Star Fox Retrospective

[@LiamTriforce]

Something important has been brought to my attention. Early on in this video, I used footage from a certain KZbinr, whom I was not aware of in the slightest, that was previously accused of SA, to which he fully admitted guilt. I just wanted to say that I obviously do not condone his actions, and that I merely needed footage of FE4, and decided to borrow some from a Let's Play channel while editing. I'm sorry if seeing that name brought some unpleasant memories back. Sticking to my own footage and longplays from here on out!

[@Reset2150676]

womp womp

[@KFlexFantastic]

Jesus people really cried about that? The GAMEPLAY footage made them upset? How terminally online do you have to be to even recognize that footage and know where it’s from 😂😂😂

[@notalemon397]

@@KFlexFantasticI get what you mean man, but being a victim of that kinda shit makes people different man. I’ve seen it happen to people around me, they become scared of their own shadow. Seeing something like that could make really cause someone to have a panic attack. Idk I just feel for those people.

[@KFlexFantastic]

@@notalemon397 I mean that’s fair, but you KNOW it was some twitter warriors who complained lol

[@ItatsuMagnatsa]

Yo, I'm surprised you don't have a Facebook or Discord Account! I would like to talk to you in Private because you mentioned something about creating a Game. I've been working on something for 15 Years now. Sorry I don't have any Gameplay to show you as I am only on my Phone and do not have Internet Access, a Good Quality PC, or the Tools, Programs, or People to help me Build this Game. I'd also need Nintendo's Support and Permission to use the Star Fox Universe. As for the Story of this Game, I do have a Beginning and up to 3 Endings (Good, Neutral/Kinda Bad, and Bad), and I have been stuck with the Story ever since but of course there will be Areas where Players can make Choices that Affects the Game. However it is also going to be a Very Mature Game that is not ideal for Underaged Players. It's a that not Oh Expands the Star Fox Universe but also Creates a New Franchise alongside it, and that Franchise will be it's own thing but is Connected to Star Fox. I do have Art I did and Art I Commissioned to have done. As for Art Style, I don't care about having the Latest Graphics. But it will be a Mix of Halo 3/Reach, Star Fox Adventures/Assault, and Metroid Prime. Hope we can Chat about this soon.

[@FletcherReedsRandomness]

I think one reason Star Fox kept trying to reinvent itself is because of changing standards for video games for the industry. As the sixth generation sat in, the expectation was that games were supposed to be longer experiences, so rail shooters fell out of popularity. Budget is also an issue, as when you’re flying through space at a zillion miles per hour, that’s a lot of development time and resources spent on a huge area Fox can fly through in five minutes. One of the reasons Assault and Zero were lambasted by critics was that they were really short, and thus apparently not worth being full-priced games. Going hand-in-hand with this issue is that this was around the time when replayability was being increasingly de-emphasized, so it’s very difficult to make a rail shooter focused on replaying the game when the industry and the average consumer care about replayability less and less. I’m not sure if Nintendo had this in mind when conceptualizing these games, who knows what’s going on in their heads, but I think it’s interesting food for thought if nothing else.

[@GeneralBolas]

This seems pretty similar to the difficulties of 3D Sonic games (besides rushing them out the door before they're ready). Sonic moves fast so the levels need to be big, which means you have to put a lot in them, but they ultimately don't take all that long to complete. The thing is, nowadays we have a pretty good idea how to have shorter, more replayable-focused games. And it's not too dissimilar to SF64's branching pathway structure: give the player different stuff based on how well they do.

[@Leee275]

I do think that Assault should have had at least 10 more missions though, it would have helped to give both on-foot missions and on-rail ones enough screentime for both to shine.

[@Austinator0630]

You have to remember that the original Star Fox for the SNES only impresses on a technical level, effectively dooming the franchise from the start.

[@GeneralBolas]

@@Austinator0630 "Only impresses on a technical level?" SF1 was a really good game regardless of its technical merits. If you don't like corridor shooters, it probably won't appeal to you, but neither will a Mario game to players who don't like platformers. As a corridor shooter, SF1 brought innovations to the genre. In particular, the gameplay had an emphasis on exploration, with rewards as small as a cleverly hidden powerup and as big as a warp to a completely different location on the map. This gives the game more replayability than most of its contemporaries, as not only are you getting better at shooting stuff, but you're finding more stuff as well.

[@Austinator0630]

@@GeneralBolas Star Fox only impressing on a technical level perfectly explains why things went downhill so quickly.

[@videodvd]

To Nintendo, StarFox has been its biggest tech demo, only to highlight the console's unique features, never expanding the huge lore it has already. Starlink: Battle for Atlas developers showed themselves to be big SF fans, like Fox saying his home planet is Papetoon, a name only mentioned in the JP ver of the SF64 prologue and one ending from Command. We need people like those to take the IP.

[@Uguguabbabaa]

That's the really painful thing about StarFox. It's been relegated as tech demos it's whole life even though a good fleshed out game with arwing, landmaster, and other sections alongside branching paths and customization would be kind of a slamdunk, especially now that the switch revitalized nintendo in a lot of ways. Part of me hopes something will happen with StarFox once switch 2 rolls around.

[@ReikuYin]

​@@UguguabbabaaI do not usually follow leaks, but a friend of mine let me know if a story they heard that assault might be making it's way to switch. They also said the battle mode might get retweeked so it will also have online (which I could believe giving the gamecube was capable of online play and that functionality might have just been left out of release giving it needed a secondary part). Of course one could argue if they did it again as a tech demo for backwards compatibility of online options in more modern games. But I'd take it if true.

[@DDKoD]

And that’s pretty much why there wasn’t an entey for the Wii, thw switch to focus on Casual gameplay rather than shocasing power meant there wasn’t a priority for such games(like SF and F-Zero) on the WiiU

[@orangeslash1667]

@@ReikuYin Nintendo would have to ask Namco to make the game, since they made Assault.

