StarFox Zero - Wii U

Well to start, here are some things you will need to know if you are a fan of the previous StarFox games. It carries on what StarFox 64 started, pretty much the same idea of that game just morphed into a modern take on what that game was. However it also incorporates lots of unused ideas from StarFox 2, a game that was never released. So take SF64 and SF2 and mash them together in the year 2016, and this is what you will end up with. Graphics: That said, it looks AMAZING. Say what you want about the underpowered WiiU, but this game pushes the console to its limits, just like all previous SF games have done in the past with their respective consoles. The textures are smooth with crisp edges and the framerate is by far the best for any game on this system. The colors are mesmerizing and you honestly feel like you are watching a Hollywood grade movie at times. Sound: If you are working with any good sound system, you should do this... turn it up to max, and rip the knob off. It is the best sounding SF game to date and the music carries over from SF64 in most cases with nice upgrades. The explosions and immersion that the gamepad helps to put you in is also second to none! I honestly can't say enough good things about the audio of this game it is something that should be morphed into an arcade game, its just that damn good! The Good/Gameplay: -First off, the game works! No upgrades or downloads to be had, this game is NOT broken, it works from day one just like a video game should. -There is an entire extra game that is a good time killer, StarFox Guard. Not much for story or anything like that, but picture Mario-Maker meets Command and Conquer or something like that. Its strategy based and its very fun overall to just play with and figure out how to get better at winning. -Amiibo functionality is also used on this game with Fox and Falco amiibo. Fox gives you the original SNES ship which is usable throughout the game (with different firepower too) and the music on the first stage of Corneria is also the same from the SNES game too. Its friggn nostalgia overload! Falco gives you a black and red Arwing that hands out more damage, yet also takes more damage in return if you get hit. -STAR WOLF is in the game and they are much more present than previous games, which is way more fun. (I smell a spinoff in the works hopefully) -The walker-mode of the Arwing (unused aspect from SF2) and the Landmasters new mode of flying are also fun to use but will take a bit of getting used to as with anything you experience for the first time, they are awesome once you get good with them. -The story is essentially the same concept as SF64 but thats where the similarities end. The game stands on its own as a similar story from SF64 but with new elements and a new concept. These are small things that add up in the long run to help make this a great game from the start. The Bad: Every game has its flaws, and this one is no different, however they are not the make or break that one might think with some games out there. -First off, this will take a small learning curve as you have to use the gamepad in ways that may not feel quite natural at first, ESPECIALLY if you have played previous SF games. It will take you a few tries to get used to the aiming while flying and looking back and fourth at the tv and gamepad. It will be frustrating at first, BUT, if you stick with it, you will actually feel yourself getting better. -At first I hated it but if you turn off constant motion control in favor of the "motion while using RT" instead, you will only have to aim when you are ready to shoot. It works better in my opinion than the always on aiming and you don't have to worry about reseting the targeting either. -Overall on the gamepad aspect, it does make it a much more enjoyable game in the long run, but it takes time, so BE PATIENT and you will start kicking ass like its nothing. -Furthermore, my only other gripe is that it does not have all of the same planets or areas from previous SF games. There are a few missing but there are a few "new" ones that are renamed but technically the same as others. For example, Sector Omega, is just the new name for Area 6 from SF64. Its not that big of an issue, but it does feel like they should have somehow included at least one extra planet to help fill it out just a tad more, but maybe I'm nitpicking a bit because of my love for SF64. There is honestly not that much to say about this game that is bad and that is coming from a hardcore SF fan. ---Take it from me, I assure you most of the reviews you see here that are negative are probably about the motion controls which like I said, give it some time and you will get great!--- Final thoughts: The StarFox series are my favorite games of anything else out there, I have always been a hardcore fan and I have a nice little SF collection of strategy guides, figures, and of course the games of SF. -For a game that was delayed several times, it was well worth the wait. I'm glad they took the extra time to refine the motion controls because its apparent from the first time you play this that it will take some getting used to, but as I said, you will get better the more you play and it will become very natural and easier to use. -The design is amazing, the look and feel is definitely StarFox and the music/sound is by far the best in the series. Its nice that this reboot is done with as much care as any other first party Nintendo IP. This game is worth every penny and I am so glad its better than my expectations! Finally, Do NOT fear the motion controls! If you are even remotely interested in this game, do not be deterred from the controls, you WILL get the hang of it and you WILL kick ass!

