Nintendo’s Star Fox series, launched in 1993, has not only become a successful franchise, but has also given players unique characters in a great universe that are fun to follow. Today we want to look at each of the projects in more detail and again move to the Laylat system with its center in the form of the planet Corneria. And, of course, let’s talk about the future of the Star Fox series, because we haven’t heard about it for a long time!
Games of the series
Star Fox (1993)
- Platforms: SNES
Star Fox offers users an incredible journey into a world inhabited by anthropomorphic creatures. Fox McCloud and his team will have to protect Corneria from the invasion of the maddened Andross.
The gameplay of the title is fully consistent with rail shooters implemented in three-dimensional space. Players need to control a spaceship and destroy numerous enemies throughout the levels, collecting power-ups along the way. Of course, at the end of the stage there will be bosses waiting for users, without defeating whom they will not be able to progress further. By the way, at the beginning of the game, gamers are asked to make a choice of route, on which the set of levels and, as a result, difficulty will depend.
To understand how successful Star Fox turned out to be, it is enough to correlate the visual component, set of mechanics and gameplay with the platform for which the title was developed. All this was made possible thanks to the design efforts of Nintendo and Argonaut Games, which guaranteed 3D graphics by introducing the Super FX processor directly into the cartridge.
Star Fox 64 (1997)
- Platforms: Nintendo 64, iQue Player, Virtual Console
Star Fox 64 is a sequel released after the sudden cancellation of Star Fox 2 (which will also unexpectedly make itself felt much later). The game takes place in the same Laylet system. Despite Andross’ exile on Venom, the antagonist is back to his old ways. The villain’s plans include the subjugation of all living things, and the Star Fox mercenaries will again have to fight the madman. New heroes must overcome linear levels, destroy opponents and collect bonuses.
Essentially, the gameplay hasn’t changed much. At the same time, the authors took care of the multiplayer format with several game modes.
The success of Star Fox 64 can be compared to Super Mario 64 and Mario Kart 64, as evidenced by record sales.
Star Fox Adventures (2002)
- Platforms: Nintendo GameCube
The title was originally planned to be released on the Nintendo 64 under the title Dinosaur Planet. However, the creators of the Star Fox series managed to convince the developer company Rare to adjust the plot and make the project part of the franchise for the GameCube.
The game’s plot takes users to a planet where Fox was sent on an important rescue mission. Despite the presence of old characters, the gameplay has undergone dramatic changes. This was due to the fact that the original project was inspired by the Legend of Zelda series and was a 3D platformer.
Star Fox Adventures deserves praise in terms of graphics and gameplay, but fans of the first parts of the series will likely be unhappy with the drastic change in gameplay.
Star Fox: Assault (2005)
- Platforms: Nintendo GameCube
Star Fox: Assault brings back classic on-rails shooter gameplay to fans of the franchise, as well as a fascinating story of confrontation between government forces and rebels led by Andross’s nephew. Naturally, a large-scale battle will not happen without the participation of a team of brave heroes from Star Fox. Fox and his group must defeat the enemy and meet a new enemy in the form of insectoid aparoids.
Star Fox: Assault gameplay includes ground missions and flight missions where upgrading your ship and weapons is important. In this case, receiving damage negates the entire effect of pumping.
Star Fox: Assault, given its return to roots, was rated positively by users. The developers also received a well-deserved return in the form of commercial success.
Star Fox Command (2006)
- Platforms: Nintendo DS
The action of Star Fox Command takes gamers several years after the events of Assault. The members of Star Fox were disbanded and each mercenary was forced to adapt to a new life. However, the threat to Lylet from the fish-like race once again forced Fox to gather old friends. By the way, the plot of the title is non-linear, which is expressed in almost a dozen endings.
Command’s gameplay combines a turn-based mode, which requires careful placement of ships, and a combat mode, reminiscent of that in Star Fox 64. Thus, on-rails gameplay is practically not used in the project, and some tasks have multiple solutions.
Star Fox 64 3D (2011)
- Platforms: Nintendo 3DS
Star Fox 64 3D is a remake of Star Fox 64, the gameplay of which is practically no different from the original. Nevertheless, critics and users praised the project, noting the clear mechanics and low level of complexity. The main disadvantages of the updated version include the lack of online and additional content, which would be nice to add for those who have previously played the classic Star Fox 64.
Star Fox Zero (2016)
- Platforms: Wii U
The on-rails shooter Star Fox Zero for Wii U, released in the spring of 2016, follows the concept of Star Fox 64.
The main innovation here is the Gyrowing drone helicopter. A robot can descend from it, penetrate into hard-to-reach places and hack into systems. The assistant will also be useful in the fight against enemies by dropping explosives.
As for the perception of the project from the players, they note the development of levels and boss battles, while criticizing the inconvenient controls. The latter became the main drawback of the title.
Star Fox Guard (2016)
- Platforms: Wii U
Guard is another Nintendo experiment, which, with the participation of PlatinumGames, has grown into Tower Defense in the Star Fox universe. The game was released bundled with Zero in 2016. Users are encouraged to protect their bases from waves of intruders. To do this, you need to monitor the situation using cameras and shoot enemies. The latter will be played by combat robots and Chaos machines that hack video surveillance devices.
Gamers are offered a set of hundreds of missions, as well as the ability to create their own challenges in the editor.
Despite the simplicity of the campaign, Star Fox Guard pleased with the AI opponents and exciting gameplay. At the same time, the title should be considered as an addition to the Star Fox universe, because it has nothing in common with the main games of the franchise.
Star Fox 2 (2017)
- Platforms: Super NES Classic Edition, Nintendo Switch (NS Online subscription)
Star Fox 2 is a project that follows the first part of the series, which was canceled back in the 90s of the last century. In 2017, the title unexpectedly returned to the radar of the gaming community. The abandonment of Star Fox 2 for SNES in favor of the more modern Star Fox 64, of course, did not harm the series, but it left a bitter taste both among the developers and in the community of shooter fans. In the game, gamers will have to confront Andross, who wants to lay his hands on Lylet. The Star Fox team naturally disagrees with such impulses.
The gameplay focuses on controlling two ships and fighting enemies. When meeting with opponents, the user gains direct control of the fighter to take part in dynamic battles. Upon completion, the gamer again finds himself on the map of the in-game universe. By the way, as an addition, users get the opportunity to spend time with friends in split-screen mode.
What’s next?
The Star Fox series has proven its worth through commercial success, the absence of pronounced failures, and the interest of modern gamers. The authors managed to create a unique universe with its own history and attractive characters, who, by the way, managed to stay in the Super Smash Bros. franchise. In addition, the events of the games were described in detail and acquired new facts in comics and manga, which allowed fans to delve deeper into the lore of Star Fox.
Given the quality and detailed development of the series, we can expect that the adventures of Fox and his team will not be limited to the unexpected resurrection of Star Fox 2. We can only wait and count on the continuation of the story unfolding in the vastness of the Lylet star system.
Cyberpunk 2077: CDPR explained how game saves work on PS5 and Xbox Series X
The plot of the new Star Wars TV series will take place between Episodes III and IV
Is the Fallout series worth watching? The first reviews from journalists appeared on the Internet
The Final Fantasy series has sold 180 million copies, the same as GTA 5
Media: Amazon has started developing the Tomb Raider series
The Walking Dead: The Telltale Definitive Series will be re-released with an additional bonus