Miyamoto Talks Up Star Fox Wii U's "Fun And Unique" Dual-Screen Control Mechanics

We need you, Star Fox!

I get the feeling this could be just a Star Fox 64 re-remake just in HD and Gamepad controls. If so I'll be hugely disappointed!

@Grumblevolcano I completely agree. I know that Star Fox doesn't have the best story, but I'd like to see it continue on from Star Fox Command for DS (the last original Star Fox game).

@Grumblevolcano Yes because your "feelings" are set in stone proof of what is going to happen. Dont be ridiculous. thanks/

I think the main game might be just like 64.but there will be other modes to beef it up and of course Online dogfighting.If so,I'll be a happy chappy

Story has always been largely irrelevant and uninteresting in the Starfox series so no shocker there. I just hope they don't overdo it with the control scheme trying to turn the gamepad into a cockpit/flightstick.

Miyamoto's complete disregard of the importance of story in games isn't good. I love how much he wants to innovate and make gameplay perfect… but imagine how good his creations would be with a good story too, why can't a game have both? It would draw in a larger audience.
Miyamoto is far too stubborn.

… Having said that I am buzzing for this game and it will be a day 1 purchase.

There's a story?

Speaking of stories... I enjoyed Starfox Adventures. Not sure why everyone hates it. Lol.

@darthllama I disagree, the story for Adventures and Assault were great. Unfortunately everyone looks straight towards the SNES and N64 when they think of Star Fox which well doesn't have a good story.

I do not even want to hear the howling of the Fox fanbase when this turns out to be the Wii U's version of Pilotwings Resort.

@Superstick Yeah, I love StarFox Adventures! It would have been nice to have more shooter action, but it was a nice change of pace. (I secretly want a sequel.)

I would love if we finally got a Star Fox game in the style of 64 again. Like new missions with the branching path mechanic. Really, the only time I wanna see Fox and crew out of their machines is if we get to use Smash Bros Fox and Falco to fight on foot. I just hope that whatever the Wii U version has, it's not too impractical or at least has traditional controls available.

I also wouldnt mind that the Star Fox games are light on story. Looking back at Command and Assault, they werent too strong anyway and distracted from the gameplay. I do believe that they should bring back the comics (or even make a cartoon) to cover the lore of the Lylat system. Snappy dialogue in the games, fleshed out stories in the comics.

I for one would like them to put more emphasis on the story. I was hoping for a hybrid of Star Fox adventure with Gameplay from the Snes and N64. They could of had them traveling to planets and exploring them, this might of been to risky. I know I didn't care for the DS games at all so they better do better.

Ugh, motion controls. I hope they work in normal controls for the pro-controller or just normal controls on the gamepad too. I know it's their system but I just can't stand motion controls.

And I'm sure it's not a remake, prob Star Fox 64 II or something.

Hope it isn't just Arwing gameplay for the whole game. <.<

I want StarFox mixed with Rogue Squadron......no story needed just lots of missions and lots of flying

I wish they would add project giant robot and project guard to make it really epic. But with or without I still trust them to make a fantastic Starfox

@SMW Yeah, I'd like another game as well. It's still one of my favorite GCN games. I loved the story and the gameplay. It's actually the only game I've played in the series though. I'm guessing the standard gameplay of the series would be the shooting parts.

@Grumblevolcano Game has not been released yet and you already saw the negatives? Do you own a crystal ball or something?

That's fine. As long as we don't have to kill a giant brain again. Something new for the final boss would be appreciated.

God, I hate how Miyamoto doesn't put any effort into a good story. Yes, gameplay can be immense fun without a story to follow along, but get a hint already! The StarFox canon has way too much potential to just get discarded like that! There are way too many unanswered questions already, and you're not helping that problem!

Assault was my favourite so I really hope the game's story isn't too shallow, although I'm sure it will be a fun game regardless. Fingers crossed!

""Fun And Unique" Dual-"

Know what would be fun and unique - dual Gamepad support for couch co-op multiplayer. Or at least letus use the 3DS like in SSBU. Heck even limit it to the new 3DS. FFCC (1 Gmaecube, 4 GBA) still hasn't been done this gen.

I would be nice if Miyamoto focused on great gameplay and someone else made the story. Best of both worlds.

I do prefer gameplay as even if the story is good, I will be skipping cutscenes on a second playthrough. Although just a good story and not engaging enough gameplay does not warrant a second playthrough to me.

I'm looking forward to it, my only concern is that there will be a forced motion control aspect. I just don't want to HAVE to fly using motion controls. That control scheme was nearly a deal breaker for Skyward Sword and I just don't want a repeat of that.

