Topic: Star Fox Zero - OT

Star Fox Zero channels everything bad about Wii U game design, citing from Polygon.

This testifies to the concern around gamepad's control scheme. I will be picking this up, but it's shameful how Nintendo opted for such a pointlessly forced mechanic and consequentially made the game suffer.

@Freeon-Leon: One of the Star Fox games is Game of the Year, both are so good that no other game can be better, so we need to decide which Star Fox game released is better and crown it the ultimate Game of the Year.

@JTMnM: It is mostly terrible how someone would try to pass that off as a review. (The reviewer said it wasn't a review but Polygon is still acting as if that is their review) I hate Polygon. Followed them for a while but they lost me pretty fast.

@DarthNocturnal: You could assume that. But does the history of a series really matter when it comes to Game of the Year? One could argue that even if Zero's gameplay was closer to its roots, the innovation in Guard's gameplay made it the better product. This is why we have yet to name which Star Fox game ultimately wins Game of the Year. What do you think should win? Zero or Guard?

Agreed. So it's now been decided Star Fox wins GOTY Star Fox Guard can't count as it's a spin-off of sorts.

@Bsham: But it does count.

@DarthNocturnal: Yeah, I gotta wait until I get paid to try Guard, but I should be playing Zero tonight, or tomorrow lol.

I have been playing about 40 minutes of both Star Fox Zero and Star Fox Guard with my roommate, and it is extremely fun! Co-op Star Fox is more enjoyable so far than my previous experience with single player in Star Fox 64. Looking forward to more late night Star Fox action!

@DefHalan: What they were communicating, while cynical, was the game was too poor to finish. Doesn't exactly encourage the consumers, but I am a Nintendo fan; a disappointed fan, but a fan nonetheless.

Right there with you

Actually, my Wife and I might be able to play Star Fox co-op. She normally wouldn't be able to play a game like this but maybe if she only has to focus on driving or shooting she could do it... AWESOME! Don't know why I didn't think of this before.

@JTMnM: Don't be too disappointed. That "review" is about par for Polygon, from what I remember.

@JTMnM, yeah, we've covered Gies and his "review." I mean, I think it's a bit quick to call it "shameful" when you haven't played it yet. Personally, I'm looking forward to making up my own mind.

And anecdotally, here are some positive reactions to the control scheme — and game in general — from infinitely more intelligent writers, and more reputable publishers (yeah, I know Uproxx/GammaSquad isn't The New York Times, but Polygon is just about the ninth circle of gaming media hell).

The Independent, 4/5
"[...] here Star Fox Zero brings real cinematic quality to the long-running series, with the use of two screens and gyroscopic aiming another classic Nintendo innovation in control methods - sadly one that probably won’t make it into many more titles. It may not have the power to drive console sales, but for those who already have a Wii U, this is an essential addition to the library."

Paste Magazine, Unscored (positive)
"[...] comparison [to contemporary space adventures] helps explain what’s so peculiar about this game, and, if you’re patient and open to its wiles, so refreshing. To wit: I’ve just defeated the final boss and watched the credits roll. And I feel like my time with Star Fox Zero is just beginning.

GammaSquad, Verdict: Clear Your Calendar
"Star Fox Zero is a fun, fiery and fuzzy return to form [...] both warmly nostalgic, and one of the most inventive action games I’ve played in some time. If you’re willing to give it a chance, the game’s new GamePad-focused control scheme works great, and adds a nice level of extra depth and versatility to the Star Fox formula. [...] Bottom Line, Star Fox Zero is at least as good as Star Fox 64, and it may even surpass it as I continue to replay it."

Also, I wanted to share those reviews because, despite the prominence of the sites, I haven't seen them pop up on any round up lists. I guess you get more hits if you focus on people moaning about motion controls. The Wii came out in 2006. Aren't we over that yet?

@DarthNocturnal: Yeah, I've read about that — apparently, it lends the game a "3D audio" effect, which is supposed to be pretty cool. However, I've also read it can be difficult to find the sweet spot between your TV audio and the GamePad audio. But if you want it all coming from one source, you can just use headphones.

I dunno, the Wiimote was worse with that, but I tended to find it novel when it was used (though to be fair, it was used best as an equivalent to a phone).

For my taste, I do tend to like to have the Gamepad audio overshadow my tv audio in some games. It seems like it's not good for recording though.

I like the concept, though I'm a little concerned about how the volume of the GamePad will stack up to my 5.1 system. If I'm not into it, I'll just go with headphones, which I enjoy doing anyway.

That's actually a good point. I remember you could actually make the audio come out of the tv for Wii games with this thing if you muted the Wiimote sound, but I'm not sure you can do that with the Game Pad? (at least, I assume not when I have never seen that option and the Gamepad already has a volume slider)

@TomJ: It's strange how that sarcasm can be accurate. LOL

@VelvetElvis: I appreciate the references, but it's undisputed that this game is receiving mixed reviews and is generating roughly a C average. Regardless of any opinion, it's reasonably theoretical this game would have done monumentally better if they opted for a traditional control scheme. The performance would have likely seen less dips in frame rate.

Clarity: I will be purchasing the game, but I'm skeptical whether or not this will fill the void left from Star Fox 64. I was a rampant score-attacker in the 64's iteration. The tight controls allowed for quick playthroughs that would rely on your skills and were exceptionally rewarding. Oh well! Good thing I have Sin and Punishment 1 & 2. LOL

That is a really astute observation.

What I am getting out of this is a bad choice of words to express the concept.

I dont think it was meant to be cinematic, but perhaps... immersive? Perhaps I should hit a thesaurus...

Anyways I think the intent was, that the gamepad was like your cockpit screen, and the console and dash of the arwing, so thats where the speaker for the radio is, and why the voices come out of it.

It really doesnt seem to be having the effect they intended.... And the lack of audio options is a pretty glaring whoopsie... But honestly, the kind of whoopsie that is just.... SO nintendo and platinum. Im just not surprised... Fortunately this is just not one of the things that bothers me.

This is really a tough one.

On one hand, we have to face the fact, that game journalists are pretty infamous in general for being completely incapable of learning anything new, and anytime they fail to learn something new, they always blame it on the game.

On the other hand... What if this is not one of those scenarios?

From what Ive seen, and, I'm pretty dang good at extracting how mechaics would work and feel through video, and added to the fact that I am absolutely giving platinum the benefit of the doubt in no small part to over a decade of pattern recognition when it comes to reviewers having to learn new things... (God hand, vanquish, the wonderful 101, heck, it took them over 10 years to figure out monster hunter isn't a bad game with broken controls) Im pretty confident that this will be a pretty exciting action game, that is best experienced with the dual screen/gyro based method, and will be vastly more engaging with all the moving parts, than just watching the video of someone else playing it may portray. Ive never really been a starfox fan, but Im more interested in this one, than any one thats come around in a long long time.... Hopefully my hunch pays off.

But man, do you think you could go easy on the competition comparison? Sin and punishment is a tough crowd.

I just played the first level of the game. Couldn't wipe the smile off my face.

The voices actually sound pretty good coming out of the GamePad

Don't focus on the word "cinematic". Focus on "3D sound" instead. Star Fox Zero works no different than how Lego City: Undercover voice calls works, or the voice messages in Pikmin 3.

This has been covered before. If you record from the Gamepad headphone connection, you get a stereo mix with all the sounds.