Star Fox Zero Review: In-Depth Critique and Analysis - GamerFox24601
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- čas přidán 24. 06. 2016
- Star Fox Zero is an incredibly flawed game. In this video, I go in depth and look at WHY the game falls short and examine the problems it has with great detail.
This video is full of spoilers for Star Fox Zero.
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Best review of this game I've watched.
I agree with all of your points.. Zero was beyond a let down.. especially with the knowledge that it had been THAT long in development.
I really think/hope that Nintendo just go back to the direction Assault was taking the Star Fox series. It had its flaws but overall was ambitious, fun and new!
Another thing that bothers me on top of this is that half of the series' games included new characters like Krystal, Panther and worlds like Sauria, etc only to pretend like none of that ever happened due to 64 fans hating anything that is new.
I'm with you. I just want Star Fox to evolve as a series, like it seemed to be in Assault.
Yup. Didn't find myself disagreeing with anything here.
It's a fun game on the surface, and I think the motion controls were, in theory, a good idea (It's actually more effective to not attach them to the way your ship is facing), but there was just a lot of half-assed shit in this game, and the designers, writers, etc. made it very clear that they just don't understand what makes StarFox compelling.
24:01
Y’know, StarFox isn’t the only game series with this kind of issue.
If one entry in a given series becomes held as the best, the overwhelming size and force of the fan base will press that all games should match that one good one, while the other fans enjoy the series anyway and/or want to see some change.
Fans of the game vs. Fans of the series.
Very few series that backtrack and recycle ideas end up as successful as whatever the “best game” is that the fans wanted it to be like so badly.
This video is over a year old, but whatever, I saw it now and I'm commenting now. This review was spot on. It nailed every point of contention I had about Zero, and more. I wouldn't even have thought to frame the control issues the way you did in the first section, and Miyamoto's rust shows through yet again. It's sad to see him be so reliant on gimmicks in recent generations as opposed to what feels natural or good. As for the motion controls, they absolutely should have been tossed out in favor of something that actually works, or at least implemented workarounds like the ones you mentioned. Your take on the art direction and music have very much convinced me, and I can see the fault in the lack of cohesiveness in the game's feel. Though, that doesn't stop a lot of the game's tracks from being extremely good individually, imo.
Honestly, the only things I disagree with in this review was that 'stereotyping' of the 'two types of star fox fans'. Personally, I enjoy 64 because I feel it has the strongest gameplay, game design, and effort out of the series. It is the ONLY game in the series that I personally accept as any form of canon, and here's why;
1) Star Fox 1 and 2 are somewhat too outdated now, and 64 overshadows them taking everything about the original and rebooting it beautifully. I still want to see more concepts fleshed out from it, but they are niche more than anything.
2) On the other hand, later games in the series have just been messy slogs through different company's interpretations of the 'Star Fox' mythos.
Star Fox Assault is the only game I would consider a true successor in the main series. Its character development, plot concepts, and gameplay make it solidly the second most enjoyable game in the series for me, but its complete shift in art direction, voices and characterization make it feel like another reboot, too far removed from it than anything else. And thanks to the fact that it canonizes the trainwreck of a game that was Star Fox Adventures, that 'reboot' is founded on EXTREMELY unstable ground.
I want to see the story and gameplay expand past 64, not just rehashing it. I want a game with the expansiveness of Assault, and the innovation that 64 initially brought. But I also want a game that feels cohesive to a single lore. Again, Adventure tried to do this, being a chronological successor to 64, but its very existance was a mishmash of two completely different IPs, with the gameplay of a zelda clone, giving it no identity whatsoever. Assault, tried to stick closer to 64, but with the aforementioned changes to characters' designs, voices and characterization, it still feels too dissosiated, even though it claims to be of the same arc.
That was a massive digression, sorry. Back to the point;
To me, the direction they've lead currently isn't a good one, and because of that, SF64 is the only game I truly, fully, enjoy. So, defining 'Star Fox 64 fans' and 'Star Fox fans' in the way you did is just inaccurate. While I know under your definition, I would be MORE in line with the 'Star Fox fans' category than 'Star Fox 64 fan', it was still a poorly worded and divisive take on the fandom.
