Star Fox 2 (SNES) "finished" and translated into english
I mentioned this in the Argonaut thread, but really, it's probably worth giving its own thread to. I'll try to give my post some substance.
StarFox 2 was originally planned for release on the Super NES in late 1994 (but later pushed back to 95). It promised to push the series in a bold new direction, implimenting new kinds of gameplay, open-ended environments, and non-linear level structure, all thanks to the improved power of the "Super FX2". The game was hotly anticipated by fans, but quietly cancelled at the 11th hour. Many fans didn't even know to be furious until it was too late; the game simply disappeared, about 2 months before its release.
The reasons for the cancellation are largely unknown. The company line is that development was shifted over to N64 and that many of the ideas used in SF2 were incorporated into SF64. However, it has become apparent that this is complete and utter bullshit.
The late cancellation and apparent near-complete of status of the game made Star Fox 2 a holy grail of protypes. Fueling the fire is the fact that a StarFox 2 prototype was actually stolen from a tradeshow in 1994 (I don't recall if it was CES or E3). A non playable trade-show demo of the game surfaced, but served as little more than a teaser. In 1999, a playable prototype of Star Fox 2 was unearthed, but it was really very early; levels could be played and explored but not beaten, and there was no real "game" to speak of. All the manufactured prototypes were trade-show demos, not anything approaching completion.
Then, a year or so ago, someone managed to smuggle out the Star Fox 2 source code as it was before the project was dropped. This was the final build of the game before it was canned, and thus the most complete versio of the game that has ever existed. The source was compiled into a ROM, and then released to the internet (the source itself was never made public).
This was a final beta test, but it was clearly not a gold build. The screen still had debug info all over it (sprite counters, framerate, etc), your base couldn't take damage (making the game rather pointless), lots of debug modes were pesent, and a fair bit of bugginess. The game was very close to finalizable, but had not been put in finalizable condition. Also, the entire thing was in japanese, which made it rather difficult to understand given how alien it was to the first one. Alas, we were still left with what "could have been".
Well now (well, about a week ago) Aeon Genesis Translation Project (probably the most prolific transhacking group out there) have righted this wrong. Gideon Zhi and company have not only translated the game completely into english, but have fixed the bugs in the game, disabled the debug displays and modes, and even made a new title screen to create a game which could easily pass for a commercially releasable project with only a few (mostly irrelevant) things missing, like the ability to erase a game save, sound test, and stereo/mono switch (basically your standard options screen).
So nearly 10 years after we were supposed to get the game it's here in finished form. And... It's a really surprising game. It has almost nothing in common with SF or SF64. It's built around a map screen that almost goes down like a real-time strategy game, forcing the player to intercept enemy fighters and take out enemy offensive installations to protect the Coroneria. These missions can be either freespace battles or ground missions in which your ship can transform into a walking tank (these missions also involve indoor corridor parts). These missions take place in real-time, which enemy forces encroach on the corneria, so time is of the essence.
The "Normal" game is rather quick, simple, and unchallenging, but it's surprising how much work went into the "Hard" and "Expert" courses. The different difficulty setting actually have totally different levels. The higher setting not only have more levels, but the levels are much larger and provide more complicated challenges. I must say I'm really enjoying the game now.
This game is definately the radical departure that was promised back in 1994. Had this game been released when it was supposed to, it surely would have blown my mind. As it stands, it's still a very fun, addictive little game, though the 3D action genre has evolved so much in the last 10 years. The game was ahead of its time, but not 10 years ahead. Still, it's very playable, particularly on Expert, and well worth checking out.
This is amazing news. I need to check this out when I'm done with classes and work for the day. I've never played any of the roms released pertaining to it yet, but I think now I really have no choice. I can't recall why, but I've been thinking about the first a lot lately, and playing through the first again then moving on to this one should prove to be a nice distraction once I'm caught up on assignments.
I never played any of the roms released pertaining to it yet, but I think now I really have no choice.
They were all very disappointing in one way or another. One was unplayable, another was very early, and the last was "so close, but so far" due to the non functional damage (making it impossible to really lose) and lack of english. This one actually provides a fun experience.
Oh yeah, and btw, this isn't going to work in ZSNES. You need Snes9x 1.43 WIP (it also works in 1.41-1, but not in 1.42 for some reason). www.snes9x.com
I so want to be able to play this on a real SNES. Playing on a PC is OK but just not the same.
I was a huge fan of Star Fox so getting to see part 2 in such a completed state is very cool. Big thanks to everyone who put work into getting the game to this state, and great post Frogacuda.
__________________ Sinista: ElCapitan and B-Ri need to make a baby to create the true next-gen experience.
I've changed my mind about Korian. Anyone that can piss off so many people so easily is awesome. You people are suckers, playing right into his evil yellow hands.
Thanks for that great info, and those screens, Frogacuda. While it won't be the same as playing it on a SNES, playing on a PC is the next best thing. For now...
__________________
matthewgood fan lupin III fan
Knowledge is power, entertainment is temporary.
I had already briefly played it before your post here...you seemed pretty spot-on in that it's kind of a strategy game blened with the classic StarFox gameplay. The ability to transform into a ground-walking craft adds some nice diversity, but it still feels like StarFox.
I just really hate playing emulators, otherwise I'm sure I would have logged more time in it. Maybe this weekend.
__________________ Sinista: ElCapitan and B-Ri need to make a baby to create the true next-gen experience.
I have the rom, patched it up, used the right version of SNES9x and all I'm getting is a black screen.
*edit - I got the cloudchaser rom and it works. I still want to know what I did wrong in patching it though. I used IPSWin and it seemed to patch it properly.
Last edited by NeoZeedeater; 10-29-2004 at 12:32 PM..
I have the rom, patched it up, used the right version of SNES9x and all I'm getting is a black screen.
*edit - I got the cloudchaser rom and it works. I still want to know what I did wrong in patching it though. I used IPSWin and it seemed to patch it properly.
The ROM probably had a header that needed to be removed with SNEStool. Might also have been the wrong version as there are several.
I played through a bit of it. Was a lot of fun, and I loved how those ships would come out to duel with you. It was too annoying trying to control the walker with the keyboard though, so I'm putting it off until I get the thing that lets me connect an SNES controller to my computer.
I've changed my mind about Korian. Anyone that can piss off so many people so easily is awesome. You people are suckers, playing right into his evil yellow hands.
Maybe I'm mistaken, but seeing as this is a ROM for a game that didn't see a commercial release, couldn't someone just host it and link it? I dunno, I suppose it's not exactly legal in the sense that they created the working ROM from stolen code, but it'd help out people here not able to find it..
For those interested in a more in depth look at the creation of StarFox 2, I reccomend picking up a book called "Power Up: How Japanese games gave the industry and extra life" available at all fine retailers, and Gamestop.
Maybe I'm mistaken, but seeing as this is a ROM for a game that didn't see a commercial release, couldn't someone just host it and link it? I dunno, I suppose it's not exactly legal in the sense that they created the working ROM from stolen code, but it'd help out people here not able to find it..
It's still copyrighted material. If I get an "ok" from Nick or someone I can post it, but if not, just shoot me a PM or something. I have it all ready to go.
