One game that's been requested time and time again for the Switch is Star Fox Zero. We've seen various other titles from the Wii U generation ported across to Nintendo's hybrid system, but there's still no sign of this 2016 release.
In September last year, developer PlatinumGames said it would "definitely" be interested in porting the title to the Switch, and now, to add to this, former Nintendo staffer Takaya Imamura - who helped create the series, worked on Zero as a supervisor and assisted Shigeru Miyamoto with the series' character design - has filed a request on social media.
Taking to Twitter, Inamura acknowledged how "six years" had passed since the release of Zero on Wii U, and mentioned how now would be a good time to port the game to Switch. He's even willing to participate in a "sequel" to the Star Fox Zero animation "Star Fox - The Battle Begins". Here's a rough translation:
"Dear Nintendo, Six years have passed since the release of "Star Fox Zero" today. I think there are some issues, but please port it to the switch. Also, if you can produce a sequel to the animation, we will also be in charge of scenarios and content. I look forward to working with you. Best regards"
Inamura added how there might be "some issues". This could be in reference to the unique control system, which would require some adjustments. In saying this, Nintendo has been able to overcome gameplay/control issues in the past, as demonstrated in titles like The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD - adding full button controls to the Switch remaster of the Wii game.
- Further reading - Best Wii U-To-Nintendo Switch Ports
Would you like to see Star Fox Zero get a second chance on the Nintendo Switch? Show your support down below.
Comments (112)
There was a lot to love about Star Fox Zero, however, like most people I wasn't keen on the strange control scheme and having to look at both screens. But I honestly don't think it would be difficult to adjust to a single screen experience with a more normal control scheme - this was why it was frustrating at the time. It felt like a 9/10 simple score attack game but with frustrations pulling it down to a 7 or even 6 depending on how much it annoyed you.
It's not worth the effort honestly. It's not a bad game, but just put Star Fox 64 on NSO if it's not already there and we're good
It would have been perfect to me, if you didn’t have to watch two screens at once. I loved it but had to get myself in a certain mindset to enjoy it. I think it needs another chance. I had a blast on my first play through, but I had trouble revisiting it.
I have both Star Fox Zero and Guardian in bundle but i still haven't continue the games since last year.
Best star fox game on the Wii u. Oh wait there was star fox guard as well. Second best star fox game on the Wii u.
@samuelvictor absolutely hated the control scheme and it was worse in all range mode. I wanted to break my game pad.
I still think the Wii u would have been a much more successful console if it was a $100 cheaper, had no game pad and was simply a Wii HD
@sixrings I mostly agree with you. The only time I genuinely liked the gamepad's second screen was when it was used for maps, options screens or bringing the HUD away from cluttering the TV. The Wii U had some of my favourite games of all time and was also brilliant for backcompat and emulation. But if I had the choice, I'd play with the pro controller with no motion/touch and no second screen.
Okay how many of you who hate the control scheme know what the minus button does? Ever try pressing it while playing star fox zero? Much to your amazement you'll find it puts the cockpit view right on your TV. Nintendolifes own review of the game even failed to mention that. Don't like aiming with the gamepad screen? Try it this way. Makes a world of difference. Then the game becomes just as playable as Star fox 64. There problem solved.
Yea, as long as they can somehow reconfigure the controls, I would really like to see it on Switch. Not sure if it's possible, but worth a try!
I most definitely would like to see this underrated gem on the Switch. Despite the hate this game got mainly because of the controls I really enjoyed it. I go back to it quite often but ofc StarFox Adventures on Gamecube will always be my favourite game in the entire series.
I'd way, waaaaay rather port Assault. Zero just plain isn't good.
Though really I think they're best off just leaving the Star Fox series for dead. 64 and Assault are the only games that are any good and 64 and Adventures are the only ones anyone actually bought.
SF Zero was a fun game and I did 100% back on release, but in hindsight I don't really know why I did since a lot of the mission's extra objectives were so tedious.
If they can figure out how to make the game work with a single screen I'd buy it again in a heartbeat.
Literally the only way we could make Starfox Zero work was in co-op mode - one of us playing on the Gamepad as the gunner and one of us playing on the big screen as the pilot. Great for emulating the feel of an Episode V Snowspeeder or Luke in the Falcon's gun rigs, but not so good at emulating the feel of an X-Wing, which Arwings are really supposed to capture.