[@Lost_In_Neverwhere]

Dude, I love Starfox Adventures. No matter how weird, messy and unfinished it is, Dinosaur Planet is my happy place ❤

[@whodatninja439]

Stairfax temperatures

[@Vanoxe]

I argued with my brother just about six months ago that StarFox Adventures is not only my favorite but one of the only good StarFox games lol

[@MacEwanMouse]

@@Vanoxe You sound really stupid lol.

[@RaoulDuke-od7xm]

I would play it a third time if it was remastered. The fur and lighting effects were graphically mind blowing.

[@napoleonfeanor]

​@@Vanoxedon't troll your siblings

[@ryanguay6092]

Playing the multiplayer in Star Fox Assault with my older brother is some of the most fun I had with games as a kid. Sometimes, we wouldn't even fight each other. We'd just mess around and do stuff like try to balance on each other's arwing while they were flying, or have races to see who could get to the highest point on the Corneria map first. Good times, man.

[@Iffondrel]

This. Absolutely this, I would do the same stuff with my big brother. We would use Star Fox multi-player to play house and mess around, and it was glorious.

[@milesrodger3724]

I echo this memory so much. Sniper battles on Corneria was peak. Hide and seek in Sauria.. good times

[@hagbardceline7118]

Dinosaur planet guided missiles only was like fighting The End in mgs3 but multi-player. I learned how to guide those missiles in and out of those ruins precisely as hell

[@kstreet7438]

Big brother broly.

[@jailbirdblues2414]

My little bro could have written this word for word. Good times

[@dayenknight8117]

So happy you mentioned A Fox in Space, it’s legitimately a super entertaining and unique take on Star Fox and the best thing to happen to the series in a long time

[@NeverSaySandwich1]

Love that series, just sucks that it takes years between episodes 😬

[@Atamastra]

I genuinely love this day and age where there are so many people with enough productive talent (and with easy access to media) to essentially create long video-essay documentaries about so many niche topics I love... that sadly would never have been given the time of day to be considered by a production company. When Liam Triforce drops basically anything with a 5 digit video length, it feels like getting a meticulously-handmade present from an old friend.

[@luigi180]

Couldnt have said it better myself. Some of the best content on youtube; is hyper passionate people talking for an hour or two, about a niche game they adore. These are the kind of videos that usually have the most balenced critic of their favorite games. You couldnt make a two hour video just endlessly praising or hating a game after all.

[@Atamastra]

@@luigi180 Maybe not two hours (but I'd be willing to take that bet), but I mean, Egoraptor (Arin Hanson), love him or hate him, made like a 30 minutes video of solid, hands-free-table-lifting praise of Megaman X lol. And for good reason; it's a great game. But that being said, you do tend to get a more balanced (or at least more honest) critique of a game with the long-form, which, despite the negatives, usually leaves me feeling more appreciative of the game being critiqued and maybe even inspires me to play it again with a new perspective. Liam has done that to me for almost every Zelda doc he's done.

[@user-im7tq8hq6l]

Level design in Star Fox 64 is so good. Very tight design, multiple approaches, good challenges all lead to the replayability of the game.

[@milliondollarmistake]

It's crazy how Bayonetta 2 is the best Star Fox game in a decade

[@demetriam2408]

I love "appreciating it's beauty"

[@napoleonfeanor]

Never played a Bayonetta game. Has 2 SF like sections?

[@DDKoD]

Nah Planet Robobot has it beat 😂

[@milliondollarmistake]

Out Of This Dimension always freaked me out as a kid. The idea of Fox being trapped alone in a universe while all his friends fight and die in a war they can't win without him. Pepper screaming at the star of the stage asking where Fox went didn't help. The thought of being stuck in a place filled with endless sentient planets that are always looking at you made me uncomfortable lol

[@carlosbleu7396]

It would be interesting that Fox isn't always the main hero (even Sly cooper understood it).

[@TwoSlyZattach]

Fun fact, I know someone who bought a Wii U entirely to play Star Fox Zero

[@Lightspeeds]

I know I wanted to at the time. But after switching jobs and the only consoles available were scalped deluxe versions of the Splatoon Wii U I gave up.

[@CorruptedDogg]

I can’t imagine feeling the double disappointment of the Wii U and Star Fox Zero. Oof.

[@TwoSlyZattach]

@@CorruptedDogg he seemed to enjoy it from what I remember. I also watched him beat Star Fox 64 on the hardest route in Japanese, so there’s that

[@TLBainter]

Oof

[@IonSquared]

Star Fox Zero is the most I've ever done a total 180 on a game. I was devastatingly disappointed with it for my first 2 hours, to the point that I was ready to give up on it. But I already bought it and wanted to at least see it through to the end. And slowly, ever so slowly, I started grasping the controls. It legit took like 8 hours to really get them down. Star Fox is a famously accessible series, and Zero is anything but that. But once you do get those damned controls down, they offer a level of precision no other game in the series has: the ability to move in a different direction than you're shooting. It's a ridiculous, arguably unacceptable learning curve, but after finally getting used to it, I genuinely found it to be one of the best games in the series. Highly recommend playing it still if you have the patience for it.

[@AnomalySource]

Assault is criminally underrated

[@rommielee5888]

I remember playing all the time back on the Gamecube, I did love the variety of modes you could switch from and I loved what it did for Star Wolf in terms of his rivalry with Fox. The theme of the story I didn't like so much with the threat being alien bugs that take over minds, my only other gripe (which I later found out was a regional difference!) was the metallic tinge to the voices. It was interesting to find out years later that it wasn't across the board. Other than that, Assault was one of my top Gamecube games! Melee obviously being one of them too! Fox was actually my main in Smash64 and in Melee until I discovered Marth. But I've rambled enough!

