Star Fox: Assault

STAR FOX: ASSAULT

Star Fox is arguably the best sequel to the 64 game, returning to the series' roots and expanding upon it after the departure that was Adventures. The story centers around the Lylat system being invaded by a race of insectoid aliens called Aparoids, a single member of whom once devastated an entire squadron.

Our Star Fox team returns, with Fox, Falco, Slippy, and Krystal now being the central members, Peppy having mostly retired to a support role, staying on the Great Fox with ROB 64. The game has three main methods of playstyle, with the team switching between flying their Arwings, driving Landmasters, and running around on foot. On foot, you can run, jump, roll, use lasers, charge shots, and sniper rifles, and a shield. The Arwing is standard to your previous experience, as is the Landmaster. There is also a multiplayer mode, with the four heroes playable alongside Peppy and Wolf. They mostly play the same, just with varying stats to them.

General Pepper returns as a supporting character, alongside Beltino Toad, Slippy's father and a head scientist for the Federation. James McCloud has a couple of cameos, and you even get to say hi to Tricky at one point. Team Star Wolf plays a much more "hero" antihero role this time, helping in the fight against the Aparoids. By that I mean, Wolf O'Donnell, Leon Powalski, and a new member, a panther named Panther Caroso, a very Pepe Le Pew-type character who rivals Krystal. Pigma and Andrew both got kicked out.

Speaking of Andrew and Pigma, they both play villainous roles in the story this time. Andrew starts out as the opening villain, having recruited a number of forces to try and take revenge for his uncle's legacy. He fights you in a similar ship based on his own head, attacking you with punches just like his uncle. Meanwhile, Pigma sells out to the Aparoids, acting as bait for the Star Fox team to lure them into a trap and sabotaging a space station, only for him to become infected by the Aparoids and get melded into one of their warships. In this form, he has six robotic crane arms that can launch asteroids, missiles, and fire gatling guns. He can also release bombs and fire a disintegrator beam from his mouth.

The Aparoids come in many forms, including Flyer, Beetle, Moth, Spinner, Kamikaze, Morphing Ship, Crystalline, Stringy, Bloated, Glowing Sac, Tri-Winged, Y-Shape, Electric Sphere, Crawler, Purple, Hatcher, Roller, Gunner, Force Field Generator, Blue Orb, Swirling, Silver, and Larval varieties. There is also a winged boss, a cylindrical boss, and the Aparoid Queen. The Queen herself will send out eggs that will hatch into more Aparoids, shield herself with scales, fire a devastating beam, fly, lash out, fire energy rings, creating a tunnel of energy breath, and firing a large central beam.

The planets Fortuna, Katina, Fichina, Sauria, Corneria, Titania, and Zoness all return, as does the area Meteo. New areas include the Sargasso Space Zone, the Orbital Gate that will lead to the Aparoid homeworld, and the Aparoid Homeworld.

That's about it! Here's what we've got so far:

Characters:

Fox/Falco/Slippy/Peppy: run, jump, lasers, bombs, roll, shield, sniper rifle

Krystal: spear, energy blast, bombs, CloudRunner, launch, shield

ROB: bombs, cannon, supplies

Arwing: lasers, bombs, barrel roll, rockets, thrusters, shield, charge shot, somersault, half-loop

Landmaster: lasers, bombs, charge shots, roll, hover

James/Katt/Bill status?

Tricky: Stay, Flame, Find, Heel, Play Ball

CloudRunners: fly

SnowHorns

LightFoots: run, fight

Wolf/Leon/Panther: Wolfen capabilities, the moves listed for Star Fox team?

Andrew: possible echo of Andross

Pigma: crane arms, asteroids, missiles, gatling guns, bombs, disintegrator beam

Andross: tiles, inhale, lasers, punch, clap, brain, spirits, rings, meteorites

General Scales: invisible, two hooked claws

Galdon: green fireballs, claws, eat Fox

Drakor: flies, blue lasers, electrical traps

SharpClaws: various weapons

Aparoids: Flyer, Beetle, Moth, Spinner, Kamikaze, Morphing Ship, Crystalline, Stringy, Bloated, Glowing Sac, Tri-Winged, Y-Shape, Electric Sphere, Crawler, Purple, Hatcher, Roller, Gunner, Force Field Generator, Blue Orb, Swirling, Silver, Larva

Aparoid Queen: eggs, scales, devastating beam, fly, lash out, energy rings, tunnel of energy breath, central beam

Stages:

Corneria

Venom

Asteroid

Space Armada

Meteor

Sector X

Titania

Sector Y

Fichina

Fortuna (now separate)

Sector Z

Macbeth

Katina

Aquas

Solar

Zoness

Bolse

Sector 6

Krazoa Palace

ThornTail Hollow

SnowHorn Wastes

Moon Mountain Pass

Cape Claw

CloudRunner Fortress

LightFoot Village

Walled City

Dragon Rock

Volcano Force Point Temple

Ocean Force Point Temple

Sargasso Space Zone

Orbital Gate

Aparoid Homeworld

Thanks for reading! Next up, it's time to Command some better gameplay.