I’d be okay with a port if they really went out of their way to update the controls and add some new content. It’s not a bad title by any means… more of a repetitive and clunky one. Either that or just make a new one with a new story using the same engine. I do want to see some love for Star Fox that isn’t just the same story/game over and over again.
While I’m not a fan of this particular Star Fox entry, I know many loved it and there’s tons of legacy content that needs to be continually ported to each console generation, every time, forever, until we are all in the graveyard.
I would imagine that the lack of a GamePad would mean Nintendo can't if it's the opportunity to remap the controls to play as any other game does.
The Star Fox series deserves more love. Ubisoft tried already, and it's time we see a mainstream come.
People who say its just the control scheme holding SF Zero back from being fun are wrong. The whole game feels incomplete and imbalanced. Strange jumps in difficulty, some levels feel half-baked. Some levels in Zero feel great. Others are straight-up not fun.
@Truegamer79 sure but the cockpit view doesn’t show you if your wings are going to hit anything.
It was ultimately a bad control system that happened because someone (probably SM) didn’t want to listen to people.
If they remastered it I wouldn’t buy it again, but I feel like it’s be a nice honour to put a fixed non garbage version of the game as something free for expansion pass owners.
@Truegamer79 I won't lie, I simply don't recall that being an option because the game was too frustrating to continue playing after that first level and it's been years since last touching it or giving it a second thought. But I do recall the general first-person perspective of the gamepad screen, and surely you see how that alone won't suffice to play with when flying around in 3D space, yeah? You don't play Ace Combat and stick to first-person, you want that 3rd-person camera.
@Kyloctopus I gave up too soon to know
I would like to see this happen but we will have to wait and see.
Also isn't Bandai Namco working on a Nintendo remaster? It could be Star Fox Assault as Namco worked on that game originally.
@Lizuka There were rumors and job listings that say Bandai Namco is working on a Nintendo remaster. It could be Star Fox Assault as Namco worked on that game originially.
I liked it.
Port it but make changes to the control so we don't have to complicate ourselves when playing it. If anything had the people who made Starlink work on the next Star Fox game.
@Lizuka What about Star Fox 2?
I’m both excited and upset: excited because I feel this has some real backing and may happen someday but upset because it’s not already under development. This whole time I’ve been secretly hoping for a surprise Direct reveal that the game was being ported over with regular controls.
What a roller coaster…
If they just start working on this soon, I wouldn’t even expect it to release on Switch. It’d likely be for the next console at this point.
I've soften my stance if they're having platinum port it as just a stop gap and not thee tentpole Star Fox game. Maybe there are some things to like about that game like how Star Wolf dog fights and hyper speed. Still that game being a retrake of Star Fox 64 after we already had one on the 3ds and its back on the Switch feels like it won't go anywhere.
Especially considering if Star Fox Assault is the action game Bandai Namco are remaking right now.
Or...just port Starfox Assault with modernized controls when on-foot. The local multiplayer would especially be great to play again.
❗️I'd love to give this a try, having liked the SNES and N64 versions.
It'd be a day-one buy for me.
If they fix the controls, I'd be in
With SF0 and XBX, there would be nothing else I’d really want from the Wii U.
And it shouldn’t be too hard to fix some of the short comings with a port.
Seeing all the Wii U games not on Switch hurts… my Wii U died late last month and I never had a chance to finish Xenoblade Chronicles X.
I feel porting it over would be a bit more complex as some of the stages were built around the gamepad control scheme plus grabbing some of the high scores necessitated it as it allowed you to destroy enemies more quickly and even after they exited the TV’s field of view.
Furthermore, once you set the control scheme aside the game itself wasn’t really all that impressive.
And on the subject of a possible SF Assault remaster, whilst I also remember it more fondly than Zero it was still okay at best. The ground and turret stages were rather dull with only 2 on-rails flying stages in the entire game.
I adored that game. I thought it was the peak of Platinum trying weird control schemes for their games. It took a while to get used to, but really clicked when it did. It was just so novel and interesting, and that’s exactly what I want out of games.
I really dislike the move towards uniformity in controls. So many action games succeed or fail on the feel of the game, and experimental controls can go a long way to defining the feel.
The controller scheme felt really good when it clicked with you. It was one of those challenges that once you figured it out you felt like a master playing a fun game. Sure, it was odd, but odd is fun too.
If we didn't have Starlink I would say: "Why not?" That said, we have Starlink let's keep Starfox going in this direction moving forwards, not backwards.
