Video: Feast Your Eyes On Star Fox Zero's Opening Story Cinematic

Nope, I'm on blackout for this one until I get it. Day one of course.

@Shiryu Ditto

@gcunit I hope this turns out to be the stellar Star Fox we alll deserve.

Thank you, no.

Edit: to watching the video, not the contents!

From the sound of it its nothing particularly new or exciting.

I mean it's more of a slideshow of history we've more or less known.

Was expecting something actually cinematic but it still has me excited. Can't wait.

You guys a judging a game based on its intro? lame.

I'm kind of dissapointed that there is nothing cinematic about it. Just a bunch of stills with text. However, this does not affect my feelings on the game or my anticipation of it.

Ya, time to shut down online communications Peppy. No spoilers before release day

@NewAdvent The game isn't a remake of Star Fox 64, but the story is essentially the same. Hence the whole ZERO in the title.

Think of it more as a reboot.

I'm mildly disappointed that the story isn't told entirely with muppets

@JaxonH There's absolutely nothing "spoilery" about it. Just a bunch of stills and (unless you can speak/read Japanese) a bunch of unkown text and unkown voiceover with a few recognizeable names. Also, if you played Star Fox or Star Fox 64, you know the story.

@darklinkinfinite I wonder if everything is better with Muppets.

Ok, doesn't show anything you don't know about the struggle with Andross. But once again it's just ANOTHER re-make with upgraded graphics and a couple extra visuals. Even looking at the advert for it in the Nintendo Direct the map looks exactly the same as the N64 version

I really hope this is good solid classic Starfox gameplay like Starwing and Lylat Wars. The branching paths aspect gives me confidence. I loved those games.

Couldn't care less about the story other than an obligatory setting of the scene, why they're flying about blasting stuff etc. I've got RPGs and books for stories.

@RantingThespian
Gotchya.

Honestly I never paid much attention to the "story" of Star Fox games. Always seemed like paying attention to the "story" of a Mario game- it's just a bare bones plot to explain why you're jumping on goombas or shooting at spaceships.

I was just thinking "opening cinematic" seems like something maybe I wanna avoid.

@Bunkerneath
Usually when Nintendo makes a straight up remake, they say it's a remake. But I'm pretty sure they told us it was a reimagining- about as much of a "remake" as Zelda Link Between Worlds.

Idk why Damian wrote that. Surely to stir the pot, no doubt.

But hey, maybe Ninty told us it's a remake and I just missed that? Idk, seems to have quite a lot of changes though if it is one

@Yorumi
I suppose it is, yes. But design-wise it's just a reimagining. And I do recall them saying as much back when it was still in development. Probably just tweaked a few things at the end of development here and there to make it fall in line with the timeline as a sequel.

I hope there's Japanese language options in the western release!

NOT WATCHING NOTWATCHING NOT WATCHING........

Myiamoto's insistence that games have little story as possible is cancer. I can understand Mario games...I guess, but Star Fox? Are you really retelling 64 again?

Assbutt.

@Yorumi I'm almost certain they said the sages of Lorule destroyed their triforce to keep anyone evil from stealing it, not realizing the effect it had. If Link stole their triforce, Hyrule would have two triforces, plus Lorule wasn't even in LttP.

"Wah wah! Miyamoto is destroying my game! Muh story!"

Seriously, you complain now, even though everybody knew Miyamoto was behind the game since 2014? Even though they acknowledged LONG before that it was a reboot?
Get out of here.

Lazy and underwhelming.

I'm not a huge Star Fox fan but I am looking forward to this game. That intro was very...meh. I don't mind them recycling the same story as SF64 (which recycled the story from SF on SNES) as long as the gameplay is good I'm happy. I don't have high hopes for the game though I think it will be fun.

Man, Nintendo is so out of touch. What Nintendo fans have been crying out for is a PROPER Star Fox game, just like Lylat Wars, not some silly adventure game on Dino Land. Oh, what? This is basically a retelling of Lylat Wars? Man, Nintendo is so out of touch!!! What happened to all those cool characters we found in Dino Land? Do they not matter anymore!?

Who is this Shigero Miitomo guy and why is he ruining all our favourite games!?

@Yorumi
Moving on... I can definitely relate to your viewpoint here, but at the same time I think that saying he ruined it, before we've played it, is premature.

Worst case scenario we get a StarFox game modeled after 64, with some new sections and gameplay mechanics and a demanding control scheme (which isn't necessarily a bad thing for those willing to master it).

