If nothing else the scope and visuals are astounding, this is tech that nearly matches the peak fidelity of 32x with Nintendo's trade optimization tricks and 2D/3D hodge-podging. The change to a mission based structure is fine but these levels are extremely low effort, they're all like one hallway with 2 pincushions to shoot. The dogfights are pretty bad until you learn to cheese them with the charge shot. Music is way worse, neither rockin' nor movin', it's a shame.
It's easy to see why this was canned when the game still needed a huge amount of content to fill out the world, and the cost of FX-2 boards would eat out their profits.
It's easy to see why this was canned when the game still needed a huge amount of content to fill out the world, and the cost of FX-2 boards would eat out their profits.
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.
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.
I don't understand how these two games are actually fun. They should be terrible given how dated they are, but they somehow aren't
not the best but it was kind of ahead of its time. it lags like hell during some sections (mainly walker stuff) and a lot of the objectives repeat themselves. i like how the characters have different things they are good at and the strategy with deciding what to go after. its not bad but its clearly a stepping stone inbetween the original and star fox 64.
Feels more like an extra game mode than a proper sequel. Don't get me wrong, there are new things like multiple playable characters and walker ships, but the game can be beaten in like 15 minutes (on a first playthrough + inexperienced). Also there are no on rails sections unfortunately, just open arenas this time. Framerate is somehow even worse than the original. The only notable thing this game does is a ranking system which helps with replayability, but honestly I'd just rather play the original again.
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.
The OG fan translation had more soul.
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.
Not too great. There was a lot of repetition in the 15 minutes or so I played. The framerate seems improved over the original, but it still doesn't feel responsive.
É a mesma mecânica do primeiro só q mais polida
I got to play as Slippy! I love that little green fuck
Pros: The graphics are top-notch for SNES, using the SuperFX 2 chip, this is some impressive stuff for the system (shame it took so long to come out, we would've been wowed back in the 90s had it released then). And it's pretty cool, there's brand new team members with Miyu and Fay, you can dogfight a giant dragon in space, a rival mercenary squad of space fighters with Star Wolf, a free-roam map, and the ability to transform the Arwing into a walker. It's cool, and impressive stuff. Most stages involve big open areas that require you to unlock gates, enter bases, defeat bosses, and all with 360 movement with tons of shooty shooty blast blastin'. Either that, or it's dog fights on a timer in space. It works... I'm just...
Cons: Not a fan of the gameplay, my dudes... All-range mode ONLY, everything is on a timer, and the main form of progress is via strategy on a map, where you take turns for movement, to try and defeat each enemy base, destroy each missile, and confront rival teams as you head your way to stop Andross. I didn't gel with it, sorry to say. This isn't my type of Star Fox.
What it means to me: This game releasing at all was mind blowing, and it made the SNES Classic Edition mini all the more worth buying. Later released on Switch's NSO SNES service, there's plenty ways to play it, and so I did, and... well... I enjoyed what I could, and didn't enjoy the parts that weren't meant for me. It's a mixed bag, but I'm glad it saw the light of day anyhow. If anything, I'm glad Miyu and Fay are now official Star Fox team members!!
Cons: Not a fan of the gameplay, my dudes... All-range mode ONLY, everything is on a timer, and the main form of progress is via strategy on a map, where you take turns for movement, to try and defeat each enemy base, destroy each missile, and confront rival teams as you head your way to stop Andross. I didn't gel with it, sorry to say. This isn't my type of Star Fox.
What it means to me: This game releasing at all was mind blowing, and it made the SNES Classic Edition mini all the more worth buying. Later released on Switch's NSO SNES service, there's plenty ways to play it, and so I did, and... well... I enjoyed what I could, and didn't enjoy the parts that weren't meant for me. It's a mixed bag, but I'm glad it saw the light of day anyhow. If anything, I'm glad Miyu and Fay are now official Star Fox team members!!
Brief but very fun and seamless game, much like the first Star Fox and 64. This is what Star Fox Command should have been, but bigger.
And lets kick out that cranky and annoying b*tch named Krystal from the team and bring Fay back, please.
And lets kick out that cranky and annoying b*tch named Krystal from the team and bring Fay back, please.
Very fun, cool mechanics outside of the battles, though pretty short. Playing it makes you see why Miyamoto was scared its more open-ended nature would eclipse 64... though i still prefer 64 overall.
This is probably my favorite Star Fox, I'm really miffed it didn't get to release and have its mechanics become the basis for the rest!
No clue what was really happening in this game but I beat it and had fun. I like the little mech mode. It feels like a fun little dlc to the original. I’m glad it was finally released. Played as Slippy of course.
Really great but the controls were confusing and difficult to follow. Super fun though go listen to Suprise Attack on youtube
very non nintendo-like thing to actually release this
Interesting to put this out
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.
