E3 2011: Star Fox 64 3D Hands-On Preview
By: Jeff Rivera
It's hard to believe that a great Star Fox game hasn't been released since the Nintendo 64 was Nintendo's home console. The series that has had such a loyal following has actually struggled to produce quality experiences as different developers have played with the Star Fox formula. Time and time again, the general consensus is that Star Fox 64 was always the best in the series. In September Nintendo will release an updated version of the game with some new modes and tricks.
There were two demos of the game on the floor. You could play single player and try out one of a few levels, or you could jump into a multiplayer match against three other players. I was able to try both, but I'll talk about the single player first.
The single player is a faithful recreation of the original Star Fox 64 story mode, but it has been given a graphical overhaul. Everything looks noticeably nicer on the 3DS than it ever did on the Nintendo 64, and framerates have been smoothed out, locked in, and improved across the board. The result is a more polished experience without sacrificing the charm and flawless design of the original.
In the multiplayer mode, things got a bit more unfamiliar. The combat was similar to the arena type battles that you get from the single player campaign, but you're faced off against three other human opponents. It's the first time in a Star Fox game that supports multiplayer that you don't have to deal with split screens, and it makes everything so much better. As you engage in aerial combat the 3DS camera focuses in your your reactions and a live portrait of you is shown above your arwing fighter. As you gun down your enemies, you'll see them reacting to the action. A few times I caught some of the other players wincing a bit when I was putting the hurt on them, and I noticed the guy next to me let out a laugh when he caught me putting my head in my hand after losing a close battle.
At the end of each multiplayer session, it shows how all four players ranked, one through four, with the portraits on display in real time. In all three of my battles I took first, so I started to learn to throw out a little victory pose that made the moment that much better. For those that have friends to play with, the multiplayer mode will prove to be quite addictive.
There's only one day left at E3, but I'm hoping to sneak in a little more time with Star Fox 64. The game will be out in September and I think it will be welcomed warmly by 3DS owners and should easily justify Nintendo's choice to re-release the title.