How about a new and better game? Much better than the port of a game that even not taking into account the weird control scheme was ok at best?
there was nothing wrong with the controls, just people are lazy adapting to new stuff since from ps2-3 era, most games started to have exactly the same control layouts. It took some getting used to, but eventually it got super precise and I loved it. The only thing I didnt like were the mediocre drone levels. Its an amazing game! Wonderful 101 needed 2 screens too and they found a way to make it work. I cannot understand why people complain about the two screens since the game was perfectly playable already on the gamepad-just pressing the select button switched the screens when I needed. So actually the game is already perfectly playable as it and no changes need to be made- I would mabe just add more branching paths and more planets- and an underwater level which is missing in Zero compared to N64 Starfox. I am buying this day 1. Please release it ASAP. Thank you Nintendo!
@Clod there was nothing wrong with the controls, just people are lazy adapting to new stuff since from ps2-3 era, most games started to have exactly the same control layouts. It took some getting used to, but eventually it got super precise and I loved it. Wonderful 101 needed 2 screens too and they found a way to make it work. I cannot understand why people complain about the two screens since the game was perfectly playable already on the gamepad-just pressing the select button switched the screens when I needed. So actually the game is already perfectly playable as it and no changes need to be made.
@Specter_of-the_OLED DEfinitely never let Ubisoft touch starfox. Starlink was a piece of thrash- it just looked good, and had a great looking cutscenes, thats it. THey didnt have any idea whatis a core SF experience. Most importantly its an on rail(mostly) ARCADE shooter where skill matters. STarlink was so generic with boring sidequests. Zero was amazing- screens could be easily switched with a press of a button. The only complaint was some levels being too sluggish and boring- like the drone ones, and no underwater level:(. The controls just took some getting used to, but afterwards I wouldnt go back to standard control scheme even if that was possible since Zero's controls were super precise and original- it really made me feel like I am finally playing some unique game.
If I were in charge of development of a new Star Fox game for the Switch I would simply make it a squad basedobjective based space shooter, like an online multiplayer Rouge Squadron. Customisable ships and characters, single player campaign with some on-rails levels, as much muppet style cut-scene stuff as feasably possible and Labo VR compatability.
It wouldn't sell, but it's what I want to play.
@ModdedInkling there is no need of a gamepad lol. I played it just on gamepad when I traveled with my wii U and had no TV. Just press one button and you can instantly switch between the two screens. SIMPLE!
@samuelvictor I could easily play the whole game just on the same screen. The cabin view just made things different and little easier since I could use the gyro controls. If needed you can switch between the screen with a single button press- wo I dont get why is anyone complaining about this.
@ShadowofTwilight22 I feel Zero is not as great as N64, but still great if they cut some boring levels out and add new ones. I missed underwater level:( Zero still deserves a rerelease, but I would take a new mainline starfox anyday- just dont let Ubisoft touch it. Starlink was a piece of thrash, that had no idea what a fun on rail arcade shooter should be like. Super unfun game, that just looked good. Platinum team are the masters of arcade, precise, and fun action games. THey should make their own version of Starfox.
I was thinking to myself recently that Kid Icarus Uprising sort of became what a dream Star Fox game would look like. Blistering and cinematic rail shooting, married with excellent ground combat that’s high on variety. All in a big budget but delightfully campy story where the characters are constantly bantering with one another. It even had an awkward control scheme too lol.
NO. Make a new one!!!
@Kage_M This was already a big argument for many people back when it released and I don't really want to go round in circles - I know there are some people who could look past the controls, or even enjoyed them. I'm not one of them, but I thought my post was pretty clear: I bought the game (special edition pre-ordered physical version in fact, cool t-shirt!), I didn't hate the game by any standards, and stuck up for it at the time to the people completely trashing it. I found much to love, and thought with a few tweaks it could be perfect - and I'm happy to buy it again for Switch. I'm not one of the haters
That said, I agree that you can basically play the game with only looking at the TV screen - either by flicking between cabin view and out (which as others have said is not ideal because then you can't see obstacles and projectiles coming for your wings) or you can do what I basically found myself doing most of the time, pretending cabin view didn't exist and just playing it in the external view and doing the best I could - thats what I found the most fun. But obviously, in a short experience that is intended to be a score attack / time attack game that you repeat over and over and trying to improve your performance, making those kinds of compromises damage the experience.