Oh also, that last point about the voice actors being the same was uhhh... a bit unclear. While I guess I can't defend Slippy or Fox, Peppy was voiced by Rick May in the original but Jaz Adams in 643D and Zero. Completely different guy. In fact, all of Zero's VAs were brought from Star Fox 64 3D. They're all exactly the same, and only 4 actors returned from the 64 original for either game; Mike West, Lyssa Browne, Ja Green and David White. Funnily enough, they actually made the returning VAs almost entirely replace the non-returning VAs. Only Falco, Peppy and Bill are voiced by entirely new people, so the fact that you only used Fox, Slippy, and Peppy in the example strikes me as odd.
Love the video, man! As a lifelong Star Fox fan, I agree with your arguments and how all these missteps added up to a disappointing waste of potential. I'd like to see more game analysis' like this.
Dude, fantastic video. Your attention to editing and detailed discussion is easy to see and I can say this is the quality of video I would like to put out one day. Personally, I actually enjoy Zero, but I am not blind to how flawed it is, and I agree with everything you said here. Great job, keep up the good work!
Thank you!
I do have a question about something you said but didn't elaborate on. You said James McCloud was poorly used. Why do you think that?
In star fox 64, seeing James was a reward for beating the game on the hardest route. If you managed to figure out how to get all the way through by beating the most difficult levels, you were rewarded with a true ending, and seeing James McCloud.
In Star fox zero you see James because you screwed up a maze you'd have no idea how to navigate. it's almost impossible to avoid seeing him. He always shows up in the ending. He's no longer a reward, no longer mysterious, and no longer interesting. He was very poorly used.
It seems like a product of the times, in a way. Developers don't want to risk players missing out on the story details or those little cool bits which makes it much less common that completionists and hardcore gamers who really delve into the hidden parts of a game will get anything for their trouble. It's a shame, really. Back in the day, there was much less competition, and it was more common for kids to play through games again and again hoping to find some new secret or goodie, but kids today can turn to a different game easier than ever these days and there's a greater emphasis on holding as much attention from the player as possible for every game now. It's a shame, really, but it was really an inevitable trait of the industry's evolution.
You should be a game designer. You have so much know-how on videogame qualities and more. I'm glad you took the time to put this much effort and depth into this critique. Great job, I needed that.
Believe it or not, I actually am a game designer! I'm currently working on my first big project ^_^
I am very happy you enjoyed the review ^_^
+GamerFox24601 Awesome!Can't wait to see it. Good luck. You should make more analysis videos like this, take your time.
Give this franchise to platinum and keep miyamoto far, FAR away from it. That one arwing section in Bayonetta 2 is better than this whole game
Also, bring back Krystal for the love of god, she's probably the most interesting character in this series and they ditched her like that
Anyways, this was a great review, really nailed all the issues this game has, hope to see more reviews in the future
Uhh I think Peppy's voice actor in Zero was someone else, and not the dude from 64.
Other than that, this video is spot-fucking-on with all of Zero's problems. The Star Fox series could do a lot, but Miyamoto really has no clue what he's doing. The really sad thing is, I've seen a fan-game worked on, that while maybe not the best in the graphics department, seemed to have better direction than Zero did.
This was a thoroughly entertaining and informative assessment. Thank you. I never played Zero. I refuse. I MAY get Guard, but Zero always looked dead on arrival to me. :( Oh, well! Your points satisfied my curiosity, and you're a great presenter and writer. Kudos!
Thank you!
+GamerFox24601 No prob! Best of luck on your big project!
The beginning already had me dying. XD
Anyways, this was a fantastic review and overall video! =D The editing was pleasing to my eyes, and the discussion and points brought up was pleasant to follow. You did a great job on the review, and hopefully I can see more! Keep up the good work, good sir! ^w^ b
Thank you so very much!
@@PieMan24601 Going slightly off topic, Miyamoto said that when making F-zero X they had to sacrifice graphics to maintain a 60 frame-rate.
I think Starfox Zero has the same problem they sacrificed detail in order for the game to run at 60 frames per second??? In other words it hard for arcade shooters to transfer well into HD.
The good news is that arcade shooters are still a thing in indie games.
This is a fantastic video man. I do this kind of thing myself and there are points here I can say with certainty I would never have even considered if I were to have looked at SFZ. The explanation of why the motion controls are always out of alignment is especially brilliant and perfectly delivered.
