When Nintendo is brought up, their most popular franchises likeSuper Mario,Pokemon,The Legend of Zelda, andSuper Smash Bros.are inevitably mentioned. However, there are dozens of other series by the studio often left in the dust despite their fanbases. Some of them, likeMetroid,Kirby, andFire Emblem, manage to be popular and consistently successful despite not reaching the same level of fame as the aforementioned series. Others are currently doomed to being relics of an increasingly distant past.F-Zerois one of those series.
Despite having a decent presence in the 1990s as the most notable racing game on the Super Nintendo and Nintendo 64 aside fromMario Kart,F-Zerotook a hit in relevance after the early 2000s. Nowadays, the series is known for its surprising difficulty, Captain Falcon’s memetic appearance inSuper Smash Bros., and having fans that beg for a new installment whenever possible. A newF-Zerogame is seemingly less likely as time goes by, especially due to some of Shigeru Miyamoto’s comments regarding the series’ potential. If it were to happen though, this hypothetical newF-Zerogame should not follow the example ofStar Fox Zero, another game made in similar predicaments.
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What F-Zero and Star Fox Have in Common
F-ZeroandStar Foxhave a lot in common, despite their clear differences. Both were created by Miyamoto in the early 1990s at a point where Nintendo dominated pop culture and finally started getting competitors. Fitting for their 1990s introduction, bothStar FoxandF-Zeromade their debut on the Super Nintendo.
Both games also have heavy science-fiction elements:F-Zerois about races in a futuristic metropolitan city, andStar Foxis about anthropomorphic animalson a combat team that protects a planetary system. WhileF-Zerowas the Super Nintendo’s main alternative toSuper Mario Kart, one that was flashier and more fast-paced,Star Fox, is remembered for its advanced graphics. Additionally, both series peaked in the late 90s with their respective Nintendo 64 installments, particularlyStar Fox 64. By the turn of the millennium, Fox and Captain Falcon’sSmash Bros.appearances were just as important to their characters as their home series.
UnlikeF-Zero, which has been dormantsince the GameCube era,Star Foxgot a new game in the 2010s.Star Fox Zerowas supposed to be a nostalgic throwback that brought the series back to its roots after the last few games made questionable decisions that alienated fans. Unfortunately, while some did enjoy the game, it fell for the same trap as its predecessors.
What madeStar FoxZeroa more sour endeavor than the other post-N64Star Foxgames is its disingenuous final results. It was seen by many critics as being too superficially similar toStar Fox 64,and too gimmicky through “experimental” features such as its motion controls. What little identity the game had ended up burdensome. As a result, the game was not as successful as it could have been, and there are currently no plans to continueStar Fox.
A futureF-Zerotitle should avoid these mistakes. Instead of relying onF-Zero X’s set piecesorF-Zero GX’s infamous difficulty, the game should take what is already iconic and memorable about the series and continue where its predecessors left off. UnlikeStar Fox, there is not a batch ofF-Zerogames known for their mediocrity and wildly different mechanics; it can just continue from where it left off. Although it will need to implement new ideas like Miyamoto implied, a newF-Zerowould not have one particular game with a legacy to replicate, rather a series of continuously stronger installments to look up to.
AnewF-Zerois unlikely, especially as the series’ most iconic elements are being integrated intoMario Kart. If it were to happen, it would need to remember that eachF-Zerogame succeeded due to applying the core premise to their current era. A retread ofF-Zero XorGXwould not fare well. Instead, this hypothetical newF-Zeroshould develop its own identity while remembering what made the series well-received to begin with.
F-Zero Xis available now via Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack.
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