Reviving a Classic Franchise
Star Fox has had quite the week. Just two weeks ago, this Nintendo franchise showed no signs of life. Now, Fox McCloud is back in the zeitgeist after serving an important role in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie and a leak claiming that new Star Fox games are in the works for Nintendo Switch 2.
Although I'm excited about Star Fox making a comeback, I'm worried that the series will play it safe. To make the most of this moment, the Star Fox series needs to move out of the ever-looming shadow of Star Fox 64. The fact that the leaker of the new Star Fox game said it would be "classic-style" leaves me a bit concerned that this new entry could be a simple nostalgia play.
Breaking Free from Nostalgia
Many Star Fox games follow a similar formula. They're space shooters that take Fox McCloud and friends to planets on different routes on their quest to fight and ultimately defeat Andross. The planets, the ships they pilot, and the control schemes have changed along the way. But few games in the series have taken bold swings to change that core formula.
Star Fox Adventures, Rare's 2002 action-adventure game, showed the series could grow beyond the arcade shooter. However, Star Fox Zero on Wii U disappointed not just because of the clunky incorporation of the GamePad into its control scheme, but also due to its plot and general structure feeling too similar to Star Fox 64.
Room for Innovation
While the Mario and Donkey Kong series have continued to innovate across a variety of genres, Star Fox still feels stuck in the past. I hope the series' return on Nintendo Switch 2 is one to remember, whether it comes through some drastic change to the narrative, art style, structure, or gameplay.
If the next game in the series takes a big swing, I truly believe Star Fox could become one of Nintendo's marquee franchises again. The opportunity is there for bold innovation, and fans are ready to embrace it.
