"Worthwhile flying experience, but lacking."

Welcome to Star Fox: Command, where you must save the Lylat System by participating in fierce aerial (and indeed unreal) battle between the evil forces from Planet Venom- again.

This game is another one, and perhaps final, of the Star Fox series where our humanoid animal pilots defeat various enemies threatening their home planet. Because the series were widely appreciated among gamers, it would have been difficult to create Star Fox game that met general expectation. But somehow game makers managed to create game of the regular quality; not good enough to satisfy, but still surprising.


When you engage the enemy in dogfighting, your plane - called Arwing - will accelerate, decelerate, change height and directions, and pull all flying maneuvers by simple movement or tapping of your stylus.Yes, indeed only time you will require the button is to shoot upon enemy, which is not difficult at all. Star Fox: Command stands out from it's genre by exploiting the use of DS's greatest characteristic; the touch-screen interface.

The unique control system game possess might discourage some buyers from purchasing the game, but touch-screen based control actually works splendidly. The greatest advantage such interface has it's simplicity. Instead of frustrated over long time trying to take full control of the plane, player will be able to understand the control completely in less than ten minutes.
(if one paid attention to very short tutorials, that is.)


Unlike the controls that work great with DS, battle system is little disappointing. Just like the name of the game, in order to combat the enemy you have to intercept them first. How do you attack the enemy squadron and base? You draw the trajectory for all your Arwings on a 2-D map. If enemy happens to go into your trajectory, battle (in "roaming mode") will finally commence to determine the winner.

The function was probably made to encourage tactical thinking, eliminating enemy with most efficiency. However, all enemy squadron always head straight to the prime objective with equally same pattern, turning the new system into nothing but race to defeat all enemy within given amount of turn. Indeed, you are given at best five turns to eliminate all enemy on the map - you will lose the stage at instant all turn has been wasted.

More bad news for those who want to take time upon destroying the enemy, every battle will be timed in so-called fuel system. Timer runs out, your ship goes down Kaboom! I suspect the fun and playability of the Star Fox: Command would have highly improved if the game had more difficulty rather than timing entire fighting. After all, people loves challenges.

Unfortunately - this is another huge disappointing factor - the game is easy. Too easy. After you figure out the obvious pattern of each stages, even the final boss at the highest difficulty is easy as eating a piece of cake.


Despite the touch-screen control was better than expectation, Star Fox: Command could have brought much more greater enjoyment if game offered 'difficult' level for gamers seeking challenges.

But I would like to give more point to Star Fox: Command for it's storyline. The game have option of nine widely different endings depending upon the choice characters make. (which is highly unusual) Now player still have reason to replay even after one saw the ending - you can view the 'collected endings' anytime as they are automatically stored, and locked materials always encourage collectors!

More better, when you unlock certain number of stages, some maps will actually re-adjust to make game harder. It doesn't change much, but at least effort itself counts. Right?


Wifi is great - you can play random players without friend codes, and you also can adjust the number of people playing. Battle itself is quite good. All four players will engage in battle aiming to collect the most stars which appear when you shoot other's Arwing down.

However, it's riddled with some problems. First, four people must participate in given game to affect your ranking since you only can change number of people in free-duel.

Second, Disconnection. Even though there is more than three people, when one person decides to disconnect, all game collaspe. That means you must always expect game to end abruptly because of somebody disconnecting. Sometimes, it gets annoying.

It also would have been better if each stage had specific characteristics, like fog or floating meteors, even tall buildings. All stages are composed of completely flat planes without any obstacles, graphic being the only noticeable difference. Wifi strategy ("hit the nearest Arwing you see!") would have much improved if there was some obstacles for players to exploit.

Plus, the gameplay tends to be divided in two stages. Get the strongest item, then barrel-roll like crazy. (Besides offering protection, the move magnetically attracts the star. Because of that, star is 100% stolen by other player if you do not barrel-roll.)


In conclusion, Star Fox: Command is fun to play but lack of attention in battle aspect diminished it's value. As for those reading this review, it is really matter of one's preference. You want easy-going aerial combat? Then get it. But I must warn you, there are lot of bosses, but they sure are easy to knock out!

Reviewer's Score: 6/10, Originally Posted: 09/04/07

Game Release: Star Fox Command (US, 08/28/06)