Quick! What’s the first fox you think of when it comes to video game characters? Did you think of Fox McCloud from Star Fox? Or Maybe Tails from Sonic the Hedgehog? While those are probably the two most popular choices, there is actually another fox that should be one of the first that comes to all of our minds. And that fox is named Psycho Fox. The goal of this review is to show you that, while not nearly as popular as Fox McCloud or Tails, Psycho Fox is another "Star” Fox (see what I did there?) that deserves more recognition in the gaming community. So get ready to see why Psycho Fox for the Sega Master System, needs: More Lovin’!
What Does the Fox Say?
Psycho Fox was a game developed by Vic Tokai and published by Sega in 1989. It was only available on the Sega Master system (in cartridge form and not card form) and at one point Psycho Fox was poised to possibly become Sega's new mascot (which unfortunately never came to be). The story of Psycho Fox is a simple one: an evil deity named Madfox Daimyojin has corrupted the land. The people want him gone, so they send in a hero named Psycho Fox to rid the once peaceful land of evil...and that's basically it. So as you probably can tell, the story of Psycho Fox isn’t going to win any awards, but that’s not why this game needs more attention. Let's jump right into the first reason.
Arguably one of the Master Systems better covers
More Lovin’ Reason 1: 4 is better than 1
Did you know: Foxes like to eat worms
Psycho Fox takes a page directly out of Super Mario Bros. 2 (or Doki Doki Panic in Japan) and decided that playing as 1 character wasn’t enough. Instead, you are given 4 characters to choose from and they can be switched out at any time, unlike in Mario where you had to die or beat a level to switch characters.
While you start out as a fox with standard abilities, you also can transform into the following:
- the strong but slow hippo who uses brute strength to open up paths that are otherwise inaccessible
- the high jumping but slightly slower monkey that lets you reach platforms you couldn't normally jump and reach
- and the super-fast, long jumping tiger that has the ability to skip across water
All characters offer their own unique abilities and strengths and it’s truly a blast playing as each one to see which one best fits your play style. I myself tended to play as the fox and tiger forms the most, but back in the day my "cool" older cousin ALWAYS played as the monkey and told us we were losers if didn’t use the monkey too...so we naturally all used the monkey.
Psycho Fox was definitely inspired by this gem...
More Lovin’ Reason 2: Replayability
Did you know: Foxes have whiskers on their legs to help them navigate
So far in this review I have referenced the Star Fox series and the Mario Series….what other franchise can I relate Psycho Fox to? How about Sonic the Hedgehog! One of my favorite parts about the original Sonic the Hedgehog was the fact that, each level had only one exit, but there were many multiple routes to get to that ending, making each playthrough feel different and fresh every time. Psycho Fox uses that same format and I love it. Every time you play this game you are almost guaranteed to take at least 1 different route than you used in a previous playthrough. The game rewards you greatly by exploring each of its 21 stages, littering each level with treasure eggs that will give you 1-ups, psycho sticks (used to switch forms), invincibility potions, effigies which destroys all enemies on screen, money bags which you use at the end of the level for a bonus game, and most importantly your good pal Birdfly who gives you 1 extra hit point and gives you a ranged attack. On top of multiple routes, the game boasts several hidden warp areas as well, much like the Super Mario series. This aspect too encourages more exploration and you feel so accomplished when you find warp areas as they are cleverly and difficultly hidden.
...and maybe this gem was inspired by Psycho Fox
More Lovin’ Reason 3: Graphics
Did you know: A group of foxes are called a skulk or a leash
Graphics aren't something that I normally comment on because typically they don't make or break a game for me. But Psycho Fox's graphics do need to be mentioned. They are beautifully vibrant with varied backgrounds, there are loads of colorful characters and enemies, and there is wonderful attention to details that was lacking in most Master System games. Psycho Fox has been quoted by many (and by many, I mean the select handful that have played this game) as being one of the best looking games on the Sega Master System and I would wholeheartedly agree as this game is still a pleasure to the eyes even by today’s 1080p, 60 fps standards.
More Lovin’ Reason 4: Difficulty
Did you know: Foxes are highly revered animals in Japanese and Korean cultures
Difficulty in games can be a tricky area to discuss. Many gamers love the challenge that games can bring and feel the harder the game can be the more satisfaction that comes from when you beat it. I completely understand why people feel that way, but I am personally on the opposite spectrum. I play games to relax, unwind and enjoy myself, and not feel the sudden urge to throw a controller through my TV. That’s why for me, as a working adult with a wife and family, one of the hardest things about playing 8 bit games is that a lot of the time they can be too hard. I don’t have the time or patience anymore to keep playing until I figure out the pattern memorization, bad collision detection, and precise button inputs that were usually prevalent in 8 bit games. I do understand this was done in the early days of game development to make the games artificially longer because limited hardware equaled limited possibilities, but that doesn't mean I have to be a fan of it. Understandably this isn’t the case with every 8 bit game and some games were harder than others, (I’m looking at you Battletoads…) but Psycho Fox, in my mind, has the perfect difficulty level. Some levels can be undeniably tricky in Psycho Fox and many times having only 1 hit before you die can be frustrating...add to the fact that several areas in the game have blind jumps and learning the controls takes a bit of time because it uses a momentum system that feels VERY different than the familiar Mario formula and you may be wondering why I am praising its difficulty. I am praising Psycho Fox because it is very accessible. Psycho Fox has no timer to worry about so you can take your time, enjoy the scenery, and explore all the nooks and crannies in the levels. There is also unlimited continues. And while you may think this essentially makes extra lives non-essential pickups, you do have to start back at that world’s first level if you GAME OVER (for example if you game over in 6-3 you will continue at 6-1). So in actuality you should do your best to pick up the 1-ups scattered throughout the levels but you shouldn't stress out if you don't find them as well. To me this is great because I can expect to die several times yet I don't have to worry about going crazy and rage quitting this classic Master System cart.
Does seeing this game make you shudder in fear? Don't worry Psycho Fox is much more accessible.
What the Fox Are You Waiting For?
So let’s recap shall we? Why does this rarely mentioned gem of an 8-bit game need More Lovin'? Well you have (in the words of LeBron James) not 1, not 2, not 3, but 4 characters to utilize and experiment with, you have a retro platformer with a high level of replayability, you have one of the best looking Master system games available, and finally you have a game that has a great difficulty level that makes it accessible for all gamers.
Unfortunately this game has never come to the Nintendo eShop or any other digital forms for that matter, so the only way you can “legally” play this game is if you have a Sega Master system…and if you do have one, I can’t recommend Psycho Fox enough. While it is far from a perfect game and definitely has its fair share of problems (which I casually left out but fully acknowledge), hopefully you can see why Psycho Fox deserves:
More Lovin’!