Im super excited for this....yet just as sceptical. I hope we get the old school controls too, and minimal arm waving or forced 'innovation'. I dont want to have to hold the gamepad in a fixed position to keep the crosshair on screen for example, that gets really tiring fast (think using the gyro camera controls on the main plaza in Nintendoland)
Looking forward to the first trailer

I love the series, I bought the 3DS Version just to play it again, but this new title sounds like another Giant Robot Testversion, with Miyamoto trying stuff with the GamePad instead of making a Core Starfox Game with awesome space shooting and online multiplayer the series deserves

"Glorified tech demo"? Come on, Nintendo Life, why the vitriol?

I'm personally quite excited for this. I've never been huge on the series, but I have great memories of Star Fox in the SNES. Plus, as much as I don't think stories are completely unnecessary as Miyamoto seems to suggest every so often, gameplay still accounts for the prime reason why I buy video games, so I'm pretty positive this will be great.

One thing that is needed for this game.... online multiplayer but not just a co-op or co-op missions, but competitive where you shoot at each other either in a team match, either kill them all (or get the most points) or destroy the enemy base or a free for all.... but what am I thinking? this is Nintendo so we will never get this kind of multiplayer

Surely they'll have a bigger, better continuation of the storyline for this new game. There's a lot of potential!

Ah well Star Fox has never been about story. Story is nice but when you are talking a long running franchise story tends to force people into a corner. I used to think I wanted story as a lead component to my games until I noticed that changes in lore and storyline (that I felt were poorly done or that altered the original tone set by a previous game) made me walk away from games/developers.

So I'll take gameplay at this point. Story is nice but I can read a book to get my fix.

I can't imagine they'll make a remake of the N64 Star Fox - they already did that for the 3DS so they have no need to remake it again.

It better not be another remake of starfox 64.

The cockpit in the touchscreen makes my Tie Fighter panties all wet. In addition to expanding the functions you typically control in a console 'simulation', it could give more varied experience, when controlling different vehicles.

@Grumblevolcano if its going to be a remake, that shouldn't matter because its a brand new Star Fox game. From the way I see it, it doesn't even look like a remake at all. If anything, they already did a remake on Star Fox 64 so why bother doing it again?

Also if the gameplay is different, its no question that the game will be a new Star Fox whether a remake or not.

@Grumblevolcano

This is exactly what I want. I really don't want another assault.

@Grumblevolcano

I get the same feeling. Given that most Zelda games follow almost exactly the same plot, this does not get my hopes up too high. As you noted, StarFox 64 was already basically a remake of the original game.

Nintendo needs to get with the times. Gameplay will always matter, but gamers are mostly adults in their 30's now--and they want better and more mature storytelling.

@Grumblevolcano
SNES, yeah, it's flat.
But 64? 64 had the same thin but solid main story, and then a ton of lore, subplots, and backstory that were cohesive and made for an interesting solar system.

Then Adventures, Assault, and Command got off that and focused solely on the character interactions. Good and bad (mostly bad).

Who cares about story you sissies? Give me a rail, an arwing, tons of crap to shoot, and I'm in heaven.

... So because it features innovative controls it's now a 'glorified tech demo' huh? I see.

I'm going to keep my mind open. I do prefer to just use a regular controller with all of my games, but I'm willing to give this a shot. That said, if I have to spend the majority of my time looking at that GamePad screen I will be disappointed. I want to be taking in the HD graphics on my 42 inch TV, not the dinky, low-res GamePad screen...

Naggers gonna nag, I guess. It's either too different, or too much the same. You can't make 'em all happy, but you CAN stop caring about the ones that NEVER are.

I'm looking forward to it, if those in power haven't brought WWIII (no, not the next Nintendo system) to Europe by then.

Oh no, by new mechanics I hope he doesn't change it TOO much. //shivers
Star Fox Adventures

I'm predicting StarFox 64 HD here. Which, honestly - wouldnl't be bad if Star Fox 64 3d hadn't just come out a few years past.

Taking the view distance into consideration, my 42" is actually smaller, than the GamePad, and even when the resolution isn't as high as some popular 500$ tablets, its pixel density is still also higher than on my Full HD TV. I know people, who prefer to look at the GamePad, as they can focus their eyes easier on objects that are closer.

If this gets announced as an HD Star Fox SNES remake I would be in heaven

It's about time you showed up, Fox. You're the only hope for our world.

@PinkSpider that would be awesome, I'd be quiet ok with that.

@koochiekoo
Don't be rude, he's just saying he's afraid that might happen

Then again guys, he did say it MIGHT not be too different from star fox controls.

