Although the GameCube didn’t quite surpass its competitors like the PlayStation 2, Nintendo’s console from the early 2000s was still home to some of their most beloved series. Games like Super Mario Bros., The Legend of Zelda, and Metroid innovated their established formulas, and new titles such as Animal Crossing and Pikmin brought exciting additions to Nintendo’s collection. The console also helped lesser-known franchises like Fire Emblem gain popularity.
Nintendo also heavily supported the Star Fox series during this period. Two Star Fox games were released on the GameCube, with Star Fox: Assault significantly expanding on the gameplay of previous titles. However, the game received only moderate praise, which unfortunately led to a long hiatus for the series on Nintendo consoles – over a decade, in fact. Even after more than twenty years, Star Fox: Assault stands out as a particularly innovative game in the series and arguably deserves more recognition among Nintendo’s classic titles.
Star Fox: Assault Was An Attempt To Expand On The Nintendo Classic
Released in North America on February 15, 2005, Star Fox: Assault aimed high but didn’t quite reach its full potential – though it still deserves more recognition than it received. The Star Fox series had previously found success on the Super Nintendo and Nintendo 64, and gained new fans through Fox’s appearances in Super Smash Bros. However, Star Fox Adventures surprised players by changing the gameplay from fast-paced, on-rails shooting to a more standard fantasy adventure. Star Fox: Assault was meant to bring the series back to its roots, and creator Takaya Imamura was challenged by Shigeru Miyamoto to make a game that was more stylish and impressive than anything the series had done before.
The game’s developers originally prioritized the multiplayer feature, but early previews didn’t impress players because they lacked a strong single-player story. They shifted their focus to create a more expansive single-player campaign where the Star Fox team fights against the Aparoids, a robotic, insect-like species invading the galaxy. What set this game apart from previous Star Fox titles was the variety of combat options – players could battle in the Arwing spaceship, drive the Landmaster tank, or fight on foot. Critics praised the game’s dramatic storyline and exciting vehicle combat when it was released, but the awkward controls during on-foot sections and the disappointing multiplayer mode held it back. Despite decent sales, Star Fox: Assault, along with the more strategy-based Star Fox Command on the Nintendo DS (released the next year), marked the last completely new Star Fox game for ten years, until Star Fox Zero arrived on the Wii U in 2016.
Star Fox: Assault Was A Big Swing From A Series That Needs More Love
The original Star Fox games on SNES and N64 were huge successes for Nintendo, establishing the series as a fan favorite. However, the GameCube installments didn’t receive the same level of praise. Assault, in particular, deserves more recognition for its ambitious expansion of the series’ signature aerial combat. It successfully broadened the gameplay by challenging players to switch between different fighting styles, keeping missions fresh and engaging. While the sections where players fought on foot had clunky controls, they also created a feeling of intense fear as you were suddenly facing much larger enemies and trying to escape.
Beyond moving the series forward by retiring the long-standing villain Andross, Star Fox: Assault had a lot going for it. However, it’s rarely mentioned in the same breath as other classic Nintendo games released on the same console, like Super Mario Sunshine, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, and Metroid Prime. While those titles are considered franchise highlights, Star Fox: Assault received a more lukewarm response. Although it had some rough edges and could have used a more substantial story, the game’s narrative was compelling, and introducing horror elements with the Aparoids’ assimilation of familiar characters created a thrilling, high-stakes experience.
The series didn’t see another completely new console game for ten years, and when it did arrive, it felt like a step backwards. Instead of building on the expanding universe and diverse gameplay offered by different vehicles, the game, Star Fox: Assault, proved to be a relatively small installment that didn’t revitalize the franchise. Star Fox: Assault was a potentially strong game that deserved more attention from Nintendo, and it remains a fascinating part of a seriously overlooked series.
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2026-02-14 23:13