Board Member Roundtable is a new feature where the protagonists are the members of our forums. I pick a Nintendo-related topic each week and their job is to comment it, either with questions, statements, ideas, opinions, etc. Pretty much anything you want!

This week’s participants (anyone can do so) are: Gamecube Man, Chris_the_Great, Surronded, King of the Swing, KoRn Bizkit and Liquid_Snakehips.

This week’s topic is: Starfox Adventures

Gamecube Man: Hi Gualtiero.
I believe Starfox will be a major hit in the U.S and Europe. Not only because of its stunning graphics and landscapes but because of its gameplay and challenges. I think this will be a Zelda type game where you have to complete stages (temples in Zelda OoT), which will help you to carry on and complete your journey. The multiplayer option will add major interest to the game because after you complete the game you can always go back and play the multiplayer. This was effective in games like Super Smash Bros Melee. The graphics are truly stunning with realistic landscapes (which we expected from rare). This is an original game, which I hope does well and I hope more information comes out soon.


Chris_the_Great: Being a Rare game I expect there to be absolutely heaps of game play, revolutionary gameplay and a few brilliantly clever boss fights. I expect the game to be a cross between Zelda and Banjo Kazooie. I think we can all see the Zelda in it, with the lock on in battle and general look to it. I think it will be like Banjo Kazooie in the way that the first time you play the game you will be gob smacked at how fluidly the game moves along and the interaction between Fox and Prince Triky or whatever he's called will be pure genius. The game has been in development for a good few years now so I’d expect it to be huge but also very interactive, I can't help but think that every thing and every one in the game can be interacted with. The wind would ruffle Fox's fur but standing beside a tree would act as a windshield. In the same way shots and other projectiles would be blown of course by the gusts and flying creatures would be directly effected. I have been looking forward to this game for some time now and have seen it develop from Dinosaur Planet on the N64 were it looked decent to be kind to the best looking game I’ve seen in years, I’ve never felt so excited about a game as I do now even Zelda!

Surronded: I expect Star Fox to be a great amusement for my mind. But, seeing all the videos, it seems to be quite simple. The plot has to be pretty good to be worth the buy. If not, Starfox will be a game where you can get a lot of fun and amusement, but not be amazed. Graphics and sound are nearly perfect, but a game is not only these two aspects, is more than that.
In conclusion, Star Fox: Dinosaur Planet will be a good game and if the plot is interesting enough, it'll be a GREAT game.

King of the Swing: Starfox Adventures has already had a history, months before its release.
The game was first titled: Dinosaur Planet and was due as a late N64 game. Then, it got moved to the GameCube and the title was changed to: Starfox Adventures: Dinosaur Planet; obviously, Fox and Co. had been added to the storyline. Next, the title was yet again changed to simply: Starfox Adventures.

From what looked like a graphically nice N64 game, we have a beautiful GameCube game, which has lovely lighting, textures and water effects. Also in the graphics section, is the addition of superb fur- effects. They may only be for cut- scenes but you can see every hair on Fox animated and tufting in clumps. The scenery stretches out into the distance and it is all stunning, with so many little touches to make it good.

The game play looks to not disappoint, with different game modes and a possible two player. Screenshots show that there will be a Lylat Wars style shooting scene, dino- riding, and hovercraft racing.

The storyline is that the King and Queen of Dinosaur Planet have been captured and you, as Fox, need to rescue them. To make it worse, the Queen has been badly- wounded and if you don’t get to her quick enough, she may die. Does that mean a time limit? I hope not!

My impressions are that Starfox Adventures will easily tide you over until Zelda (if they finish Starfox Adventures in time). It looks to have a dedicated fighting engine with members of the Zelda team working on it. The battles include Z Targeting and the duelling is done with a staff that plays quite an important part in the story. It will be a must- have and should be rolled, baked and sprinkled in Nintendo magic!