Just finished Star Fox Zero yesterday. Honestly, it is an excellent gaming experience. It does justice to SF64 in so many ways and yet introduces so many fresh elements whilst remaining true to the series. Yes, the Wii U may be an obsolete system-- with generation 7.5 graphical capabilities, a gimmicky gamepad, and an initial lack of games-- but it is a GOOD obsolete system, because regardless of its awkwardness and obsolescence, it has hosted some of the best video games ever made. I (including my friends here at college) have had countless hours of entertainment with the perfections that are Mario Kart 8, Smash 4, Splatoon, both Zelda HD remasters, Super Mario Maker, and more. At first, Nintendo dug themselves into a hole with the Wii U. But, instead of giving up, they turned it around and resorted to the one thing they have always done best: making games. With each hit Wii U game they made, they gradually filled up the hole with more dirt, slowly but surely lifting themselves back to equilibrium. I think that it is a reasonable and rational statement if I were to say that Nintendo dealt with the failure of the Wii U well, and in doing so, they turned it into its own form of success; Star Fox Zero being one if its final triumphs. The two-screen notion posited by the Wii U and utilized in Star Fox Zero is unconventional and enigmatic. But it works. It works if you adopt the proper facet of perception. If you keep an open mind and put trust in Nintendo's games, it will work for you-- hence why even though I thought the gamepad was unorthodox at first, the enjoyment I derived from my Wii U games encouraged me to accept it. I personally enjoy the gamepad because of the off-tv play (which is helpful in a dorm) the headphone jack, the mic, the surround-sound stereoscopic speakers, the camera-- it is essentially the ultimate controller, except it is all culminated into an awkward tablet. However, I have had some of my best gaming experiences on this awkward stone tablet. One of those is Star fox Zero. Yes, it relies on a fairly perplexing control scheme, with heavy use of motion controls. But, because I have always kept an open mind about motion controls, like mastering Skyward Sword and owning at the motion controls in Splatoon-- the controls in Star Fox Zero were LITERALLY no issue for me. I was able to play it almost perfectly from the get-go. But, it is this mastery of the motion control peripheral that is the secret password to the "Enjoying Star Fox Zero" club, where you don't have to drink the kool-aid just to say you enjoy it. Simply put, if you usually play with stick controls, you will most likely get very frustrated with SFzero, and this frustration will curtail your enjoyment of the game. But, if you can manage the motion control scheme, you will love SFzero, because it is an amazing game, motion controls aside. The level design is chaotic, frantic, and down-right exciting, the nostalgia of becoming a master of the arwing provides high-octane thrill, the graphics are gorgeous in many areas, the score is good, and the final battle against Andross is cleverly designed, as are most of the battles in the game including the boss on Titania. I highly recommend doing the training modes over and over, collecting as many coins as you can, to master the vehicles before you actually play the main game. It will benefit you immensely. You won't hear this from the gamers who can't manage the motion controls, and their argument is justified-- Nintendo's mistake was not including an option to turn the motion controls off. Everyone should be able to enjoy the game if they are a Star Fox who is loyal to the Lylat system, regardless of their playing style. It just saddens me that SFzero is getting so many bad reviews that are essentially rooted in people's knee-jerk reactions to the complex controls and not the game itself. And let me be honest with you: in all of the parts of SFzero where the two-screened mechanic truly came into play, such as the Mother Strider on the frozen planet, the boss on Titania, and the final battle against Andross-- the level of immersion was so intense and so realistic that I had never experienced anything like it before, and I felt like a true Star Fox, like a true pilot, who is truly making his way through a galaxy, area by area, conquering the small evils in hopes to defeat the ultimate machination that threatens all. It was true thrill, all of which was somehow successfully compacted into an emotionally nostalgic, modern-day twist of a classic story that only needs a few hours to find consummation. Truly. If you embrace the motion controls, those first few hours alone will be worth the $59.99. Those who hate the controls are justified in their stance. Nintendo probably shouldn't have alienated them by excluding the option for stick controls. But this does not mean SFzero deserves bad reviews. Furthermore, I do not understand how SFzero can receive 3.5/5 from Metacritic, 7.5/10 from IGN, and 7/10 from GameSpot. It's not that those are necessarily