Star Fox (series): Difference between revisions

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* '''''[[Star Fox 64 (Video Game)|Star Fox 64]]''''' (released as '''''Lylat Wars''''' in Europe), a [[Killer App]] for the Nintendo 64, was a [[Video Game Remake|remake]] of the original game, and is usually considered to be the strongest game in the series, with frenetic and fun dogfighting and good gameplay variety. It's short, though, and the difficulty swings wildly between too easy (on normal mode) and [[Fake Difficulty|cheaply difficult]] (on Expert). Notable as the first game to support the N64's Rumble Pak (the first mainstream vibrating controller accessory; yes Nintendo started that trend), which came bundled with it.

** A remake was released for the [[Nintendo 3DS]] in September 2011.

* '''''[[Star Fox Adventures (Video Game)|Star Fox Adventures]]''''', also known as ''Dinosaur Planet'', is generally the black sheep of the series. This isn't so much because it was poorly regarded by critics or fans (in fact, the game got fairly good reviews - better than both ''Assault'' and ''Command'' - and it's consistently cited as one of the best-looking games on Gamecube) but due to not originally being a ''Star Fox'' game at all. Instead, its origins lie in [[Dolled Up Installment|an unrelated N64 adventure game moved into the franchise]] (and to the Gamecube) by Nintendo's urging during development. The game did introduce Fox's on-again-off-again love interest, Krystal, who was integrated into the main series. Incidentally, this game was the last Rare-developed game for a Nintendo console before they were bought out by Microsoft.

* '''''[[Star Fox Adventures (Video Game)|Star Fox Adventures]]''''', also known as ''Dinosaur Planet'', is generally the black sheep of the series. This isn't so much because it was poorly regarded by critics or fans (in fact, the game got fairly good reviews - better than both ''Assault'' and ''Command'' - and it's consistently cited as one of the best-looking games on Gamecube) but due to not originally being a ''Star Fox'' game at all. Instead, its origins lie in [[Dolled-Up Installment|an unrelated N64 adventure game moved into the franchise]] (and to the Gamecube) by Nintendo's urging during development. The game did introduce Fox's on-again-off-again love interest, Krystal, who was integrated into the main series. Incidentally, this game was the last Rare-developed game for a Nintendo console before they were bought out by Microsoft.

* Nintendo pawned ''Star Fox'' off to a third party once again in 2005, with the Namco-developed '''''[[Star Fox Assault (Video Game)|Star Fox Assault]]'''''. While the return to the traditional shooter gameplay was well-received, the game suffered from too many missions on foot as well as a general lack of gameplay depth. In spite of that, the multiplayer is quite amazing, even for Star Fox standards. It also suffered from nicking its plot more or less wholesale from ''Silpheed: The Lost Planet'', but it finally gave characterization to non-Star Fox characters. It also introduced Star Wolf's newcomer, Panther Caroso. To date, ''Assault'' is Star Fox's worst-reviewed game.

* Finally, the most recent installment in the series is also its first portable installment, '''''[[Star Fox Command (Video Game)|Star Fox Command]]''''' for the DS. Featuring mostly free-roaming combat, the game introduced a well-executed touch screen control, a strategic map and customized aircrafts for nearly every character. It also had [[Multiple Endings]], nine, to be exact. However, the plot isn't anything to write home about, and repetition sets in fairly quickly. This is the least-selling game of the series.

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** Katt was pink in ''64'' and suddenly changed to black in ''Command''. Maybe she used to dye her fur or something...

** Slippy's kids in one of the endings in ''Command'' all have different colors.

* [[Anti Hero]]: Star Wolf team, particularly in the later games.

* [[Anti-Hero]]: Star Wolf team, particularly in the later games.

* [[Art Evolution]]: While the main characters follow a mildly consistent appearance throughout 5-9 games and 3 comic books, they still change appearance a whole lot more than, say, Mario or Kirby.

* [[Art Shift]]: Does Fox McCloud have blue or green eyes? That depends on what game you're looking at. They appear to have settled on green, but interestingly, in an early promo art for ''Assault'', they appeared to be ''[http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/starfox/images/0/0c/Foxblaster.jpg both]''.

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** Also, the original ''Star Fox'' for the SNES. But that's because ''Star Fox 64'' was a [[Continuity Reboot]].

* [[Canon Foreigner]]: Fara Phoenix, and all the other exclusive characters, from the [http://starfox.wikia.com/wiki/Category:Comics comics]. Also Fay and Miyu, who only appeared in the canceled ''Star Fox 2''. It is unlikely that these characters will ever appear in a future game.

