After a prolonged hiatus since the last official release in the Star Fox series, indie developers are stepping in to fill the void left by Nintendo’s iconic on-rail space shooter. The last installment, Star Fox 2, was resurrected from cancellation and made available in 2017 with the SNES Classic Edition. Now, eight years later, the gaming community is buzzing with excitement over the recent launch of Whisker Squadron: Survivor, a roguelite shooter that pays homage to Fox McCloud and his crew of anthropomorphic heroes.
Gameplay Overview
Crafted by the innovative team at Flippfly, Whisker Squadron: Survivor combines the thrill of on-rail shooting with the dynamic elements of roguelite gameplay. Players embark on their journey by selecting a ship and weapon to combat the menacing robotic adversaries known as The Swarm. Each playthrough is uniquely randomized, offering opportunities to fend off enemies, forge connections with crewmates, and delve deeper into the backstory of Gigi, the leader of Whisker Squadron. The game features three distinct acts, each culminating in a boss fight, complete with voiced character dialogues and a variety of accessibility options to enhance the player experience.
Currently available on PC via Steam, Whisker Squadron: Survivor is priced at .99, but a promotional offer allows players to purchase it for just .99 until February 28th. For those seeking a more enriched experience, a Deluxe Edition is also on offer, which includes the base game, soundtrack, and a Digital Extras pack featuring a 24-page digital art book and a printable papercraft ship. This edition typically retails for .87 but is currently available for .29.
Major Update 1.0.0
Having recently exited early access, Flippfly has rolled out a comprehensive patch for the 1.0 release, introducing a wealth of new features and improvements. Here’s what players can expect:
Features/Content:
- Voiced character dialog!
- Expanded story content.
- New endgame level and boss fight.
- Controller rumble support added for damage feedback.
Changes/Improvements:
- Tight Boost Weapon Booster upgrades now enhance damage with each level.
- Increased variety in mission completion dialogues.
- Boss defeats now trigger unique dialogues for characters and bosses.
- Extended Tight Boost Damage Charger duration with additional Tight Boosts.
Bug Fixes:
- Improved reliability of the Roll Magnet, particularly in Act 3.
- Characters no longer react to environmental collisions as if they were hit by The Swarm.
- Resolved issues with dialogue lines referencing inactive cursed choices.
- Fixed persistent weapon sounds when charging at level end.
- Addressed critical hit chance discrepancies on Tight Boost Damage Charger.
- Various fixes related to character unlocking and audio issues on Steam Deck.
- Implemented UI improvements and addressed VO/text mismatches.
- Numerous other minor fixes to enhance overall gameplay experience.