bad scores-- they're favorable by other developer's standards. It's that these scores don't harken to Nintendo's high quality standards, and that SFzero deserves better. Is there nobody at those institutions who can play the game like me? There must be. I feel for those who will never experience the game simply because they took the mixed reviews as a harbinger of their own possible disappointment of the game. To close (and to summarize most other reviews) Star fox Zero is a truly unique experience that has been executed extremely well, albeit in polarizing forms. Mr Shigeru Miyamoto continues to instill his work with creativity and innovation with SFzero-- after all, Star Fox games are usually designed to show off the capabilities of Nintendo's current console. It is difficult to imagine Mr. Miyamoto cultivating a mediocre game, and with SFzero, he happily fails to do so, wherein his creative and innovative efforts are abundantly clear if looked for through the proper lens. Overall an amazing game that most Wii U owners would be proud to have. If you're accepting of motion controls, you'll love it. If you're not accepting of motion controls and prefer conventional stick controls, you probably won't have a good experience, and that is understandable. Just don't get the game and then give it horrendous ratings because of its ingenuity. I think if Nintendo simply released a patch that enabled both control schemes, motion and conventional, all would be well in the universe. But, I do not think the game would be anywhere near as beautifully immersive if you were to play with stick controls, which are bland in Star Fox Zero's respect. Instead, if you challenge yourself, you could become a true Star Fox. This review is dedicated to our wingman who fell in battle. Also, SFgaurd is a fun little side game that is extra entertaining at parties.

When I saw the middling average on this game's Amazon page, I was honestly saddened. At first, I thought it was because this long-awaited installment to a series that's been dormant for 11 years didn't live up to expectations and the controls were that gimmicky and terrible.....And then I played this game myself. And now I am saddened for the gaming community instead. People in general don't give games like Paper Mario Sticker Star and Mario Party 10 the criticism and maybe even bashing they deserve, yet FREAKING STAR FOX immediately gets beaten to death for one single aspect and not much else......And that aspect isn't even as gimmicky as people say! This is literally the Super Mario Sunshine effect all over again. Anyway, Star Fox Zero is another retelling of the lore's beginnings, just like Star Fox 64 had done before; I'll admit I wasn't the biggest fan of that move, but the story itself does a fine enough job of keeping the characters situated. The characters are their classic little (charmingly) corny selves that gamers have known and loved from the original entries, with newcomer characters that are...also as such! They all have their memorable one-liners (Yes, "Do a Barrel Roll!" is said here), and the melding as a whole is what you expect from a Star Fox game, really. The structure is also as nicely crafted as it's ever been; the scenery is EXHILARATING, and the good ol' branching paths add to the game's replay value. As for gameplay, this is pretty much the Star Fox game I've always wanted to see from the series; the arcade-like quality the original games embraced is back in full force, but with some new modern twists here and there! Contrary to the undeserved pitchfork stabbing this game's controls have received, I found the experience very much unharmed. I think I only ever looked at the Wii U Gamepad for maybe 5% of the time I played this game, and the only motion control that doesn't involve the Gamepad's attention is nudging it around to aim. Yes, I'm serious. This is all anybody complained about, apparently. Heck, even when you DID have to look at the Gamepad for precision's sake, (notably during the boss battle in Titania) it still feels more natural than one may expect it to be, and works fine enough! So in spite of what anyone may think, if you've played Star Fox and/or Star Fox 64, you'll feel right at home with how this game plays. But while flying around in space and air is all fine and good, the different vehicle types present throughout the adventure are also nifty and well-executed. Revived from the tragically canceled Star Fox 2, the Walker is easily my favorite of the new types, as it incorporates Star Fox elements into areas the player walks around in, and has a neat little hover jump I always get a kick out of. Other types change the gameplay slightly enough to make them have a different grasp on things, but they are fun to use as well anyway. All in all, I love this game, and I wouldn't be surprised at all if it turns out to be one of the best, if not the best, game Nintendo's ever put out this year. Don't let the control controversy get in the way if you've been anticipating this one. Please do give it a go.

