19th October 2009, 9:37 AM
Dark Jaguar Wrote:lazy, I think it's more likely we'll see Starfox 64, Starfox Adventures, and Starfox Assault in there. Starfox SNES will most likely be on the VC, if it's not already, and I'd wager we will never see the cancelled Starfox 2.
Starfox 64 is on the VC (SNES Starfox is not) SFA is Rare - Rare cant re-release the game because of its Nintendo characters and Nintendo cant re-release because its Rare's game, on top of that depressing note is the idea that SFA simply wouldn't sell that well, as it didnt do very well on Gamecube either. Starfox on Gamecube sold horribly and Nintendo already mentioned they were disappointed with the game and had to re-think their strategy of outsourcing IP, I think this was on the heels of its DS Starfox release as well. Starfox 2 for SNES was mentioned in a Nintendo Power issue where Miyamoto (signed on as producer I believe) said that "Maybe we could release the game as a promotional item or a giveaway for a contest, but for now there are no plans to do anything." the same line he gave about Ura Zelda. Given that Nintendo loves fan service (releasing Mario's and Zelda's Japan-only releases here) the possibility that the game is done and sitting on a hard drive is high.
EDIT - Wikipedia says the Japanese version of the game is completely done
That could mean the original SNES game could be released on VC as a special treat, but to be released as a Wii game package there would have to be more content in the form of current-gen. A Starfox (SNES) and Starfox 64 with updated graphics and control on Wii would be great to introduce an unreleased SNES game as an unlockable bonus. Beat original updated Starfox on the hardest path and whoosh - Starfox 2 is now available from the main menu.
Remember, the reason I attempted to build the idea of a trilogy is because of Matt's comment from an IGN podcast. But a Nintendo release of anything from Mario Party to Kid Icarus (or just finally showing the new Zelda trailer) is possible. But I know a LOT of people are looking for F-Zero and Starfox and that's with absolutely no word from Nintendo. I think the basis of the lack o these games is this:
How do we offer F-Zero with a fresh approach? Excitetruck and Bots: Trick Racing did a good job of giving us fast paced racing with lots of jumps and air with a sideways Wiimote but F-Zero is a subtle integration of racing simulator with arcade racing. Then you have MotionPlus - A new F-Zero game will probably be controlled with Wiimote and Nunchuck with turning on the Wiimote (held normally pointing towards the screen) and drifting with the control stick or vice versa. Even with MotionPlus a Wiimote-only version of the control setup would not only be less satisfying but counter-intuitive to the series, not to mention that Mario Kart, Excitetruck and Bots already covered that base.
Wiimote only:
D-Pad up = boost
D-Pad down = Hold while thrusting left or right to knock opponents
D-Pad left or right = shift weight
1: accelerate
2: brake
Shake wiimote to initiate a 360
Tilt wiimote during flight to alter center of grav and change direction/trajectory.
Now the problem with this setup a side from offering nothing new to he series or to Wii-owners is that with all of our control in the wiimote means:
A.) D-pad too cluttered for responsive controls during intense gaming, accidental button presses, etc (this can be countered by moving some of the functions to the Plus and Minus buttons, but which would require the player to awkwardly position their hands or reposition the wiimote in orientation, accidentally steering, or having to remove their thumb from the gas).
B.) The execution of a 360 dring gameplay would mean that by shaking the wiimote you are possibly interfering with the control of your car's direction, but placing the 360 execution as a button would simply remove the player from the experience.
C.) A side from nuances in gameplay, it would 'feel' the same as previously released games. You would have to change so much of F-Zero's core gameplay mechanics to make it feel original that it would barely resemble an F-Zero game. This might prove more lucrative since the F-Zero series has become more tired since the release of GX - after all, taking the core gameplay, what more can you do with the game? Let's say F-Zero Wii boasts 200 cars on screen, more intense speed (for fun, let's say it's another 300 years in the future), actual flight (not gliding, actual propelled flight, even to the point to have courses with little to no solid ground) and more mechanics that involve causing opponents to crash without resorting to weapons or items. Even with all of this going on, it would still feel like a sequel to Excitetruck or Bots.
So I can understand Nintendo's dilemma, they want it released fresh and offering something new even down to how its played. Starfix will face all the same issues - how to make it new. We've done the asteroid level on several different consoles and is somewhat a staple to the franchise so how do you make that brand new? Gamecube brought its graphics to offer a ton of content on-screen and the DS brought its touch controls. Elevated GC graphics with transposed DS controls isn't enough to vault the series in to a new stand alone product as a flagship release - if it were just an updated though previously reeased game its understandable. Metroid Prime Trilogy is a good example as with any other New Play Control budget release. But a brand new installment means a new experience.
I wouldn't put it past Nintendo to look in to Balanceboard integration for F-Zero (if Raving Rabbids can use your butt to play minigames, why cant your butt control your shifting in F-Zero?). The new games have to fit in to Nintendo's mantra; It has to look exciting without even seeing what's on the screen and it has to be balanced enough with enough of an offsetting edge to make a casual and pro alike feel like its something's new as to even the playing field.
Quote:Think of it this way. Earthbound has yet to be released at all, and the same goes for fully completed and translated games like Terranigma and Mother 1. If they aren't willing to put THOSE up, considering there would be NO work involved, do you think they'd be willing to get people coding in outdated versions of languages for outdated "virtualized" hardware just to finish a game they cancelled because they didn't think it would sell then?
Well, Starfox will sell more than Earthbound. That's what Nintendo believes, but you have to remember that Starfox 2 wasn't canceled because of worries that it wont sell. Nintendo was looking down the barrel of the new console release with Project Reality and the affairs with Argonaught Software weren't exactly cut and dry (a western company). As you probably know, Starfox 64 uses a lot of Starfox 2's ideas. The Landmaster tank, All-Range mode, boss 'arenas' as apposed to constantly moving forward, dogfights with AI, Star Wolf Team, IPB Missiles etc are all based on Starfox 2, oh not to mention multiplayer. But Starfox 2 had transforming Arwings that went from flight to ground patrol, a hummingbird type of gameplay mechanic during space battles was also added so that you essentially stop in space and each character has his or her own style of ship with its own stats, ie: Peppy was better in a tank than flying, Falco was better in flying than on the ground, Fox was balanced in all modes, etc.
Nintendo knew Starfox 2 would sell, in fact I believe the Japanese version of the game was completely done. It was just the N64's looming presence that took its torch. Also, Starfox on the DS is probably a spiritual successor as its also made by Argonaught and uses many of the Starfox 2 elements, but unfortunately I only got to play it for like 5 minutes while in a store... I wonder if I can find a copy.
Quote:Plus, it's not going to be very easy to try and sell people a package of two SNES games and one N64 game. They'd have nothing BUT screen shots of the N64 game on the back of it, for one. Secondly, it'll be very hard to convince people to purchase a full priced game for those old games.
...that's why I said the games would have to be updated to current gen graphics and the issues that it would bring up. But as I said previously, a SNES as-is ROM is fine in a game compilation with current gen content.
lazyfatbum Wrote:A Starfox release without any truly new content (I believe Starfox 2 was unreleased though mostly finished) would be an excellent primer (hurr) for releasing an original game. Just like Metroid Prime Trilogy to Metroid OtherM. Alternatively, this could simply be a brand new Starfox sans the Fox's of olden yore. After all, updating a SFX-chip based SNES game to something of the graphics seen in Mario Galaxy would mean a lot of development. The SNES games had little to no background, empty fields and the only props were walls, enemies, though asteroids, trees and whatnot were found in certain levels. It would be a mighty effort to update those old games to current gen status.