As I said, for me, its a 9/10 game, taken down to a 7. Its therefore the perfect candidate for a Switch port and I'd totally buy it if they do make one. No complaining here, my post was actually pretty positive
This game could work if they adjusted the controls and added a few extra levels to make up for the rest of the game being sub-par.
Please don't, the game looked bad even for the Wii U, but I suppose if they did port it and it sold well..... it may make Nintendo think about releasing a new Star Fox game.
Ah Star Fox Zero... I tried to love it when it first came out, and there genuinely were some wonderful moments in it, but ultimately the controls made it one of the most frustrating games I've ever played. I ended up giving up and getting rid of it, but would love to give it a second chance if they ported it and made the controls usable. That being said, I don't think I could justify paying full retail price for it after experiencing it on the Wii u, and imagine its bad rep at this point would probably make Nintendo very cautious about investing money in porting it.
a brand new Star Fox for Switch would be better, Star Fox Zero tainted the franchise reputation.
GODDAMMIT NINTENDO!! ! ! ! ! ! !
Spend the resources for this project into making F-Zero GX HD Remake or Remaster. I don't even need a new one. Just GX on the Switch.
No one cares about SFZero, this game wasn't a success even for WiiU-standards.
I actually liked Star Fox Zero (if it happened, it should be a double bundle with Star Fox Guard) and saving as many Wii U games as possible would be fantastic in general. But I don't see it happening, I feel the remaining likely Wii U ports are the Zelda remasters very soon (e.g. this year) and XCX (perhaps in 2024/2025).
If they port that s*it over it needs a complete overhaul.
What about a new F-zero?
Definitely make it happen!!! Oh and Mario Galaxy 2.
Nobody wants Star Fox Zero on Switch keep that dumpster fire on Wii U where it belongs
Sorry to say this as a Nintendo fan, but EA did this type of game a lot better a few years ago with Star Wars Squadrons. Fans would be better off requesting that be ported to the Switch.
Honestly in my opinion Star Fox Zero was amazing. I remember playing it at first thinking 'these controls are dumb', but man I'm glad I stuck with it. Once the controls click it's amazing and really not as hard to play as people think. It's certainly not perfect but it's a long way away from being a bad game.
Having the original version myself, I would not mind a port, especially if they get rid of the second screen, or better yet, put it in the corner for precision aiming. Keep the gyro controls all you want, but put the second screen in a little camera box in the corner of the main screen.
Also include a multiplayer versus mode, and maybe even co-op. There's very little replay value otherwise. It's by no means the worst game out there, but so many issues plague the game, it's arguably one of the worst Star Fox games out there (along with Command for the DS).
The only bright side to Star Fox Zero is that because the game was such a hot mess when it first launched, that no one can blame Krystal (my favorite character in the series, and my favorite video game character, period) for the decline of the series anymore.
If you took the time to get used to the controls the game became quite addictive, and although it still has its flaws, even without the control scheme, I actually feel that some of the levels are the most fun levels in the series. I agree though that they need to revitalize the series with an actual new entry, with new planets and a new scenario. Throw in a gameplay gimmick like turbulent skies, or a windy star cluster, etc., and the series could be right back on track.
Would be lovely to be able to play Starfox Zero without those asinine gamepad controls... but I can't help but resent all these WiiU ports of mediocre games instead of XCX or the Zelda remasters.
I'm in the minority that was actually perfectly OK with the game's controls, but it still didn't help the game being anything but "meh".
I finished it once and never picked it up again.
Instead i'd say get Namco on board to make a sequel to Assault.
Star Fox Zero would need a complete overhaul to even work on standard hardware and frankly, it's more effort than it's worth.
What's left isn't that spectacular.
Nah, i'd rather have a new game in general.
I would like to see a reimagining of the star fox series. It feels like the one series Nintendo refuses to abandon, but also doesn't know what to do with. Star Link is probably the most innovative SF related thing that has ever happened.
I definitely want it more than any other Wii U port they have already done. All I need is the exact same game but with the controls fixed. Don't need any visual upgrade personally.
@JohnnyC
Star Wars Rogue Squadron trilogy will always be better than EA's Squadrons, with the reason being that all three of those games were designed on Nintendo hardware. A port of Squadrons would end up being mediocre.
