I actually purchased a Starter pack for this one in the Black Friday sales but after further reductions on the physical ship, weapon and pilot packs decided to go for a complete collection.
What appealed to me was the Stafox link and the fact some people had called it the best Starfox game in years...which is probably accurate. However as I don't have a Switch and the Xbox starter kit was cheap I doubled up - although this also means you have a complete collection of all the ships and weapon toys (note the Zenith ship is included with the Arwing on the Switch version but as a digital item only).
I've played the game for 2 hours or so. But have been through the first bits and off the first planet into space. I do need to invest more time with this, but there is a lot on my backlog currently.
The physical bit including the toys
Based off playing with the starter stuff and Scramble Ship and weapon (from Argos) - which was the only extra pack I had at the time.
Apparently you don't need to buy anything other than a starter pack and I believe this. Although the additional ships, pilot and weapons do add more special abilities or options etc.
The starter ship has a light on its tail (and I think most do). I did note the fire weapon with Scramble (the Argos exclusive ship) also lights up at the back.
The mount you attach to the Xbox Box one controller is an irritation. Apart from the pad feeling silly with a great big ship hanging off it, I find the right analog stick can hit it. This might be less of an issue with the Switch or PS4 mount. However I was able to have two controllers switched on and use the controller without the mount on and still able to play the game. The PS4 version seems to use a USB lead and therefore might be able to have near you rather than on the controller.
You can't mix digital and physical ships. As soon as the mount is on it expects things to be plugged into it. That said you get everything in the starter pack as digital versions. The game remembered Scramble and it's included weapon and apparently does so for 7 days. So you can plug everything in and then hammer the game without having to use the mount.
The game
As noted everywhere - it is very reminiscent of No Mans Sky graphically and in the way it plays. Strong deja vu. It does have a story, characters and quests tho. That said this is obviously a different type of game although it just as seamless being able to lift off planets into space etc.
To me it feels like a third-person shooter where you just happen to be in a vehicle. Combat is quite good fun and there are collecting elements along with materials to gather as well. I’ve encountered smaller enemies as well as mini-boss.
Loot wise it seems to be all about mods as you never find any ships, pilots or weapons. Mods can be used on the weapons and ships to boost or buff stats on them.
Space combat didn’t feel great to me. Ships can ‘wizz’ about too much and therefore you just need missiles to finish to auto cannon stuff. The game so far has felt better when it’s been grounded. I sense that even though there are quests everything is going to get repetitive very quickly. Everything is quite simple rather than an in-depth game - although that's probably as much about it's target audience. It’s has that expand the map and collectathon element to it. It is fun though and certainly at the current prices for the starter pack a bit of a bargain.
Now I’ve got all the ships and that I do need to sit down with this one properly.
What appealed to me was the Stafox link and the fact some people had called it the best Starfox game in years...which is probably accurate. However as I don't have a Switch and the Xbox starter kit was cheap I doubled up - although this also means you have a complete collection of all the ships and weapon toys (note the Zenith ship is included with the Arwing on the Switch version but as a digital item only).
I've played the game for 2 hours or so. But have been through the first bits and off the first planet into space. I do need to invest more time with this, but there is a lot on my backlog currently.
The physical bit including the toys
Based off playing with the starter stuff and Scramble Ship and weapon (from Argos) - which was the only extra pack I had at the time.
- OK although not great. The figures have some detailed paint application for their smallish size (just under 2 -inches tall) but aren't as polished as something like the Amiibo figures.
- The Weapons are probably the weakest link - mostly chunky with a lack of detail in relation to the ships and usually just one paint colour in addition to the plastic. I think this is intentional as they are probably the bit that will be swapped out most.
- The ships are the best part. Some more so than others. I really like the heavier ships in particular the Nadir ship. It has weathering on the paint, a skull on the back and teeth with fangs at the front. A real mis-mash of parts. Although there are 8 ships overall the two exclusives (to Argos and Smyths Toys) are just repaints with different wing parts from the other ships. The ships are hollow though to allow room for the figures to be inserted below.
Apparently you don't need to buy anything other than a starter pack and I believe this. Although the additional ships, pilot and weapons do add more special abilities or options etc.
The starter ship has a light on its tail (and I think most do). I did note the fire weapon with Scramble (the Argos exclusive ship) also lights up at the back.
The mount you attach to the Xbox Box one controller is an irritation. Apart from the pad feeling silly with a great big ship hanging off it, I find the right analog stick can hit it. This might be less of an issue with the Switch or PS4 mount. However I was able to have two controllers switched on and use the controller without the mount on and still able to play the game. The PS4 version seems to use a USB lead and therefore might be able to have near you rather than on the controller.
You can't mix digital and physical ships. As soon as the mount is on it expects things to be plugged into it. That said you get everything in the starter pack as digital versions. The game remembered Scramble and it's included weapon and apparently does so for 7 days. So you can plug everything in and then hammer the game without having to use the mount.
The game
As noted everywhere - it is very reminiscent of No Mans Sky graphically and in the way it plays. Strong deja vu. It does have a story, characters and quests tho. That said this is obviously a different type of game although it just as seamless being able to lift off planets into space etc.
To me it feels like a third-person shooter where you just happen to be in a vehicle. Combat is quite good fun and there are collecting elements along with materials to gather as well. I’ve encountered smaller enemies as well as mini-boss.
Loot wise it seems to be all about mods as you never find any ships, pilots or weapons. Mods can be used on the weapons and ships to boost or buff stats on them.
Space combat didn’t feel great to me. Ships can ‘wizz’ about too much and therefore you just need missiles to finish to auto cannon stuff. The game so far has felt better when it’s been grounded. I sense that even though there are quests everything is going to get repetitive very quickly. Everything is quite simple rather than an in-depth game - although that's probably as much about it's target audience. It’s has that expand the map and collectathon element to it. It is fun though and certainly at the current prices for the starter pack a bit of a bargain.
Now I’ve got all the ships and that I do need to sit down with this one properly.
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