I think there are game play and "lore" reasons for Venom I and II. First keep in mind that you are locked into which one you get the level before. Means for Venom I you just had the fight on the satellite (possibly including a weak Star Wolf) while Venom II had you go through Area 6, which is massive and IMO one of the best ones. That means you basically had the defenses before you got to Venom II, while Venom I has them on the planet. The lack of other enemies and resources also means that you go into the Venom II fight in whatever state you came out of area 6. Lost your wings? Guess you fight this one with one green laser only. It also gives you little to prepare for Andross (if you don't plan ahead carefully you'll fight him with the small health bar). From a lore perspective, Andross went through the effort to make a Decoy on the Venom I side. This one is obviously heavily guarded, which would make one think that all these resources protect the real one. The real one however, trying to not draw attention is protected by an elite team that is on stand-by, only showing up when protection is needed. Seeing the last two stages as one closing chapter, it makes a lot more sense to me because individually speaking, Venom I is much more fun than Venom II (but also less challenging, sometimes difficulty is overrated).
I have seen that Star Fox does flew into any allies’ ships. Slippy: “What do you think you’re doing Fox?”, Falco: “Get out of my way!”, and Peppy: “Watch where you’re flying!” This is very annoying.
Kind of feels like most of the easy rout stages are the best stages. Sometimes though, I totally agree on that "why are ships coming out of the base?" mission in Fichina; Wish Venom I happened after Area 6; So many bad guys to take out all to get to Andross.
I used to play this game once or twice a year until 2015 or so. I actually just started playing again about a week ago for the first time since then. I can't even get close to my highest total score yet. I did manage to get all the medals but my previous high score is taunting me every time i beat the game. I just started expert mode for the first time today and got medals for Cornera, Fortuna and Aquas. I actually had a game over for probably the first time ever while playing area 6 on expert mode. Thought it was pretty cool. Gonna work on getting all the medals on expert for the next few days and hopefully get a new high score while doing it.
You just gave me flashbacks of when I finally learned how to get to the hard side of Star Fox. Slowly struggle through Aquas, dying on Zoness, failing to beat Star Wolf's new ships, and finally not knowing how to kill Andross brain (and dying three times after beating Andross in the end before finally beating it). I used to have trouble destroying the search lights and failing to get to sector Z and the stage after it as well. Annoying, but fun times.
Nice list! I agree there really aren’t any bad stages. I think Venom 2 against Star Wolf is a pretty fun challenge. You just survived the Area 6 onslaught to get there, too.
Nice! I ranked the medal difficulty! It’s called a Top 10, but I roll through the other 6 medals before #1. I seriously find every level a joy, no kidding… and I didn’t even play it as a kid. They’re all fun! Just gets frustrating how hard the toughest medals are!
I was one of those rare people that never had trouble getting medals 🏅. I didn't know what the point of them were and would just play each time destroying as many enemies as I could while keeping my team mates alive. A couple friends told me what the purpose of the medals were and how to get them. Afterwards, they told me about the trick with the bombs 💣, pressing b to deploy then and b again to detonate them. Once I learned about that trick, my kills nearly doubled on each stage I played. I honestly think that Star Wolf and his new ships and Andross Afterwards helped me increase my maneuvering in the game 🎮.
I think Fichina deserves to have a higher spot, im pretty sure its simplicity is intended as its most players’ introduction to the medal system. Its 50 kill requirement means you most likely get the medal without even trying and that feels really intentional. There’s no other mission that really hands you the medals like this one does, so it feels really intentional. Also I agree that Venom 1 should’ve been the real ending. Just try playing that shit on expert, it’s impossible
coneria surprisingly is a lot of fun for a first level. it has branching paths and is not terribly easy to get the medal either. the tutorial is also very brief when battling enemies.
He does on the hardside though, which makes me think that's why they looked like cyborgs when they arrived in their new ships looking like they were found and reconstructed back to life.
I think there are game play and "lore" reasons for Venom I and II. First keep in mind that you are locked into which one you get the level before. Means for Venom I you just had the fight on the satellite (possibly including a weak Star Wolf) while Venom II had you go through Area 6, which is massive and IMO one of the best ones. That means you basically had the defenses before you got to Venom II, while Venom I has them on the planet. The lack of other enemies and resources also means that you go into the Venom II fight in whatever state you came out of area 6. Lost your wings? Guess you fight this one with one green laser only. It also gives you little to prepare for Andross (if you don't plan ahead carefully you'll fight him with the small health bar).
