If you liked playing the original Star Fox 64, or if you’re new to the game, you’ll love playing Star Fox 64 3D for the Nintendo 3DS by 1Up. As in the original, you play as the legendary pilot Fox McCloud, and you lead your fearless squadron of fighters in fierce aerial combat against your foes, the evil forces of Andross. And, what’s more, the game automatically saves your progress, unlike the original, and you get to play it in glorious 3D! Can you and your fellow pilots save the galaxy from destruction? Play this fantastic game to find out and prove your worth as a space ship fighter pilot!
As in the original, you dodge meteors and blast enemy fighters out of the sky, while trying to protect your buds (Peppy, Slippy, and Falco) from being blasted into smithereens. But, unlike the original, besides playing this version in 3D, you have dual screens, with the top one featuring 3D aerial combat, and the bottom one displaying the characters and the dialogue. Pretty cool, huh?
And, there are two control methods for the player to experience. you can play the game in the Nintendo 64 Mode, which offers the original control system, or you can play it in the new Nintendo 3DS Mode. This mode uses the motion controls of the built-in Gyro Sensor of the Nintendo 3DS system. Either way is fun–I suggest you try beating the game using both of these modes, one after the other!
You’ll travel through the Lylat system on different missions to different planets and blast enemies, collect power-ups and fight powerful bosses on your way to the final battle. There are challenges galore for you to face and tons of enemies to defeat along the way, so I’d say this game is well worth the money if you’re into science fiction shooting types of games like I am.
Added to this, there’s a fantastic new multiplayer option that lets up to four players engage in fierce aerial combat via a local wireless connection (using four systems and one game card via DS Download Play). The multiplayer mode also includes new power-ups and special weapons. Players can use the Nintendo 3DS system’s inner camera to display a live video feed of their faces as they battle, bringing a new level of fun and personalization to the multiplayer experience.
I personally liked the interaction between Fox McCloud, Slippy, Peppy, and Falco. They can at times be annoying, seeming to demand your help to “get bogeys off” their tails, but their comments make you feel like you are a part of a team. The battles you have against the Star Wolf Team are for me one of the best parts of the game, just as they were in the original one for the Nintendo 64.
I would’t say it’s any easier nor more difficult to play the game in 3DS, it’s just that it takes the coolness factor up one more level, and makes playing the game that much more fun. As far as ease of play, both modes I previously mentioned are fairly easy to get used to, though I played the game most often in the Nintendo 64 Mode, as I’m more used to playing it that way. The graphics are updated and spectacular-looking in 3D, and the sound quality is excellent for a hand-held gaming system, also.
Now, it’s on to a discussion of just some of the medals you can earn and cheats, tips, and tricks. I won’t get into great detail on these, but they are also one of the things that make this game so much fun.
To earn the Aquas Medal, you must get 150+ hits, which should be fairly easy for you to do. Then, there’s the Area 6 Medal–to earn this, you must get 300+ hits. For the Bolse Medal, you need to get 150+ hits, and for the Corneria Medal, that also requires you get 150+ hits.
To unlock the Expert Mode, you need to collect gold medals on all levels in either Story Mode or Score Mode. In order to get a medal on a level in Expert Mode, you must beat the stage with a specific number of hits (or more) and all of your wingmen alive.
Clear the main game to unlock Sound Test Mode.
You want to play the game with Fox wearing sunglasses? Just collect all Gold Medals in every level of the game, and viola! At the main menu you should be able to choose Expert. Fox will have James’s sunglasses.
I’ll just mention a couple more cool cheats/tricks that can help you defeat the game. If you’d like to get lasers in Meteo, you can–there are two hidden lasers there! At the beginning of the level, there are three asteroid rings. If you fly through them, a laser will appear. Also, when the “Big Ones Come,” just go through the first and another laser will appear. Don’t try this if you have low life, though, or you will likely die.
Star Fox 64 3D for the Nintendo 3DS is without a doubt one of the most fun and challenging games yet for the 3DS system. It’ll bring back fond memories for fans of the original game, and it offers enough thrills and action for anyone who loves shooting-style games. Get it now–it’s a Must-Have for owners of the Nintendo 3DS system!