Seems a better alternative than say, another Star Fox Adventures or Command. May not be the shining gold sequel we've dreamed of that gets everything right, perfect everything, but it's also not the worst scenario we could have faced, not taking into account the possibility of not getting one at all.

It's kind of like, there's a middle ground ya know. Not every game will be the perfect 10 showcase or dreadful 0 abomination. There's a lot of in between.

@Yorumi How is doing a reboot ruining it Star Fox 64 was pretty much a reboot as well. I don't think you realize the whole point of Star Fox Zero was to go back to the series roots hence why it looks like a retelling of 64

Hmmmm.....actually if one were to consider this as yet ANOTHER 64 remake rather a brand new game, it's actually fine for the graphics to be as bad as they are. Personally I would've like a 64 remake that looked like it was at least made on a 7th gen console rather than something in between 5th and 6th gen, but I guess the "retro" look would be fine. Though honestly, this is what I would expect an indie-made Star Fox game or a fan game to look like (though, the unfinished Shadows of Lylat game looks a bit better than this).
Still not blowing $60 on this, even if it comes with a free tower defense game that I probably would never touch.

@Kirk What a beautifully autological comment.

So it's a remake of Star Fox 64 which in turn is a remake of Star Fox on the SNES.

@Yorumi Except you're on the Internet. It is oh so easy to pass complaints as "opinions". The game isn't out yet, all we know is that it has similar story to the 64 and that it includes motion controls. "Ruined" seems to have changed definitions, I see.

And you honestly think that giving "opinions" on here will the changes the practices of a whole company? A japanese company? Good job.

@WireWare Welcome to the internet the land of hyperbole and exaggeration and where all logic and common sense goes to die

Opening looks rather underwhelming. We´ve known for a long time that this´ll be another reboot, kinda like Star Fox 64 was. Story seems to be pretty much the same, they could chance this a bit.

I'm still excited about the gameplay especially the co-op mode in which you control the ship and the other player shoots.

@Maxz
LoL. I thought you knew. All their major efforts seems to be geared towards the NX for a while now, very possibly even before StarFox was announced.
That is why these "lazy" games are coming out. Not to much effort required and a quick buck. Milk 'em, Nintendo milk 'em.

@Yorumi You bemoan Nintendo for not 'evolving' the series, and at the same time chastise them for every new thing they've added. You seem to have already decided the control scheme is objectively deficient, though based on what experience I'm not sure. I'm personally interested in getting to grips with it.

People had a field day moaning about how Splatoon's motion controls were gimmicky, tacked on, and ineffective when if was first released (and beforehand, when nobody had even touched the game), but soon after the only people moaning were the ones who spent more time complaining about the game than actually playing it, getting better at it, and realising that the controls did a rather good job.

What actual 'development' of the series would you like to see? The only vaguely solid remarks you've made have been about including more characters - as if sticking some extra furries in the game is a sufficiently bold move to "take the series forward".

@Wolfgabe My mother once told me to avoid this place at all cost. But the young fool that I was didn't listen. Now, I'm slowly losing my sanity.

@Yorumi
I have my criticisms for sure, but overall I think this looks like a really enjoyable game.

I don't think they're maliciously attempting to hold franchises hostage, I just think they heard all the complaints over wanting a new Star Fox game and decided to throw together a decent little package for us: not a AAA, high budget release as if it was their idea (cause honestly I think they're only making this because of all the complaints, which is why it's modeled after 64... They know that's the one style fans want).

@WireWare It's a striking image though isn't it!? The desperate commenter, fighting for justice in the world of video games; screaming his feelings into the abyss, or bellowing them from a desolate mountain top. Or... typing them into a comment section.

It's not the effect that matters; it's how grandiose and cool you feel doing it:

I HAVE BEEN WRONGED, AND NOW ALL THE WORLD SHALL HEAR MY SUFFERING, AND THROUGH THESE WORDS, I SHALL BRING ABOUT GREAT CHANGE! MY OPINIONS ON VIDEO GAMES I HAVE NEVER PLAYED SHALL SEND TREMORS THROUGH THE INTERNET, AND THE GAME MAKERS OF JAPAN SHALL KNOW MY THOUGHTS AND TAKE HEED!

@Yorumi
A fair assessment for sure.

With that said, I think that they do try, but people are human and sometimes no matter how bad they want to make a game everyone loves, it just doesn't turn out as good as they'd hoped.

I do agree some games seem to have more passion- usually those are the games they make from an inner desire. Unfortunately only making games like that is a fast track to bankruptcy because gamers, as a whole, aren't that open to change. Especially the Nintendo fanbase (no offense meant to anyone).

