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Star Fox Adventures
Generally favorable reviews
Based on 39 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 49 votes
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Game Info
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Rare Ltd.
Genre(s): Adventure, Action
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Release Date: September 23, 2002
Summary
After piloting the Arwing starfighter in the first two stellar Star Fox games, Fox McCloud touches down on Dinosaur Planet for his first adventure outside the cockpit. Many missions still involve the aerial Arwing combat and dogfighting that the sly Star Fox series is known for, but the game pumps up the variety by allowing you to explore on foot and use magical attacks. Armed with an enchanted staff, Fox will be able to battle against the mutated dinosaurs led by local tyrant General Scales. But not all of the planet's dinosaurs are enemies, and Fox will team up with the prehistoric Prince Tricky. As Fox jets across the skies or traverses the vast planet on foot or on the back of a dinosaur, his showdowns with the planet's enemies will offer the sort of action-packed experience that gamers will go crazy over. [Nintendo]
Cheat Codes & Hints: Cheat Code Central GamePro IGN IGN Insider Guide
Also On The Web: Official Website
What The Critics Said
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
Entertainment Weekly
Even after 15 or 20 hours of play, new scenarios... will have even the most jaded of players curious about what might still be in store. [27 Sept 2002]
Play Magazine
A triumph, and a very bittersweet one at that. Sadly, it's become the ultimate swan song, marking the end of one of the greatest relationships in videogame history. [Nov 2002, p.72]
GameNow
Plays like a direct descendant of "Ocarina of Time;" it's a fun, fast-paced adventure, packed to the brim with interesting puzzles and exciting action sequences. [Nov 2002, p.46]
Gamezilla!
Although it stretches the Starfox license, once the game begins, you’ll hardly notice and the game’s length will keep you busy for some time.
Read Full Review >TotalGames.net
Combines elements of countless classic games and adds three years’ worth of great ideas to create something that in our opinion betters Nintendo’s best attempts.
Read Full Review >Nintendophiles
While the game isn’t nearly as perfected and amazing as "Ocarina of Time," it still provides Nintendo fans with an epic and excellent experience.
Read Full Review >Into Liquid Sky
A mighty adventure that takes a slow start but picks up and never stops.
Read Full Review >IGN
It's not without faults, but it's still a long, challenging adventure full of polish and complemented by some of the best graphics yet seen on GameCube.
Read Full Review >Gamer's Pulse
The game’s gorgeous graphical presentation makes for a pleasant experience that eases the moments when excessively polished design bogs gameplay down.
Read Full Review >Armchair Empire
Has it all: fun, adventure, good-looking graphics, awesome sound, quirkiness, challenge, and an innovative inventory system. It’s not as open as it could be and the constantly respawning bad guys are likely to grate on some nerves, but that’s not enough to bring it down.
Read Full Review >Nintendo Power
There are some clever puzzles to figure out, plenty of space combat and the usual almost-maddening-but-ultimately-very-rewarding level of difficulty that we've come to expect from Rare. [Oct 2002, p.192]
Game Informer
Rare has always made quality games, and with Zelda as its muse, Star Fox Adventures is no exception. [Nov 2002, p.130]
Games Radar UK (Pre-2006)
Offers just enough variety and story to keep you hanging until its early end. [GamesMaster]
Read Full Review >Game Over Online
Brilliantly constructed and a noble last effort from longtime Nintendo mainstay Rare.
Read Full Review >GamingTrend
Looking at this game I cannot get over the idea that Rare is stuck in rut with originality. Their collect-a-thon games are getting boring and adding that idea to the Zelda framework is just wrong in my opinion. This is a Gold Nugget, but nothing special.
Read Full Review >GameSpot
While [it] won't go down in history as Rare's finest achievement, it's still a great action adventure game by any standard, filled with a surprising amount of variety and lots of impressive graphics.
Read Full Review >GameSpy
The combat system isn't very engaging or deep. Tap the A-button -- repeatedly. That's about the extent of it.
Read Full Review >GamePro
Some lazily designed levels and trite puzzles keep Fox’s first planetside excursion from being the classic it could have been.
Read Full Review >NintendoWorldReport
A score of 80 is a great score for any other developer, but disappointing coming from Rare.
Read Full Review >Electric Playground
Though it would seem like a completely different experience, StarFox Adventures is a little like "Eternal Darkness"--a beautiful, well put together action and adventure game with so much to do and see.
Read Full Review >Yahoo! Games
Rare's stylish presentation, wondrous depiction of an alien world, and, ummm, mediocre yet steady gameplay come together in a way that simply isn't seen that often in console or PC gaming.
Read Full Review >G4 TV
Hard-core gamers might find the gameplay too forgiving and simplistic, but everyone else will be delighted to discover a land of beautiful graphics, intuitive and entertaining gameplay, and plenty of cool characters.
Read Full Review >Cheat Code Central
The entire adventure lasts anywhere from 18 - 25 hours + depending on your abilities and in todays market that's a decent bang for your gaming dollar.
Gamestyle
The main downfall comes with the closing areas of the game; they seem rushed and are indicative of the sale of Rare to Microsoft, but don’t let that prevent you from thoroughly enjoying one of the best videogames of this year.
Read Full Review >netjak
The game falls short of becoming a classic simply due to the simplistic control and combat system.
Read Full Review >Game Revolution
Despite some outstanding graphics and gameplay that recalls the best of Zelda, the story disappoints and multiple facets of the action fail to reach their full potential.
Read Full Review >Gaming Age
If you can live with a couple frame rate hiccups and somewhat shoddy story progression, Star Fox Adventures will suit you just fine.