The game was… ok. Star Fox was the first game I thought of when the Wii U came out with the game pad. However, the game was just ahead of its time. The games not bad, it’s just not really worth revisiting. The levels are just very sparse and empty cause the game had to draw two frames, on the game pad and the tv, instead of just one. There was only so much they could do with it. I just feel there’s better games out there that could get sequels or remasters.
Lol, moar wiiu ports.. make me think that the WiiU was wonderful and that Switch need these ports to fill the gaps..
This is a great idea, revert the controls to a normal system and we'll have a classic on our hands.
@ShadowofTwilight22 Ok I Feel you. I just feel that star fox should remain an on-rail shooter because then if it’s open world it would lose the arcade aspect and the challenge would be lost so with open the world I think it would bring a lot of other other problems. I think on rail shooters are still great because it’s more about the challenge and the exploration was hidden in secret paths that you could find if you pay attention to details within the levels. Sorry it never grew on you. I think it’s good to maintain game genre diversity even if it’s not for everyone.
@samuelvictor really well said! I would personally just cut the drone levels they didn’t feel as much fun. How do you feel about adding more levels and have more hidden paths within the levels? Oh and nobody mentions the stellar soundtrack!
@Kage_M Thank you, glad you took it in the spirit intended. Yes the music was fantastic! And of course if they do a port, I'm all for more levels and hidden paths to add more replay value. Perhaps some of the slower parts like the drone areas should be either shortened, or avoidable with a different path for those who want just pure SNES/N64 style blasting. But the basic areas which are like an expanded and remastered Lylat Wars are great. I personally never understood the people who didn't like the graphics or level design for those parts I thought they were fantastic. Bright, bold, clear, colourful and smooth framerate. Would look great on Switch.
We've had a steady stream of Wii U ports throughout the Switch lifecycle, but it's somewhat dried up of late. It's not because there isn't more Wii U games to port, it's not due to poor sales, and it's not due to a lack of development capacity with many of the projects outsourced to some extent.
Leads me to believe that this Tweet is nonsense and the game is actually already done. Windwaker and Twilight Princess are also already done. Nintendo will release them when they need to - there's no rush whatsoever.
@samuelvictor Switch urgently needs a Starfox game- since Starlink was too boring gameplay-wise and generic with boring fetch quests. Hope Platinum will also work on the next Starfox. It’s crazy why Nintendo takes so long to bring back games that were already on Wii U-Except SF Zero, mainly Mass Effect, Arkham City, Deus Ex…also hoping for MGS on Switch!
I actually was playing this yesterday on my Wii U hoping they would take out the couple gamepad features and port it over. Along with the rest of the series too, but this was a great game even with the weird gamepad functionality.
@Truegamer79
As simple as this sounds, this is actually a very good suggestion.
Many people who didn't like this game complained about having to look at 2 screens at once. That's not a fault of the game but an error on the player's approach to the game.
The thing is you never have to look at 2 screens at once. You use the first person and third person modes to your advantage when necessary and then decide which screen you wish to view that perspective. Using the minus button, you can either use the TV or the Gamepad exclusively to view both perspectives.
Or you can disregard the minus button completely and alternate (not simultaneous) viewing between the TV and Gamepad screens as needed. Players had options and unfortunately, it doesn't appear many made the most of'em.
@Turbo857
There is some truth to your post, but I think that a lot of people didn't want to have to struggle with the controls in the first place.
If one is constantly confused, and has to spend a great deal of time just getting around the controls, it really gets in the way of the game - and there is a good game beyond those controls. I don't know if it applies to everyone else, but I found myself taking issue with the controls many hours into the game, and I couldn't help but think how great the game would've been with some more time, and a simplified control scheme.
Anyway, I think a smoothed-over version of the game, with some extra polish here and there would be a good idea.
Nah, they should port xenoblade chronicles X instead, that game is actually a masterpiece, starfox zero, even without the gamepad, would be just more starfox 64.
I am playing through this right now on WiiU.
I find myself pressing the '-' button a lot so that I can swap the screens on my TV, I get super nauseous every time I try to look back and forth from the pad to the TV (the way this game expects).
I think the controls take away a LOT from what is otherwise a really fun experience.
I believe the game would be really fantastic if it just focused in on one control scheme.
Even with the two schemes it is fun to play - in my opinion, as I'm about 60% of the way through, I'd say it is a LOT better game than I'd been led to believe.