* [[Canon Immigrant]]: Technically Krystal, since she the original protagonist of the Rare game ''Dinosaur Planet'' before it was [[Dolled Up Installment|made into a]] ''[[Dolled Up Installment|Star Fox]]'' [[Dolled Up Installment|game]].

* [[Canon Immigrant]]: Technically Krystal, since she the original protagonist of the Rare game ''Dinosaur Planet'' before it was [[Dolled-Up Installment|made into a]] ''[[Dolled-Up Installment|Star Fox]]'' [[Dolled-Up Installment|game]].

* [[Captain Obvious]]:

{{quote| '''Fox:''' ROB, can you confirm Slippy's location?<br />

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* [[Conservation of Competence]]: The size of a force of spacecraft is inversely proportional to its effectiveness. Thus, Corneria's massive fleet is useless [at one point being destroyed by ''one'' Aparoid, a creature so flimsy it's ''Assault'''s second boss], while five mercenaries can do anything.

* [[Continuing Is Painful]]: ''Star Fox'' and ''Star Fox 64'' are usually pretty good about continue points. They push you far enough back so you have time to restore your extended shield and blue lasers before you reach the boss. Usually. The times they don't (''64'''s Venom 2 dogfight against Star Wolf, for example) dives right into this trope.

* [[Continuity Nod]]: The page picture, a piece of artwork from ''Command'', is essentially a redrawing of original promotion material for the original SNES Star Fox (Which was actually the boxart for the European release.) Given that the SNES game(s) were [[Retcon|RetConned]] out of the continuity by ''64'', and the somewhat [[Off Model]] appearance of Slippy and Peppy, this is more of a nod than anything else.

* [[Continuity Nod]]: The page picture, a piece of artwork from ''Command'', is essentially a redrawing of original promotion material for the original SNES Star Fox (Which was actually the boxart for the European release.) Given that the SNES game(s) were [[Retcon|RetConned]] out of the continuity by ''64'', and the somewhat [[Off-Model]] appearance of Slippy and Peppy, this is more of a nod than anything else.

** Also, Andrew Oikonny, ex-Star Wolf, is the first boss in ''Assault'', where he is striving to become a good [[Big Bad]] like his uncle was. His ship even transforms into a big head with two flying fists as a callback to Andross's boss fight. Falco is not impressed.

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* [[Even the Guys Want Him]]: Wolf seems to attract this, both from Leon and in [[Fan Yay]].

* [[Everyone Can See It]]: In ''Adventures'' and ''Assault'', Fox tries to keep a lid on his blatant attraction to Krystal. It doesn't work very well. Falco, Slippy, R.O.B., and even Tricky (who hadn't seen them in over a year and had never seen them together in Adventures) manages to figure it out.

* [[~~Everythings~~ Better With Dinosaurs]]: ''[[Star Fox Adventures (Video Game)|Star Fox Adventures]]'' and ''[[Star Fox Assault (Video Game)|Star Fox Assault]]'' (if only briefly).

* [[Everything's Better With Dinosaurs]]: ''[[Star Fox Adventures (Video Game)|Star Fox Adventures]]'' and ''[[Star Fox Assault (Video Game)|Star Fox Assault]]'' (if only briefly).

* [[Executive Meddling]]: The catalyst for ''Adventures'', which began life as an unrelated Nintendo 64 game called ''Dinosaur Planet''. There are two versions of this story, and the one you believe depends upon who you ask and how cynical you feel about modern game design, but both eventually result in the game's development schedule being drawn out past the end of the N64's life cycle and then being pushed to the upcoming [[Game Cube]]:

** Version 1 holds that while examining preview material for ''Dinosaur Planet'', Shigeru Miyamoto was struck by the similarity of Rare's designs for the protagonist, Sabre (a fox), to Fox McCloud. Miyamoto was reportedly so impressed with how the game was turning out that he called up the Rare development team and personally requested that they change the game to include ''Star Fox'' characters, and Rare agreed.

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* [[Fanfare]]: The first game, and ''Assault''.

* [[Fighter Launching Sequence]]: The launch in the original, with a voice (still a rare thing in the 16-bit days) shouting "Emergency! Emergency! Incoming enemy fighters! Prepare for launch!"

* [[Five Man Band]]:

* [[Five-Man Band]]:

** [[The Hero]] - Fox

** [[The Lancer]] - Falco

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** [[The Optimist]] - Slippy

** The Apathetic - Peppy

* [[Four Temperament Ensemble]]: Before the team became the [[Five Man Band]].

