Do A Barrel Roll!: The History Of The Star Fox Series

Star Fox (SNES, 1993)

The game that started it all for the series, Star Fox is a straight-up shooting adventure that relies on the technology of the Super FX chip, which would only be used in a handful of games following its debut. Its technology enables the use of polygons in a 16-bit console, which made Star Fox come to life better than other shooters before it. Even though the graphics are primitive compared to more modern games, the original Star Fox is still a lot of fun to play, and has plenty of hidden goodies included, such as a bonus mission where you take on a consistently spinning slot machine that spits things out at you.

Star Fox 2 (SNES, 1996)

Yes, at one point, Star Fox 2 was a thing, and the game was practically finished by the time 1996 rolled around. However, Nintendo opted to cancel it, mainly because of a conflict of interest with the company's forthcoming Nintendo 64 system, which was releasing in the same year. That said, the game lives on – not only as an included title in the Super NES Classic Edition, but also with its concepts, many of which made it over into Star Fox Zero, including the ability to control a walker in certain levels. It'll be great to play the original game again, though, and see what Argonaut Games, the series' original developer, had in mind for it. (And without paying top dollar for an unfinished repro cartridge, no less.)

Star Fox 64 (Nintendo 64, 1997)

This is considered the pinnacle of the Star Fox series, mainly because the developers at Nintendo EAD (taking over for Argonaut) got so much right with it. Featuring solid controls, beautiful visuals and a handful of great missions (including one that mimics the final alien battle in Independence Day), the game went down as an instant classic. In addition, it also introduced multiplayer with vehicles and on-foot characters, which actually wasn't half bad. A port of the game would later come to the Nintendo 3DS in 2011, utilizing its 3D technology to give it some added depth. It turned out to be a great port – and one of the best early sellers for the system.

Star Fox Adventures (GameCube, 2002)

Originally known as Dinosaur Planet, Nintendo would later convert this title to Star Fox Adventures, throwing Fox McCloud and company into the mix. Though the fit was a bit odd at first – the game doesn't feature the series' trademark flying sequences, instead relying on Zelda-style adventure – it turned out to be a hit for early GameCube adopters, with its polished visuals and fun gameplay. Adventures also proved to be a solid send-off for Rare Ltd., who would later be acquired by Microsoft to work on games exclusively for Xbox platforms. Even after all these years, Star Fox Adventures remains a curious delight – even without the flying.

Star Fox Assault (GameCube, 2005)

Not content with what Rare had done with the series years earlier, Nintendo teamed up with Bandai Namco Games to produce a more traditional StarFox adventure for the GameCube, in the form of StarFox Assault. While the game was a suitable alternative with its flying sequences and on-the-ground combat action, there was still something about it that felt a little off compared to previous entries in the series. Regardless, it was a proper send off for the franchise before it would move on to other platforms – namely the Nintendo DS, where a new kind of adventure was waiting for players.

Star Fox Command (Nintendo DS, 2006)

Star Fox Command attempted to infuse strategic aspects into the traditional aerial combat, something suggested by the game's developer, Q-Games. And it worked for the most part, providing a unique twist on the action we've come to expect from both the series and characters. Granted, those looking for something more traditional might have been slightly let down, but others were pleased by the interesting results this game produced. It would later release for the Wii U Virtual Console service, in 2015, where it would enjoy a neat little resurgence. Perhaps a sequel is needed for Nintendo Switch, somewhere down the road...

Star Fox Zero (Wii U, 2016)

After a somewhat ridiculous ten year hiatus, Star Fox came rushing back onto the scene in 2015 with an E3 announcement via Nintendo's online Direct special, promising players a thrilling adventure from the developers at Platinum Games (Bayonetta). And the visuals and sound definitely lived up to the experience, but players became frustrated by the game's combination of traditional and motion controls – something that couldn't be shut off. As we suggested earlier, a Nintendo Switch port to the game would certainly do it justice, so let's hope Nintendo gives it some consideration. Zero deserves a fighting chance on the market.

Star Fox Guard (Wii U, 2016)

This game was included with physical copies of Star Fox Zero, and could also be purchased digitally for around $5 or so. However, like Star Fox Command, it didn't follow the usual flying-and-shooting format of play. Instead, it relies more on tower defense, as you work with Slippy Toad (yeah, that dude) and his cohorts, trying to keep invaders from getting into your base. For a cheap (or free) title, Guard wasn't too bad, but it was hardly considered a "selling point" for the package either. Still, if you're looking for something different in the series, it just might satisfy your curiosity.

And The Rest…

Star Fox Virtual Boy

Yes, at one point, a version of Star Fox was in the planning stages for Nintendo's failed 3D virtual gaming device, and was even shown in somewhat complete demo form at the 1995 Electronic Entertainment Expo and Winter Consumer Electronics Show. Unfortunately, the system died shortly thereafter, and the game was canned as a result.

Star Fox Arcade

Considering the success of F-Zero GX (and AX) before it, Nintendo and Bandai Namco Games actually gave some consideration to an arcade version of Star Fox Assault. However, the game never really made it outside of the planning stages, and, as a result, it was eventually abandoned and cancelled. Perhaps one day we'll see Star Fox get a shot again at the arcades, but, for now, all focus is on the Super NES Classic Edition…which is understood.