Gaming, Anime, and Comic Book Update: "See You, Space Cowboy..."

2015 saw many major titles delayed into the following year. From Star Fox Zero, to the new Legend of Zelda, and even Persona 5, the holiday game offerings for this Fall and Winter were slim compared to years past. Those aforementioned Wii U titles, as well as the Shin Megami Tensei x Fire Emblem title, will certainly be purchases for me this coming year. I also recently picked up Xenoblade Chronicles X. While I’ve spent a decent amount of time with it already, given how long the game is reported to be, I highly doubt I will get around to reviewing it until January, at the very earliest.

Fast Racing Neo, meanwhile, will likely be my last game review to be posted for 2015. It has managed to impress me so greatly that I have no doubt that it will land in my top 5 games for the year. I also recently purchased SteamWorld Heist for the 3DS, which is reported to last around 13 hours or so. I’m not sure if I will get a chance to write up a review for that game by the end of the year, so for the time being, given how I intend to continue devoting most of my gaming time for the next month or so to Xenoblade Chronicles X. Also on the radar for early 2016 will be Shin Megami Tensei IV, as I recently added it to my 3DS library as it was on sale in the eShop. I’ve never played a core SMT title before, but my experiences with the Persona series that spun off of it have been largely positive thus far.

On the anime front, while I did manage to start a number of series this year, I didn’t finish nearly as many as I had hoped. This was due in part to my trying to juggle too many series at once, and also partly due to personal events outside of the blog that demanded my attention more so than my viewing of these anime. As such, I hope to deliver quite a few anime reviews early next year, but am expecting to cut my year-end anime countdown to a ‘top 3’ this year, instead of my usual ‘top 5’.

On the comic book front, however, I manage to crank out quite a few more reviews than I initially expected. The short-lived nature of many of Marvel’s Secret Wars spinoff series helped bump the overall number of comic book reviews up significantly, while I was still able to devote time to more intense and lengthy reading material, like Black Science and Age of Apocalypse. I still have a number of comics that I picked up at this year’s Grand Rapids Comic-Con that I have not yet begun to read through, and those will most likely make for some of my earliest comic book reviews in 2016. The remainder of the year, meanwhile, remains largely ambiguous. No doubt I will continue reading Black Science, Tokyo Ghost, Nova, and Guardians of the Galaxy, but there are a couple of series I’ve had my eye on that may serve to replace Saga on my reading list.

Retro Studios Wii U title speculation/wishlist

There have been some rumors circulating the web recently regarding the possibility of a new Star Fox game for Nintendo's upcoming console, the Wii U. Star Fox has became a big hit with Nintendo fans due in large part to the N64 version, which allowed players to take different paths through the Lylat system in order to reach the final boss fight against Andross. What I personally find to be the most compelling aspect about this rumor is that it is often associated with Retro Studios being the developer of said game.

Looking back on Star Fox 64, it really does not present that long of a gaming experience, but still plays brilliantly with its arcade-style gameplay and cool level designs. I have always found it a bit odd how many people have demanded a new Star Fox title for years on end, following the success of Star Fox 64. Many people act as if the three new installments (Adventures, Assault, and Command) since never occurred. I've never been much a fan of Star Fox Adventures. It felt too far removed from the traditional Star Fox gameplay, and took forever for the story to get going. The concept of a planet populated by dinosaurs was entertaining, but it felt off for one of Fox McCloud's adventures, especially considering the fact that he faced it without the aid of Falco, Slippy, or Peppy.

Flash-forward to 2005, and Nintendo released a Star Fox game that was in keeping with its SNES and N64 predecessors. Star Fox Assault proved a more linear approach to the ship-based combat, but offered variety in gameplay via on-foot missions and use of the Landmaster tank. To this day, I still hold Star Fox Assault to be one of the most underappreciated titles on the Gamecube. Certainly it's not perfect; the experience is rather short, and the difficulty is lacking in parts. But it looks gorgeous for the hardware, has a great soundtrack, and is a heck of a lot of fun to play.

If indeed Retro Studios is developing a new game in the series, I'm sure it will turn out splendid. Retro Studios has earned a lot of respect from me, primarily for their resurrection of the Metroid series. But they have also done a great job with Donkey Kong Country Returns. They know how to keep a seemingly-perfect balance of new content with the familiar roots that fans have come to know and love with these games. I would love to see a Wii U Star Fox that blends the decision-based outcomes of Star Fox 64 with the varied mission parameters from Star Fox Assault.

