Nintendo's righteously popular StarFox franchise makes its debut on NintendoDS as StarFox Command.

You wouldn't think the flashy aerial combat gameplay that made Fox McCloud a staple of Nintendo consoles could work in handheld form, what with the limited button array on the DS and all, but you have to remember that Nintendo's been on a winning streak in the innovation department, and that streak continues.

A great looking game out of the gate, controlling Fox McCloud's spiffy little Arwing fighter craft is handled mainly by scrawling on the DS' lower touch-sensitive screen (instead of using a thumbstick emulating a yoke, as is the norm). The lower screen also provides a map of the action, which you only look at occasionally, on the fly. Otherwise it works much like a mouse might, doodling gently to control direction, a quick scribble to activate a barrel roll (which also sucks up free-floating power-ups and supplies), double tapping for a turbo boost, dragging and dropping smart bombs to select locations on the map, or touching easy access icons to pull off an insta-loop or u-turn. Every other button on the DS, meanwhile, is used to fire; holding any one of them down for a moment activates an auto lock on target. As such, it's playable for lefties and righties both.

In between each dogfight level, there's also a simple but effective real-time strategy (RTS) element where you plot an intercept course to the next batch of baddies, move a bit, then it's their turn to plot a move. It's only a few seconds of distraction; a nice little interlude between levels.

Otherwise, it's not much more than a straight up aerial combat game; the so-called story you play through is hopelessly hokey, complete with an unrequited love story or two and a vengeance-is-mine kicker.

Still, playing StarFox Command is surprisingly intuitive yet totally novel while the action, is, as always, lots of fun.

• TIP: Though the characters speak gibberish (with English subtitles) in StarFox Command, you can also record your own voice though a vocal questionnaire (what’s your favorite color, etc.) with your answers converted to a custom gibberish. Try answering the questions with, uh, "colorful" words for pretty funny results.