Thank you very much!
I keep coming back to this one, it's just so well done!
If this is any indication what your future reviews will be like I guarantee your sub count will rise once you get going again.
Still watching this video and getting angy.
Imagine a Star Fox game with the same Gamepad Motion Controls, but it’s a new entry in the series with a new story and events. There would at the very tiniest least be a motivation to press through the bad controls, to see new planets, new characters, and story events. (It’d still be like most other Star Fox games like Assault and Command, unfortunately.)
With Zero, you’re just pressing through to see stuff you’ve already seen 19 years ago, but just prettier and cleaner. And you have to wrangle with these controls and you cannot take what you learned to other games. Only this one. Call the controls atrocious, fantastic, or good when you get used to them, but what’s objective is that they were *not necessary* to make a good Star Fox game.
A very thorough review, thank you. It touched on a lot of the details that definitely get overlooked because MOTION CONTROLS. The lack of tension from being able to revisit levels and your teammates having Wolverine healing powers was something I hadn't really thought about, but I agree.
Just a little script feedback: You are "Baffled" or "Utterly Baffled" a few too many times in this video. Don't get me wrong a lot of the design choices in this game are baffling, but I'd like more word variety.
I come back to this video from time to time and wonder "what if?"
A review as in-depth and lengthy as a superbunnyhop and matthewmatosis type of review. Nice work explaining, they really should have thought twice about the motion control implementation and how it hindered the game. Not to mention this was roughly 10 years after Star Fox Command, if you don't learn from your mistakes your doomed to repeat them.
Thank you for the compliments! I really appreciate the comparison to SBH and MatthewMatosis, They're a big inspiration to me.
GamerFox24601 Here's hoping that StarFox doesn't have to go through another 10 year hiatus to get another game. Metroid fans will probably be experiencing the same tho -_-
This video upsets me because how much I agree with all you said. I am a huge Star Fox series fan and I really wanted a game I could suggest to people so they too could become Star Fox fans. I can only hope Nintendo decides to bring the GameCube games to Switch. If they do really well surely Nintendo will continue the series.
By the way I really like your Star Fox collection.
Why is it old franchises have problems giving people good quality games.
Great review overall! I haven't played the game myself but I've heard so many mixed opinions on it I doubt its worth playing. I was considering getting a Wii U just for this game. I suppose you could lump me in the "Fan of 64" category since it was the game I most fondly remember playing when I was younger... *However* I have followed the series somewhat since then, but only played Command proper and Assault on emulator. I like a lot of the ideas that the later games have, and like you said in the review a reboot to the series could've helped flesh out and reinvigorate those ideas. Just a note on your comment about the voice actors, since I know a lot fo people don't know this- The only returning voice actors from 64/Lylat Wars were the ones for Fox/James, Slippy, Gen. Pepper and Leon/The Narrator. Everyone else was a new actor basically doing an impression, since they were brought on for the 3DS remake of 64.
It really is sad that they wasted the potential for a reimagining/reboot. Sorry for the shameless plug, but I actually started my own reimagining ideas for StarFox if you want to check it out;
www.starfox-online.net/forums/topic/13138-star-fox-re-imagined/
It's so sad we never had a Star Fox game using motion controls. I would have loved to see it.
Wow! This was a great Analysis! Very entertaining! I hope Nintendo could see this video. I personally liked Zero ( I first played Zero thene 64 on 3DS.) my first was Adventure, Assault, then Command. I really understand the flaws of this game, But I still enjoy it. Anyway, this was a great DEPTH video that explained very well the flaws. You won a subscribed!
It's a shame that this happened. Considering star fox fans had been craving for another game for years, it was Nintendo's duty to reward seasoned players with something refreshing. While this game might have a somewhat distinct flavor, it's a 64 wanna be, and what's worse, it did not surpass the expectation, hell, not even came close.
I hate that Nintendo just keeps on re releasing their previous material. This only shows that Nintendo's golden era was back then in 1995 or so, in the 64 era. Isn't it a total drag to see OoT, SF64 and Mario 64 on every list But no new stuff? When was the last time they did a truly remarkable game?