@ModdedInkling I'd rate the first and second highly, but I can't imagine the games have aged too well and a remaster would be preferable to a port. Squadrons had solid mechanics, decent graphics and varied missions. I agree a port would be a compromise (though it doesn't have top-end graphics to begin with so maybe not so much), but it's better than Star Fox Zero. And I'm saying that as someone who persevered and enjoyed Star Fox Zero, I just don't believe that franchise is among the best in its genre like some other Nintendo titles.
I'm game if they remake it. It's very much a Wii U game at this point. Which means Miyamoto should take another crack at it and change the design to something he approves of to better fit the switch. He designed the game to help making the case for Wii U if memory serves or at least one of the teams under his stewardship. So the designers may have a thing or two they want to address, remove, and replace. I think they earned that much. I don't think simply gutting some of its more interesting design decisions (putting it kindly) is fair to them, just to salvage what is there. This game needs to be a fun starfox game too, otherwise you'll just be skinking the franchise even further.
I also have my personal gripes with the skyward sword port. People may like that they got an option to play without motion controls, but it kind of loses what the Wii version has with a wireless nunchuck and wii motion plus. The Switch controls are inferior to the Wii's when it comes to motion controls. That Sensor bar was important for re-alignment. We really needed an IR Sensor for the Joycons, as it makes the game lose tracking far easier. Everything else about the joycon is superior with that one exception. There are videos showing this online. Which is a damn shame given how good the game looks on switch and all the QoL they've added. I'd happily take an IR sensor attachment for the right joycon to allow me to play Skyward Sword as it was intended... withotu the need to press the Y button constantly for every 10 or 15 swings, sometimes less. My concern (as much as I hate star fox zeros controls) is that Star Fox Zero will suffer in the same way on switch, which is why a remake might be in order to give us something fresh to fill the gap left by the wii u tablet controller. The game just isnt as salvagable as skyward sword too. Another reason this approach should be taken.
Starfox Zero is a beautiful game, it just needs some love.
@Kage_M Yup definitely agree!
@AstroTheGamosian @daveMcFlave
Co-op (like 2 vehicular co-op instead of sharing the same aircraft) would be welcome with a Vs mode. 2nd screen changing to a little box isn't bad but they can just as easily get rid of the 2nd screen functionality and rely on the minus button to alternate between 1st and 3rd person perspectives imo.
But you didn't like StarFox Command? I thought that game was pretty awesome
I would actually prefer a brand new entry. I enjoyed Zero but it was such a rehash of previous Starfox games story wise. We need something more like Assault with modern controls, graphics and actual co-op (the feature they had to cut). I'd even take something like an Adventure sequel to concentrate on the characters and exploration again.
@FargusPelagius
Ah, great that you mentioned that. Not many people remember co-op was cut out of Assault.
As much as I'd like to see Zero ported to Switch, I'm down for a whole new entry. Something in the vein of Star Fox 2 plus Starlink would be great. Starlink even had a pretty fun co-op mode which is quite an impressive feat for an open world starship game imo.
@daveMcFlave
I hear ya on that one. I felt Zero played very much like a traditional Star Fox if you opt not to use gyro controls to aim (granted, some targets required the gyro aiming). I can see how the controls can be a hassle during those few moments where the game forces you to use a first person perspective (when the third person perspective looks very cinematic and doesn't exactly position the camera directly behind the back of the vehicle; wasn't a fan of those moments). Those would definitely need to be reworked if ported to the Switch.
Giving Star Fox yet another chance? Jesus Christ man.
Reboot Star Fox with more Star Wars elements, like making a Star Fox Battlefront, Star Fox Squadron, etc. etc. The IP still has a lot of potential!
@BloodNinja wait I'm gonna die?
@Walter_ego Depends. How many 1-ups have you been eating?
@Turbo857 Eh, probably a bad idea to still switch between screens, since you have to dodge obstacles but also aim at weak points on enemies (such as their underbelly). Having the second screen in the corner of the main screen would be better, in my opinion.
And no, I didn't really like Command. There were a lot of flaws. I didn't really have an issue with the touch screen controls (which was a common complaint), but other aspects of the game ruined the experience for me.
To begin with, on the story side I didn't like the multiple endings, especially since most of them ended on a sad note for the characters (and the first one you are able to unlock has Krystal rejoin Star Fox, but leave soon after to rejoin Star Wolf; people consider that the true, canon ending to the game, and I don't like that; Fox and Krystal belong together, plain and simple).
