Posted

Dec 8th 2007

Mood

Carefree

I’ve been toying about lately with an Idea for a Star Fox-based air racing game. While it would have little to do with the actual Star Fox storyline, it’d happen in the same universe during a (short) period of peace, post Command. The characters would be Lylatian, and the main (unlocked at the beginning) 15 racers would be completely new, other than the fact that I plan on including Star Fox II characters Miu Lynx as a pilot and Fay Howell as a mechanic.

Storyline Overview

In the primary story mode, (Campaign mode?) players take the role of rookie racer Tanner Speedwing, an incredibly talented female hotshot of a vixen who has yet to learn the required patience for competing in the top level All-Lylat Grand Prix series. The player follows her throughout a season, as she races against the legendary Darryl Airhardt and the aggressive Ken Nettoro, eventually finding herself in the race for the legend’s honor.

Tanner’s mentor and team owner is Kevin Tsu, a former racer himself who was gravely injured in an accident, some say involving then-rookie Nettoro. Tsu serves a balance for Tanner’s hot temper, and his top-notch team gives Tanner a fast, reliable steed for her races on Sunday. Tsu also owns a second racer, piloted by former military pilot Miu Lynx. Miu is like an older sister to Tanner, often helping out a bit on the racetrack. Fay Howell, Miu’s best friend, works as a mechanic on the Tsu Racing team.

Gameplay

There are a few modes I’m tossing about for inclusion. Required is Story mode, where you follow Tanner through an 8-race season on several different planets, even the Meteo Asteroid Belt. There’s also a free race mode, where you can race as any of the 15 characters in the story mode, as well as some special unlockable characters. Online and local machine multiplayer racing is also a given, though I may include a character creator on this one, depending how complex I want to get with the character models and such. Another “Perhaps” mode is a multiplayer combat mode similar to other combat modes featured on Star Fox games: This would be the only time the racers would carry weapons. Also in the “Perhaps” column is a “Season” mode, where you could play through the story-mode races in order as any character.

Notice that I’ve been avoiding using the term “Fighters” to describe the aircraft: that’s because, while these aircraft might resemble Lylat fighters, they are actually pure racing machines. The actual races themselves are held on courses marked out with floating “Gates” that the pilots must fly through. The concept is similar to Burt Rutan’s “Rocket Racing League,” though the concept is carried out to its extreme, racing down valleys, between city buildings, and around asteroids. Races are in three dimensions, and the aircraft are fully controllable (for the first time in any Star Fox based game) in roll, pitch and yaw. Finally, no need to hit a button to “DO A BARREL ROLL!!!”

The race craft are designed with speed in mind, so there’s no weaponry, very little, if any, armor, and pilots must wear a fully sealed flight suit and helmet with oxygen supply, since there’s no pressurization in the cockpit. The racers have very heavy duty acceleration compensators, though, due to safety needs. Racers don’t explode on impact with the ground, thanks to special construction techniques and advanced crash technology, but they do tumble quite violently, flinging parts and bodywork everywhere, hence the need to protect the pilot during such a wreck – and they do happen. Often. One requirement is thick armoring surrounding the cockpit, to keep the pilot safely encased during a crash.

Despite the best efforts of the teams to make the vehicles as fast as possible within the rules, the racing is very close and NASCAR-like. The racers have the ability to boost at up to five seconds at a time, though the engine requires cooldown after this. There is the need to refuel and repair the aircraft mid-race, making pit strategy important. A pilot pits by flying through a “Pit” ring, where automatic control takes him or her over to a refueling depot and performs the service automatically, then automatically guides back out onto the track. Because the track is made up of “Gates,” the pilot must stay between their boundaries, (which are marked out on the HUD) or, if he or she misses it, the racer shuts down to it’s slowest forward speed until the pilot flies back onto the course, having probably lost a position.

Control (assuming this is on the Wii) could be within a number of methods, from using the Wii-mote and…it’s other controller…as a stick and throttle, respectively, or using the Wii-mote as a standard game controller. Perhaps one could even make it so that a PC-type Force-feedback flying stick could be used, similar to Gran Turismo’s support of 900 degree FFB driving wheels.