Read Full Review >GameCritics
The game is good and it's worthy of being called one of the better games the GameCube has to offer. The problem is it really doesn't stand out in any way, shape or fashion.
Read Full Review >GameCube Europe
Not enough was spent to really think about the story or the gameplay in my opinion as should have been.
Read Full Review >Electronic Gaming Monthly
It's a bizarre mishmash of clashing styles, concepts and gameplay that, despite being all over the map, is still a must-play title. [Nov 2002, p.72]
All Game Guide
As a Star Fox title, it is disappointing, as the flying sequences are little more than filler in between routine planetary adventures... [but it's] worth the price of admission alone just to see the lush environments and astounding special effects.
Read Full Review >GamerWeb Nintendo
The combat is boring, the menial fetch-quests are boring and the backtracking gets downright frustrating.
Read Full Review >GMR Magazine
Takes its inspiration from "The Legend of Zelda" - and that ain't bad. [Feb 2003, p.96]
Nintendojo
The game is good but not great, and is one that you should probably rent. It takes around 20 hours to complete (or less).
Read Full Review >Eurogamer
It lacks tension (combat is totally one-sided), set pieces (there are two whole bosses in the entire game), a gripping story (Krystal’s kidnapped, you rescue Spirits, you fight General Scales), and any of the myriad different things that the game it principally tries to emulate (Zelda) was so famous for.
Read Full Review >Thunderbolt
It’s levels and puzzles have little if any appeal. Its continual emphasis on completing tasks and finding items seems more of a tedious job than some fun gaming.
Read Full Review >Cinescape
There are a couple of very ingenious puzzles, but these are few and far between. Often you find yourself wishing you had to do something more interesting, as the game gets repetitive.
Read Full Review >What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this game is 7.9 (out of 10) based on 49 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
Ja Boi Blue gave it a9:
I actually enjoyed this game much more than Wind Waker (but certainly no means more than Ocarina or my favorite, Link to the Past). True, the combat is easy in this game (like Wind Waker, you'll never ever die), but the puzzles can be challenging and a lot of fun. The only downsides I found are the annoying shop keeper, though he is not NEARLY as annoying as having to change the Wind in Wind Waker (Thinking about it makes me want to kill myself), the Arwing parts being too easy and the very sluggish beginning that the game has (at first you'll think, "uh, what did I buy?"). The fact that the story is very childish isn't a problem as I expect that from any Nintendo product (Metroid, etc. excluded). Beautiful sound, gameplay, puzzles and graphics. If you like Zelda, Beyond Good and Evil or similar games, definitely pick this up. Also, people call this a Zelda rip-off, but when you consider Zelda popularized adventure games, what do you expect? If this was a platformer everyone would say it was a Mario 64 rip off instead.
The Joe gave it an8:
Dear Zelda fans. It's possible to own and play both Star Fox Adventures and Zelda. For the discount price that you can find it for now it's well worth a buy if you're a fan of Zelda or adventure games in general. No, it's no Zelda but it's got fantastic graphics and interesting puzzles. The combat is incredibly easy and not very deep but I never found Zelda's to be either. It's about the adventure not the action.
Puffy gave it an8:
This game is pretty good.. graphics is a defnine plus... the game is very long i say its worth buyin... if ur lookin for a gmae that is like previus star foxes u may be disaponinting yes there is no blaster yes there is no fly around alot . but its a new twist i have to say i like it.. it does have some zelda like game play but its not better than ocrina of time ....i get the gaem u cant go wrong its wroth buyin . its pretty long game ....favorite part of the game is ridein the hover like thing down a hill agianst the sharp clauses. hardest part .... probly the blocks or night n day in wall city or takin the exploding barrel up the ramp while dogin other barrels ..but in all i get i the game its wroth it not a ten but still very worth havin.
Eduardo R. gave it a4:
I played it. I beat it. I hated it. The game is too easy. Sound effects are awful. Graphics are nice, but gameplay sucks. The "bosses" don´t even deserve to be called "bosses". I´ve just sold it. It was a relief. There are people who try to compare it to ZELDA - The Wind Waker. This is a message for them: Don´t you ever consider comparing this "game" to ZELDA. Fox McCloud´s weird staff is no match for Link´s Master Sword.
Cloud Strife & Thanasis I. gave it a4:
It is boring cause u have only one weapon with a few moves and the story is not good at all for Star Fox!! Zelda the best an much more better from this one. Choose Zelda instead of this!!
Matthew I. gave it a 1:
Somehow I actually completed this game and I hated every moment of it. The arwing sections are terrible, totally one sided, and require no skill at all. The fighting is terrible, totally one sided, and requires no skill at all. All you do is press one button over and over again to do combos which invariably end in your enemy being stuned or thrown away, who then returns two seconds later and you repeat the whole thing again. The 'puzzle-solving' consists of picking one thing up and moving it somewhere else or hitting a switch. It copies too much off Zelda. There is only one weapon and it sucks. The enemies do not look evil or threatening in any way. The man in the shop has a very anoying voice. This may not sound too bad but you have to listen to it every time you want to buy it and after a while it hurts you to your very soul to listen to him repeating the same, stupid nonsense in that damn whiney voice of his. The story is cliched: brave hero saves trapped Princess. It copies too much off Zelda. The characters are anoying and unlovable. It is the most linear game I have ever played in my life. You get 100% completion just by finishing it. Once you've beaten the final boss there is nothing else to do and the game has no replay value at all. Do not buy this game. It is one of the most frustrating, pointless, annoying games of all time. Buy Zelda instead.
Daniel M. gave it a 9:
Rubbish at first, excellent later.