[@Mr.Foxhat]

Assault is easily the best in the series for me. I hope that if we get another game in the series that it is closer to assault.

[@alexschott2092]

Star Fox is a property that seems to suffer most from Nintendo not applying their standard game design philosophy of "innovate, refine, and repeat" to the franchise. This approach works great for their largest series like Mario, Zelda, and Pokémon, but that's because they follow a consistent release schedule and, even when experimenting with new gameplay styles, it follows a natural progression of what came before it. And if an experiment doesn't work out it's usually not a big deal since they can fall back to a previous point that worked and build off that instead. Meanwhile, Star Fox is the series trapped between the innovation and repetition stages with hardly any refinement in between through a steady amount of new content, resulting in a very confused identity for what a Star Fox game actually is. Nintendo's attempts at leaning on nostalgia by revisiting the same scenario of the first game and 64 so much instead exploring opportunities beyond the Lylat system is also a major frustration point for fans. It's become the black sheep Nintendo sometimes revisits when they want to showcase hardware features or gameplay gimmicks and little more. And that's just from the gameplay perspective. They keep trying to treat Fox and the rest of the setting as static templates like their other major properties when they clearly don't fit that model. All the elements of an ongoing space adventure or episodic, character-driven series are there but they aren't allowed to grow for the same reasons the gameplay side has stagnated; too much time spent trying to reinvent itself and not enough spent on developing what is already there. Even when it did show some signs of forward narrative momentum with Adventures and Assault it was ultimately undone by Command all but ignoring everything that came before, Zero retelling 64's story with less skill and impact, and the ongoing drought between official games. Still, if Nintendo wants to keep revisiting old entries in the series, I'd rather they do so with Star Fox Adventures. For many it represented the tipping point for the series going downhill, but I believe it represented a positive step forward for the series both in terms of gameplay and narrative. It just didn't get the opportunity to shine due to its chaotic development cycle and alterations to its original Dinosaur Planet concept. With the right developers and writers on board I could see them reworking it into a great addition to the Star Fox series that doesn't need to stand on 64's shoulders to succeed. And for those wondering what a reworked version of that game might look like, I highly recommend checking out Esphirian's fan project "Star Fox RemAdventures." This one novice game developer has offered a promising glimpse of how the series' rail shooter origins can be married with on-foot BOTW exploration and combat while telling a more expansive, nuanced story. He even got Estelle Ellis, the original voice of Krystal, to come on board to reprise her role as the blue psychic space vixen again. It's honestly really impressive.

[@ReikuYin]

I think another problem with the franchise, alas, is the he fan base. There is a very loud part of it that will not accept a "new" game, no matter how good or the potential. If it not Star Fox 64 2. It will be trash, forever.

[@orangeslash1667]

@@ReikuYin It's very hard to evolve rail shooters compared to any other genre. Which is why Rail shooters are dead.

[@DesignDoc]

Oh look! It's my eternal frustration! EDIT post watching the whole video: the thing that always gets me the most about them never doing a proper successor to 64, is that no other game really approached its branching path structure. The CLOSEST thing we ever had to it was Shadow the Hedgehog back in 2005 and THAT is its own can of worms. Star Fox 64's alternate paths through completing secret objectives is SOOOOOO FREAKING GOOD and somehow NOTHING has remotely attempted to recreate that structure. Not even Zero with its super shoe-horned in paths and overly derivative and frankly shallow content... It makes me so sad man. The path for a great SF64 successor feels so clear but no one's really tried to do it... ExZodiac looks pretty great though Idk if that's gonna do it either atm. Have to wait and see on that one assuming it comes out of early access.

[@Bellomancer]

Pretty smooth flying, Liam.

[@Gaia_BentosZX5]

Star Fox 64 can also be considered a remake. And as we all know, THAT is how you do a remake.

[@scikoolaid]

@@Gaia_BentosZX5 Star Fox 64 3D also! They literally re-built/re-programmed it to be exactly the same as N64 and then created a different mode for accommodating the motion controls and adjust enemies/placements slightly appropriately and slightly easier. It completely respected the models/textures intended by the original N64 rom. A true achievement. Unfortunately it's stuck on the handheld with the only place to get 3d effect on the screen and limited control ergonomics.

[@Iffondrel]

It always shocks me that Star Fox... really doesn't have a lot of games. I would latch onto a new one that emulates the GC era so hard. Open air arwing and landmaster driving would be so fun in the current gen. I can see things like what was zonai tech in totk working really well in this more machine and sci-fi centric game.

[@SierraGustafson]

Peppy's "You're becoming more like your father." quote always gets me whenever I get through Corneria in both versions of Star Fox 64. Plus, I only got as far in Assault as to get to Corneria where you get to take out the radar jammers as well as gun down General Pepper, who's been overtaken by the Aparoids. I always wondered how did Fox and Krystal end up getting married in one of the endings in Command? 🤔

[@JD10503]

I imagine Peppy officiated it.

[@TJ-Henry-Yoshi]

Star Fox Assault means so much to me and was THE multiplayer game of choice for my neighbors and I growing up. on a side note, I appreciate the opportunity to see you reflect on time you've been negative in your previous videos during the adventures video. It was a short, but genuine moment that meant a lot to me as quite possibly your harshest critic in the mario kart video. I've glad I've stuck around because your videos never fail to to deliver passionate and meaningful conversation about topics I quite often share your enthusiasm for.

