StarFox Zero - Wii U

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.

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!