The graphics in the game have seen a considerable amount of polish and optimization since the title's shaky debut which has resulted in improvements all around. The character models for Fox and company, while still featuring a modest amount of detail, look sharp and animate well. The same holds true for the team's vehicles which animate nicely while morphing their shape to suit your needs in the game. The environments are detailed locales that sport some very nice touches, such as the rainbows visible by a waterfall or simply the interactive elements you'll trigger by accidentally missing a target and hitting something in the background. The game manages to maintain its framerate despite the lush look it has. The visuals gain an extra layer of glaze to them thanks to the game's support of progressive scan.
The audio is solid although it does come off a bit plain in spots. Fox and company sport a generous amount of dynamic voice that reflects their situation during the game. The assorted affects for the weapon's fire and spacecraft are good but lack some punch. The soundtrack for the game is a strong collection of tunes that really seems to accompany the action in the level well.
Based on our look at the game, Star Fox: Assault looks to have avoided the potential pitfalls it appeared to be poised for following its initial showing. The gameplay has been tightened up, the graphics have certainly been smoothed out, and, most importantly, the game got fun. Fans of Starfox will certainly want to check the game out when it ships next month.