[@gameboysinthewild]

Almost two hours of Star Fox talk? I’m so in

[@JezMM]

As someone who's always gotten on just fine with gyro aiming and how it replicates the snappiness and accuracy of mouse aiming on console, I enjoyed Star Fox Zero a lot - I'm glad you gave it a really thorough and fair look-in here, because it definitely saddened me at the time that so many people were negative about it under the exact conditions you described - they played it through to credits once, had a rough time and never touched it again. Zero's best content is absolutely ALL post-credits, and I do think it was possibly the biggest flaw of the game - even moreso than the decision to include them in the first place - that they frontloaded all the most gimmicky and weird missions into that first playthrough, while hiding away the multitudes of classic on-rails stages as alternate routes and secret unlocks. Even some of the all-range stages have secret alternate versions that turn them into a traditional on-rails stage. It's such a bummer that many people walked away from Zero with the same feelings as Assault - that the on-rails stuff was good but the game had too much stuff that wasn't that. That tedious gyrowing stealth mission on Zoness is the only one like it in the game - all the other uses of the gyrowing are incredibly short segments as part of larger, more dynamic levels. But because the big gyrowing level is on the default path, it ends up becoming one of the most (unpleasantly) memorable parts of the game for most players. Unlike Assault, Zero overall has much more "classic Star Fox" stages than it has weird ones, but you only get to see any of them if you keep playing to see everything on offer beyond the credits. Star Fox 64 will always be my favourite, but the detached aiming and movement really did feel better for me once it clicked in a way where for a good while it was hard to go back to 64. Having said that, I too disliked all the 64 retcons/retreads story-wise - all of the moments that were aped from the N64 game feel like shallow imitations and just laziness. The Aparoid plot of Assault didn't compel me much, but I would take another failed attempt at doing something new with the narrative over not even bothering.

[@ReikuYin]

The story of Star fox giving it in space has endless possibilities, and yet the have never really done much beyond Assault and Adventures. "Possibilities as vast as the sea, boiled down to be as shallow as a puddle."

[@WesGergely]

Was waiting to hear a take on StarLink that never came

[@TheDoomKnight]

I was about to mention this. I only bought Starlink because of the Star Fox crossover, and play exclusively as Fox.

[@blikpils]

Kinda crazy how big of an oversight this is.

[@littlebadassgaming]

Same for 64 3D.

[@facepwnagewtf]

I just hope Star Fox isn't left on the shelf to rot, and that the successor to the Switch see's the return of Fox McCloud and the Star Fox crew in some form.

[@chris_1988]

"There's a distinct charm to this game's primitive 3D graphics." The first Star Fox always felt eerie as hell to me, particularly because of that primitive 3D look. I don't mean this in a bad way, it was the kind of eerieness that made you come back for more. The intro theme (the one that plays when you mention the developers' and Nintendo's love for Star Wars) had a super threatening and foreboding feel to it, too.

[@Warrior-Of-Virtue]

I get the same feeling from a lot of early 3D games. There's a sort of uncanny valley that wasn't there when I first played them back in the day.

[@Ruukasu97]

star fox 64 was one of the first games ive ever played, i love it to this day

[@thembosupremepizza1827]

shoutout to lutes retrospective on star fox assault, if you liked this you will like that

[@GNBDNB]

Was going to comment this. Lute's channel is so good.

[@stormhought]

Perfect timing for my roadtrip. Thanks Liam

[@JXDemon21]

8 years later since Zero and I'm still hoping we see a return to the Lylat System that isn't just 64 again. As much as I appreciate 64's legacy to the franchise I still wish Assault was the basis for evolving the formula the 64 started. At least in terms of gameplay. Though at this point if I want my Star Fox fix I'll just boot up my Nintendo Wii and play Assault again as that arcade style structure and 10 mission campaign is more than enough for me.

[@Austinator0630]

There is no hope for the series as the original Star Fox game only impresses on a technical level.

[@ReikuYin]

I would like a game like Assault at the base but having some Star Fox 2 for structure. A main story, as it were, but also bing able to freely fly around to different planets and do missions there for advantages, save people, hinder foes, and make money giving them are PMCs basically, ECT. Can use any of the team and they all have strengths and weaknesses that can make missions easier and like command if they are close by they can give actual assistance with support on ground or air while you do missions. Have yo go back to the Great Fox for refueling and rest and use the money you earn for upgrades. Can even work in the various gameplay styles. Flying through space is all range. Hitting a planet? Depending on which, land mission air mission. And if land can be on foot and land master. There's so much on the table for the franchise.... Just needs to be taken.

[@Austinator0630]

@@ReikuYin It is too late for Star Fox. Besides, the video thoroughly covers why Assault isn't viable as a template for any future Star Fox games.

[@scikoolaid]

@@Austinator0630 I mean if their only idea was to continue to reboot the same game... yeah it seems there is no hope. Not until a newer generation of Nintendo devs get into the director chairs and want to bring back the good stuff regardless of the excuses of "making just more of the same". After Star Fox Zero I feel I can give up on hoping Nintendo as they are now are going to ever really meet expectations on a future one. And the same can already be said about Metroid, they relented to backing another Prime entry because of the failure and embarrassment that Other M became. F-Zero seems to have gotten off scott-free for the moment, as SEGA perfected that series... problem is we probably won't ever see SEGA do it a second time.

[@Austinator0630]

@@scikoolaid It is important to remember that Zero is the worst selling Star Fox game in Japan.

[@kingbash6466]

I think Star Fox's knack for trying to innovate itself is both it's greatest strength and weakness. On one hand, you get stuff like the original game and 64 which are timeless entries that remain iconic to this day. On the other hand, you get missteps like Command and Zero which became infamous for their gimmicks than truly admired. Still, I hope that the series does return, and if it does, they really knock it out of the park to show why it's one of Nintendo's most unique and impactful franchises.

[@orangeslash1667]

The good new is that rail shooters are still a thing in indie games.

[@Austinator0630]

Also, the original Star Fox on the SNES only impresses on a technical level.

[@rosthouse]

I think StarFox could work tremendously well as a RogueLike. You could easily implement the different routes through the lylat system, finding different ulgrades along different routes. If you go a similar route to Hades, you could even have the great Fox as your hub where you talk to different characters andmdevelop your relationships with them.