On the gameplay side, having limited amounts of fuel on the map screen (meaning you could only take your ship so far on the map screen), plus limited turns (and if you ran out, instant Game Over), hampered that part of the game. Plus, you had to protect the Great Fox II at all times, otherwise it was an instant Game Over if enemy ships or missiles reached it.
And then during battle, you had a time limit, even during boss fights! And if you ran out of time, you lost a ship/life. And they were NOT generous with the item drops that gave you more time. That was probably the most fatal flaw of the game.
All those flaws taken together, and you have what is probably my least favorite Star Fox game, maybe even worse than Star Fox Zero. Heck, even Star Fox 2 is better. And so is Adventures, and some people don't even consider that a Star Fox game!
If you just hold the wii u gamepad up and not have it in your lap the control scheme is really good. That way you just shift your eyes a tiny bit to see the second screen, and once you learn the levels you will remember when you need that extra precision of the second screen. There's also a cockpit view option where you see the gamepad screen on the tv and vice versa. You just have to learn the control scheme in your first play through.
I think they be better making a Star Fox Zero 2 or new game.
I greatly enjoyed the WiiU game but it's controls really can't be compromised otherwise you're taking away stuff that made it able to have things no other Star Fox game could do.
Like All range mode boss and enemy fights where precise aiming and boosting was needed (instead of like 64s final boss with a barn sized hitbox).
@Isaix i would love it. I can't get immersed in old looking games, & don't subscribe to NSO. But, i would buy this game, since I didn't have a Wii U. So, i think it's worth doing, personally, because i know I'm not the only one.
@twztid13 I think Star Fox 64 holds up pretty good, but more importantly, it plays much better. Star Fox Zero is very awkward, it's not the type of game you'd want to play after an 11h shift followed by an hour at the gym.
@AstroTheGamosian
Lol, well said actually and I hear ya. What's fascinating is that the flaws you mentioned which contributed to your bad experience with the game are actually what I appreciated about SF Command.
Star Fox has always been kind of arcadey, ya know. So I didn't mind the time limits placed on missions or limited turns. It encouraged finding enemies and shooting them down as quickly as possible.
The limited gas (ship movement) contributed to thinking strategically on how you should move and approach threats to the Great Fox while searching for enemy bases. It was a bit challenging due to limited resources you mentioned earlier so these elements may have been appreciated by fans like me who like SRPGs.
I would have to disagree with your endings assessment though. As far as the ending you described (like all of the endings in Command according to game designer Dylan Cuthbert,), it's not canon. I would imagine that particular ending was chosen as the one experienced in the first playthrough in order to encourage replay value and motivate players to unlock more endings. As a matter of fact, there are more "Fox ends up with Krystal" endings than those that see them apart. And out of the 9 endings, most are pretty positive. I think the multiple endings feature was cool since it showed the impact of your choices for the first time in the series. Going different routes also gave you different aircraft and pilots to control which is something that the series barely ever lets players do.
But to each their own. Star Fox has had a funny history but there's still plenty of untapped potential
@Isaix star fox 64 is playable on switch, so ppl like you who prefer can go ahead. Others like me who want to play a starfox game we haven't played to death, after not owning a wii u, i hope will get to play this on switch one day.
@twztid13 I'm not against Nintendo porting the game. I just think it's not worth the effort. They'd be better off with a new Star Fox game made for Switch
@Isaix if u hadn't played it u may feel different. Many of us haven't & would like to. Even w changes for switch, it would likely be far cheaper than development of a new game, in addition to faster. So, if it's guaranteed profit, it makes sense for Nintendo & players, IMO.
@twztid13 You really aren't missing much honetly, but I can see your point. The game sold really horribly, so I doubt it's getting a remaster anytime soon. You'd be better off getting a Wii U to play Star Fox Zero at this point
@Isaix I've thought about it but star fox, Xenoblade Chronicles x & paper Mario color splash are the main games i still want to play. I keep holding out hope those will be ported eventually, but if not i may have to give in eventually. I would welcome a new star fox, but there's no guarantee it would be any better, & if it isn't already in development, it would take MUCH longer to come to out than a port.
Also, they may think the reason it sold horribly was the install base, & that switch install base may give it a better chance. I know they've used that rationale with other wii u games, anyways.
