Star Fox (universe): Difference between revisions

The '''''Star Fox'' universe''' ({{ja|スターフォックス|Sutā Fokkusu}}, ''Star Fox'') refers to the ''Smash Bros.'' series' collection of characters, stages, and properties that hail from Nintendo's ''Star Fox'' series of primarily-on-rails space shooter video games. While all have been published by Nintendo, each game was developed by a different company: Argonaut Games (originally Argonaut Software), Rareware, Namco, and Q-Games. The series takes place in a fictional star system starring anthropomorphic animals, focusing on missions undertaken by the mercenary team Star Fox, led by the main character [[Fox McCloud]], to pilot Arwing spacecraft into battle against interplanetary threats. Fox, his wingmate [[Falco Lombardi]], and his rival mercenary [[Wolf O'Donnell]] have all been featured as playable characters in the ''Smash Bros.'' games.

During the early years of the NES and SNES, Nintendo worked closely with Argonaut Software, who had previously developed the 3D wireframe vector graphics-based space shooter ''Starglider'' for old computers such as Commodore 64. With them, Nintendo developed a prototype for a similar style of game on the NES, but even after it was ported to SNES, it was found that the SNES hardware's capabilities for anything presented in three dimensions was severely lacking. Argonaut agreed to develop a custom chip that the SNES could use to make it better at 3D, and the final product, the Super FX Chip, was more powerful than the SNES' standard processor by leaps and bounds. Nintendo designed their 3D rail-shooter game, ''[[lylatwiki:Star Fox (game)|Star Fox]]'' (which was renamed ''Starwing'' for the PAL release due to trademark issues caused by an unrelated Atari 2600 game named ''Star Fox''), based on this chip that was built into the game cartridge itself, and in doing so released the first 3D graphics accelerator in a consumer product. Meanwhile, Nintendo opted to avoid creating a game with all of the conventional trappings of a futuristic science fiction space shooter, and therefore gave ''Star Fox'' a cast of anthropomorphic animal characters.  

The 1993 release of ''Star Fox'' for the SNES was very significant in the gaming press and the eyes of the public, and had won many accolades both for its ambitious three-dimensional presentation and its shooting gameplay. ''Star Fox'' is often credited with pioneering the use of 3D video game graphics on home consoles, and Nintendo took advantage of the opportunity to establish the IP as a series and franchise; however, despite a SNES sequel named ''{{s|lylatwiki|Star Fox 2}}'' allegedly finishing development, Nintendo decided to cancel it, and a programmer explained it was because of the impending release of the Nintendo 64 and the presumed price increase of the upgraded Super FX 2 Chip (though the console would end up releasing much later than originally intended). Shigeru Miyamoto had wanted the next ''Star Fox'' game to make full use of the enormous advantages offered by the newest hardware, and so he produced ''[[lylatwiki:Star Fox 64|Star Fox 64]]'', which is for many intents and purposes a series reboot and a remake combining both the story and gameplay elements of both ''Star Fox'' and ''Star Fox 2''. ''Star Fox 64'' (which was renamed ''Lylat Wars'' in PAL regions due to the aforementioned trademark issue) was released in 1996 to very enthusiastic critical acclaim and successful sales, and was regarded as an instant classic for the N64 for its refined rail-shooting gameplay, cinematic character-driven storytelling complete with full voice acting, and branching paths.

Despite the undisputed success of ''Star Fox 64'' and its appearances in the ''[[Super Smash Bros.]]'' series since that series' inception, the ''Star Fox'' series underwent a five-year hiatus before being brought back to public attention via unorthodox circumstances; British developer Rareware had originally intended to release an action-adventure title for the Nintendo 64 called ''Dinosaur Planet'', featuring [[The Legend of Zelda (universe)|three-dimensional ''Zelda''-style gameplay]] and a cast of anthropomorphic animal characters, including the newly created character [[Krystal]]. Miyamoto looked over the product and noted its cast's similarities to ''Star Fox'', and the game was revised as a ''Star Fox''-brand title for the GameCube, ''{{s|lylatwiki|Star Fox Adventures}}'', and was released late 2002. While generally well-received, ''Star Fox Adventures'' drew some criticism for being a particularly large departure for the series both in terms of gameplay and setting. Rare, meanwhile, was subsequently acquired as a first-party developer for Microsoft; ''Star Fox Adventures'' was their final title for a Nintendo home video game system.

The ''Star Fox'' series saw two more installments that progressively returned to the space-shooting roots established by ''Star Fox 64''. ''{{s|lylatwiki|Star Fox: Assault}}'' was developed by Namco and released for the GameCube in late 2005, and features on-rails shooting segments as well as additional on-foot gameplay segments with third-person-shooter elements. Then, ''{{s|lylatwiki|Star Fox Command}}'' was developed in conjunction with Q-Games and released for the Nintendo DS in mid-2006, and alternates between an all-range shooting mode and a turn-based strategy mode. The series would enter an extended hiatus with no new titles being released or announced for another 10 years except for the release of ''{{s|lylatwiki|Star Fox 64 3D}}'', a remake of ''Star Fox 64'', in 2012 on the [[Nintendo 3DS]].