[@ssjgokuhan]

I love how you can destroy so many enemies in SF64 that General Peoper just goes "Wha....?" when he gets the bill for services rendered.

[@JD10503]

Gotta wonder if he forgot that he was hiring mercenaries.

[@ReikuYin]

​@@JD10503I don't think so. In fact I always had this theory that the reason why he was so quick to try and get them to join the army was not just because of their skill, but also it would mean they couldn't bill him. They would be employed then and likely salaried. Which is also why Fox was so quick to not let him even finish the offer. Even the delivery of Fox's line, tho likely unintentional, comes off more like a smirked, "I know what you're up too old man."

[@JD10503]

Good theory I'd say.

[@DoctorTheo]

Great vid! Star Fox Assault was a special game to me as a kid and I wished the franchise would get revived. Actually I've had an idea for a revival game, which is basically Just Shapes and Beats but in 3D. I think the railshooter flight missions have great potential for a rhythm game

[@GhostWolfthe1]

What funny about Assault is that the Battlefront games was released both before with the first and in the same year as Assault with the second and it feels more like those games with the bonus of having those Star Fox mechanics. Guess the team was inspired by it and make it an important part of Assault lol. Great Video!

[@imoeezy]

Very, very glad to see this video on my feed Liam. Your videos are ones that I watch, to enjoy, to drown in at times, to envelope myself in at work while I do prep work for the morning, and I just feel like I'm in my bed relaxing(as I am now), and watching these deep in thought retrospective videos that dive deep into virtual worlds. Thank you.

[@Raycloud]

Should point out that in Star Fox 64 you can always change your rout if you want on the map screen. I mean, even if you unlock a harder route pressing select or something (it's been 25 years) will let you change to other path.

[@tonystank3091]

That much shows, because the N64 controller doesn't *have* a select button.

[@orangeslash1667]

@@tonystank3091 Unlike most action games that have an easy mode, SF zero uses a training mode mostly likely to reference the training mode of SF 64. However the training mode of Zero is much more in-depth and is far more beginner friendly than the game it self.

[@linked_avatar7968]

Not sure if you know about IceCreamMan/UndyingNephalim, but they have done an amazing job with their Star Fox mod that you might want to check out.

[@Ninja0492]

I have amazing memories of Star Fox...... Really wish that Nintendo could bring this 3d rail shooting open world series back. ● Star Fox 64 - 3D - (1997 - 2011) 7.5/out of ten ● Star Fox Adventures - (2002) 9.0/out of ten ● Star Fox Assault - (2005) 9.5/out of ten ● Star Fox Command - (2006) 7.3/out of ten ● Star Fox Zero - (2016) 5.0/out of ten We're heading out, All aircraft report!!! Team Star Fox..... Ready for Action!!! General Pepper: It's About Time You Showed Up Fox....... You're the only hope for our world! Fox McCloud: I'll do my best...... Andross won't have his way with me! GOOD LUCK!!!! Fox & Krystal - 4Life!!!!

[@asaviklund9414]

Goose bumps, listening to the music. So much nostalgia. Thank you. Your videos are always so excellent.

[@tommycwills]

Nintendo’s most mishandled IP by far and yet still among my favorites ❤

[@FlackNCoke]

I think an open space Star Fox game where you fly the Great Fox around the Lylat System freely and can deploy Arwings into on-rail missions would be the best way to modernize the old branching levels formula. You could even have planet based missions that play more like Assault, with aerial, landmaster, and on foot sections.

[@SeiferA2001]

On one faithful day, 8 year old me went to the Super Nintendo demo kiosk they had at toys r us. It was then that I stumbled across Star Fox and, upon seeing the intro, I was absolutely floored. The graphics were unlike anything I ever saw at the time and the gameplay and atmosphere felt so unique compared to the titles I played up until that point. I absolutely became a Star Fox fan on that day and even though the franchise has struggled for so long to find its footing, I will always continue to be a fan. Obviously I’m still watching this video as I type this but I had to let that out of my chest as I saw the introduction for SNES star fox

[@ProjectRedfoot]

Fateful*

[@Theodoraviana]

I have so much to say about this video! I hope you get a chance to read this. First of all, thank you! Amazing content. It’s cool that you mentioned your dad, because the same thing happened in my family. My parents are not gamers, but we as a family spent countless nights together playing star fox 64. We’re from Brazil, and I can say that even some of my english learning comes from that game, memorizing the lines, before I even knew what they meant. My whole life after this game is basically waiting for it to be continued and getting frustrated time after time. I remember when I was a teenager and I dreamed of becoming a game designer and working at Nintendo. I even wrote a whole script that I planned on sending to Miyamoto 😅, for the next star fox game. It included time traveling, and meeting James mccloud, things like that… it’s unbelievable that they were never able to make a truly good game after 64. Like you mentioned the legend of Zelda (great example) also changed A LOT but it AWAYS made sense. Wind Waker is also my favorite but I had the time of my life playing TOTK as well, for example. Star fox was just never able to do the same. The potential is STILL HERE. Lots of it. All I can do is wait

[@Z95HeadHunter]

If it's not obvious, I really like what Krystal and the GameCube StarFox games brought to the IP, more variety and new ways to explore the StarFox Universe and status quo, Krystal's charm despite her dark, tragic backstory you said nothing about, and her telepathy you also said nothing about. I was really disappointed to see them binned going into the Zero continuity. I think it says a lot about Nintendo and some of its fans getting mad over these characters when Krystal isn't even the first woman in the cast to fall into that rash bin, much like Miyu and Fay. That said it's not like I didn't agree with a lot of points, I did. Nice to see Assault getting some more respect for its contributions at least.

[@Mal-go5dl]

We were robbed of Miyu and Fay

[@Z95HeadHunter]

@@Mal-go5dl I don't care much for them myself, but it's a shame a pressident was set when they were dropped for the 64 reboot, that StarFox would just retread the same events over and over and anything else was betraying a formula.

