This is a case of a game that was simply too ambitious for its system. The Super Nintendo can just barely keep up with it; the controls are even jankier than in the first game; simple actions such as moving the camera, shooting, or jumping have an incredibly notorious input delay; and the level design is extremely bland, having you shoot at four enemy ships or go through a small maze and press a switch to let you progress. It's also like 20 minutes long and incredible easy, as almost every boss dies after two hits.
It's really impressive from a technical standpoint, though the result is a barebones game.
It's really impressive from a technical standpoint, though the result is a barebones game.
I was kinda surprised by this because it plays very differently from the first game- instead of a small choice between series of linear levels, everything plays out on a real time map. Even during the dogfighting missions, the clock is running, and you will be informed of attacks that are playing out in real time as you dodge and weave to take down Star Wolf or shoot down missiles. That element is really cool, and definitely makes me want to replay it and see what other possibilities there are (maybe next time I won't let Andross blow up 92% of Corneria).
The game is really fast and short- I was surprised to go from struggling to figure out the controls to the end credits in one quick sitting. But the fun is probably in the replay and trying to get a perfect run.
Aesthetically it borrows a lot from the first game, but adds a more polished 16-bit pixel art aesthetic that looks really nice but might clash with the abstract geometry if that's what you prefer.
The game is really fast and short- I was surprised to go from struggling to figure out the controls to the end credits in one quick sitting. But the fun is probably in the replay and trying to get a perfect run.
Aesthetically it borrows a lot from the first game, but adds a more polished 16-bit pixel art aesthetic that looks really nice but might clash with the abstract geometry if that's what you prefer.
Someone at Nintendo saw Star Fox and thought, what if this were a tower-defence game? And they made then shelved it in favour of more technical grunt on the N64.
It’s a surprisingly good match-up. You intercept missiles, viruses and attack bases. This has 360 degree cockfighting as well as some indoor on-foot 3rd perspective shootouts similar to Doom.
Also introduces the Wolf team and some never seen before and since cat and poodle.
I found the experience all consuming in my session, put aside 1-2 hours to beat this on Hard… probably less time on Medium and I’d wager more on Expert.
Star Fox 2 is great, but it’s definitely in the vain of the “sequel” space where the game is reinventing the wheel instead of iterating on the previous game’s format.
Definitely is more of a high score chasing game, there is a constant timer and beating the game sooner seems like a great challenge! I’d place it in my top 10 or so SNES games.
It’s a surprisingly good match-up. You intercept missiles, viruses and attack bases. This has 360 degree cockfighting as well as some indoor on-foot 3rd perspective shootouts similar to Doom.
Also introduces the Wolf team and some never seen before and since cat and poodle.
I found the experience all consuming in my session, put aside 1-2 hours to beat this on Hard… probably less time on Medium and I’d wager more on Expert.
Star Fox 2 is great, but it’s definitely in the vain of the “sequel” space where the game is reinventing the wheel instead of iterating on the previous game’s format.
Definitely is more of a high score chasing game, there is a constant timer and beating the game sooner seems like a great challenge! I’d place it in my top 10 or so SNES games.
More ambitious, less choppy, and more fun than the original Star Fox.
I was initially worried about being on a time limit going in, but playing it I found it to be fairly reasonable.
I might even play some more runs of the game in the future.
I was initially worried about being on a time limit going in, but playing it I found it to be fairly reasonable.
I might even play some more runs of the game in the future.
Call me nuts for liking this game as much as I do, but I can't help, but think how ambitious and cool this title is mixed with a bunch of neat character and enemy designs along with some cool ascetics to boot. Star Fox 2 really saw the visual style and flow of the original Star Fox game and designed to match it with it's own unique twist and stakes.
Like if you look at the original Star Fox and look at 2, it's almost an inverted version of itself with having to defend a point rather than simply getting from start to finish. Due to RNG, player skill, and difficulty the layout of a playthrough will play out differently each time while it's a constant race with the clock to make sure you're not dilly dallying with each area you visit. As well, most playthroughs are roughly under an hour giving both a nice sense of pacing and urgency when going through each level or stage.
Where Star Fox 2 can fall apart for most is the all range dog fights that have a strong tendency to both get confusing and feel like they are purposefully wasting time. The sad truth is that their really isn't much a fix to it as the main problem is due to hardware, viewpoint, and the backgrounds they use for space. Thankfully, most fighters don't take that long to take down, and a lot of the chase missions with missiles are fairly easy on the eyes, but overall it's a pretty unavoidable fumble on the games part.
Thankfully, a lot of the main game's action is built around bases, and use of the arwing walker that feels rather easy to use and makes for an interesting combat vehicle. While I wouldn't say the bases have particularly interesting bosses, they are at least serviceable, and provide for a fine enough challenge. Although, when I think back on Star Fox 2's boss roster is fairly lackluster when compared to the originals stronger set up.
Still, I do think Star Fox 2 is a really neat fixture in both Nintendo's worst kept secret, and a dash of hope for an 8 year old me clinging for this game's release. It really did do a lot of interesting and neat concepts for the Star Fox series that honestly feels more impactful than anything Zero did as well as giving us the same kinda feel of the original SNES game. If you like Star Fox, I really don't see how you can go home not liking this one; just temper your expectations as it really is it's own flavor compared to our usual On-Rail Shooter.
Like if you look at the original Star Fox and look at 2, it's almost an inverted version of itself with having to defend a point rather than simply getting from start to finish. Due to RNG, player skill, and difficulty the layout of a playthrough will play out differently each time while it's a constant race with the clock to make sure you're not dilly dallying with each area you visit. As well, most playthroughs are roughly under an hour giving both a nice sense of pacing and urgency when going through each level or stage.
Where Star Fox 2 can fall apart for most is the all range dog fights that have a strong tendency to both get confusing and feel like they are purposefully wasting time. The sad truth is that their really isn't much a fix to it as the main problem is due to hardware, viewpoint, and the backgrounds they use for space. Thankfully, most fighters don't take that long to take down, and a lot of the chase missions with missiles are fairly easy on the eyes, but overall it's a pretty unavoidable fumble on the games part.
Thankfully, a lot of the main game's action is built around bases, and use of the arwing walker that feels rather easy to use and makes for an interesting combat vehicle. While I wouldn't say the bases have particularly interesting bosses, they are at least serviceable, and provide for a fine enough challenge. Although, when I think back on Star Fox 2's boss roster is fairly lackluster when compared to the originals stronger set up.
Still, I do think Star Fox 2 is a really neat fixture in both Nintendo's worst kept secret, and a dash of hope for an 8 year old me clinging for this game's release. It really did do a lot of interesting and neat concepts for the Star Fox series that honestly feels more impactful than anything Zero did as well as giving us the same kinda feel of the original SNES game. If you like Star Fox, I really don't see how you can go home not liking this one; just temper your expectations as it really is it's own flavor compared to our usual On-Rail Shooter.