From a lore perspective, Andross went through the effort to make a Decoy on the Venom I side. This one is obviously heavily guarded, which would make one think that all these resources protect the real one. The real one however, trying to not draw attention is protected by an elite team that is on stand-by, only showing up when protection is needed.
Seeing the last two stages as one closing chapter, it makes a lot more sense to me because individually speaking, Venom I is much more fun than Venom II (but also less challenging, sometimes difficulty is overrated).
I have seen that Star Fox does flew into any allies’ ships. Slippy: “What do you think you’re doing Fox?”, Falco: “Get out of my way!”, and Peppy: “Watch where you’re flying!” This is very annoying.
Some Star Fox gamers thinks the Area 6 is the best level, especially going for a medal. Score for Area 6 for a medal: 300 points.
Kind of feels like most of the easy rout stages are the best stages. Sometimes though, I totally agree on that "why are ships coming out of the base?" mission in Fichina; Wish Venom I happened after Area 6; So many bad guys to take out all to get to Andross.
Aquas above Zoness and Venom 2 is dirty work.
At least Fichina has some FIRE music.
The Rumble Pak at the end of Macbeth went insane
Ah forgot how great this game is. Definitely gonna pop this one in soon!
It's awesome! I seem to pop it in at least once a year and play through all the missions at least once.
I used to play this game once or twice a year until 2015 or so. I actually just started playing again about a week ago for the first time since then. I can't even get close to my highest total score yet. I did manage to get all the medals but my previous high score is taunting me every time i beat the game. I just started expert mode for the first time today and got medals for Cornera, Fortuna and Aquas. I actually had a game over for probably the first time ever while playing area 6 on expert mode. Thought it was pretty cool. Gonna work on getting all the medals on expert for the next few days and hopefully get a new high score while doing it.
You just gave me flashbacks of when I finally learned how to get to the hard side of Star Fox. Slowly struggle through Aquas, dying on Zoness, failing to beat Star Wolf's new ships, and finally not knowing how to kill Andross brain (and dying three times after beating Andross in the end before finally beating it).
I used to have trouble destroying the search lights and failing to get to sector Z and the stage after it as well.
Annoying, but fun times.
Nice list!
I agree there really aren’t any bad stages.
I think Venom 2 against Star Wolf is a pretty fun challenge. You just survived the Area 6 onslaught to get there, too.
Nice! I ranked the medal difficulty! It’s called a Top 10, but I roll through the other 6 medals before #1.
I seriously find every level a joy, no kidding… and I didn’t even play it as a kid. They’re all fun! Just gets frustrating how hard the toughest medals are!
I was one of those rare people that never had trouble getting medals 🏅. I didn't know what the point of them were and would just play each time destroying as many enemies as I could while keeping my team mates alive. A couple friends told me what the purpose of the medals were and how to get them. Afterwards, they told me about the trick with the bombs 💣, pressing b to deploy then and b again to detonate them. Once I learned about that trick, my kills nearly doubled on each stage I played. I honestly think that Star Wolf and his new ships and Andross Afterwards helped me increase my maneuvering in the game 🎮.
7:11 Wow read my childhood with this game right here.
I think Fichina deserves to have a higher spot, im pretty sure its simplicity is intended as its most players’ introduction to the medal system. Its 50 kill requirement means you most likely get the medal without even trying and that feels really intentional. There’s no other mission that really hands you the medals like this one does, so it feels really intentional.
Also I agree that Venom 1 should’ve been the real ending. Just try playing that shit on expert, it’s impossible
Solar and Macbeth are definitely my favorite stages. Meteo's Boss was great, but the Forever Train and Vulcain also go so hard.
Good list. My ONLY disagreement is with how low Zoness is. I enjoy that mission. But I agree with your taste on the rest of them.
Same, Nonessential is one of my favorites, even when I struggled to destroy the search lights.
star wolf does not show up in bolse if you defeat them in fichina
coneria surprisingly is a lot of fun for a first level. it has branching paths and is not terribly easy to get the medal either. the tutorial is also very brief when battling enemies.
He does on the hardside though, which makes me think that's why they looked like cyborgs when they arrived in their new ships looking like they were found and reconstructed back to life.
I love Fichina
Theres no way you put Aquas above Venom 2
Yes there is. Aquas is awesome!
Do you even know how to do a barrel roll? ;)
I disliked Aquas.
I LOVE Aquas.