* [[Four-Temperament Ensemble]]: Before the team became the [[Five-Man Band]].

** Sanguine - Falco

** Choleric - Fox

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* [[Fun With Acronyms]]: Has nothing to do with the games themselves, but rather the special chip that was used to created the original Super NES game. The Super FX chip was originally called the "'''M'''athematical, '''A'''rgonaut, '''R'''otation, (and) '''I/O''' Chip 1", or the "[[Super Mario Bros|MARIO]]" Chip 1 for short.

* [[Gameplay Ally Immortality]]: Some allies in ''Star Fox 64'' and pretty much everyone in ''Assault'', averted otherwise as your teammates can and will be defeated if you don't help them.

* [[Gameplay Roulette]]: The series has had 3D [[Rail Shooter]], [[Action Adventure]], [[Third Person Shooter]], and [[Turn Based Strategy]] elements throughout the various installments...

* [[Gameplay Roulette]]: The series has had 3D [[Rail Shooter]], [[Action Adventure]], [[Third-Person Shooter]], and [[Turn Based Strategy]] elements throughout the various installments...

* [[Green Hill Zone]]: [[Welcome to Corneria]], planet of Greenishness™.

** Fortuna in ''Assault'', though the first half of the level is set in space.

* [[Good Scars Evil Scars]]: Pigma has claw marks on his head in ''Assault''. It doesn't take much to figure out where he must have gotten those.

* [[Good Scars, Evil Scars]]: Pigma has claw marks on his head in ''Assault''. It doesn't take much to figure out where he must have gotten those.

** Meanwhile, Panther has a stylized white "scar" on his right cheek. How does one get white scars? Depigmentation is a common effect of scarring.

* [[Gosh Dang It to Heck]]: Not that there are a lack of vocal outbursts, but the sheer volume of G-rated curses is as corny as any Utah slang.

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** ''Command'' also brings the crossover to full circle in one of the endings, with Fox and Falco becoming ''G-Zero'' racers; Falco also wears Captain Falcon's boots in a separate ending.

* [[Interplay of Sex and Violence]]: When Wolf thrashes an enemy, Leon [[Rape Is Love|envies]] the enemy for being punished [[Lust|by Wolf]].

* [[It S Quiet Too Quiet]]: "Be careful, [[Obvious Trap|it's a trap]]!"

* [[It's Quiet... Too Quiet]]: "Be careful, [[Obvious Trap|it's a trap]]!"

* [[I Work Alone]]: Falco's reasons for leaving the team numerous times. He also states this as the reason why he'll never want a girlfriend.

* [[Just a Kid]]: The English dialog of ''Assault'' has Wolf refer to Fox as "pup". Depending on your interpretation, it could mean that he's belittling the hero or it's [[Fan Yay|some other things]].

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* [[Mad Scientist]]: Andross.

* [[Maniac Monkeys]]: Andross, Andrew, Dash Bowman in a couple of endings in ''Command''.

* [[Market Based Title]]: Due to a series of title trademarks for home computer games, the series went through three names in Europe. The original ''Star Fox'' was released as ''Star Wing'' due to sharing a title with an Atari 2600 game, and some references to "Star Fox Team" in text were changed to "Star Wing Team". Unfortunately, it turned out this was ''also'' the title of an existing game, and ''Star Fox 64'' was duly released under the much-ridiculed title of ''Lylat Wars''. By ''[[Star Fox Adventures (Video Game)|Star Fox Adventures]]'', the whole mess had been sorted out, and other than the ''Star Fox 64'' Wii re-release all EU games have shared the US titles.

* [[Market-Based Title]]: Due to a series of title trademarks for home computer games, the series went through three names in Europe. The original ''Star Fox'' was released as ''Star Wing'' due to sharing a title with an Atari 2600 game, and some references to "Star Fox Team" in text were changed to "Star Wing Team". Unfortunately, it turned out this was ''also'' the title of an existing game, and ''Star Fox 64'' was duly released under the much-ridiculed title of ''Lylat Wars''. By ''[[Star Fox Adventures (Video Game)|Star Fox Adventures]]'', the whole mess had been sorted out, and other than the ''Star Fox 64'' Wii re-release all EU games have shared the US titles.

* [[May December Romance]]: Between Fox and Krystal; by ''Assault'', the latter is twenty and the former is 27. If Krystal were to get with Panther as shown in some routes in ''Command'', she would have a similar romance since he's presumably older than Fox.

* [[May-December Romance]]: Between Fox and Krystal; by ''Assault'', the latter is twenty and the former is 27. If Krystal were to get with Panther as shown in some routes in ''Command'', she would have a similar romance since he's presumably older than Fox.

