The control in Psycho Fox sucks

[grolt]

I took out this game again thinking I'd give it another chance after being underwhelmed with the first few levels the first time I played it. Getting a little further into it this time, I appreciated it a little more for the WONDER BOY III style morphing to allow for access to different levels of the game, but there was still a lot of it that I just didn't like. For one, the fact that you can't backtrack is really lame. The levels are MASSIVE so why not let us go back and run through everything? It can be a real pain when you see some good eggs to break but move over just a hair and the screen advances on you.

The levels are huge, but really don't have much of interest in them. It's sort of just like those handheld scrolling backdrop racing games you could get as a kid - the level goes on forever, but it really just feels like one never ending loop. Granted, later on the levels do add a few little world-specific bonuses, but it's too little, too late when you compare this to all the other innovative platformers on the system.

What I dislike the most though, is that the control is so bizarre. You hardly move at all from a standstill, which makes jumping across all those obstacles near impossible at times because you can generate no forward momentum. Then, once you do get momentum, you move WAY too fast and loose, making it tough to control. The whole game is like this, one extreme to the other. It definitely has it's own feel to it because of the control, but that feeling is one of immense suck.

I know the game gets a lot of love, and I really want to like it more, but most of it is pretty ho hum to me. I did like the bosses though - some unique battles that I had not yet come across. Still, for a game of it's stature, it really should be better!

[rupert]

I only ever played it once and didnt advance past the first level, not becasue I coulnt but becasue what you said, the poor controles. It didnt like the game at all.

I think perhaps most people who love it had it as a kid, and when your a kid you didnt have many games you persaveired with each game, thus getting very use to the shoddy controles, untill eventually it feels natural and you don't notice it. I know I played crap games as a kid so much that you end up actually liking them.. these days theres that much choice available that if your not keen in the first few minutes or hour then you sling it and put somthing else in.

[playgeneration]

Yeah I'd say your enjoyment of the game depends a lot on how many platform games you've played previously. The controls are just totally different to the likes of Sonic or Alex Kidd that its tough to get into if you are used to those precise and fast reacting games.
I wouldn't say the game was badly programmed as such, as I'm sure the control scheme was deliberate, it just plays radically differently what you'd expect from a platformer - which I guess is the appeal, its not just another bog standard platform game.

[Bock]

Psycho Fox is Sonic-like gem you should really be playing it Rupert. It's all about running and working with your speed. Yes it's an unusual game. IHMO changing form is a gimmick, I usually do the whole game in Fox form, it's really difficult to master levels with different form since their jumping are different.
I regret that the game is lacking a time counter at the end of levels so people could complete on speed.

[uffbulle]

I agree mostly.. it's really unintuitive to not be able to jump if the platform isn't wide enough and you need to memorize a lot of the levels so as not to get killed once you do pick up speed.

I recommend checking out Decap Attack for MD though, it's sort of a spritual sequel with similar gameplay but the jumping problem remedied by reducing the speed and making it more like standard platformers. Not as interesting but more playable.

[Totoro]

Controversial!! Admittedly Psycho Fox is a little overrated, and but it's great fun nonetheless.

Could have done with a little more variety to the levels but the ending, in my opinion, is the best I've seen so far on the SMS.

DOSUKOI

[Phil]

Well it's a bit of a mario rip off, let's face it but it's still a good game. The speed and controls make it very frustrating. The game looks so easy and I end up dying so easily sometimes. I guess it doesn't help if you're playing the thing at 60hz.

I've only completed it once when I was a kid and that took all bloody day. Good job for the infinite continues!

Not the greatest platformer ever, but it's quirky and I like the ability to change to 3 other characters, although I've never ever used them really myself.

Still looking for a complete copy in good condition, so if anyone has a spare decent copy, please let me know!

[Melanogaster]

The game's awesome. Never felt any difficulty regarding the controls, maybe it's just a matter of getting used to it. Don't know if it's widely known, but you can clear all of the "one-block-gaps" by running over them instead of jumping over each one (you can also clear "two-blocks-gaps" depending on your character, I guess). I usually choose the Monkey at the first opportunity and keep it until the end (selecting the Hippo here and there to break some rocks), mainly due to its great jumps. Otherwise, as Bock says, the game is pretty much about controlling your speed.

[krooper13]

I love Psyco Fox, though the slippery controls are off putting.

[Bock]

Once you know the rules, and the rules include the fact that you can't jump far without speed, the game is really interesting. As Melanogaster pointed out you can run over up to 2 empty block, run and bounce over water, etc, it is really similar to Sonic as most levels almost can be done without stopping at all.

[Totoro]

phil said:

I've only completed it once when I was a kid and that took all bloody day. Good job for the infinite continues!

If you find the warps then it can be completed relatively quickly.