2. Star Fox Assault (GameCube)
Assault is another interesting entry in the series, as it’s actually developed by Namco and published by Nintendo. After taking a brief aside in Star Fox Adventures, Assault brings the series back to its spacefaring roots.
Taking place one year after Adventures, a new alien race known as Aparoids are bent on assimilating the Lylat system into their hive mind. Of course, Fox and his team have to come to the rescue, with Krystal taking the now retired Peppy Hare’s spot on the team.
The big change in gameplay for Assault was the ability to hop out of the Arwing and fight the battle on foot, in a third-person shooter style. Certain parts of missions would require Fox to complete objectives in this manner, and it also featured into the multiplayer mode of the game. Unfortunately, the on-foot controls don’t work nearly as well as piloting the Arwing or Landmaster tank.
Arwing specific levels return, as well, in similar style to the rail shooting levels of the original and Star Fox 64. Some sloppy controls on the ground hurt the overall package, but Assault still manages to up the ante in terms of spectacle. The story and presentation all feel grander than before, thanks in part to the orchestrated soundtrack. Fox and his team have a bit more personality in this adventure, and it was great to see Fox and his team return after the series had been dormant for years.
