Another creation of Miyamoto and the folks at Nintendo, Star Fox 64 was released to nothing but praise from everyone in the industry. Was it perhaps overhyped due to the lack of games for the Nintendo 64, or is it really a classic?

Graphically, the game is amazing. Attention to detail is evident. Explosions are extremely cool and at times fill the screen, the backgrounds are spectacular, and there is little pixelation. The Landmaster Tank even leaves tracks in the sand as you travel through the desert, and you can see the effect the battle has on your ship as you progress. More than one viewpoint is available, which can be altered by the player at will.

The soundtrack is almost unnoticeable due to the constant shooting and talking. However, what you do hear is excellent. Explosions sound realistic, and laser-based weaponry sounds just like every sci-fi movie you've ever seen. With one third of the memory dedicated to speech, Star Fox 64's characters are constantly in touch with you in a way never before seen in a cartridge-based game. Sound effects that tell you that you're about to die are annoying, but I guess that's their job.

Gameplay is solid. Just about every button on the N64's controller is used, and realism is captured through various moves like the ability to lock-on to your opponents and maneuvers such as barrel rolls and somersaults. The availability of bombs helps add to your destructive power.

Your wingmen will keep you informed and constantly talk to you throughout the entire game. My views are mixed on this amount of speech. While Falco is stubborn, arrogant, and generally ungrateful, Slippy is a pest. They get annoying, and you sometimes want to shoot them out of the sky, but you can't because they flee when you're about to deliver the fatal blow. (Okay, so you're not supposed to shoot them, but their wise remarks and the opportunity for a little extra replay value make you bend the rules.) At times, you'll question the usefulness of your wingmen, but you'll eventually come to appreciate them.

Sometimes, they can be quite humorous, which may aid your appreciation of them. Slippy cracks me up every time he says, "This is really starting to tick me off." There are other amusing statements throughout the game to help you stay entertained. Basically, you're fighting a bunch of apes who are trying to take over the world. (Planet Of The Apes meets Star Wars?)

This review would not be complete without mentioning the pack-in that came with the game, the Rumble Pak, which offers immediate force feedback via vibration felt by the player through the controller. This adds to the realism and is truly a unique idea. The concept is not as unique as the play mechanics, but alone, their availability is a whole new concept in itself. Also, the Rumble Pak is an exciting new item in its own right.

The game is pretty fun, but it doesn't seem to last. You'll beat this one pretty quickly. The addition of the 4-player mode adds for a lot of entertainment for those of all ages. Replay value varies. Some will beat it on the easy path and never play it again; others will keep playing in an attempt to get every medal they can. Personally, I found very little reason to go through the game again upon defeating it. I just lost interest.

Overall, it's a great game. I'm sort of in between as far as the previously stated question is concerned. The game is a classic, but it was very much so overhyped. Had this game come out with the N64 in the same position as the Super NES was during its first year, it would have received a lot of attention, but it would have been considerably less.

Overall: 8.5