[@zjm5835]

It’s sad that Nintendo forgot about Krystal. She had potential-with her psychic powers, relationship with Fox, and tragic backstory to be explored

[@BuildLancer]

I grew up with Star Fox Assault and its what got me to try the older games.

[@mrtz46]

When you made your comment about being Canadian and saying zed instead of zee, both my brother and I audibly booed in sync 😂 Great video!

[@HeyItsBrad]

It’s been a long time coming, glad to have been along for the ride!

[@QtheLaserDude]

The video came out 20 minutes ago. You haven't even watched it...

[@HeyItsBrad]

@@QtheLaserDude 🤫

[@Bellomancer]

@@QtheLaserDudeyou’re just not on brads grindset

[@riftshredder5438]

I wish Adventures and Assault got a remake, Adventures could add in more Star Fox elements and make Krystal more involved in the game, Assault could fix the controls and give us online multiplayer

[@ReikuYin]

There are tales of a remaster like Prime got for Assault that might also add online. But til I see it it's just rumors talk and a mean hope spot

[@riftshredder5438]

@@ReikuYin I would love that, but I also want Adventures to receive the love it deserves

[@fernando98322]

Zoness was my favorite Assault multiplayer map, it's literally Kamino from Star Wars and we loved that!!

[@Cableguy15]

I know you aren't fond of your old videos, but your original take on Star Fox Assault convinced me to try it. I was pleasantly surprised by the game and think if it had some sequels to iron things out, it could have turned into something truly great. I'm thinking something like Star Wars Battlefront except using the might meter concept instead of taking over outposts. Online multiplayer could have had customizable animal characters with their own taunts or death rattles and even the ability to make your own mercenary squad. All of these things could still be tried, of course. Maybe a project for Retro Studios? I like your other idea of expanding Star Fox 64's routes, too. Imagine a map 5x the size of 64's Lylat System, all with interlocking, changeable paths. That in itself would be an incredible innovation that Nintendo couldn't possibly turn down, right?

[@forealdo25]

Since you mentioned Ex-Zodiac near the end, you might also be interested to know there’s a mod for Freespace 2 called Star Fox: Event Horizon. It plays entirely in All-Range Mode, but it’s a very fun mod. I think they even got Krystal’s VA to reprise her role.

[@av_8596]

Yes they did. Estelle Ellis. Some other VAs as well.

[@ReikuYin]

That lady adores that character I swear. Apparently she also reprised for a Adventures fan remaster/remake? Really shows the passion of the VAs as well as the community.

[@TylerPal271]

One of the things I feel Star Fox Zero could've done to keep hard-core Star Fox fans invested is given an option for "classic" controls. Even if Nintendo didn't offer that option at launch they could've patched it in, and put your health bar, your wingmates' health, and your score on thr gamepad screen so it was doing something. He'll, they could've even added the duel stick control scheme as an option.

[@kellston6358]

I miss Star Fox, 64 (Lylat Wars here in the UK) was the game my dad loved to play with me as a kid, it holds fond memories. Thanks for this nostalgia trip ❤

[@lethauntic]

I was never bothered by Crystal's appearance. I do get what Liam means her being sexualized and how out of place it is, but I don't feel as strongly as him. And that's because people often dress in a way that shows a lot of skin for various reasons, it's not always sexual, and that's what I assumed. Obviously someone made the decision, because you know... It's not real, but just that it didn't feel that out of place judging from what little I knew of the game. I don't really agree with the idea that in order for a character to show skin, that they need to own it like Bayonetta does. That otherwise you need to cover up; I don't think it's that simple. Obviously I do have eyes. I can see what Liam means and again, I don't think he's wrong, but I just don't feel as strongly about it and truthfully if the costume design was reversed between Fox and Crystal, neither would anyone else. Now, her being a damsel in distress is annoying, I would completely agree. People usually want to call such a thing sexist. Maybe it is, maybe it isn't, but it is tired and lazy and that's why I don't like it. I don't think it's always that deep. It's no different than rescuing Mario in Luigi's Mansion (it being a man instead of a woman doesn't make it any more or less interesting inherently). It only 'works' there because the game just doesn't demand narrative complexity, but for a game that puts more emphasis on the story, then yeah it really does. Some say that story in games doesn't matter, but I of course disagree on that.

[@spericksenmusic]

Kid Icarus Uprising is a top tier Star Fox game.

[@FelixWind]

Been watching tons of Star Fox videos recently because I was feeling nostalgic, so to have one of my favorite retrospective channels (that's you, Liam!) post one made me extremely happy to see. This'll be a legendary watch and listen. Thank you for this. Hope you've been well! 🙌🏾

[@AlterBridgeJericho]

New Liam Triforce on a Saturday morning, time to grab a snack and get stuck in

[@RemnantCult]

I personally, as a mega Star Fox fan, wouldn't say the games themselves failed quality wise after the 90s. Assault and Command are much better games than people give them credit for but for some reason, they just didn't grab peoples attentions. I have to wonder if, in the public eye, the 3D schmup/rail shooter is just too niche. After all, the games are usually notoriously short. It's hard to really know. People look back fondly at 64 and continuously praise it while pushing back other attempts in the franchise to carry its touch. Zero was an attempt at making the series fresh and to see if it would stick with general audiences but, based on what I heard, it just wasn't that fun. Novel but not fun. A perfect sequel for Star Fox, I'd imagine for most fans, would probably be something to the tune of "64 but bigger with more decision making and replayability", but, like I said, the reception is probably a sign to Nintendo that it isn't worth it. Star Fox deserves more love as a whole, as well as the genre itself. Imagine how it could evolve into something amazing.