They fucking lost it. They could have done a great game just by recreating the gameplay, adding a few more planets, and for fucks sake, adding a little more to the story, they could have easily milked the father-son drama, perhaps even more context to Star fox team as a whole, or each individual member; but they settled for 64's legacy. This was an aborted SF64 clone...
And you are absolutely right when saying Nintendo will just kill the franchise instead of trying to add something more to it. If it doesn't do well, if it's not #1 on its first attempt, it's doomed. That's the exact same shit that happened to F-Zero GX - it was perfect, it just didn't do too well in sales most likely for the absent marketing, and it's been 15 years already and counting...
It's amazing how they did manage to add even more to Zelda with BotW, but they just can't show proper love for other "smaller" franchises
guess you never played any more modern games if you think the n64 was the golden age. if anything many would snes was better. also they made games better then OOT and mario 64 long ago now.
nintendo still makes remarkable games that was never lost it. they did recreate the gameplay...but it wasn't a great game. wasn't a "abordted sf64 clone" but a reboot really
eh...nintendo has tried working on adding something new to old series like with punch out wii or metroid prime 4
You broke it down perfectly. Everything you said (especially at end) is how i feel too. My greatest hope was that the game would go deeper into the universe and lore and and other stuff. But thanks to the almighty god of Nintendo that can't never do wrong, Miyamoto, it was a piece of shit. Star Fox Zero more like Zero Star Fucks Given
btw funny humour
I'm happy you liked the video! Thank you very much ^_^
great critique. the new theme sounds like a generic fan version of a star trek opening credits lol
I still come back to this video after all these years.
It truly was as simple as making a game with gameplay of 64 that continued the story of the series however they wanted.
Even if they didn’t want to try to continue the story after Command, they could have done what Crash 4 did and retcon the games from Adventures onward if they wanted.
And once again, because of one poorly performing game in the series, that means the entire series isn’t worth continuing to the developers.
And Nintendo have Pokémon, Mario, and Zelda to worry about more than our Foxy boi.😔
Who would have prefered Assault's voice actors instead?
GamerD 247 me. I think assault has the best voice acting this series ever got.
haroon mahmood
Exactly!! Loved that game and the VAs.
I would, especially Wolf's.
Really well thought out review. I'll be honest. I used to be against bad reviews of the game, but now I can understand why the game is disappointing. Forced motion controls, lack of options, no online play etc. This is the game that made me lose respect for Miyamoto. It proves that he's out of touch with gaming and relies way too much on gimmicks. He needs to retire.
time to change this nasty profile pic!
@@DaniloSantosVieira still haven't
@@jaydenc367 it was gay fox mccloud back then lmaooo
@@DaniloSantosVieira fox isn't that bad but was it really nsfw before?
@@jaydenc367 yeah
Great video! I will say that I enjoy the game as it is, however it isn't perfect. I do think that Star Fox will return though(perhaps on the NX?). They should have just let platinum do what they do best and then supervise. Kinda like what Nintendo did with Metroid Prime.
Also, after looking at the other comments I wish you luck with your big project and hope to play it some day!
I bought this on a whim and I'm currently forcing myself to finish it. I'm getting more enjoyment out of Lego Movie Game than this. Guard seems okay, though.
UPDATE: I couldn't do it. I just couldn't do it. I get easily disoriented and having to continually swap focus between screens did not help. Maybe someday, but it's highly unlikely.
I have not played the game so I can't say if it's a bad game or not. But I get it's reputation and as its just a fulfillment of bad business decisions and just at the wrong place at the wrong time. If this game came out instead of Star Fox 64 3d or was a reimagining and introduction of Star Fox 2 than I'd probably be more open to it atleast. Regardless, It's main mistakes were forced motion controls and design, no online competitive multiplayer, and just being another retread of Star Fox 64. Still I agree with just about everything said here. Here's hoping Miyamoto learned his lesson with this game.
27:46 I hate the way Pigma says his "You can't beat me!" line in this game. In 64 he said it like it was a fact, as if it'd be impossible to shoot him down because of said fact. In Zero he says it to taunt you in a lame and awkward manner.
On another note, I hate how the game makes you play through Corneria twice. We could've had Venom be this huge planet that's been hinted to contain many mysteries like it did in 64 but in Zero it just a damn rock with a teleporter slapped on top of it.
