Since I've played Starfox 64 and have played with Gyro aiming on Splatoon I may aswell have played Starfox Zero. I really like Starfox 64, so I would have been able to live with Zero not even reaching 64 standards, but I hate, HATE, Gyro aiming, just can't deal with it at all, and so that's killed the whole game for me.

Unlike Splatoon the gyro controls are mandatory so this game isn't for me at all. I imagine the main reason they're harder to learn in Zero is having to look at two screens on top of a stupid button layout.

Actually from what I played you can turn off gyro controls and using them at minimum, also you said you already played Splatoon, so aiming is very similar.

If you like Star Fox, you really need to play Star Fox Zero because it's great StarFox game and very solid game over, especially if controls clik for you.

People on NeoGaf have very positive impressions about game:

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1210408&page=35

I also said I hate gyro aiming. That option only turns them off while you're not shooting which is slighty better but not good enough. That combined with the game's many other problems makes it a no buy from me.

Wow, I love the enthusiasm for the game over at NeoGaf! Those folks are speaking my language :)

I'm about halfway through the game and I have to agree that the controls could have been a lot better. Its a bit of a mess at times.

Your comments gave me reasons enough to buy the game.

Please, stop confusing people about controls: constantly switching between the TV and the Gamepad Screen IS NOT mandatory to play and enjoy the game, neither are motion controls to aim (only in very particular sections). You can actually control the Arwing AND aim ONLY with the left joystick, just like in Starfox 64. The gyroscopic controls will still work if you move the Gamepad, but is easy to keep it in the same position and moving it is only mandatory to aim up and down when using the Walker or in some sections where the TV shows a general picture of the battle and you have to aim and shot focusing in the Gamepad Screen like in an FPS. But the rest of the game allows you to try and master A LOT of different control combinations (looking at the TV and using the Joystick to move and aim, or looking at the TV and using the motion sensors to aim WITHOUT looking at the Gamepad Screen, or Looking at the TV to control the Arwing BUT switching to the Gamepad Screen to aim and shoot, etc. etc. etc.). You can't switch off motion controlls but you can ignore them (not moving the Gamepad) and focus on aiming only with the Joystick. However, you will probably notice that, even if you prefer to use only the Joystick, you will quickly get used to aim (or help your joystick-aiming) with the motion controls. It comes institnctively and feels natural.

Aside from the controls, the game is a blast: dinamic, varied, full of action, espectacular, with a great atmosphere... After reading all the critics I wasn't sure if I was going to enjoy it, but now I'm having tons of fun with it and I realize the great potential of having this control scheme and, more important, of having this variety of vehicles and situations not only in the whole game but inside each level.

So if you were hesitant, give it a try and be ready to enjoy the greatest Starfox game since LylatWars / Starfox 64 (I was a big fan of the N64 title and now I find miself thinking that this one feels even better... Pure fun and spectacle =D ).

I made second run of this game in co-op mode and looks like I'm done with Star Fox Zero. It's unreasonably short game. It didn't cost 50 $ I have spent on it.

I don't actually think STAR FOX ZERO is a bad game at all. It's good overall, but it DID take me awhile to get used to the controls. I'm still not sure if I got the hang of them yet. I do think it would have been wiser for Nintendo to have a traditional control scheme; that would have made it less alienating. This is also a surprisingly difficult Star Fox game. But honestly, I quite like it in spite of its faults. It gets a 7.5 out of 10 for me. Nothing spectacular, but nothing horrible either. It's certainly not the worst Star Fox game ever (that honor belongs to "Command"; that game was just forgettable.)