I'm thinking miyamoto is just messing with us. Sakurai had to learn it somewhere.
That said, I hope the game does not force you to use gimmicky motion controls. I hated it when games like Zelda made you use the Ds' touchscreen for everything.

I trust miyamoto's brilliance,
Maybe what they'll do is make a two man arwing. One flies the plane normally like in older star fox games, the other fires a secondary turret with the gamepad

No story eh...minor disappointment but let see how this goes.

He's not saying there's no story. He's saying that the story will be pretty standard Star Fox fare. Someone attacks the galaxy, Star Fox team is called in to take care of things. Fights through hordes of enemies in awesome, action-packed game sequences. I'm sure we'll broach the Fox/deceased father dynamic temporarily, we'll see the usual rift between Falco and the rest of the team, and Star Wolf will undoubtedly show up for a rumble or two. I don't really know how much more you could want. Star Fox 64 was awesome, and had minimal story and some of the stupidest dialogue ever written for voice actors.

I just don't understand the people who want so much story in all their video games. The gameplay is the story. Sometimes story is interesting or helpful in making the game's objective more compelling, but when it's overdone, it's intrusive and distracts from the core gameplay.

See, e.g. Metroid Other M; compare with any other Metroid game. In the original Metroid, and largely in Super Metroid and Metroid Prime, you are dropped into a world with minimal weaponry or direction; you get sparse music, and everything pushes this feeling of isolation that makes the character and the exploration interesting. You find creatures and items on the way that flesh out the world you're in, and you don't need a cheesy narrator or badly written/acted dialog to feel compelled to become more powerful and fully map/explore the world. In Other M, somebody is coaching you the whole time, and telling you what your motivation is. The result is that you feel like you're watching Samus instead of being Samus.

Everything in a game should be subservient to the idea that the gameplay mechanic is entertaining and the objective is compelling. Sometimes story helps; often it doesn't.

In Star Fox, I cannot possibly imagine an overblown story being helpful. Star Fox is, at its core, a knockoff of Star Wars featuring anthropomorphic animals. If you want to see how an overcomplicated plot ruined Star Wars, there are three movies (Episodes I, II, and III) that will demonstrate the problem.

I worry for the controls, as with most motion controls from the Wii era making games just unplayable. And the fact that we still game on the couch. I feel that the thought of waving my gamepad around and having to stand up to play will contribute to this getting a low score in my book, and worryingly with no story to make me preserver!

@earthboundlink
it's more of a preference for deep stories. For me at least, a deep story gives me incentive to keep on playing. I was trying to play earthbound, I got burned out because the story droned on for so long at a snails pace. It's nice to personify yourself as the main character yes, but if nothing happens to them in a plot, for me I can't enjoy it

@rjejr
Or Four Sword Adventures. Seems like a really obvious sequel for Wii U when you have a controller with it's own screen and 3DS for the rest of the players.

@Yorumi @JasonAnArgoNOT64 Fair enough, but I guess I like to use imagination to fill in the gaps. I need to know 1) How my character got to be here in the first place, 2) Where he/she is trying to go/what he/she is trying to achieve, and 3) what he/she is capable of doing to get from 1 to 2. Story can let me know a lot of that, but it's when it gets into full-on movie territory that I don't like it, because it becomes like a movie where you play certain scenes but not others. I also get frustrated with the voiceover action scenes, because I miss what they're saying while I'm playing, or do something dumb in the game because I'm distracted by the chatter.

I guess I'm not opposed to "story" as much as I am unnecessary "narrative." Throughout history, my favorite games were all games where there was very little explanation from the game, but I knew for example, that Link was a young hero trying to save a princess from an evil being, and had to conquer a series of dungeons to get there. That's story, but without narrative.

Bayonetta is another game that does a good balance. There's all kinds of kooky stuff to know about the universe, but it's in a book and in the menu items that you can just spend some time with when you need a break from intense action. The parts of the story you have to view are the ones that show Bayonetta's motivation for what she's doing. Even then, it doesn't make a ton of sense, but it's enough to make you feel like there's a reason to push forward.

The best case is we get something like Zelda. The motions are similar enough that the game you know are there: the boy, the girl, the man (who is sometimes a pig). But it's the unique telling and additions that keeps it interesting.

@yorumi I don't mean to say all story is bad. That's not my point at all. I'm just saying that it doesn't always belong, and my preference is generally for less of it. I would argue that Star Fox is an example of a game where it is not nearly as important, and Star Fox games that have put more story into the game are worse off because of it (e.g. Assault, Command).

