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[Richie]

This weekend is Kids' Day here in Mexico. A friend at the office bought this game for his son and himself, for he has fond memories of playing Star Fox 64 back in the day, and wants to experience it again with his boy.

Anyone in this thread will be aware of how divisive the controls are; I myself have yet to bite on the title, wary of spending my pesos in a game I may dislike to merely handle. People who breathe and live videogames have found issue with them (hello, Jim), so I'm worried that the kid and my coworker, much more casual gamers, may be soured off by the experience. In Kids' Day no less.

Enough rambling. Has any parent here gotten the game for their children? Can you vouch for them getting the controls no problem? I'm curious on what the consensus is here.

P.S. I of course haven't told the coworker anything, wouldn't want to predispose him if the controls end up being no issue for him. And yes, it is a slow day at the office.

 

[Regiruler]

It would probably easier for a kid that has relatively little gaming experience than for someone who has been programmed for years to play games differently. So there's that.

 

[Silkworm]

It might be a fun co-op experience for a father and son. Don't own the game so can't speak from 1st hand experience but other posters have mentioned enjoying the co-op experience with SF0.

 

[NOLA_Gaffer]

Why not ask to borrow your friend's copy for a night so you can get a decent impression before putting down your cash?

In a proper response, how old is your child? That'll give us an idea how how well he can cope.

No matter what though, the co-op mode (One person pilots, the other is the gunner) should be aces for the two of you?

Edit: Ignore my post, I misunderstood what you were asking.

 

[DownGrader]

My 11-year-old brother handles the controls... erm, I think okay-ish. The lack of any previous Star Fox or rail-shooter/flight arcade experience doesn't help him.

Bear in mind that he is more-or-less experienced with action games - he does insane things in Super Mario 3D World and he beat The Wonderful 101 completely by himself.

 

[random25]

I don't have a kid, but I bought one for my 10yr old nephew. He seems to be doing fine on the controls standpoint and enjoying the game. He's good at video games though, so that might be the case.

 

[Orakio Rob]

You'll probably like this:

Part one: http://www.ign.com/videos/2016/04/20/kids-play-star-fox-zeros-gyrowing-in-co-op

Part two: http://www.ign.com/videos/2016/04/27/star-fox-zero-kids-play-co-op-with-the-landmaster

 

[kunonabi]

My nephew is playing it with no problems whatsoever.

 

[Silkworm]

You'll probably like this:

Part one: http://www.ign.com/videos/2016/04/20/kids-play-star-fox-zeros-gyrowing-in-co-op

Part two: http://www.ign.com/videos/2016/04/27/star-fox-zero-kids-play-co-op-with-the-landmaster

Peer's got two boys! Time sure does fly

 

[March of the Crabs]

I adjusted to them after about 10 minutes. My girlfriend however, STILL can't get the hang of them. Guess it depends on the person.

 

[NintenDOMG]

I played co-op with my 4 and a half years old son. He is having a hard time controlling the ship but can handle the aiming very well. So probably controller for me and the big one with the screen for him works well enough.

 

[rokero]

I bought it for my son he's 11, he immediately started feeling frustration with the game citing the controls as the culprit, he played the game for about 4 to 5 hours the first day, the next day I woke up to find him already playing, and really excited to show me how good he had gotten, I could se the difference and he was having a blast, this is also my experience at first the game can be a little frustrating but hang in there and get used to the controller and the game is great, It would've been great if it had classic controller setting, I'm not a fan of doing battlerolls with the right stick, but still I love the game, go ahead and rent the game or borrow it from your friend, it's better to experience the game for yourself

 

[Chairhome]

My 6 year old was having trouble in some of the stages, and he's pretty good for his age at games. He was getting frustrated, so I played co-op with him for a few levels and he liked it again.

 

[Lord_Byron28]

SF64 was my first video game and it took me a long time to get used to the controls. 20 years later, SF0 seems to be the same case in terms of controls. The controls are non-traditional and will take time to get used to but they are fun, completely functional and different. However, people respond to new and different things in different ways.

 

[shandy706]

My 11-year-old brother handles the controls... erm, I think okay-ish. The lack of any previous Star Fox or rail-shooter/flight arcade experience doesn't help him.

Bear in mind that he is more-or-less experienced with action games - he does insane things in Super Mario 3D World and he beat The Wonderful 101 completely by himself.

11 Years Old? I don't even consider that an age one would have trouble with any game at. Heheh

I beat everything under the sun at that age.

Kids now adapt (if not far better) to technology just as we would have in the 70's/80's/90's (well that was when I was a kid).

My 4 year old daughter (well, 4 next month..she's technically still 3) has beaten the entirety of Super Mario 3D World minus the final world by herself. She's also well into Tropical Freeze.

My now 8 year old daughter didn't have trouble with Splatoon at the age of 7...and that's probably a good comparison.

 

[Neiteio]

The controls in Zero are like controls for a new genre: The world's first twin-screen twin-stick motion-enhanced shooter. They need to be learned — just like command inputs in Street Fighter, or tank controls in Resident Evil, or the controls in Monster Hunter. And like those games, they're incredible once they click.