* [[Meaningless Lives]]: ''Adventures'', where there are more Bafomadads (the 1-Ups) in the game than you can carry at once. ''Brutally'' averted in all of the other games, though.

* [[Mighty Whitey]]: Assuming Fox is "white", which his overall [[Green Eyed Red Head|green-eyed redheadness]] and action hero attitude seem to imply, the tests of strength on Dinosaur Planet definitely invoke this.

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* [[Nitro Boost]]: "Use the boost to get through!"

* [[Nobody Poops]]: Most likely the reason for the [[Bottomless Bladder]] listed above.

* [[Non Lethal KO]]: If your teammates are shot down, they're just forced to take a break for repairs. Fox himself crashes and explodes while one of his teammates calls out "FOX!!!" or simply "[[Big No|NOOO!]]".

* [[Non-Lethal KO]]: If your teammates are shot down, they're just forced to take a break for repairs. Fox himself crashes and explodes while one of his teammates calls out "FOX!!!" or simply "[[Big No|NOOO!]]".

** The same apparently applies to Star Wolf, who manage to survive their Wolfen exploding every single time. The only time they appear to be hurt by this is in ''64'', where they are seen with bandages and cybernetic eyepieces in your second encounter with them.

** Wolf's [[Joker Immunity]] is subverted in Mission 7 at ''Assault''. If Fox fails to protect Wolf's ship while riding it, Wolf's Wolfen explodes while Fox plummets to his death.

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** Also a meta-example in the same game: Thanks to the previous games, especially ''[[Star Fox Adventures (Video Game)|Star Fox Adventures]]'', and to a certain extent the next game (since it is implied that Andross created the Anglar Menace), you'd think that Andross might somehow be pulling the strings on the new menace. Turns out, the Aparoids have absolutely no affiliation with Andross.

* [[Nubile Savage]]: Krystal's original outfit.

* [[The Obi Wan]]: Peppy. In ''Assault'', {{spoiler|Wolf also advises Fox, which helps him in the final battle.}}

* [[The Obi-Wan]]: Peppy. In ''Assault'', {{spoiler|Wolf also advises Fox, which helps him in the final battle.}}

** {{spoiler|James}}, even, in ''64''. "Never give up. Trust your instincts."

** This line was also spoken earlier by Peppy, one of several references to his being an "original member" of the team.

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* [[Old School Dogfighting]]: Somewhat averted by the use of homing lasers, but still used frequently, especially for any encounter with Star Wolf.

** While averted in levels where the player is flying within the atmosphere of a planet, this becomes glaringly apparent when you see an Arwing or Wolfen execute a banking turn in a supposedly zero-G vacuum environment.

* [[One Hit Point Wonder]]: The wings of the Arwing in Expert Mode. Bruise something and you lose a wing and any laser upgrade.

* [[One-Hit-Point Wonder]]: The wings of the Arwing in Expert Mode. Bruise something and you lose a wing and any laser upgrade.

* [[The Only One Allowed to Defeat You]]: Fox is so determined to get revenge on Andross, that when they reach his lair, he tells the rest of the team to back off.

** This is the excuse Wolf gives Fox for saving him from a large group of Aparoids in ''Assault''.

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** The English version of ''Star Fox 64 3D'' subverts this. Mike West (Fox and James McCloud) and Lyssa Browne (Slippy and Katt) reprise their roles from the N64 original. Everyone else was recast however, [[Ruined FOREVER|which didn't go well for some fans]].

* [[Parental Bonus]]: A comic explained General Pepper's past some... and he was a busy [[The Beatles|Sergeant]].

* [[~~Peoples~~ Republic of Tyranny]]: Corneria's outward appearance is of a military dictatorship, with huge posters of General Pepper everywhere. Civilian leadership doesn't even get a ''mention'' until the end of ''Assault'', and even then barely warrants a footnote.

* [[People's Republic of Tyranny]]: Corneria's outward appearance is of a military dictatorship, with huge posters of General Pepper everywhere. Civilian leadership doesn't even get a ''mention'' until the end of ''Assault'', and even then barely warrants a footnote.

* [[Petting Zoo People]]: Animal jokes aside, the characters are strikingly human in lifestyle. This is more in line with the Japanese [[Kemono]] aesthetic.

* [[Plot Hole]]: It's never particularly clear how Andross's exile is supposed to have worked; he was either a dangerous megalomaniac sent to go screw an inhabited planet with massive natural resources around, or Venom went from being barren and deserted to fully industrialised within five years.

