Graphics

Rare is known for doing a lot of things right, and one of those is making beautiful games. Starfox Adventures looks stunning, and is nearly as pretty as any game on the Wii today. From the vivid environments to the well-animated fur on Fox's body, this game is unmatched by other Gamecube games. It certainly provokes the feeling of a natural and realistic environment.

9

Sound

A factor that is essential to a game's ability to immerse the player is its soundtrack, and this game doesn't disappoint. David Wise proves his musical genius with one of the most atmospheric and organic soundtracks of any game I've played. The songs are all very fitting for the environments in which they're employed, and all provoke the emotion of the situation. It's a classic David Wise soundtrack with everything you've come to expect from Mr. Wise.

10

Play Control

Though the game excels at immersion, the game play itself is nothing to scream about. It's certainly not bad; it's a basic Zelda-styled adventure with controls that you'd expect from a game of that genre. There are rarely any camera issues or control quirks. The shooting mechanics that are utilized in some levels are the only really weak part of the game. The flying portions between worlds aren't that great either, but they are over with very quickly. It usually plays exactly how you'd expect it to, but the occasional segment of awkwardness can be frustrating.

7

Originality

Again, the game certainly does its best to make you feel like you're in a natural environment, but beyond that doesn't offer much in the way of actual gameplay. The environment itself is very original. I love the concept of a planet of dinosaur tribes all pitted against a sinister enemy. The world itself is not one I've explored before in other games. When it comes to actually exploring this world, it really does nothing new or extravagant. The controls aren't new. The tasks and minigames you are faced with aren't new. Everything in the game is done well, it's just not all that original.

6

Final Word

Starfox Adventures' long and dramatic development from Dinosaur Planet to its current iteration may have deterred some, but what we were left with is still an incredibly beautiful and captivating game. The Starfox bits feel very tacked on, but the world and its inhabitants as they were intended to be are very much intact. Although the game does little new, it does everything well, and though I argued more than anybody against its status as a DKU game, after actually taking the time to play it through I've realized why its connection to the DKU remains. If anyone was disappointed with Donkey Kong 64, then this game may be what they're looking for. It's a fantastic experience, and anyone who's been avoiding it because of its connection to Starfox is sorely missing out.

10

Final Score: 9/10