How long it takes to click depends on how the person is wired, as well as their attitude toward learning new things. This probably applies to both kids and adults.

 

[Josh7289]

I'm curious about this because I had no issue with the controls, and I wonder how much the complaints are just people having a hard time adapting to something they're not used to. I wonder, and would like to know.

 

[echthegreat]

Well, my two year old son doesn't quite get the motion controls, but he is excellent at flying the arwing into terrain.

 

[Eusis]

I'm curious about this because I had no issue with the controls, and I wonder how much the complaints are just people having a hard time adapting to something they're not used to. I wonder, and would like to know.

Incidentally, now that I've tried it I wonder how much of it depends on ones own familiarity with motion based aiming to. What I played was far less painful than I feared, probably partially between Vita, 3DS, and the Steam Controller I'm reasonably used to aiming with motion controls. Obviously this situation is a new one, but I only died once on the first mission rather than it being a repeat occurrence.

 

[shandy706]

The controls in Zero are like controls for a new genre: The world's first twin-screen twin-stick motion-enhanced shooter. They need to be learned — just like command inputs in Street Fighter, or tank controls in Resident Evil, or the controls in Monster Hunter. And like those games, they're incredible once they click.

How long it takes to click depends on how the person is wired, as well as their attitude toward learning new things. This probably applies to both kids and adults.

I adapt to anything quickly. I adapted to Splatoon and I'd probably adapt to the new Star Fox.

I've even used gyro aiming on the Vita.

I still absolutely HATE motion based aiming in fast paced games. Give me a mouse or dual analog any day of the week over it.

 

[Neiteio]

I adapt to anything quickly. I adapted to Splatoon and I'd probably adapt to the new Star Fox.

I've even used gyro aiming on the Vita.

I still absolutely HATE motion based aiming in fast paced games. Give me a mouse or dual analog any day of the week over it.

To adapt is to enjoy. When it clicks, there should be nothing about it distracting you. That's what I mean.

 

[EdwardTeach]

My 3yr old son and six year old daughter have really enjoyed the game, but I I wouldn't exactly say that they got the hang of it!

 

[freethoughtbubble]

I'm actually really interested in hearing impressions from your friend's kid, OP. And good on you for being careful not to influence them beforehand. Makes this much more scientific. Lol.

Btw, f the kid doesn't end up taking to it on his own, co-op mode might be a fun way to play the game with his pops, assuming they don't get a refund at that point.

 

[Kyzon]

My 6 year old who's bad at games can shoot the life out of everything. Can't fly though. It's great for co-op

 

[Neiteio]

My 3yr old son and six year old daughter have really enjoyed the game, but I I wouldn't exactly say that they got the hang of it!

When those kids grow up, NASA will send them into space to stop an alien invasion.

 

[ChrisD]

I'm actually really interested in hearing impressions from your friend's kid, OP. And good on you for being careful not to influence them beforehand. Makes this much more scientific. Lol.

Btw, f the kid doesn't end up taking to it on his own, co-op mode might be a fun way to play the game with his pops, assuming they don't get a refund at that point.

OP, you should totally ask him in a few days time how his kid liked it, and if he had any problems with controls. I'm also interested in knowing the results.

 

[Pro from Dover]

Does the kid have expectations?
Does the kid know/not know what Star Fox should/could be?
Does the kid only drink his coffee sweetened with pink packets and consider all other options barbaric?

Why don't you ask the kid "This kind of sucks, huh?" and show disapproval until he agrees and then reward him with candy.

 

[shandy706]

To adapt is to enjoy. When it clicks, there should be nothing about it distracting you. That's what I mean.

Oh, I enjoyed all those games. Even after hours of use I was still way more accurate (like the difference between just hitting my target and shooting a toothpick out of their mouth...lol) with dual analog and/or a mouse.

I can hit the tiniest things with a regular controller...like say a (literal) mouse in the distance on the ground that's running while I'm sprinting in The Division...vs trying to hit a tiny dot with motion controls while sprinting/strafing in a similar situation...it's tough.

 

[Richie]

Thanks to everyone who chimed in with their comments. I just asked my buddy how it went, will paraphrase:

"Wouldn't you know, it's almost the same as Star Fox 64. Same old story"
"That you okay with, or ye don't like it?"
"Eh, it's alright...It's a bit difficult to control, the boy was having some trouble handling it, but is getting the hang of it"
"Ah, ya tried any co-op?"
"Nah, each of us at one time, seems you have to beat the main story to do any co-op..."
"Oh, I heard you gotta... *swiftly explains how to do co-op*
"Ah I see. Hmmm, it [the game] gets the job done."

So, not enamored with the title, but not down on it either. He wasn't impressed but the title will suffice for him and the kid. Not gonna lie, that's more of a positive reaction on his part than I anticipated.

 

[Spring-Loaded]

On the opposite end of the spectrum:

My dad loved Star Fox 64. He still holds the top five high scores on my game cartridge, and ever since that game came out, he kept asking me "So when are they making another Star Fox? A not that 'Mario with a Star Fox mask on,' thing [Adventures]. A real one."

