Re:Play - Episode 3: Star Fox (SNES)

Star Fox...or is it Starwing?

Star Fox or Starwing as it's known in the UK was Nintendo's answer to having a 16-bit shooter... in 3D! Utilising a fancy named graphics chip - Super FX - Star Fox was not only the second 3D Nintendo title (the first being X on the Game Boy) - but also the first to use polygonal graphics.

While Star Fox may have been groundbreaking in 1993, does its graphics and gameplay still hold up 29-years later? 

Straight from its title scrawl, you know that Star Fox is going to be unique. Set to the beat of an incredible 16-bit ensemble, a trio of starfighters scream across the darkness. No sooner have they made their appearance, they're soon destroyed by a gorgeous array of lasers as an ominous polygonal shape looms into view. It's from this point that you know this currently unknown enemy means business. 

While the opening introduction plays homage to that scene in Star Wars - Episode IV: A New Hope, for Star Fox it works incredibly well. The looming view of Andross' fleet on its way to Corneria not only shows the imminent threat of Andross but also the frailty of the inhabitants of the Lylat System. From here on out the game cuts to a more upbeat tone full of military bravado as the game asks you to "press start".

The story of Star Fox is a typical good vs evil action-adventure. The narrative takes place within the fictional Lylat System - whose inhabitants are anthropomorphic animals. Sometime in the past, a Cornerian scientist named Andross (Primate) is exiled from the peaceful planet due to rampant experimentation with bio-weapons, and blatant disregard to his superiors - and the safety of the Lylat System. Banished to die on the distant and desolate planet Venom, Andross was unknowingly left to continue his experiments and slowly plot his return - and revenge. 

Fast-forward a few years and Andross makes his presence known by declaring war against Corneria. As the Cornerian military scramble to attack Venom, Andross and his vast army effortlessly swipe them aside. Now on a direct course to Corneria, General Pepper (Dog) sends out a call to the elite mercenary team, Star Fox to save Corneria, and finally end the threat that Andross poses. 

In keeping with the traditional gameplay difficulty, Star Fox uniquely does this. Once you've "pressed start" you're then given a planetary map made up of three connected routes. All three start at Corneria and end at Venom, yet they visit different locations along the way. It's these routes that determine the difficulty of the game, as well as add a vast amount of replayability too. Regardless of what route you choose, Fox is accompanied by three A.I. controlled teammates - Peppy Hare (Rabbit), Slippy Toad (Frog), and Falco Lombardi (Bird of Prey). While these wingmen don't technically contribute to assisting the player, they often pose unique challenges (such as chasing enemies or being chased), as well as some witty banter. 

These moments are all pre-scripted, but add a semblance of realism and teamwork to proceedings. While teammates cannot be harmed via friendly fire, they can be damaged or even shot down if you ignore their calls for help. While it's not necessarily important to keep your teammates alive, they do add up to your total score and provide some excellent in-game conversation - if you can keep up with the translated subtitles. 

While later games in the series would feature an English-speaking cast, Star Fox has its cast speak within their native tongue. This comes in the form of something very similar to the "Simish" language from 'Sims'. While it's unintelligible, the onscreen subtitles - and your team's pixilated face at the bottom of the screen - do a great job in conveying their personalities. 

When it comes to gameplay, Star Fox plays out in the same vein as SEGA's 'Space Harrier. It's an on-the-rails shooter that's played from both 3rd and 1st person viewpoints. Stages take place within a variety of environments in which you have to navigate Fox's spacecraft. To up the tempo, each level is also full of environmental challenges, as well as numerous enemies, and giant boss battles to fight along the way. 

From a visual standpoint, Star Fox still packs a punch today. Naturally, the graphic presentation isn't a scratch on today's 4K HDR machines, but the polygonal shapes do a great job in highlighting just what the SNES could do. While the visuals don't have a single texture or moment of detail to them, they all build the world incredibly well. Each location whether it is Corneria, Venom, or even the deadly Sector Z, feels unique and a serviceable part of this universe. One of my favourites locations sees Fox and his team battle Andross' fleet. This involves a battle amongst giant polygonal ships, that culminates in flying inside one in a scene that's very reminiscent of the climactic battle in 'Return of The Jedi'. It's all so simple, yet gorgeous too. 

Star Fox is also backed up by a very good soundtrack. It opens up to plenty of haunting orchestral tones, to then up the tempo as you begin your journey to Venom. Sound effects are also superb, which all adds to a very well polished experience. Everything you see and do is extremely memorable - even down to the in-game chatter of your teammates. 

While the presentation has aged like a fine wine, the control scheme hasn't. Fundamentally Star Fox does work, but going back to it after playing a modern flight game shows the limitations of the title. The SNES didn't have a 360⁰ analogue stick like modern consoles, and as such Star Fox was controlled via the standard 4-way D-Pad. This makes the movement of your Arwing very rigid and stiff. These limits become more prevalent during the games later stages as the high speed, coupled with a lot of obstacles doesn't afford you much room for error. 

The Arwing itself is quite a capable fighter. The craft comes equipped with the ability to temporarily speed up and slow down, which becomes vital as the game progresses. Alongside these, you also have access to a standard laser (that can be upgraded to "twin blasters), and a screen-clearing superweapon. The Arwing is fairly robust too, and it can take a fair bit of punishment. A noticeable feature here is that location damage also plays a part, as too much damage to your wings will see them detach from the body of the craft. In turn, this affects the manoeuvrability of the craft and hinders your ability in picking up power-ups. 

When it's said and done, Star Fox is worthy of its place at that "gaming's greatest hits" table. At the time its "Super FX" chip revolutionised what the SNES could do, and its captivating gameplay helped the title sell over four million copies worldwide (by 1998). At its core Star, Fox is a basic on-the-rails shooter that hits you with all the polish of a big arcade title. It laid the groundwork for Nintendo to flesh out the tale of Team Star Fox, and I'm hoping we get to see a new outing on the Switch very soon!

Rob Lake - For more comic book and video game chat why not follow Geek Culture Reviews on Twitter and Facebook @GeekCultureRev

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