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* [[Rescue Romance]]: Fox falls in love with Krystal when he sees her trapped in a crystal. After he rescues her at the end of the game, the two become a couple.

* [[The Rival]], [[Evil Counterpart]], and [[Worthy Opponent]]: The Star Wolf team.

** In ''Assault'' and ''Command'', they are less evil and more [[Anti Hero|antiheroic]].

** In ''Assault'' and ''Command'', they are less evil and more [[Anti-Hero|antiheroic]].

* [[Rivals Team Up]]: Wolf and Fox do this in the recent games, though usually after a short dogfight.

* [[Rock Beats Laser]]: ''Brutally'' averted in ''Assault''. The high-technology hive-minded Aparoids attack the calm, magical, dinosaur planet Sauria, where the last game took place. The Aparoids just steamroll the dinosaurs. The dinosaurs mount a resistance, but it's said that they suffer horrific loses. To quote Slippy:

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** ''Star Fox 64'' has Katina, which is pretty much the climax scene from ''[[Independence Day]]'', complete with Bill Gray, a nod to Gen. William Grey, Robert Loggia's character in the movie.

** "It's a Trap" is, of course, a reference to [[Return of the Jedi]]; also, Fox's escape from Andross' lair (moreso in the easy ending).

** The boss of sector X says "where is the creator?", and in its death throes, says "I must be complete." A referance to V'ger from ''[[Star Trek ~~the~~ Motion Picture (Film)|Star Trek the Motion Picture]]''.

** The boss of sector X says "where is the creator?", and in its death throes, says "I must be complete." A referance to V'ger from ''[[Star Trek: The Motion Picture (Film)|Star Trek the Motion Picture]]''.

* [[Sigil Spam]]: Giant posters of General Pepper are everywhere in ''64'', leading some to conclude that he's [[Alternate Character Interpretation|a Big Brother-esque military dictator]]. This theory was [[Jossed]] by the epilogue of ''Assault'', however, which mentions civilian government.

* [[Single Biome Planet]]: Basically everywhere.

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* [[Sure Let's Go With That]]: After Wolf says that he only saved Fox because he wanted to be the one to "tan" Fox, Panther replies with "Riiight..."

* [[Tank Goodness]]: The Landmaster.

* [[Theme Music Power Up]]: Done for Star Wolf and their kick-ass music. A short theme also plays when a minor character shows up in ''Star Fox 64''.

* [[Theme Music Power-Up]]: Done for Star Wolf and their kick-ass music. A short theme also plays when a minor character shows up in ''Star Fox 64''.

** In ''Command'', virtually everyone gets their own theme (the core team gets two each), save two certain characters. Wolf, however, hogs the Star Wolf theme, whereas his two other teammates get their own theme.

* [[This Is Something He's Got to Do Himself]]: ''Star Fox 64''. And in the Nintendo Power comic, after he learns that Andross killed his mother.

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* [[Visual Pun]]: In ''Adventures'', Krystal is sealed inside a giant crystal.

* [[Vitriolic Best Buds]]: Fox and Falco.

* [[What Do You Mean It Wasn't Made On Drugs]] (Out of this Dimension in the original, and the OotD-style warps in ''64''.)

* [[What Do You Mean It Wasn't Made On Drugs?]] (Out of this Dimension in the original, and the OotD-style warps in ''64''.)

** Pigma's borg version, especially in ''Command''. Some pigs don't know when to give up...

* [[What the Hell Hero]]: If you happen to be trigger-happy enough; you can actually shoot at your team-mates. This is the reaction you're given if you do.

* [[What the Hell, Hero?]]: If you happen to be trigger-happy enough; you can actually shoot at your team-mates. This is the reaction you're given if you do.

** "''Fox!'' That was one of ours!"

*** "Hey, Einstein, I'm on ''your'' side!"

*** "Enemy down. Wait! That was one of ours!"

** Also, the allies get mad if you steal their kills ("Hey, he was mine!"), which is pretty easy to do, since it's often surprising that they'll kill ''[[A Team Firing|anything]]'' [[A Team Firing|at all]] in the first place.

** Also, the allies get mad if you steal their kills ("Hey, he was mine!"), which is pretty easy to do, since it's often surprising that they'll kill ''[[A-Team Firing|anything]]'' [[A-Team Firing|at all]] in the first place.

** Fox gets a lot of this from other characters for his callous treatment of Krystal prior to ''Command''; several reviewers commented on just how much flak he catches from just about everyone for dumping her.

*** '''Lucy:''' So, Fox, let's talk about Krystal. You really screwed that one up!