Game Review: Star Fox 64 3D

Billy O'Keefe - Mclatchy -Tribune News Service

For: Nintendo 3DS

From: Nintendo

ESRB rating: Everyone 10-plus (fantasy violence)

Price: $40

Some point soon, Nintendo has to reposition the fledgling 3DS as a go-to spot for new Nintendo games instead of revamped versions of games that were new under the Clinton administration.

But while we wait for that to happen, there's nothing wrong with being impressed by "Star Fox 64 3D," which quite dramatically freshens up the Nintendo 64 original without abandoning what made it so good in its time.

That's kind of a big deal, because for reasons only Nintendo knows, there hasn't been a "Star Fox" game since that wasn't accompanied by some catch that made it something other than a simple, proper dogfighting game. And if this revamp proves anything to those only interested in a new game with new missions, it's that the formula still works when the production values stay current.

If you're the rare person who never played "Star Fox" but has an interest in this new edition, there's little you need to know. "SF643D" is a third-person space dogfighter, and while it occasionally lets you fly the ship freely in a confined space, most missions take place on rails and keep you moving forward while allowing you to control your X and Y axes.

It shouldn't sound complicated because it isn't complicated, but it's fun due to a high concentration of enemies to shoot and obstacles to dodge at a relatively fast pace. Completing one of "SF643D's" branching storyline trees isn't wildly difficult, but it isn't a cakewalk either, and achieving gold medal scores is a legitimate test of your ability to efficiently neutralize enemies, keep your allies alive and stay out of trouble yourself while also navigating a level's trickier spots for rings and other pickups.

Treated well, that's a formula that won't age. And as remakes go, "SF643D" does its part to make an old game feel young again.

Most obvious is the visual makeover, which is significant. "SF643D" transforms an early N64 game into something that looks right at home on the 3DS. It isn't just a case of new textures, either: Some sections - boss fights in particular - have received what look like ground-up rebuilds, featuring significant leaps forward in animation and composition as well as obvious things like textures and polygons.

Thanks to the 3DS' second screen, the makeover extends to the interface, which also takes customary advantage of the touchscreen. When your allies and enemies speak to you, their faces comprise the entire bottom screen instead of a small widow, and they've received a night-and-day upgrade over their N64 counterparts. That may sound trivial, but it's the tip of an iceberg's worth of interface polishing, and if you've developed an attachment to the "Star Fox" universe, seeing these characters come alive this way in a proper game is a treat.

The 3DS-enabled enhancements produce mixed results. The 3D effect is a perfect fit for a game in this genre, and it makes "SF643D's" visual upgrade pop even more. The best thing about the optional accelerometer aiming controls, though, is that they're optional.

The most clever implementation comes via the inner camera, which snaps your picture and shares your dismayed reactions with friends who shoot your ship down in "SF643D's" four-player wireless multiplayer. Unfortunately, you'll already likely be in the same room as your enemies, because the game lacks online multiplayer. That's a severe bummer, because while "SF643D's" multiplayer is pretty bare-bones, it's still fun, and the ability to play online would have done wonders for making this feel like a truly contemporary remake.

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