Another idea stolen (and run with) from Gran Turismo is the first-person view. Each pilot will have an incredibly detailed 3-D model, and will be fully visible in the cockpit. As well, during a race, players will have the opportunity to experience things from the pilot’s perspective, even (possibly) hearing their heartbeat if things get too exciting. I’ve been throwing about the idea of having the pilot’s heart rate tracked and used as a gauge of how well they fly during the race; get your pilot overexcited, and you could start to notice that your aircraft is beginning to overcorrect and become harder to fly! After the race, you can enjoy a replay from the sidelines or from any pilot’s cockpit, with two cameras in each, one aimed at the pilot, one over the shoulder looking ahead.

Character list thus far

Tanner Speedwing (Fox, Female, #9, Tsu Racing)
Tanner is the main character, a Rookie racer with incredible talent, but a bit of a short temper and little patience, a product of her quick rise to the top. She’ll learn greatly in her first season.

Miu Lynx (Lynx, Female, #19, Tsu Racing)
Miu is a former Cornerian Air Force pilot, who also even had a brief tour with Star Fox. While not the oldest racer on the tour, she’s has a great deal of experience for her three seasons and helps Tanner deal with the top level.

Kevin Tsu (Panda, Male, Owner Tsu Racing) [UNLOCKABLE: Tsu Racing #86]
A former racer, he lost use of his legs in a controversial crash involving a stubborn rookie named Ken Nettoro. While his legs were replaced by bio-robotic prosthetics, he decided it best to hang up his suit and focus on owning a race team instead. He’s Tanner’s primary guiding light.

Ken Nettoro (Raccoon, Male, #34, Avenger starship products)
A veteran of five years, Nettoro still lacks the patience many other racers feel he needs, but he’s still a brilliant racer and a force to be reckoned with. After an embarrassing defeat to Tanner, the two become archrivals

Darrel Airhardt, Sr. (Wolf, Male, #3, Space Dynamics Service Division)
With seven championships, Darrel’s after his eighth for one last try before retiring. A wily racer, and well known for his intimidating flying style, Airhardt has one of the few Space Dynamics Works ships, and he’s very fast.

((Yes, a tribute to the late Dale Earnhardt, no, he doesn’t get killed in a crash, thank you very much.))

Maria Lopez (Jaguar, Female, #66, Girl Racer)
Maria flaunts her feminity at every turn, and is rather popular with male fans for her attractive figure and the fact that she shows it off as much as possible. She’s even had her flight suit tailored to fit her tighter. She tends to be a bit vain, and some think she only became a racer to get famous.

Lucas “Capitan Peregrine,” Thomas (Falcon, Male, #07, Blue Peregrine Racing)
Lucas Thomas is a bit of an oddball. He acts like some sort of superhero, and has been known to, at times, get into fistfights with other pilots. He’s a bit of a privateer, his odd personality making it difficult to find sponsorship.

((Yep, Capitan Falcon wannabe.))

Darrel Airhardt, Jr. (Wolf, Male, #8, Dale Airhardt Inc.)
“Junior,” as he’s often called on the racing circuits, is a rookie who started racing for his father’s team at the same time Tanner started racing. He’s got a slight crush on Tanner, though he’s somewhat shy around her. He shows much of his father’s skill.

((Earnhardt Jr., anyone?))

UNLOCKABLES

Fox McCloud (Fox, Male, #1, Arwing II Racer)
Krystal McCloud (Fox, Female, #2, Cloud Runner, Yes, they are married by now)
Falco Lombardi (Falcon, Male, #4, Sky Claw R)
Katt Monroe (Black Cat, Female, #5, Cat’s Paw R)
Slippy Toad (Frog, Male, #6, Bullfrog Special)
Wolf O’Donnell (Wolf, Male, #85, Wolfen Racer)
Leon Powalski (Chameleon, Male, #87, Rainbow Delta R)
Panther Caruso (Panther, Male, #88, Black Rose Special)
Fay Howell (Spaniel, Female, #91, Tsu Racing)
James McCloud (Fox, Male, #01, Arwing Mk. I Clipwing Racer)

Comments? I’ll still take suggestions for what I can base further characters upon.