Contrary to that, Chibi Robo is an example of a story-heavy game that works well, because the family's (and the toys') story is Chibi Robo's motivation to be helpful. Even there though, it is never story for story's sake. It is story to make the objective more compelling.

Honestly, I think we're on the same page with this, albeit that we differ in the degree of story, and maybe disagree on the complexity of the Star Fox universe (which I think is pretty simple). I'm not saying story in video games is bad, but I think, for instance, Assassin's Creed loses the game in the overly complex story.

Of course, as my username implies, Earthbound is one of my favorite games, and the story there is quite muddled. But I love the mystery of the whole thing. You don't really know what's going on, and you keep playing in the hopes of finding out, resulting in a creepy, intense final boss battle where you call on the game's NPCs for support.

@Luffymcduck

I didn't even know about 4 Swords Adventure, just the multiplayer game the kids got free on their 3DSs a while back. So that makes 2 games w/ this mode of Gameplay on the Gamecube and only SSB now. Which also requires a copy SSB for 3DS. Multiplayer Starfox seems like such an obvious way to do this w/ the main game on the Wii U and a free DL app on the 3DS. Couch co-op and vs. Ill actually be somewhat disappointed if they don't implement something along these lines.

This one will be... A BARREL ROLL of fun!

@Yorumi hey, at least the stories of the last Star Fox games got the job done.. And if this one is on par with the N64 game or Assault I am fine.

If this is just another linear flight action game in the vein of SF64, I can't validate spending typical retail price on it in this day and age, not unless it has as much replayability as Bayonetta 2. It would have to at least have some online mode to increase longevity and keep me coming back. StarHawk is the basis of what would make for a great new Star-Fox game, but with the polish of a Nintendo game.

@NintyMan Just like Mario games. Really, there is no reason for Bowser to continue kidnapping the princess other than pure malice and some misplaced notion that this action puts him in charge of the Mushroom Kingdom, but he does, and you have to stop him from doing it. Does Mario do this because he loves the princess? Because he loves the Mushroom Kingdom? Some pre-existing obligation to the royal family? I think it's more fun to come up with explanations for these things than to be told.

If they do want to insert more story into the game, Mario Galaxy is a good way to do it. That story had a really nice emotional core, without turning Mario into some kind of emo crusader, and it explains the existence of the people of the Galaxy world, and who exactly is this Rosalina character.

@eartboundlink Sure the platformers can get away with no story, but another series suffered from a lack of story that Miyamoto himself involved himself with in the form of Paper Mario. Sticker Star doesn't even have the same mood or feel of a Paper Mario game let alone a lack of story. Star Fox has all the potential for a great story with its world. Of Nintendo's main franchises, the only ones that would get by without a story to me is Mario platformers, Donkey Kong, Kirby, Yoshi, and Wario Land/WarioWare.

@rjejr
I had this discussion with my cousin about a co-op online game for Nintendo and Starfox would be perfect for it. Just combine Arwing and on-foot sections and it would be great, something like Starfox Assault but better.

@koochiekoo Why would you be so incredibly sarcastic and rude because someone expressed their feelings about what they hope doesn't happen? Sheeesh, that's rediculous.
@Blue-Thunder Chill out, he's just saying what he hopes doesn't happen. Last time I looked there wasn't a rule about not expressing an opinion or feeling unless it was all rainbows and puppy dogs.
@Cosats Wow. I don't even know what to say to that one. (See response to Blue-Thunder)

Why there are so many people complaining about there being little story I will never know, seeing as almost every one of their main series of games are not exactly known for having a deep story and because of that I expected no different. Many of my favorite games of all time have hardly any emphasis on story but I still loved them because of what matters the most in the end, and that is the gameplay. I like a good story in my games like anyone else but come on it is hardly necessary...

"I like to create gameplay mechanics more than I do stories."

Screw you, Miyamoto, get out of the industry!

To clarify, I'm simply tired of his outlook that story isn't part of the equation. Because really, it's obvious he doesn't care about such things. But a series like Star Fox really NEEDS to have story. A series like Metroid really NEEDS to have story. And even games like Pikmin really NEED to have story. And let's face it, Pikmin's story is extremely weak and lame.

There's so much more potential for each of those series if someone else was in charge who understood the value of story as part of the overall picture.

Gameplay is everything. And Nova bombs!
I don't have time to listen to the Starfox bleepbloop talking.
Huge bosses and plasma beams is Starfox.
Rumbling megaton explosions and epic heroic mission complete cinemas where arwings boost into the outer stratosphere!

