It's been one surprise after another with Star Fox series. Who would have thought that 22 years after the game's cancellation the sequel would be bundled in with the SNES Classic Mini? Continuing this trend, Nintendo has uploaded the digital manual for Star Fox 2 detailing the story, characters and most surprisingly original design documents. It's a nice gesture to shed some light on the game's creation.
The documents (which are split into two PDF files) show concept designs for the Arwing Ships in various different modes, including Flight and Walker. These transportation differences are then closely examined, with the documentation highlighting how all the joints would work together. It seems Nintendo went to great length to make sure the vehicle design was pristine - making the cancellation in 1995 that bit more surprising.
The second PDF itself appears to be a a draft of what would end up on the first seven pages of the completed manual, with the title "Star Fox 2 Game Instruction Manual" scrolled across the pages.
Among the other jewels are layouts of what would be expected to be the main map page, including where the hidden medals can be found in each level. It will be interesting to revert back to this information once the game is released to see how near the designs are to the finished product.
Thankfully the game is now getting a chance to shine with the SNES classic due out on 29th September this month. What do you think of the concept designs? Let us know.
[source kotaku.com, via nintendo.co.jp]
Comments 27
Come on, SNES Mini!
Cannot wait to get my SNES Mini!! Not too long now
Loving that Arwing Walker design!
Everybody banging on about securing a SNES Classic of late...entitled bunch of brats (most of them). Sorry, but pre-orders of late - this gen in particular - is something akin to the 1980's.
Manual is neat.
@Pazuzu666
So what you're saying is; I didn't secure a SNES classic and I'm sore at anyone who did.
I've one preorder from Nintendo ☺️.
@chewytapeworm just a couple of weeks...
The manual looks better than the game. I love SNES games but the Star Fox games have aged awfully.
@SLIGEACH_EIRE
Funny you've made that judgement considering you (maybe I'm wrong) haven't played the game yet.
Ha, they've made a pleasingly 90s-esque website out of it. Well, I mean really it's a lot better than most 90s websites were but it evokes the feel, at least.
Looks nice. Shame they haven't made it into a proper SNES manual that can be downloaded as a PDF. Speaking of PDF manuals, I hope they upload all the original game manuals as PDFs like they did for the NES Mini. I loved reading them. I especially liked Samus being referred to as a 'he' in Metroid's manual!
@Mart1ndo You can just look at the graphics to see that what @SLIGEACH_EIRE says is true. Not really surprising that 3D games on older systems don't age well. That doesn't mean it won't be fun just that they look super old due to the fact that 3D was just barely possible at that point in time.
@Mart1ndo I've played the original and seen plenty of footage of the sequel. It looks like diarrhea.
@SLIGEACH_EIRE
Yeah it's probably not up to todays standards but I'm still looking forward to it.
@Mart1ndo It's atrocious looking at its framerate is hideous too. I appreciate what they were trying to do but the hardware just wasn't up to it.
I want the site to run another Star Fox Zero article soon. Just for the drama.
this has been up for weeks.
So hyped NOT to play Star Fox 2 when I DON'T find any SNES Minis!
@SLIGEACH_EIRE
SNES wasn't up to Stunt race FX either, yet it's a brilliant game.
Can't wait to wait outside a target overnight to make sure I get a SNES mini.
@Mart1ndo That is the cool part about the tech the SNES used is that a lot of later games did not use the native hardware at all, instead used custom chips in the cart. The FX Chip is just the most well known.
In theory the N64 had the same ability, just never utilized due to cost.
Someone should 3D print these transforming Arwing models and sell them. I know I'd pay for one.
@SLIGEACH_EIRE Another commenter says: "Funny you've made that judgement considering you haven't played the game yet." (and that's so true. Funny how everyone here is annoyed by your daily miserable remarks but you keep posting them regardless).
Even if I don't end up liking it, the fact we're getting a 'new' Super Nintendo game in 2017 is pretty exciting.
@Mart1ndo quite the opposite...
I'm 99% certain to receive a SNES Classic at launch, I've also a NES Classic in my possession, but it's not about that, rather exactly what I stated previously.
This gen - in particular it seems - is about the have and have nots, the boasters, scalpers and the Gollums. So, enjoy your SNES Classic. I doubt you'll spend too long with it before you admit an official casing doesn't negate all the great SNES games which haven't made the cut.
@Pazuzu666 I'm with you on this. I could careless if I have an official case for a NES Classic or SNES Classic which is basically just a really good emulator. Kind of annoyed I missed out on StarFox 2, but I'm sure it will end up on VC at some-point. Not too concerned as I still have my working SNES (both US and JP) and have an HDMI converter to make it look nice and crisp (had to get rid of the CRT a few years ago; took up too much space).
However, it does suck that some customers cannot buy one due to scalpers or low stock.
@Pazuzu666
I am planning on playing Yoshi's island to completion and Star fox 2 and I'll give SMK a bash. There could have been more games but to be honest I'm just glad it's actually being released at all. It's a unique little device with some of the greatest games from a very special era in gaming. Like you I'm 99% sure/hoping I will receive one.
That's nifty. As I understand it, SFx2 was mostly complete, before the plug was pulled, & it was (pulled) because Nintendo didn't like the 3d, or something to that affect. I know in the Pikmin Official Player's Guide, there was a Q&A with Miyamoto, & he said a lot of the ideas (for SF2) were moved to SF64. However, I'm not sure about them not liking the 3d. I might be wrong about that part.
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