After a very, very, VERY long time the Star Fox series finally returns to home consoles! Star Fox Zero released last week to fans everywhere! The star studded return of the Star Fox team was met with.. oddly enough mixed reactions, mostly revolving around the control scheme. Let me break this game down for you! STAR FOX ZERO Is a reboot. Tried and true. It retells the story from Star Fox 64 and like a reboot It does do a few things different so this Isn't just an HD carbon copy of Star Fox 64. No No No, Theres new levels, new situations, new vehicles and new levels galore! While some levels don't make a return to ZERO the game still has a pretty decent variety of what to do and how to do It. Presentation Is core and beautiful looking, the voice acting Is perfect and nostalgic and the re-done/re-mixed tunes to follow you about whilst blasting Andross' minions to bits It just fantastic! So.. wheres the downside to the title? Well.. Remember when I said there was new vehicles? Well the only truly NEW vehicle was the Gyro-wing (with the walker already being seen and known about through the hack of the original Star Fox 2) and It could just be me.. but the Gyro-Wing level and the controls for the vehicle was really hard to get used to. The slow pacing & confusing controls brought down the level (for me and my co-player at least) from what could've been a truly awesome covert "silent but deadly" experience. While flying the Gyro-Wing theres a function that allows you to take control of a tiny A.I. robot to sneak about and press switches, It's a cool mechanic but mixed with the Gyro-Wing It's kind of finicky. But I'm sure It's something I could get used to, as I did with the rest of the title. The Walker, as some know was originally planned for the canceled Star Fox 2 for the SNES, well It's here and It's pretty damn cool! The Landmaster returns as well and even gets an upgrade turning It Into the GRAVMASTER, meaning for a short period of time you can pull a transformers and fly! Now all this sounds awesome right?! WELL IT IS! Had nothing but fun with the function and It felt good to have some variety. Now, while the controls do take some time to get used to they also present a different way to play. Aiming with the gyro-scope and such really adds a sense of accuracy to the game and helps during boss battles. The only downside to the controls Is that you are consistently looking up from the WiiPad to the TV, which Is a tad disorienting. The game really wants you to use the gamepad for betting aiming and such.. but.. all of us are just SO used to looking at the TV and sometimes you even forget to even look at the gamepad which sometimes really screws you. Well luckily enough for Arwing levels the motion controls can be nerffed to induce a more "classic" feel, but when you transform to The Walker you will have to revert and go back to either doing both.. or as Peppy says "TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS" and most of the time It pays off In your favor. Myself & my co-player Joe managed to get through the heavy of It and adapt to what was given In due time and we did end up whole heartedly enjoying the game. Except the Gyro-Wing stage. Despite a controls flub the game looks, plays, and sounds like a champ and really did do what I was hoping for. The game Is NO push-over and does deliver a well balanced gaming experience, especially with the final boss. Which WILL put all you've learned and then some to the test! Star Fox ZERO Isn't a bad game, It's a really good game! The controls do get a tad In the way with some levels.. but with different vehicles It feels necessary and doesn't take you out of the game too bad. So... Star Fox Zero. After 11 years of no Star Fox titles, Zero fills the voids and fits the title nicely! While the game does throw a bit of a learning curve at you with the motion controls It doesn't retract from the obvious fact that It preforms beautifully! I Give Star Fox Zero a 4/5! A great title with lots to love, a new mechanic and.. well just a lot of fun.

