seeking its creator so it could join with him and become complete. Fox's response, "What's he saying?", alludes to the fact that Kirk, Spock, and McCoy had no idea what Khambatta's character was talking about. [StarFox 64 Cheats] Cheats.ugo.com. URL last accessed February 25, 2006. The Spyborg also has a similar appearence to R.O.B.
• The Sector Y zone features humanoid enemy mecha which launch from linear catapaults strongly resembling similar elements in the Gundam franchise. Late in the level, the player even faces off against a red machine that moves faster than average, evocative of the Zeon ace Char Aznable.
• The planet on which the first level takes place is named Corneria (which also appeared in the original Star Fox), and very much resembles in name as well as appearance how the Star Wars planet Corellia is described in books and seen in Star Wars games. It may also be a reference to the first town in the original NES Final Fantasy.
• Peppy's warning message "Do a barrel roll!" has become an Internet meme, particularly on the message board LUE from GameFAQs, which is credited with starting the fad.
• At the end of the game when the total amount of Venomian units destroyed is displayed on screen, the total amount of "space dollars" in the game is the result of the total points scored multiplied by the number 64 (N x 64=total amount of space dollars).
• Manipulating the joystick at the title screen will make the "64" (the Star Fox logo in the European version) in the game's logo move around, causing the Star Fox team members to watch it in fascination.
• The "64" in the game's logo is drawn differently in either the Japanese and American versions. Also, in the Japanese version, the "X" in the the game's title ends in a fox tail (like the original game's logo) but it is absent in the American logo.
• Macbeth and Titania are characters from plays by William Shakespeare (Macbeth and A Midsummer Night's Dream respectively).
• In October 2005, an Arwing was discovered as an enemy unlockable with Gameshark in the video game . [Arwing in Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time], Google Video. URL last accessed 8 May 2005.

World Speed Record

Mike 'TSA' Damiani of America holds the world's fastest time of completion of Star Fox 64 in normal mode on August 18, 2005 — 27 minutes and 29 seconds. [Star Fox 64], Speed Demos Archive. URL last accessed 8 May 2006. Aleks 'SuperCoolAl' Lukic of the UK set the world's fastest time of completion of the PAL version of Star Fox 64, in expert mode, on July 2, 2005, — 33 minutes and 16 seconds. [Star Fox 64], Speed Demos Archive. URL last accessed 8 May 2006.

Promotion

Star Fox 64 was promoted in a Taco Bell kids meal toy[Star Fox 64 Merchandise], Arwing Landing. URL last accessed 14 May 2006.. There might have been more than one kind of toy for the promotion.

Nintendo Power subscribers received a promotional video prior to Star Fox 64's release (the same tactic was used to promote Donkey Kong Country for the SNES) that advertised the game's cinematic presentation, as well as new features like the Rumble Pak and voice acting. It revolves around two agents of Sega and Sony (who, at the time, were Nintendo's biggest competitors) kidnapping Nintendo employees and forcing them to reveal information about the upcoming Star Fox title by "torturing" a Mario doll. A copy of the video can be viewed [here] in its entirety.

References

External links

• [Speed Demos Archive of Star Fox 64]
• [IGN review]

 

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