KoRn Bizkit : The story is that StarFox are losing money now that the Wars of the Lylat System are over. They aren't getting signed up for missions, the aircraft are falling into disrepair and the only job they seem to be doing at the moment is shooting the asteroids from around Dinosaur Planet. On Dinosaur Planet itself though, an army of dinosaurs plans to rule the whole of the Planet. This really is all we know. Then Fox McCloud steps in, somehow, and tries to elevate the situation with help from the other members of the Starfox crew.

Fox McCloud walking around seemed like a dream come true for me. I've always wanted to see Fox pegging it around a green landscape. Not just that though, of course, 'cos that'd be crap. Even better would be Fox pegging it around slitting monkey's throats, but that isn’t going to happen. Instead we get to twat a bunch of dinosaurs with a big pointed stick. Fair enough. This 'staff' isn't just a pointed stick though. It holds magic powers that can only be unlocked by upgrading it. In one cut scene we see Krystal, the sexy mama of the game, riding (ahem) a Pterodactyl type flying dinosaur above the skies while trying to shoot enemies that are chasing her with a 'staff'. Her staff takes a blow and she drops it. Silly mare. This, I think is where Fox comes in. He finds the staff and uses it.

If this game does use the Zelda system of combat (i.e. locking on) then this will help loads. Why? Well, anyone who has played the N64 versions of Zelda can get right into the game, combat wise, and cry a tear of joy while they wait for the splendour of a brand-new Zelda game.

This surpasses anything that I have seen on the GameCube up to date. It's colourful and bright, and looks like it could kick the GameCube truly to life.

The plot seems deep enough, but to really make it good it needs that deep RPG storyline, so hopefully the story is even deeper than that. I hope it plays with your emotions like Zelda does, and music that creates an amazing atmosphere.
The gameplay will be spot on. Why? Because it's Rare, that's why!
So, in perspective, imagine Rare creating a Zelda style RPG. It's bound to be good. And what did I hear someone say? The Zelda team are helping them! My oh my oh my this is sounding good.
My predicted release date: November the 22nd. But I don't know which year (only joking!).

Liquid_Snakehips: Starfox adventures: Dinosaur Planet is based around the SNES game "Starwing" and the N64 classic "Lylat wars". This eagerly anticipated title was N64 bound under the name "Dinosaur planet" and starred a fatal fox Krystal until RARE decided that it would be more suited for the GameCube. This was obviously a good thing improved graphics, superior sound everything. Then the big N decided to go one better, allowing RARE to use the ever popular Starfox Licence.

The story follows Fox Mcloud as he ventures through a strange dinosaur inhabited planet that has become enslaved by its new ruler the evil general scales. This completely original Zelda style action adventure takes place ten years after the N64 adventure Lylat wars. The Starfox team has disbanded and good old Falco has left to pursue a solo career, I’m sure he will make an appearance that will twist the plot but nothing to major . Fox is also joined by a small dinosaur under the name of Prince Triky who (under first impressions) will be to Foz as Navi is to Link. But he unlike Navi can also assist in attacking enemies.

Graphically this game looks to set a new standard, typical RARE for you eh? You can see the individual hairs on fox's body and the game runs swift and smooth making use of the GameCubes full potential. Each character talks with perfect lip sync with a lower cheesy voice rate than Final Fantasy 10.

It has recently been announced that there is a multiplayer option within the game increasing how long it will be. It is unknown how this multiplayer will work exactly but I believe it will be similar to that of Jet Force Gemini. Third person view with shoot ‘em up action. If RARE can pull this off (and they usually do) this has the opportunity to be one of the finest ever made and luckily for us its a Cube exclusive. Its at the top of everyone’s wish list among Zelda, Mario and Metroid and all we can do now is wait...and wait.... and wait (typical RARE).



That’s all for this week’s Board Member Roundtable! Make sure you all participate in next week’s discussion of the topic by posting at out Cube Europe Forums!