If its not like starfox snes or starfox 64 i will not be purchasing

It's nice that they're focusing on the gameplay first, so as long as they nail that part of the game I'll be okay with just a clichéd storyline where a small mercenary team of pilots overcomes incredible odds to save the galaxy. Just make sure to finally tell us which ending of "Star Fox Command" is canon.

Hey he didn't say "there will be no story" he's just not into doing that so he hangs back and it's always worked out tastefully. Please leave your overwrought cutscenes and corny voice acting out of my Starfox, long live Miyamoto in that sense.

(Am I the only one who couldn't even play that Kid Icarus thing with the voice nonsense story that doesn't shut up? I feel like I am).
Also on topic I think I'm the only one around here that really liked Command, seems like everyone jumps all over the motion controls with it. sure it wasn't ideal but it was still really a beautiful game and online was crazy fun for a while. It felt really faithful to the main Starfox standards, I'd love to see something in that vein in HD with online and lots of missions.
New control schemes? fine, if you must; but I agree sometimes he needs to relax with all the 'innovative' controls and let us just play a game already.

This game better not have Star Fox running around smacking creatures with a stick. Keep him in his Arwing and maybe the landmaster but not on foot unless it's ground breaking.

"I get the feeling this could be just a Star Fox 64 re-remake just in HD and Gamepad controls. If so I'll be hugely disappointed!"

Wouldn't surprise me in the slightest!!

@Luffymcduck "Starfox Assault but better"

I'm not sure I played that one. I want to say I played the demo but games didnt have demos back then. And I'm not opposed to online co-op, would be ice if Nitnedo picked up the pace in that dept, maybe I could talk some family into buying a Wii U, but I think Starfox and Splatoon need the 2 Gamepads, or a 3DS, to make offline co-op or vs fun and fair.

What I truly hope for is a redesign of Fox that makes him look like an actual Fox again! Not the weird dog-hybrid he's been in Command, Brawl, and SSB4.

But anyways, regarding story, I don't expect an RPG level; but I at least want an overall goal to achieve over the course of the game. Leave the ultra-simplistic plots to Mario.

As for gameplay, I enjoyed Assault the most because of its variety and fairly interesting story. The seamless transition from one style to another (running on foot, then jumping into a vehicle) should definately be kept. I'm also really hoping they stick with the epic, Star Wars-esque atmosphere that Assault had; because like Metroid, Star Fox doesn't need to look Nintendo-y just because its made by them.

I'm really hoping to see some interesting visual design. I know Miyamoto is a gmae mechanics guy, but the Wii U has so much possibily graphicswise and the Star Fox universe is rife with things to design.

I don't know who's handling the graphics, but they better bring their A-game, or this game is going to look hopelessly left behind compared to games like Captain Toad, Bayonetta 2, and Mario Kart 8.

The "might not be too different from past Star Fox games" part won me. That's exactly what we need.

My hope is just to have this game and as soon as possible. This and other series have been lacking from the Wii era.

Honestly with Star Fox, the less story the better. The best Star Fox games in the series had barely any story beyond "Andross is bad, kick his butt!". Then they added a dying dinosaur planet and... and Aparoid queens and... ugh... Keep it simple. After all, Mario games would be super weird if they started adding epic 'star warsian' (is that a word? no...) story-lines to them.

I bet you a SNES Starfox release will be hitting Virtual Console. Better yet, an N64 one too. They better have a cool bundle deal for both.

@rjejr
They have to make support for two gamepads at some point, or give more connectivity to 3DS. Limiting gameplay and extra screen stuff to one player is, well, limiting. Gamecube GBA-connectivity proved what awesome gameplay ideas can be made, and that was over 10 years ago and we don't even need to buy GBA-NGC linkcables for everyone because everything is wireless.

@Luffymcduck - Well said. It seems so simple and logical doesn't it?

I'm pretty excited about this game! There are so many fun exclusives on the Wii U, it makes my heart melt.

I'd much rather see a 3D Classics: Star Fox. It's still the best game IMO. I'd SOOOOOO love to play it on the 3DS!!
Also, I don't like all the changes to Fox's design. I loved how he looked on SNES (the puppets) and in that NP comic, but everything after that looks pretty bad.

@Ren
You're wrong. I liked Command too.

@Grumblevolcano a remake of the greatest starfox game ever.........how terrible

as long as there is multiplayer like in assault i will get it.

"What I truly hope for is a redesign of Fox that makes him look like an actual Fox again! Not the weird dog-hybrid he's been in Command, Brawl, and SSB4"

Hear, hear! Away with the plasticy look. And a better voice-actor please.