Composed of three betas, this video game masterpiece ultimately redefined what Starfox would be like for years to come…
Starfox 2 is an extension of the original Starfox story, making it a true sequel. In it, Andorf (the Japanese name for Andross) survives the destruction of the core brain on Venom and secludes himself for enough time to rebuild his armies, and a new fortress that stands alone in the Lylat System’s void. It is up to the now official Starfox Team to vanquish Andorf once and for all, and bring peace to the Lylat System once again. Two new members have been added to your team to help fight Anorf: Miya and Fey. With them and two new types of planes, it is up to you to liberate known space.
[The whole review is broken up into three parts; one part devoted to one of the three known betas of the game]
[Beta 1] Multiplayer Beta:
This is the first official beta to Starfox 2. It introduces new and fresh ideas that differed a great deal from the first game. Though the menus aren’t all that intuitive and it is by no means a finished looking game, it has a nice selection of levels, and characters/event situations. The main premise of the beta is to push two new game play concepts: 360-degree flight with nonlinear play and head to head multiplayer combat. It features three different aircraft including the Arwing. There’s a light fighter plane, as well as a heavy bomber. The light fighter has lower shield power, but is faster and is the least maneuverable because of its speed. The heavy bomber is slower but handles better than the light fighter. The Arwing happens to have the best of both worlds. Rather than using Nova Bombs, your ship fires homing missiles that hit on target if you give the aiming reticle enough time lock on to the target. All three types of ships can transform into robotic mech walkers with the same attack capabilities of the ships. However, the controls for the mech walker mode are completely broken and the mechs move too slowly. The beta features two training modes: one that in text tells you how to play, and another where you can just fly and practice moving around. The flight mode features new sub screens that weren’t present in the first Starfox game. A compass to complement the 360-degree flight mode makes navigation much easier, and the new shield read out features a series of green spheres that make it easier to discern your ship’s condition better than a bar like readout that only shows that you are either alive or dead. There is also a mapped out green grid that shows your position within the mission area. Though the single player levels are meant for one to play, there is still another Arwing next to you when you start a level. You can even control it with the second controller, but there is only on view screen that is intended for player 1. In multiplayer mode you can choose your character with his/her ship including Andorf himself. The multiplayer is fun and easy to get used to, as all the characters, ship types, and level environments are well balanced. The previously stated sub screen features are in the multiplayer mode for both players and the screen layout is much better made than the screens in Stunt Race FX. The only low point of the beta is that there is a constant flicker on screen due to the extensive graphics and features push the SNES hardware to the utmost maximum. Also, if certain circumstances commit, the game will either freeze or reset by itself. Aside from that the beta is a very enjoyable experience and an interesting peek into the beginnings of Starfox 64.
[Beta 2] Campaign Beta:
For the second beta of the game, all the focus was put on making a revolutionary single player experience. This was done by fundamentally changing how levels would be taken on. Rather than choosing a preset path and going from one level to the next, the map of the Lylat System was made with no linear preset paths. Also, a strategic game mechanic was added to the game further radically changing it. On the “strategic” screen, you have to direct your party (of to fighters you choose earlier) around the map in search of enemy to attack and planets to liberate. Whether you are fighting in a “level”/mission area or directing your team on the strategy map, the clock is ticking and every action you take happens in real time. A feature that heightens the experience and makes the situation direr, the planet Corneria (your home planet, and the Lylat equivalent of Earth) has a damage percentage meter. It starts out at zero, and as it takes hits from missiles or Andorf’s forces, it grows higher. If it reaches 100%, Corneria has been either destroyed or conquered by Adorf and the game is over for you. In this beta, you cannot use missiles; they go back to using the Nova Bombs. Also, the lack of control and speed of the mach walker mode is fixed so that it is actually worthwhile and fun to play in that mode. The constant flicker has been fixed as well, but the random glitches that freeze the game and/or reset the game have not and the bug kicks in too frequently to truly enjoy the game. The fact that it isn’t import friendly and is completely in Japanese does not help whatsoever.
[Beta 3] Final Build:
This is the last beta to Starfox 2. This is the fully polished product and is import friendly; it is fully and properly translated in American English. The last few critical bugs are completely fixed, and the best features and mechanics from both the first and second betas are assimilated in this fully playable game. Additions in this beta include a defense satellite in on the strategic screen to help defend Cornerian space, the General Pepper coins that full heal health, the Starwolf team, and the cut scenes to fill the gaps for the various events that can occur in game. I dare say the game is more enjoyable and fun to play than Starfox 64 and the later Starfox games. It is that fun and functional, and it is a technological milestone in console gaming history. Absolutely no one should go without playing this game and its three betas if they are able…