I know the concerns that people have had about Star Fox Zero's controls. However, I'm not 100% what the problem is. To me, the controls make the battles more exhilarating, frantic, and fun. I'm addicted to this game! I know some reviewers were turned off immediately and probably griped about it throughout their playthroughs. However, for me, they didn't pose a problem but instead enhanced my experience. During most levels (at least the ones involving the Arwing) I felt like I was manning the guns on the Millenium Falcon! I should note that I did one thing immediately upon playing the intro tutorial: I TURNED OFF THE MOTION CONTROLS except for when firing. When players do this, upon ceasing fire, the reticle automatically recalibrates and returns to following the ship (instead of following the gamepad). This helped me with my "shaky hand" issue that I often have when playing frantic games. And boy is this game frantic. I know some people criticized it for "not having enough going on"... but I think if there was anything more going on on the screen, my brain might be fried and the fun would quickly dissolve into frustration. The developers did a really nice job making the AI for the enemy bots and bosses challenging (even the little rinky-dink bots seem smarter than previous entries) but not overwhelming. To those who complain about this game and how they want traditional controls: Remember, this is suppose to be a new experience. Mr. Myamoto wanted this Star Fox game to utilize the gamepad to provide new ways to play an existing franchise. Think of VR games. Some people are probably going to hate VR games and wish that they could've made the same game without the required VR gear. But the developers who designed those games had a specific experience in mind that they felt was best achieved through VR. And such is the case with Star Fox Zero. Some Nintendo Wii U owners who wanted to play this game but refuse to "give in" the the motion controls will either never play this game or, unsurprisingly, have a bad experience playing it. If you look for the worst in something, you'll find it. But I'm sorry... for me, Star Fox Zero is really, really fun.

Star Fox Zero is a perfect homage to Star Fox 64. The map and storyline are mostly the same, with a few new locations and plenty more secretes and enemies. The graphics are great with great atmosphere and iconic characters. The voice acting is alright, though there clearly were some lines that needed to have re-takes. The option to have 3D sound (where voices come out of the speakers relative to the location of the person talking) is a nice feature, along with keeping the iconic "Good Luck" sound clip before every mission. The levels are high in action and with the addition of the cockpit view make everything feel far more intense and chaotic than simply sticking to third person. Enemy designs are new and interesting with some old iconic ones tossed into the mix here and there. The addition of the walker and the hovercraft keep the gameplay interesting and add fun new mechanics to the series. There are people who tend to complain about the motion controls, but that feature can be disabled in the settings (I personally beat the game without them and had a great time). Though when you are playing co-op the feature is forced upon you, which can be somewhat bothersome. Speaking of, the option to play co-op with a friend is a stressful yet fun experience, with one person being the gunner and the other the pilot. It is nice that the person flying gets to use a pro controller or a nunchuck which keeps things easier for the gunner who uses the cockpit view to aim and shoot. Overall the game is a fun and fresh take on the Starfox genre, and a much needed installment to what felt like a dead franchise. If you're looking for something fun and action packed for about 4-6 hours, this is a good game for you. While it feels fairly short, there is no end to the amount of hidden content waiting to be found, and the ranking system adds a unique way to replay every level to find all the hidden medals.

This game is quite amazing, if you love Star Fox 64 then you will love this too. Yes the controls certainly require a moderate learning curve to get used to but seriously have some patience and play more, you will for sure get used to it becoming great at it. You can switch the cockpit view(from the gamepad - 'select' button) on to the TV which definitely helps seeing better your targets. What you get as for buying the physical copy is a Star Fox Zero boxed cart including inside the two sealed games "Star Fox Zero" and "Star Fox Guard" as seen on the attached photo. I did get to test using a Fox Amiibo(thanks to a neighbor, don't have my own yet) and the nostalgic feeling of the retro 'snes' Arwing and classic Corneria music was tremendously satisfying, its quite fun to play the game that way(note - no target lock on shooting if using that amiibo). Now on to 'Guard', if you enjoy tower defense games then this will be right up your alley, of course this is unique in the sense you have cameras onscreen and you have to switch between them to defend but no joke it sure is enjoyable. I certainly recommend getting this game/bundle if you want a unique experience playing Star Fox on the Nintendo Wii U. Adding a photo doesn't seem to work for me so here is a link to it: [...]

First off I will put that I absolutely loved the n64 version of this game. Countless hours playing it. This is very much that same game. There are many new and fun additions but the spirit does live on and I enjoy playing this version. Now some bad points...The controls take a lot of concentration and even then I'm not very accurate. I play plenty of video games and I'm no master guru but I do generally well. These controls are just hard to be percise. Hopefully an update will fix this bit I can still enjoy playing the game and maybe in time I will get there. The n64 version was no cake walk right out of the box either but this wii u learning curve is almost too much. Second issue would be some of the new vehicles are a bit slow and awkward and not exciting like the arwing. They don't ruin it for me but if I could take it or leave it. I would leave it. Or at least make them much smaller or totally optional.