[@RemnantCult]

Oh yeah, I also have to wonder why people complained about Assault's controls. I think the issue might be that people pick the first option for on-foot controls. The first one is a simplified one stick solution but that was probably the biggest mistake it made. Playing the game with the second control option really makes the ground sections of the game so much better and fun.

[@forrestannis909]

You should check out Fur Squadron & Whisker Squadron, they’re like modernized versions of the original Star Fox.

[@ReikuYin]

That 64 but bigger honestly is the biggest problem. There is a very vocal side of the fan base that will simply not be happy with anything but that. Which is a shame, Assault I think is the series proper trajectory. Just refine the controls and you could do so much with it. It's not like the on foot stuff was new to the series either, given it was part of that loaded 64 in vs mode, most just went dedicated, or skilled enough to ever see it.

[@sirbuster223]

I can't believe I'm only now finding out about A Fox in Space.

[@Vrono21]

My perfect version of a starfox game would be one with the branching paths like 64, the graphics of star fox assault, multiplayer of assault, and different endings of command to compliment the branching paths and losing wingmen. Definitely top everything off with a mature story.

[@Ak-yg8fr]

I hope krystal gets added this time.

[@vijaydizzle]

the worldbuilding purely trough gameplay is so underrated, 64 is one of the greatest shooters in history...

[@maxsonly]

Talk about perfect timing. I recently decided to play Star Fox Assault again. Despite the awkward controls and some annoying on foot missions, I still really like that game lol

[@ghostboy463]

Starfox Adventures was one of the first few games I've ever played in my life and just like Metroid Prime, I love it despite its flaws. I love the music of each area you explore, I enjoy exploring said areas even though there's very little to gain, and the boss fights are fun although a bit frustrating at times. I know it's not the Starfox game people wanted and it's got plenty of issues, but I think if it had more time in development it could've been something amazing. And finding out about Assault after finally beating Adventures was like Christmas to me. Me and my friends would have endless amounts of fun in multiplayer mode, and the campaign was epic. Yeah, the Apparoid home world is oppressive, what did you think it was gonna be? I wish that they could remaster or remake Adventures, I want to know what a game like that could be like at its full potential. And...Krystal...enough said.

[@tommyrochester6240]

A Fox in Space reminded me how much the games captured my imagination as a kid. There’s just so much they could do with the property.

[@PumpkinFox]

I adore Star Fox 64 and Assault. A game that properly builds on both of these games and including things like, say differing characters with a completely different feel like with Command, and we could have one of the best games in existence. I don’t say that lightly, as Star Fox has immense potential. Nintendo just doesn’t want to capitalize on it.

[@TLBainter]

Well I was GONNA go to bed but this is more important.

[@jessedellross3245]

SF adventures has no reason to be as good as it is. Sure it could have more space battles but the world is great, graphics great, story good enough, and characters well done

[@swampert564]

It's Rareware, if anything it should be better (to be clear I'm pretty fond of Adventures but their pedigree makes me want more out of it).

[@2006Mercury]

Can't wait for part 3 of fox in space

[@whitedragon312]

i think this insistence of nintendo on pushing motion control into games is somewhat upsetting, i would have liked Starfox zero more if i could just play it with a regular controller. Also, it is sad knowing that as far i'm aware, games like F-zero haven't had a game in decades because they don't know how to "innovate" on it, like i don't need to literally drive the ship with crazy motion controls and stuff, i just want a new F-zero game nintendo 😅 Anyhow, great video!

[@orangeslash1667]

The problem is that Nintendo would have to find a third party company to make it, because Nintendo can on longer make it in house.

[@ronsimmons8533]

F-Zero 99 on switch is a start of them having a new F-Zero game i love it too its extremely fun and its free for switch online users

[@harrisonkasun7542]

One thing most people don’t know about in Star Fox 64 and Zero: Hold down Z and R to cancel the lock on feature. You can shoot chargeshots faster and rake in bigger combos. This is also true In Zero, except you hold down the L button to cancel lock. While this seems like a simple feature, it changes these games from a basic rail shooter, to an amazingly deep action game. Go get highscores. It’ll change your impression of an already amazing game like 64. And Zeros free aiming is specifically designed for cancel locking. I could go on and on about Zero. There’s many different alternate variations to tackle each stage that the average player didn’t discover. Maybe I’ll make my own video on it one day. Enjoy.

[@Jxudo]

Adventures and Assault are two of my favorite games ever and big parts of my childhood. I love the lore and world of StarFox, I wish Nintendo did.

[@noodlegirl8528]

the fox in space mention made me so happy I knew it was something you would love

[@johnrobertyon]

Man... Your video essays are so damn good. Thank you for creating so many fascinating things for us all to watch. I appreciate the effort and time that must go into these.

[@midknightblugames]

The multiplayer in Assault was one of my favorite things to play with my friends and little sister when we were growing up, and managing to unlock everything took FOREVER but was so worth it. We messed around so much with the physics that we eventually discovered that if you stood on the nose of an Arwing with a jetpack equipped, and jumped right when your friend who was piloting the Arwing did a loop, you’d go flying and eventually hit the skybox. Good times man.

[@milliondollarmistake]

The Gyrowing from Star Fox Zero sucked. They should have replaced those levels with high speed chase/escape levels using the Roadmaster and made the Gyrowing it's own separate mode.

[@jojonr619]

What is up with all this Starfox resurgence?!

[@grahamjhallaudio8198]

You’re missing the most recent game! Star link: Battle for Atlas 😎 Seriously tho if you play as star fox throughout the entire game is like a new sequel! At least in my headcannon 😅👍

[@Weezing336]

Assault's multiplayer is so good. I'm just glad you highlighted this. Great analysis of the game overall.

[@UnhingedGamer]

I haven't even played most of the Starfox series. It's just not my kinda games, but I really enjoyed the video. Your passion for this shines through and I feel like I've developed a greater appreciation for the series through your video. Solid work, man!