At E3 2014, during the Nintendo Digital Event, a new ''Star Fox'' game was teased to be in development for the [[Wii U]]. The trailer showed series creator Shigeru Miyamoto testing an early build of a ''Star Fox'' game and incorporating the Wii U GamePad’s gyro controls. At the same time, two smaller projects were announced that would eventually interplay with this new ''Star Fox'' title: ''Project Guard'' and ''Project Giant Robot''. One year later at E3 2015 ''{{s|lylatwiki|Star Fox Zero}}'', a reboot of the series using ''Star Fox 64'' as a framework, was announced and co-developed by Nintendo and {{s|wikipedia|PlatinumGames}}. ''Star Fox Zero'' officially introduces a Walker mode for the Arwing, a mechanic which was previously scrapped with the cancellation of ''Star Fox 2'', as well as a new hovercraft called the {{s|lylatwiki|Gyrowing}} that deploys a tethered robot named Direct-i to collect items and complete various objectives. The title heavily incorporates the Wii U’s GamePad for movement, aiming, and shooting, which drew criticism from reviewers for making the controls clunky and unintuitive to learn. This, compounded with the fact that many key plot points and setpieces were lifted from ''Star Fox 64'', even discouraged some critics from finishing the game and assigning a final score. The resulting uncertainty for the fate of the ''Star Fox'' series lingered long after the game’s release, with only cameo appearances in Ubisoft’s ''Starlink: Battle for Atlas'' serving as anything completely new for the ''Star Fox'' IP.  

*[[Image:FalcoIcon(SSBB).png|50px|right]]'''{{SSBB|Falco}}''': Fox's wingmate and friend returns in ''Brawl'', with a new design based on ''Star Fox Assault'' and ''Star Fox Command''. His moveset appears to be similar, yet slightly modified from Melee. Falco's Final Smash is the [[Landmaster]], which fills up a huge portion of the stage as he drives around blasting his opponents. Similar to the games, the tank can both hover and roll. Oddly, when Falco performs his Final Smash, he says "Personally, I prefer the air.", even though he resorts to using the Landmaster.{{clear}}

*[[Image:WolfIcon(SSBB).png|50px|right]]'''{{SSBB|Wolf}}''': Fox's main rival and leader of the Star Wolf Team makes his debut in ''Brawl''. He has unique feral look as opposed to the other space animals, and his A attacks are quite original (he uses claws and occasionally his legs). His special moves are inspired by Fox but heavily modified to be different. His Final Smash is also the Landmaster, but unlike Fox and Falco's, it deals more damage and knockback but has less control time.{{clear}}

The Star Fox series is still strongly represented in ''Ultimate'' and has received a significant rework from past titles. Now the franchise is primarily focused on the most recent installment, ''Star Fox Zero''. Fox, Falco, and the previously absent Wolf all return as playable characters, using their designs from this title. Many other elements from ''Star Fox Zero'' such as music, stage aesthetics, and Spirits make their way into ''Ultimate''.

*07. [[File:FoxIcon(SSBU).png|50px|right]]'''{{SSBU|Fox}}''': The fearless leader of the Star Fox team returns as a starting fighter with an updated design and voice clips. He maintains his signature speed and hit-and-run fighting style, although the former has been nerfed in a few regards such as with Fox Illusion. His Final Smash now calls in the rest of the Star Fox team for an all-out Arwing assault.

*20. [[File:FalcoIcon(SSBU).png|50px|right]]'''{{SSBU|Falco}}''': The hotheaded wingmate of the Star Fox team returns as an unlockable fighter with an updated design and voice clips. He maintains his remarkable jumping height and aerial prowess, and some of his animations such as his neutral attack and up smash have been altered. His Final Smash also calls in the rest of Star Fox for an Arwing strike, albeit with a bit more unruliness and flair.

*44. [[File:WolfIcon(SSBU).png|50px|right]]'''{{SSBU|Wolf}}''': After being absent from ''Smash 4'', the leader of the ragtag mercenary team Star Wolf finally returns as an unlockable fighter. His head and voice clips are based on ''Star Fox Zero'', but his body is unique to ''Ultimate''. Many of his attacks and animations have been refined from his more feral portrayal in ''Brawl'' and his claw attacks now sport bright purple claw trails. His Final Smash now calls in the rest of Star Wolf for an all-out Wolfen assault.

*{{GameIcon|ssbm}}[[File:SSBU-Corneria.png|75px|right|link=Corneria]]'''[[Corneria]]''': The stage returns now updated to match the appearance of the more recent ''Star Fox Zero''. All of the Star Fox Smash Taunts now use the character portraits from ''Star Fox 64 3D''.

*{{GameIcon|ssbm}}[[File:SSBU-Venom.png|75px|right|link=Venom]]'''[[Venom]]''': After a 17 year absence, the often-derided stage from ''Melee'' returns with a significant graphical upgrade. All of the Star Fox Smash Taunts now use the character portraits from ''Star Fox 64 3D''.

*{{GameIcon|ssbb}}[[File:SSBU-Lylat Cruise.jpg|75px|right|link=Lylat Cruise)]]'''[[Lylat Cruise]]''': Returning from ''Brawl'' and ''Smash 4'', the stage returns once again in ''Ultimate'' now with a significant visual upgrade. All of the Star Fox Smash Taunts return, including those previously cut along with Wolf.

**{{GameIcon|SSBU}}Fox, Falco, and Wolf all got their ''Ultimate'' designs from this game.