CRG Reviews: Star Fox: Assault

''Wassup, wassup! I know it's been a while since I did this, but I'm back to review another game, but it's not a fighting game this time''


 * Name: Star Fox: Assault
 * Publisher: Nintendo
 * Developer: Namco
 * Platform: GameCube
 * Released: October 25, 2004
 * Genre: Shooter
 * Players: 1-4
 * ESRB: T

Review
Now I'm not much into shooter games, but one in particular was entertaining for me. *drum roll* Star Fox: Assault!

I admit it. I'm a sucker for Nintendo games after I played Super Smash Bros. Brawl. Star Fox is no exception. Okay, enough talk. On with le review...

To start, Assault has some of the best graphics on the GameCube. The enviornments are beautiful, character detail is spot-on, and machinery and vehicles are just a lovely sight to behold. Though outfits for some of the main characters may seem unrecgonizable, these new outfits are just badass, especially Fox's.

The gameplay goes back to its roots when it comes to flying your Arwing, since Star Fox Adventures has a more RPG-esk style, but this entry introduces Landmaster battles [UPDATE: the Landmaster was also present in Star Fox 64] and shooting on foot. Both elements are welcome additions, as they both control welll, though they do have a few issues, such as aiming your weapon.

I also love the music. Most of it is remixed from Star Fox 64, but it also includes original pieces. The voice performances are well done for the most part. However, I hate how characters say the same piece of dialouge over and over and over again.

One of my most favorite parts is actually the story. It's a very straightforward, but complex plot. However, near the last few chapters, things really  start getting confusing, they don't make any damn sense.

As, expected, multiplayer steals the show in hardcore shooters minds; to me, it was fairly decent. My biggest gripe with it, however, was the character selection. Why couldn't they have also included Star Wolf, R.O.B. 64, and/or Peppy as playable characters? [UPDATE: I found out that Peppy and Wolf can be unlocked]

I did some extra digging and found a secret minigame (Namco's own Xevious). To be totally honest, I never unlocked it, but I did play it previously.

Key components

 * Graphics- 8.8
 * Gameplay- 9.2
 * Controls- 8.5
 * Sound- 8.9
 * Entertainment- 8.9
 * Replay Value- 7.9

Final words and Final Score
And the results are........

8.8 (Solid)

Namco did an exceptional job at portraying Nintendo's flagship shooter. Aside from camera problems, lack of variety in multiplayer, and confusing storytelling, this is a worthy Star Fox title and one of the best in the Gamecube's library.

-Joshua Garriga (a.k.a. ComicReadingGamer)