Like the previous post about Aaero, today I present another Star Fox Alternative game, to scratch that Star Fox itch while we wait for the next game in our beloved series.

Strike Force EX is already out on PS4 and on Steam, and quite reasonably priced. It is a very fast-paced, intense aerial combat game, featuring craft that are halfway between jet fighters and flying mechs. You have full freedom of movement to fly anywhere. Up, down, left, right, upside down, and rotated. Strafing is also just as easy. In that sense it's more like you're controlling a mech than an aircraft. The focus is to take out bogies and larger ship targets, while dodging fire and darting in and out of structures.

Any game with complete freedom of movement in 3D will run into the problem of having too much boring empty space. This game solves the problem by having stages that take place in densely packed areas full of floating ships and structures, so you're never far from something to interact with, in spite of what physics might have to say in the matter.

Despite my best efforts, I still am only human. On Friday I got hit with a pretty bad sickness. It's probably a severe allergic reaction, but it left me unable to do anything on Friday but sleep. I'm still dealing with the aftershocks of it. So regular posting should resume tomorrow. Just wanted to let you know what was going on and why there weren't any posts.

On the side, I've been exploring stuff related to the Saurian Translator. I think I can make it much faster, along with the other features coming soon. Hope to finish it by Christmas.

Seiyo (or amitie623 on YouTube) hand-drew a shot-for-shot recreation of the Hunter x Hunter "Just Awake" Credits sequence. Krystal is in it, as are several other Star Fox characters (including some rarely seen). Unfortunately, the video has blocked embeds, so you will have to watch the animation on YouTube directly. The original video is also uploaded on NicoNico, the Japanese YouTube-like site.

Mabel Shen shows off his stylistic re-imagining of a much higher quality version of the Star Fox Adventures location using Unreal Engine 4. Combine this with GreyFireFox's Krystal Rig and you'd have the beginnings of a Star Fox Adventures HD remake!

Fanbyte has created a video exploring the structure of the Venom 2 stage from Star Fox for SNES, and created a high resolution mockup of what it might look like if made today. The video is short, but it is interesting what kind of unique level designs were used back then.

TrashKitten made this huge Krystal plushie entirely on her own: custom patterns, custom clothing, everything. It's one meter tall (over 3 feet) and has individual fingers, toes, and separate armor pieces. She spent a long time on this plushie and it is not for sale. However, she is more than willing to make a new one, with improvements, if you're willing to commission her. Check out the post where she details the plush and a video of the completed project.

Some new stuff has come to my attention in the world of video game resources. Most notably, user Models124717 has begun posting models for complete areas with an initial 16 Star Fox Adventures Locations, including some of the Krazoa shrines. Unfortunately, he hasn't posted the Krazoa Palace or Thorntail Hollow, but those will probably come with time.

Of course, we've had a new Smash Bros release since I last posted about this stuff, so there's a lot of new content. Check out the complete list!

• Krystal Assist Trophy from SSBU
• Krystal Assist Trophy Sound Effects (English + Japanese) from SSBU
• Krystal's Crystal Prison in Adventures
• Krystal's Staff from the Kiosk version of Adventures
• Star Fox Cameo Radio Textures from Super Smash Bros Wii U
• Krystal Spirit from SSBU
• Krystal Sticker (Assault) from SSBB
• Krystal Sticker (Adventures) from SSBB
• Krystal Sticker (Command) from SSBB
• Arwing from Starlink

There are at least a few other Krystal models I don't think they have yet, including the low-poly Krystal model from Star Fox Assault and the high poly partial model from Assault's cutscenes (which were the basis for Nanogrrr's Assault Model).

Check out the Initial Set of Krystal and Star Fox Models and Other Krystal-related Models I had posted about previously for even more.

YouTube user Renalover_34 has made several Krystal MMD videos of late, all featuring the MMD conversion of Warefaremachine Rig. Some are pretty good, others are just ok or short. But I thought at least some of them were good enough to post about! Especially the one above. It's a duet dance with Krystal and Renamon. In spite of the very low quality video, the dancing is very well choreographed. Some of these I think were actually choreographed by Renalover_34 himself. Four more videos after the jump!

Using tons of tricks and techniques, BvqR zxi5 has an amazing playthrough of Star Fox Adventures in just over 4 hours and 8 minutes. This is slightly faster than the current world record not using tools of 4:22:36 by Celestial_Derp. It's just amazing that a game this long and full of cutscenes could be beaten so quickly, even with all these skips and tricks. There's also a version with a timer.

I think there's something special about BvqR zxi5's version, because right at the beginning, Kyte uses some unused audio in-game, somehow. My Japanese version doesn't do this!

In the past, I posted a 5 part series on Star Fox Alternatives in the form of movies, anime, and TV, to get your Star Fox fix in the absence of new games. But you know, there are actual games that you could be playing that can, in one way or another, inspire that feeling of Star Fox games in your heart. Nothing will quite replace the original, but these might give you something to play in the meantime. Of course, you know about the fangame Star Fox: Event Horizon, and the recently posted development of the indie title EX Zodiac, but what about games that are finished and playable NOW? Well, in the coming weeks, I'll be providing some possibilities for you to explore.

Today's entry in the Star Fox Alternative category is Aaero, an indie rhythm-based shooter released for the Nintendo Switch earlier this year (and also available on Steam). Featuring gorgeous low-poly style graphics, an intense soundtrack, and tight controls, the game looks interesting and challenging. The gameplay involves a lot of precision movement to match beats, as well ask shooting down enemies in time with the music for bonus damage. The boss fights are well-integrated into the levels. You'll spend about half your time doing tricky dodging and maneuvers, and the other half focused on fighting enemies and defending yourself from incoming shots. Check out the in-depth review from SwitchUp.

Oh, and they're working on Aaero 2 as well.