We'd play against one another a lot back when the game came out, and I would beat him most of the time. He said he let me win, and I didn't buy it until I saw him play against a much older cousin of mine — my dad destroyed him. The third match they had, my cousin managed to be tied with my dad, each needing only one more kill to win. It ended in a game of chicken with both of them flying straight at one another with barely any health. I could barely make out what was going on through the smart bomb explosions. They both shot one another down, yet my cousin blew up in midair. My dad won.

After the N64, my parents pretty much stopped playing video games entirely — if they ever did, it was at gatherings, but never out of their own interest in a given game. Star Fox was one of two console games my dad ever had real interest in (the other being Diddy Kong Racing).

Fast-forward to the present, and I finally get him to sit down and play Zero with me. I was super apprehensive about how he'd react to the controls, and I warned him that they were way different from before. By this point, I'd already played through most of the levels and was used to the controls of the Arwing, but I wasn't sure how he'd react.

Turns out, he was doing pretty well on his own, at least in the training mission. He seemed to do better in that than my first time. I had to show him the timing for the somersault and U-turn with the joysticks, and getting used to resetting the gyro and the lock-on took a bit, but overall, it wasn't bad. I could see him doing okay in some of the actual levels. I was really surprised, because this was a man who barely touched a game for almost three whole gens.

We then palyed co-op and had a blast. He was the gunner, and we played the first three stages and the two landmaster ones, which was a lot of fun. Splitting up the shooting and the steering between two people seemed like it would just halve the fun, each is involved enough to be interesting on its own. There's the added challenge of coordinating with the other person, but just maneuvering the ship fun enough, especially in all-range mode situations. The Fichina boss was great, and I think letting the less experienced person shoot is the best bet. We were having real Star Fox-style banter, calling out plans of attack in real time.


It was great, and I'm really holding out hope for more Star Fox that refines everything in Zero and iterates on its strengths. Control kinks ironed our, more control options, online multiplayer, more types of co-op (online with different types of vehciles used in tandem), and so forth. For now, I'm pleased. Really glad my dad finally got another Star Fox, and we got to experience it together.

 

[Ramsiege]

On the opposite end of the spectrum:

My dad loved Star Fox 64. He still holds the top five high scores on my game cartridge, and ever since that game came out, he kept asking me "So when are they making another Star Fox? A not that 'Mario with a Star Fox mask on,' thing [Adventures]. A real one."

We'd play against one another a lot back when the game came out, and I would beat him most of the time. He said he let me win, and I didn't buy it until I saw him play against a much older cousin of mine — my dad destroyed him. The third match they had, my cousin managed to be tied with my dad, each needing only one more kill to win. It ended in a game of chicken with both of them flying straight at one another with barely any health. I could barely make out what was going on through the smart bomb explosions. They both shot one another down, yet my cousin blew up in midair. My dad won.

After the N64, my parents pretty much stopped playing video games entirely — if they ever did, it was at gatherings, but never out of their own interest in a given game. Star Fox was one of two console games my dad ever had real interest in (the other being Diddy Kong Racing).

Fast-forward to the present, and I finally get him to sit down and play Zero with me. I was super apprehensive about how he'd react to the controls, and I warned him that they were way different from before. By this point, I'd already played through most of the levels and was used to the controls of the Arwing, but I wasn't sure how he'd react.

Turns out, he was doing pretty well on his own, at least in the training mission. He seemed to do better in that than my first time. I had to show him the timing for the somersault and U-turn with the joysticks, and getting used to resetting the gyro and the lock-on took a bit, but overall, it wasn't bad. I could see him doing okay in some of the actual levels. I was really surprised, because this was a man who barely touched a game for almost three whole gens.

We then palyed co-op and had a blast. He was the gunner, and we played the first three stages and the two landmaster ones, which was a lot of fun. Splitting up the shooting and the steering between two people seemed like it would just halve the fun, each is involved enough to be interesting on its own. There's the added challenge of coordinating with the other person, but just maneuvering the ship fun enough, especially in all-range mode situations. The Fichina boss was great, and I think letting the less experienced person shoot is the best bet. We were having real Star Fox-style banter, calling out plans of attack in real time.


It was great, and I'm really holding out hope for more Star Fox that refines everything in Zero and iterates on its strengths. Control kinks ironed our, more control options, online multiplayer, more types of co-op (online with different types of vehciles used in tandem), and so forth. For now, I'm pleased. Really glad my dad finally got another Star Fox, and we got to experience it together.

That's a really nice story. Thank you for sharing

 

[El Odio]

.

Very nice to hear that the controls didn't manage to be an issue and that coop was a great experience for you and your dad.

Not really kids but my girlfriend and friend aren't exactly the biggest gamers in the world and not too good at SF64 but I let them try out Zero a few times and aside from some some issues at the start the picked up on the controls quite well and didn't have any real trouble with them later on outside of mixing up the loop and u-turn buttons.