[@QuebecSouverain]

I never knew about Star Fox before playing Adventures, so I didn't have any expectation and I really loved it!

[@metroidprime3863]

Star Fox Adventure deserves an HD remastered version. And a hot take Star Fox Adventure the second best Star Fox game before Star Fox 64.

[@alexschott2092]

More than a remaster. That game needs a top-to-bottom remake that improves the gameplay and story elements. Otherwise, they'd just be re-releasing the same disjointed game it was 22 years ago in HD. For a good example of what a remake of Adventures could be, check out Esphirian's fan project _Star Fox RemAdventures_ on his channel.

[@ThePWing90]

I have said it before and I say it again. You are the best KZbinr that talks about what games can make you feel 💜 Thanks again for amazing content!

[@Warrior-Of-Virtue]

Have you heard of Star Fox: Event Horizon? It's a fan remake of the entire series that so far looks phenomenal.

[@TheTerminator8397]

Starfield + Guardians of the Galaxy game + No Man’s Sky = The ultimate Star Fox game.

[@josephdell6342]

I do so look forward to your videos Mr Triforce. They're always positive and full of pleasant anecdotes.

[@GentlemanGamer94]

Star Fox Assault's multiplayer, as you highlight, was a ton of fun for me as a kid! I remember one summer where I was playing deathmatch after deathmatch with my siblings and some neighborhood friends; the gameplay loop of rapidly switching weapons and vehicles was very addicting. I still really liked the main campaign for Star Fox Assault, but I've probably put as much or more time into the multiplayer! Also as an aside, I appreciate your using The World Ends With You as a point of comparison when talking about Star Fox Zero's controls! While it could be disorienting at times, switching between screens in TWEWY on the DS is a ton of fun; moreover, the actions you're doing on either screen are simple enough to not make the task switching too overwhelming. By contrast, though I liked Zero overall, I found switching between flying and aiming so disorienting that I ended up just using the gamepad as a mouse analogue; using my stylus to move the reticle on my TV while focusing on flying and dodging. I don't know if that was the ideal way to play, but it's what I ended up settling on for the bulk of my campaign, and it worked reasonably well for me.

[@osteohiveporosis6882]

Instant click.

[@jonathanlgill]

This is making me really hope the Star Wars: Rogue Squadron franchise gets resurrected.

[@laudj_art]

Man Krystal needs justice, instead of horny bait, if we ever get another Starfox game (who knows) one of the focus could be more of her origins or giving her more spotlight

[@Raycloud]

I'd like a Star Fox game that has a greater sense of speed.

[@anthonyschuh2775]

Loved Star Fox Zero. Sure it’s a high difficulty curve, but the co op multiplayer was excellent

[@swampert564]

I've always found Star Fox to be one of the lesser series to come out of Nintendo but I'm definitely a fan of most of them (Command can get the hell out of my way). Looking forward to watching this when I get some time this weekend.

[@Uguguabbabaa]

You got really sidetracked in the middle for little reason, you didn't have to go through your whole philosophy of video game critique and your issues with it right in the middle of an adventure retrospective. The "Star Fox is only used as tech demos" truth is painful, and reminds me much of the issue with Half Life

[@DeformedLunchbox]

new Liam Triforce just in time for the weekend!

[@ashe1317]

"Do a barrel roll!!" is one of my core memories 😂

[@sparkyboy4142]

Back in the day, I was 11 years old... and I found out how to get some of the hard routes and levels. And I made my way through it slowly, because I was bad. And Star Wolf was brutal. And finally "beating' Andross as I had on the easy mode, only to get the real version and dying over and over. Restarting over and over. Only to win.. and get blown up. And then.... "Don't ever give up, my son" That is one of the top gaming moments I've ever had. Then the chase... and that theme that plays when you finally do it. It blows my mind that Nintendo hasn't even come close to this with another StarFox game.

[@Chaofahn1987]

Crazy timing! I’ve only started introducing my son to Star Fox in the last month or so, so this video is super relevant to me right now hahaha. I’ve been giving him a tour of my favourite old games, and Star Fox 64 was one of the many titles that really latched on with my kid. It’s a shame, then, that there is currently no other way to access Adventures, Assault, Command and Zero unless I hunt down the old consoles. And even if I did do that, I’d imagine my son would be somewhat as bored with those titles as I was (save for Zero, but like you mentioned the controls were too much for me to truly appreciate it). My hope? It’s the same as yours - that Nintendo releases a new game, with similar features to Star Fox 64, that adds on to the gameplay established and brings a contemporary coat of paint, all while advancing the plot set up by the reboot. Star Fox needs a revival.

[@Wolfalous]

Fun fact Wolf O'Donnell was based on a really cool person(me).

[@229Poseidon]

I only got into Star Fox with Assault when I got a gamecube, but I remember playing hours upon hours of the multiplayer mode with my sisters and friends. I personally enjoyed the campaign, but I can see the departure from the formula that made Star Fox 64 so special. I would love to see a return to the branching storyline structure with some tough decisions and actions-have-consequences type results thrown in. I would always be up for a revamp and expansion on the Assault multiplayer, and a more focused and thought out co-op where you and friends can play as the entirety of team Star Fox would be incredible. Here's hoping for success for future Star Fox!

[@fernando47180]

Wouldn't ot be fun if a new Starfox game were announced in two weeks? That seems to happen anytime someone brings up old Nintendo franchises, lately.

[@rossruss6901]

Wouldn't be too shocked by that, Star Fox Zero was released at the end of the Wii U's life, and Assaultwas also releasedlate in the GC's life as well. So, them doing it again isn't too out of the question.

[@vixiliannebrightsun81]

Star Fox assaults multiplayer has given me some of my favorite memories of all time from my childhood. I forever wish it could be updated to support online play with better controls