@twztid13 If they've seen any feedback/reviews on the game, they'll know the Wii U install base was far from the only issue with the game. The controls are by far the biggest issue of the game, but even if the controls were fixed, the game is still just a shallow version of Star Fox 64. 64 had so much more going for it
@Isaix Putting Star Fox Zero on Switch would be the perfect way for Nintendo to start chronologizing, meaning documenting a series in order from start to finish, the whole Star Fox series on the Switch. Don’t you want them to do just that for the sake of convenience? Besides, if they do start doing this Nintendo may as well begin making NEW Star Fox games which leads me to believe you and your eleven likers really truly want.
@Dragontaur Yeah Ideally every past Nintendo games should be on their latest consoles imidiatly at launch and not 5 years down the line. It's just that in the case of Star Fox Zero, I don't see why you'd be hype to play it. If they port the game, sure go ahead and buy it if you want, but right now 64 is on Switch and it's a superiour game. Zero is pretty much an inferior remake of 64 with some cool ideas here and there like the chicken walker, but overall it the exact same game, but not as fun to play, so why do you yearn to play it?
@Turbo857 To your first point, I get the part of the arcade experience, but I've never known an arcade game to have a time limit. Basically, every Star Fox game except Adventures was like an arcade game, where the goal was to rack up as many point as possible. No need for a time limit. And if there was a need, then make item drops that increase the time appear more often, especially during boss fights or when there are very few enemies.
To your second point, I get how it encourages you to think strategically, and it can be an interesting concept, if implemented correctly. But the tiniest errant squiggle on your flight path makes you run out of fuel, leaving you stuck. Also, the Star Fox series was never previously known for being a strategic game, but more of a shoot-'em-up. Before Command, only Adventures broke that mold by being an actual adventure.
To your third point, I don't remember exactly what happened in each ending. And I never said any of the endings were officially canon, only that the fans (as in, not Nintendo) consider the first one you unlock as the canon ending. Personally, my favorite one (and my own personal canon) was when Fox and Krystal had Marcus. That one was probably the best of the endings. But it would be nice if the game had a story map to show you which choice would lead to which path that determined which ending, especially when it comes to unlocking all three )(choice, path, and ending). Even now, there are choices I haven't made yet, and I unlocked all the endings years ago!
Technically, it would be impossible to "port" SFZ to any other console. It would have to be a remake that completely redesigns the levels to work without dual asynchronous screens.
At that point, it would just be yet another remake of the original "Star Fox" with a couple extra but hard to control vehicles, so why bother?
@Truegamer79 That's not the problem. It's just too awkward to pay attention to two screens at once while also simultaneously controlling each view in separate ways. In that regard, it doesn't matter which screen is displayed on the TV and which is on the GamePad or even if you can put both screens into a "picture in picture" view on the TV..
@Wilforce So pick up a used replacement Wii U and contact Nintendo to transfer your account.
I hope you backed up your save data, though, or else you're going to have to completely restart XCX. What a bummer!
@Kage_M Some people could adapt to the controls, but the good majority of us are simply biologically incapable of thinking in such a way in a satisfactory manner. Changing to cockpit view at certain times doesn't help, either, as you'll simply be crashing into things and mistiming the barrel roll by not being able to properly pilot the ship itself while using that mode, not to mention that it still does nothing for how awkward it is to maneuver the walker and the drone from two different dimensions simultaneously.
@samuelvictor How did you even beat the first level using external view exclusively? There's at least one area designed around such precise targeting that you're basically forced to use the other screen to get past it. Meanwhile, using either view exclusively is basically suicide when playing as the walker on any levels where you're forced to use it.
@sirmrguitardude That's the same problem that many very hard 8 and 16-bit platformers have. You shouldn't need to memorize the levels to a significant degree in order to beat them! That's just not fun!
Besides, that still doesn't stop me from crashing into things and getting hit by enemy fire when the precision view is needed, nor does it make the walker nor drone any easier to control.
@BulbasaurusRex yeah I understand, I crashed occasionally too, but me and my friends never found it gamebreaking. I think the only place in the entire game, where I would say there was an issue was after the waterfall when your shoot off parts off the fortress and then want to fly inside…but you can finish the boss without flying in. This was the only really annoying spot but the rest of the game is totally fine. I just didn’t enjoy the drone levels in general- my only complaint. It’s still a very unique and fun Star Fox game- top 3 for sure. They should port it anyways if nothing else. Plus I really believe, if you give it time, you would master the controls eventually and then love it even more. I had the same issues and then after getting used to it it became so precise and fun-but it just takes some practice. I hope they will leave this control setup also optional even if they change stuff.
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