Prior to the rumors spreading, however, Retro Studios had already confirmed that they were working on a game that they said "everyone wanted them to make". It's true that a new console Star Fox game has been in relatively high demand for a while, and the Wii was never host to an entry in the series. But the re-release of Star Fox 64 on the 3DS still seems to be performing pretty well in sales. One title that could be in keeping with Retro Studios' trend of breathing new life into older games (SNES-era games, to be more precise) would be Earthbound. For those not so familiar with Earthbound, it is the RPG from which Smash Bros. contender Ness originated from. While Earthbound did not perform outstandingly in sales during its initial release, its quirky style and gameplay has earned it a cult following since. It is the number-one requested game for the Wii's virtual console, and since Nintendo has not yet appeased the masses with such a release, a new Earthbound could be their answer.

Frankly, I think it would be a great option. Not only would it please gamer who have been asking for a new Earthbound for years, but it could prove a prime opportunity to utilize the Wii U tablet controller. In the same vein as the Zelda tech demo displayed, a Wii U Earthbound could grant players use of the tablet to plan their attacks and keep an eye on their stats while the action takes place on the television screen. It could also be used to make the experience more immersive if, say, something as bizarre and haunting as Gigyas came onto the scene (I'm thinking along the lines of how Eternal Darkness would pretend to shut of the television and so forth). Both Star Fox and Earthbound would be great, especially if either one is being developed by Retro Studios. And who knows - maybe the title they are working on is something completely different. Hopefully we will get some confirmation at this year's E3.

25 Days of Villains - #22: Andross

A floating head and pair of hands that managed to muster enough forces to conquer almost the entire Lylat system, Andross certainly knows how to get a job done. Unfortunately for him, his commanders are apparently completely incapable of fending off Team Star Fox as the anthropomorphic animals blaze a trail toward planet Venom. But that's really not Andross' fault, now is it?

Andross' ability to rally so many to his cause and in turn conquer the majority of the Lylat system displays his highly-regarded intellect. Though we don't actually visit each planet until after Andross has taken control, the fact that he has spread his troops out in such strategic armadas and varied attack patterns shows that he is prepared for a number of scenarios should anyone choose to retaliate against his regime.

I'm not too familiar with Andross' appearance on the original SNES Star Fox - most of my memories of him come from the N64 sequel. I know he was also a boss in Star Fox Adventures, a game that I never completed due to the way its gameplay and story left a poor taste with me. Frankly, I would have placed ol' monkey face higher on this list if he had appeared as a boss in Star Fox Assault, which was a beautifully-rendered and incredibly fun game, despite the shift to a linear storyline. His nephew Andrew Oikonny pays tribute to him with his own monkey mecha, but as far as I'm concerned, the final confrontation at the end of Star Fox 64 is simply classic.

Boss theme:
Compared to some of the other villains on this top twenty-five list, Andross' theme isn't quite as exciting or memorable. It does convey the dark nature of Venom well, though.

25 Days of Christmas - #24: Star Fox 64

Peppy Hare’s simple instructions of “Do a barrel roll!” were never meant to offer anything more than the occasional helpful hint to Fox McCloud. Yet somehow this single phrase has endured through the years as something of gaming legend. As goofy as the one-liners may have been, Star Fox 64 still stands strong as one of the most popular N64 titles ever to grace the system.

Star Fox 64 put players in an arcade-style setup, firing from their Arwing starfighter in a third-person perspective. They were granted laser power-ups and greater shielding from small items scattered around each level (sometimes granted from destroying a set number of enemies). Most enemies would count for a single point each when shot down, though boss fights would grant higher numbers depending on the time it took to defeat them and the damage you as a player sustained during said fight.

The map of the Lylat system gave players the opportunity to forge their own path to Venom. Some areas, such as Aquas, required a set number of points to reach. Others, such as Area 6, required the player to complete objectives like protecting the Great Fox from missiles in Sector X or shooting all the train track switches on Macbeth. This coupled with the fact that some levels were meant to be significantly more challenging than others allowed players to make each play through different.



Though the cast was rather small, the characters are distinct and memorable. Fox, being the most level-headed, tries to keep his team unified. Falco, though he often has a smarmy remark, is an ace pilot and can usually take care of himself. Slippy, despite being possibly the worst pilot ever, is always optimistic and looks up to the rest of team Star Fox. And Peppy, the eldest and most experienced member, acts as a guide now and then, offering short statements like: “Try hovering!” “Follow your father’s example Fox!” and “Use bombs wisely!” Even the rival team of Star Wolf and minor characters like Bill and Katt have such strong personalities that become ingrained in the player’s mind.

While the bulk of the game takes place from the cockpit of an Arwing starfighter, players are granted use of the Landmaster tank and the Blue Marine submarine on multiple occasions. Although the multiplayer felt tacked on at the last minute, it still flowed smoothly and offered four player fights in both the Arwing and the Landmaster. The inclusion of the then-new rumble pack let players feel vibrations from the controller when hit with laser fire, making the overall experience more engaging. Star Fox 64 offered some of the most addictive arcade-style gaming in years, and the replay value shines through greatly because of it.