So they have to strike a balance between sequels everyone loves, games released out of a desire to please the core fans (like this one- which I actually appreciate, at least they cared enough to give us something ya know? And knowing that's why it was made its understandable it's not top shelf perfection like games they had an inner desire to develop out of passion) and the remaining teams experimenting with new ideas and franchises. Which only so many games like that can be released because of their tendancy to be ignored (Pikmin, Wonderful 101, Code Name STEAM, Captain Toad, Splatoon).

Occasionally a passionate new game sees incredible success (Splatoon) but more times than not it results in a loss.

@Maxz Yeah, just like Nintendo, I couldn't be bothered doing any more than the bare minimum required.

@Maxz That is... surprisingly accurate. And epic. Like anime levels of epic.
(The level of epicness it represents is up to you, but think of it as pretty darn epic.)

I shall now picture knights in Shining Armour violently typing on magical keyboards to save Princess Vidja Games from the mythical Japanese dragons.
...
The worst thing about that is I kinda want to hear such a story now.

I don't understand the fuss. They're starting over from the beginning. We'll see if it puts a decent spin on it when it comes out.

The 3DS remastering doesn't have anything to do with how the series is going to play out going forward.

This title on the other hand, does. Its quite possible that the ending takes down a different scenario.

Let's just wait a bit longer and we'll know for sure.

I think they forgot to animate it.

@Yorumi
There's been a few duds this gen, definitely, but there's still so many I love and clearly had a lot of passion poured in.

Idk, it is what it is. I mean, they obviously know that in this business the object is to make games that sell, and that means making games people really like. It's self-preservation to give it their best. Maybe their best just isn't as good as it used to be.

All I know is, I have no expectations for anything anymore. I quit expecting an F-Zero, expecting a Metroid, expecting this and that. Now I just expect nothing from anyone, and if I see a game I think I'll enjoy I buy it.

No thankyou, I like surprises and I LOVE starfox

Pretty clear that this game is heavily influenced by Star Fox 64. Awesome.

@Yorumi - i think Nintendo is starting over, or maybe it is just my hope, but StarFox 0 will be a new generation start of the story that will get a new chapter on NX which will carry forward from Zero essentially starting over from square 1 and evolving from there. Nintendo will need all the different IP's it can get if it truly goes with some sort of hybrid or cross selling games starting at NX.

Of course youtube channels like gamexplain will do their thing and put vids out of the entire game before it even hits the shelves...

@Yorumi - yeah.....my biggest issue thus far is the lack of split screen pr online multiplayer dogfights which were pretty fun way back in the N64 games.

As far as the why the story is the same question....I think it is a nostalgia driven thought. You have a heavy population of "Nintendo Fans" in the user base. Give them something they recognize with a few twists and get decent sales, then pull out the new story, new whatever in round 2 with a hopefully stronger selling system. But it is Nintendo so who knows.

I tend to project myself onto the company thinking what I would do which at times works but most of the time leads to head scratching

Where are the cutscenes? I don't see any, that video only contains stills...

So. When my 21 year old self imported the original game on US cartridge before UK release, I was treated to ground breaking Super FX powered visuals. The camera swooping down and around the ships as they powered down a tunnel.

The N64 game took these and presented fully textured polygons with similar epic camera moves to emphasis excitement and scope.

The 3Ds version took the N64 game and presented those visuals in crisp 3D adding even more drama.

And here we are in 2016 on the Wii U with.............

Still pictures and text.

Wow.

@Yorumi He really does seem to hate story depth. Krystal never got any sort of backstory outside the instruction booklet and SFA opening and they could have done SO much with that if they wanted to.

Though this intro sparked a new origin theory possibility: James and the original Star Fox are the ones that rescued her, and Andross blew up her planet while he was in custody of her by orders of her royal family making her the only one left. Though it's hard to move from that potential to her position of 'searching for answers' in SFA, but at least it would be a deeper reason for her to be interested in Fox than damsel-in-distress mode.

Grievances aside, if anyone's interested in what is actually said, click the spoiler box below. Although if you've played Lylat Wars, or know even the slightest thing about the Star Fox universe, it shouldn't come as much of a surprise.

And for people complaining about the simplicity of the intro (@norwichred , @getyourak , @Kirk), please bear in mind that this is obviously not intended to be a cinematic scene (despite what the article header might say). This is simply a narrative overview of the backstory, exactly like Star Fox 64 had, and something Star Wars in particular is well known for. The 'Star Wars Crawl' has even got its own Wikipedia page. And might I add that this animation looks a lot prettier than either of those two.