Have not played enough of the game to form a strong opinion, but it did not quite captivate me similar to the first game.
I had fun! For some reason I decided to play this before Star Fox 1 though
This is Star Fox 1 if it was more conceptually interesting.
The sequel 24 years in the making. It was fun to play the lost Star Fox game, but you could tell that is was cancelled and what remained was the only part that was released.
planet is nearly irreparably damaged I saved the world, guys!
Eu entendo o motivo desse jogo ter sido engavetado...
VERY short game. Beat it in under an hour. Enjoyed my time with it, tons of great ideas came from this that I'm happy stuck around. Though I wonder what Miyu and Fay are up to...
Game Review - originally written by Shih Tzu
One of the holy grails of console game prototypes, the unreleased Starfox 2 is apparently indeed the first developed sequel to the SNES 3D polygonal shooter Starfox. Fox McCloud and his equally anthropomorphic crew are back to battle the evil ape Andross, with two new female pilots, Miyu and Fay, joining the fight. In contrast to the first game, however, which features lots of arcade rail-shooter action, the sequel adopts a somewhat more strategic, exploratory tone. The game plays out on a galactic map, where you direct a pair of pilots around, intercepting enemy squadrons, attacking enemy bases, and so on. In the meantime, mean old Andross is launching missiles at your home planet of Corneria, and if you let too many get by, you won’t have any home left to save.
This shift toward strategy extends to the core gameplay as well. While there are plenty of Wing-Commander-style dogfights, many of the scenarios require the player to find switches to press or navigate through enclosed mazes. A key innovation is the ability to transform your Arwing into a bipedal gun turret and walk through some stages Doom-style, firing, strafing, and dodging. All the while, the clock ticks down as other battles rage elsewhere in the galaxy, and you will frequently get frantic radio messages from your commander about incoming missiles and other threats.
On “Normal” difficulty, the game can be beaten without much effort or time; I won my first game in under 15 minutes (and I’m frightfully bad at these games). The higher difficulty levels, however, feature new enemies, expanded stages, and a lot more gameplay in general. “Expert” level is truly demanding, but it’s also where you’ll see the most interesting developments. Factor in the challenge of topping your high scores and a healthy amount of randomness, and you’ve got a good amount of fun to be had for fans of this series who want to pull back the curtain for a glimpse of what might have been.
(editor's note: iirc the way the original prototype leaked, and don't quote me on this, was that Sonic Cult administrator Pachuka was hanging around in the #rareroms IRC channel on EFnet pretending to be one of the channel owners, when a regular messaged him with a download of the rom thinking he was the guy he was disguised as, fascinating story)
One of the holy grails of console game prototypes, the unreleased Starfox 2 is apparently indeed the first developed sequel to the SNES 3D polygonal shooter Starfox. Fox McCloud and his equally anthropomorphic crew are back to battle the evil ape Andross, with two new female pilots, Miyu and Fay, joining the fight. In contrast to the first game, however, which features lots of arcade rail-shooter action, the sequel adopts a somewhat more strategic, exploratory tone. The game plays out on a galactic map, where you direct a pair of pilots around, intercepting enemy squadrons, attacking enemy bases, and so on. In the meantime, mean old Andross is launching missiles at your home planet of Corneria, and if you let too many get by, you won’t have any home left to save.
This shift toward strategy extends to the core gameplay as well. While there are plenty of Wing-Commander-style dogfights, many of the scenarios require the player to find switches to press or navigate through enclosed mazes. A key innovation is the ability to transform your Arwing into a bipedal gun turret and walk through some stages Doom-style, firing, strafing, and dodging. All the while, the clock ticks down as other battles rage elsewhere in the galaxy, and you will frequently get frantic radio messages from your commander about incoming missiles and other threats.
On “Normal” difficulty, the game can be beaten without much effort or time; I won my first game in under 15 minutes (and I’m frightfully bad at these games). The higher difficulty levels, however, feature new enemies, expanded stages, and a lot more gameplay in general. “Expert” level is truly demanding, but it’s also where you’ll see the most interesting developments. Factor in the challenge of topping your high scores and a healthy amount of randomness, and you’ve got a good amount of fun to be had for fans of this series who want to pull back the curtain for a glimpse of what might have been.
(editor's note: iirc the way the original prototype leaked, and don't quote me on this, was that Sonic Cult administrator Pachuka was hanging around in the #rareroms IRC channel on EFnet pretending to be one of the channel owners, when a regular messaged him with a download of the rom thinking he was the guy he was disguised as, fascinating story)
actually my favorite star fox game after the original star fox, but god is that art style creepy. why are they looking at me like that and why do they have human teeth.