Star Fox (series)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Star Fox series (スターフォックス sutā fokkusu?) is a video game franchise published by Nintendo. The first game in the series, developed by Argonaut Software, used the Super FX Chip to create the first accelerated 3D gaming experience on a home console.
The Super FX Chip was an additional math co-processor that was built into the game pack and helped the Super Famicom and SNES render the game's graphics. The Super FX Chip has been used in other Super Famicom/SNES games as well, some with increased processing speed. It was later released in the PAL region as Starwing. Its sequel, Star Fox 64, further revolutionized the video game industry by being the first Nintendo 64 game to feature the Rumble Pak. It was later released in Europe as Lylat Wars.
The original game was a forward-scrolling 3D shooter (also called a rail shooter). Later sequels have added more directional freedom as the series progressed.
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[edit] Released games
[edit] Star Fox
The first game in the series, Star Fox (Starwing in Europe), was released for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System in 1993. Developed by Argonaut Games, it used the Super FX chip to simulate 3-D graphics when 2-D was the norm. In the world of Star Fox, Fox McCloud and his team, Slippy Toad, Peppy Hare, and Falco Lombardi, take on Andross, who threatens to overthrow the Lylat System.
[edit] Star Fox 64
Released in 1997 for the Nintendo 64, Star Fox 64 (Lylat Wars in Europe and Australia) was the next step in the series. Included in the game was the Rumble Pak as force feedback. It also introduced full spoken dialogue, fully three dimensional graphics, and new vehicles and characters. Star Fox 64 is often considered the beginning of the Star Fox canon, and is one of the more popular games in the series.
[edit] Star Fox Adventures
The next Star Fox game would not come about until Nintendo's next home console, the GameCube in 2002. Developed by Rare, Star Fox Adventures was a completely different and radical take on the series. Instead of being strictly a shooting game, it was now an adventure game, where Fox was armed with a mystical staff, although a few portions contain limited space shooting. Its roots can be traced to the cancelled video game Dinosaur Planet, which Rare was developing as one of the last Nintendo 64 games. Adventures also introduced new characters, such as Krystal and Prince Tricky. Adventures takes place eight years after the events of Star Fox 64, and was released to generally positive reviews. [1]
- Note: Star Fox and Star Fox 64 both had different names in Europe due to the copyright being already held on the name "Star Fox" before the games' releases. However, Nintendo bought the copyright out before the release of Star Fox Adventures so future games could be released worldwide with the same name.
[edit] Star Fox: Assault
Nintendo hired Namco as the developer for the next game, Star Fox: Assault. It was released in 2005, also for the GameCube. This time, the emphasis was on shooting again, but the game also has portions of on-foot missions. Assault takes place one year after Adventures, with the Aparoids becoming a new threat to the Lylat system. While returning to its roots, Assault was released to mixed reviews, with the main complaints being control problems, the short length of the main game, and the amount of on-foot missions. [2]
- Note: When Nintendo and Namco announced the new Star Fox game, it was scheduled for both the GameCube and the arcades, but the arcade version never materialized; it is unknown if the arcade was a direct port of the GameCube version, or meant to complement it.
[edit] Star Fox Command
Star Fox Command is the newest game in the series, developed by Q-Games for the Nintendo DS. Command, like the original Star Fox, features aircraft-only gameplay, although does not include the familiar voice acting of past installments, instead opting for a gibberish chatter similar to that of the original game. It is the first Star Fox game for a handheld and the first to offer online multiplayer. It also has several alterations included. For example, there are different ships for different characters (everyone flies a different ship), each with its own special abilities. For example, Slippy's ship has no lock on feature and slower boosts, but has stronger lasers and shielding. In addition, some old characters and areas returned from Star Fox 64. The game also features some turn-based strategy elements, which require the use of the DS' touch screen and stylus to control.
[edit] Other
[edit] Star Fox 2
Star Fox 2 was the sequel to Star Fox, again developed by Argonaut. However, the game was cancelled even though it was completely finished, although many of its new ideas were implemented for the forthcoming Star Fox 64, such as the rival team Star Wolf, all-range mode, charge shot, and a multiplayer mode (though Star Fox 2's multiplayer mode was no longer featured in the final beta).
[edit] Star Fox (Wii)
Although unannounced, Nintendo game designer Shigeru Miyamoto has expressed interest in a Star Fox game for the Wii console.[3]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Star Fox Adventures Reviews. GameRankings. Retrieved on April 22, 2006.
- ^ Star Fox: Assault Reviews. GameRankings. Retrieved on April 22, 2006.
- ^ Miyamoto on StarFox Wii and Super Mario Galaxy. SPOnG.com. Retrieved on September 2, 2006.
- Star Fox Adventures instruction manual
- Star Fox: Assault instruction manual
- Star Fox: Assault official players guide
[edit] External links
- Official Star Fox website
- Arwing Landing - fan site
- The Starfox Database - fan site
- Starwing HQ - fan fiction site
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