The fact that this exists doesn't rule out the existence of properly cinematic scenes. If they're confirmed not to feature, then you're welcome to voice some concern, but until then, please find something more substantial to moan about than having to put up with "pictures and text" (as @norwichred puts it).

EDIT: Are the spoilers tags working for other people? I can't see them, so I've no way of telling...

Terrible

@NewAdvent That's what I was about to ask. As much as I love Star Fox, can we please move on with the main story now instead of reusing the same plot from 1992? Seriously, this is the third version of the first game in the series (fourth if we count Star Fox 64 3D).

@gerebris More or less terrible than this, in your opinion?

I am buying it and all, but that video is not selling it.

@Maxz yes, unless Star fox zero is a code name for star fox 64 HD. Wich kinda is.

@gerebris Sorry, you'll have to clarify. When you responded "yes" to the question, "more or less terrible than this?", did you mean more terrible, or less terrible? Or somehow, both?

@Yorumi I take it you didn't like Star Wars The Force Awakens and won't like the upcoming Ratchet & Clank game, which did and is doing the same thing as Star Fox Zero - rebooting the series by reimagining/retreading a previous entry.

Hilariously, Ratchet & Clank is getting mass praise towards Sony/Insomniac for that, while Disney and now Nintendo are being bashed for it.

@Yorumi That's actually pretty impressive that you haven't had it completely spoiled lol.

Wasnt expecting a still-image recap of SF64. Its the gameplay that comes first for me though.

I was reluctant to purchase the Wii U because there weren't many great games at the time. I mostly bought it out of the expectation for better things to come.

Star Fox, Paper Mario, no Fire Emblem, no Metroid, no real good 3rd party games, no good Mario Party, etc have made me feel kind of burned. I won't be getting NX unless I actually see exciting new games.

I love how so many are not watching the video due to 'spoilers' when it's basically a retread of the crawl from Star Fox 64. I just hope the narration in English won't be too close to the exact crawl from 64 because I have that monologue memorized and will get itchy if they go for the 'sounds similar, but some words are shifted around to make it new'.

"Hey genius, I'm on your side!" DAAKKG!

@RantingThespian Well, the reboot is this case is a retelling of the same story, so it's still a remake as well (not to be confused with "Star Fox 64 3D," which is a remaster). Sigh, why did they have to do this? I guess we'll never learn which is the canon ending of "Star Fox Command" now.

I'm curious, has there ever been a second video game remake of the same story before?

@IceClimbers Hmm, I just saw a theater trailer today (watching "Zootopia") for a "Rachet and Clank" animated movie. Any idea how they're handling the story in that one?

"The Force Awakens" isn't a reboot, though, as it still follows the story canon of Episodes I-VI, albeit it with many similar story beats to Episode IV.

@BulbasaurusRex The Ratchet & Clank movie is based off of the original game, though I think some of the storyline elements are changing. To what extent I have no idea. The upcoming game is based off said movie.

On the new Star Wars movie, while true that it is a continuation of the storyline, the way they set up The Force Awakens makes it feel like a sort of soft reboot, which I think was the intention. A sort of "passing the torch" situation, and to do that, they made it loosely follow A New Hope.

@Mario-Man-Child
This is more-or-less the crux of it.
@Yorumi
You've said that it's only negative opinions that get flack, but it's not the negativity that primarily annoys people. People can deal with a negative opinion if it's well-reasoned, tastefully made, and comes from personal experience. It's the arrogance, hyperbole, and seemingly even paranoia ("sometimes I feel Nintendo are taking their own games hostage") with which you deliver that negativity that winds people up more than anything.

It's using the forum as a personal soapbox to have drawn out, self-indulgent winge - under the apparent delusion that it will somehow effect Nintendo's decision making - rather than recognising it as place for discussion between a bunch of (largely powerless) enthusiasts.

By all means post negative opinions (though it never hurts to try something new), but if you if you could make them a bit less bolshy and objectionable, you might find fewer people... objecting to them.

The worst part is, I actually think our opinions overlap on a number of subjects, but your stance is always so outspoken and combative on every issue that we seem to only end up conversing in some sort of argument.

Great music.

@Yorumi You could have just said:

"It's not me that's the problem, it's everybody else"

Everyone knows that line and it basically makes the same point in fewer words.

And I don't think you're insane. I just think you're a bit of a sourpuss.