Wondercon 2016: ‘Star Fox Guard’ Feels Like A Full Fledged Game!

In 2014, Nintendo had two mystery projects on display for the Wii U. Code named Project Giant Robot and Project Guard, both felt like exciting, new ways to use the Wii U Game Pad, but were too thin of an experience to feel like their own games. In fact, we predicted that these two demos would end up as mini games in a larger collection when we previewed the two projects.  While Giant Robot has yet to resurface, Project Guard was revived as Star Fox Guard, a Slippy Toad focused pack in included with copies of Star Fox Zero. As a bonus game, Nintendo would have been able to leave the  game as is and still would have left little room to complain. After all, how can you complain about a free game? When playing the final build at Wondercon this year however, and it’s immediately clear that the game has gone through a variety of improvements to make it feel more like a complete game in its own right.

In what’s essentially a tower defense game, Guard approaches the growing genre in a more unique way. With the TV showing a variety of gun mounted surveillance cameras while the Game Pad shows the map, camera locations and enemy positions, it’s up to Slippy to use each camera to fight off enemies before they reach the core of the map. This isn’t as simple as it sounds, since not only will you have to manage your cameras while trying to look at around nine at a time, but you’ll also need to hold powerful enemies at bay who can inflict status effects such as freezing and static, (most of which have been added since its 2014 reveal). Make too many mistakes, and they can destroy your cameras permanently.

Fortunately, (or maybe less so for the less social readers out there,) Guard has been presented as a multiplayer party game in each of its iterations despite only having one player support. The idea is that spectators in your living room will be able to watch the cameras with you, shouting out which cameras have enemies in sight while the player manages switching and shooting with the Game Pad. Friends will be a lifesaver when it comes to successfully defending your base, especially when the right advice can lead to you spotting waves of enemies you might have overlooked otherwise. Extra support actions like being able to unfreeze one camera by shooting it with another and destroying certain enemies first to avoid being overwhelmed will take more of the player’s attention, making friends even more welcomed.

Of course, you CAN play it by yourself, which presents a surprisingly high level of challenge, especially with later stages. This arcade style of game play where you’re competing for completion and high scores has the potential to become highly addicting, becoming further amplified by stubborn gamers like myself who would rather die a thousand in game deaths than ask for help. If nothing else, it will be the first time Slippy has been strong and independent.

While this might not be enough for a standalone retail release, Star Fox Guard looks like it will serve its purpose well as an awesome extra for fans who have waited so long for the team’s next adventure. Stay tuned for our full impressions of both Guard and Star Fox Zero once they are available for review.