Get ready for a true challenge!

StarFox Command combines the old-style shoot-em-up action of StarFox 64 with the strategic planning and decision-making of modern war games, and does so with flair and style. In this game, you control all the classic pilots of the StarFox team, from Slippy to Falco to Fox himself, as they attempt to take down the Anglar forces that have taken over several major systems within the universe. The storyline leaves off just after Fox had disbanded the team, including Krystal, and a rift had arisen between the former friends. As you shoot down enemies and have Fox decide where to go next, gradually, the team comes back together.

The controls of StarFox Command have you using the stylus a lot more than even the average DS game. Instead of using the directional pad to steer your craft, you move the stylus across the screen. Looping, turning, and even bombing the enemy all involve a tap or swipe of the stylus, while actual shooting requires using the buttons. Awkwardly enough, this leaves you with no hands free to actually hold the DS unit! I had to play the game while resting the unit on my knee or a desk. While this is mildly annoying at first, once you get used to it you see that the physics of it all make the game a great challenge.

Another aspect of the game that challenges you is the many limits on how much you can do. You are limited on the general map by how many turns you have left, plus on the battle screen by how much time you have left, AND if you run out of shields or run out of time, you lose a fighter, which you have only so many of in the first place. Finally, if any enemies or missiles reach the Great Fox, you lose altogether. Some people may be frustrated by all these restrictions and ways to lose, so be warned.

The game's graphics are generally quite good, with enemy ships and landscapes showing up in vivid detail. Each of your fighters is different-looking and sleek. Sound is another story. In story mode the characters speak in annoying digital gibberish, but at least these segments can be skipped after one view. An annoying siren sounds before each battle segment. Other than that, the battle music is compelling, and will stick in your head after you've quit playing.

Finally, the initial story is rather short, consisting of only about seven missions. Even so, you may have to attempt each several times to finish because there always seems to be a threat to the Great Fox in the worst place at the worst time. Once you have completed the game once you can unlock other options for where to go next, which include a Falco-based storyline, among others. This gives the game a unique level of replay value that this reviewer really appreciates.

I enjoy playing StarFox Command quite a bit, but I have to warn you that it's not for everyone. The level of challenge and style of control set it apart; it's really quite different from its predecessors, while still maintaining the sense of destruction that made them fun.