My biggest problem with Star Fox Zero is how there weren't any 4v4 dogfights in this game. There's Sector Beta but Wolf won't show up until you take out the rest of the Star Wolf team. Then there's Venom where they have Fox take on the entire Star Wolf team by himself. Why Fox's team couldn't come with him is beyond me but it doesn't help that the fight makes Star Wolf look like much less of a threat considering the fact that Fox is able to take them on all by himself. Sure Fox could do it in 64 but that wasn't the only possible option. At least in 64 when you were stuck fighting the whole team by yourself it can be considered a real challenge, especially on Venom since they were almost always right behind you. In Zero it's just a matter of gliding around for awhile and shooting at whoever happens to fly in front of you. One of my favorite things about these fights were how the Star Fox and Star Wolf teams would interact and respond to each other based on what their rival was doing but in Zero you barely get those types of interactions. At least the Star Wolf theme sounded great but aside from that I can't say I really liked the dogfights at all.
I mean then you have the 1v1 fight with wolf which can actually be pretty tough.
I really like the game, and I respect all opinions. As much as I loved the game, after trying to beat Wolf solo a good couple of times (cant play this game to save me), I got a splitting headache from having to constantly switch between the screens. So the use of the motion controls is something I don't mind, the use of the the two screens is more off for me.
That's the thing. You're not meant to constantly shift your view from one screen to the other in rapid succession. If you are = you are playing the game wrong. You only need to switch the view, when the appropriate situation presents itself.
tbh if they made it like kidicarus uprising it would have good controls
Exactly what I was thinking. Using the touch screen and tweaking in more mechanics.
The missile stage is the WORST.
I never had a hard time with the controls. The only thing your game pad is used for is a screen mode for your cockpit which is used when you go into small tunnel areas to activate computer terminals and titling it to operate the aiming sight. Really the game is tough but it's not overly impossible and as you continue to play the game more and more you get better and better. I think the bosses were really where this game shined. They were tough and you felt like a king when you defeated them. Especially the boss in the Venom core. That boss was long, creative, challenging and epic as heck and the chanting music in the background made you feel like you were fighting a universal threat. I guess really this game is an acquired taste. I played it for myself and I enjoyed it. Nintendo yet again made a challenging and fun game. They never cease to amaze with providing a good experience for me.
now people would say though that skyward sword wasn't that bad. honestly zero is pretty flawed but I wouldn't say it's a bad game
This game was so terrible, it nearly killed Platinum! They even admitted it.
It took the work of Yoko Taro who made Nier: Automata to save the company.
Proof: www.vg247.com/2017/08/14/nier-automata-and-yoko-taro-saved-platinum-games-says-kamiya/
well...wasn't just star fox zero though
@@jaydenc367 It's confirmed that the all range mode was meant for spectacle, while the player uses the gamepad to shoot everything.
Thankfully you also can use the minus button to swap views without looking up and down.
@@orangeslash1667 Ah I see.
Yep! I did that a lot lol.
@@jaydenc367 What Zero lacks in easy mode it makes up for having a more in depth training mode than 64. When your only shooting gallons it makes it easier to experiment with the controls.
@@orangeslash1667 Exactly! I agree with you on that.
The motion controls are amazing. I love this game.
Well put together vid but I'm afraid it's tainted by biased opinions. Right analog stick feels bad for barrel rolling - as if pressing L or R twice ever felt that good? How about moving the right stick left to right (or right to left) in quick succession? Aiming in 3rd person view is reliable - just use the inner square - if an enemy is too far - use 1st person mode. Just like looking through the scope of a sniper rifle.
+Level 857 - Video Game Entertainment Channel
I guess I'm also "tainted by biased opinions," because I've played the game, and the controls were impossible for me to have comfortable fun. Literally impossible, for my sensibilities.
Not in your case. If you couldn't play this game comfortably, I'd either say = this game's not meant for you or you may not be evolved enough as a gamer to click with the game's controls.
Perhaps. Though I hazard a third option: the controls simply aren't good. *Smile and shrug*
L and R felt great for me. Try both for yourself and see which feels better. He talks about the range of the lasers being small, so a better view won’t change the lasers refusing to hit a distant target. And come on, you’re never gonna find a review without some bias. Hell, any and all reviews can be described almost entirely as an opinion with nothing objective at all. I don’t think this video had a lot of bias, only a few moments.