Star Fox 64
A 1997 Nintendo 64 on-rails space shooter in the Star Fox series.
Where Star Fox 64 comes up1 episode or test
Star Fox 64 shipped with a cockpit view and nose-mounted guns, which gave it a clear jump in, fire, barrel roll away rhythm. The source offers no sales or retention numbers. The lesson: before adding a new control scheme, check whether a simple existing solution already covers it, and know how tying aim to steering sets your game's pacing.
- 1Jump in front of foeGuns fire from the nose
- 2Fire a few lasersYou sit in the line of fire
- 3Enemy fires backDanger forces you to react
- 4Barrel roll awayThen jump back in
From Star Fox 64 vs Star Fox Zero comparison
What was said about Star Fox 64
Star Fox 64 already had a cockpit view, so no new hardware was needed. Star Fox 64 gave players a cockpit view years before Star Fox Zero added a second screen. Shooters have also zoomed in for years without one, and looking to the side can be done with a button.
The lesson is to check whether a simple existing solution already covers what a new control does. Star Fox Zero's own laser shaft and robot-dropping sections use a hold-to-look-down button, so the second screen was not required for those ideas.
Nose-fired guns gave Star Fox 64 its jump in, fire, barrel roll rhythm. In Star Fox 64 the guns fire from the Arwing's nose, so you have to put yourself in the line of fire to shoot. That gives a back-and-forth pace of jumping in front of foes, firing a few lasers, then barrel rolling away when the enemy fires back.
This rhythm makes the charge shot central to play. Star Fox Zero decouples aiming from steering, which changes that pace. The source contrasts the classic feel with the arcadey feel of Space Harrier.
A Deep Dive into Star Fox Zero's Controls
Already had a cockpit view, so Star Fox Zero's second screen was not needed for that idea. Its guns fire from the Arwing's nose, which creates a jump in, fire, barrel roll away rhythm.
Star Fox 64 already had a cockpit view, so no new hardware was needed. Star Fox 64 gave players a cockpit view years before Star Fox Zero added a second screen. Shooters have also zoomed in for years without one, and looking to the side can be done with a button.
The lesson is to check whether a simple existing solution already covers what a new control does. Star Fox Zero's own laser shaft and robot-dropping sections use a hold-to-look-down button, so the second screen was not required for those ideas.
Nose-fired guns gave Star Fox 64 its jump in, fire, barrel roll rhythm. In Star Fox 64 the guns fire from the Arwing's nose, so you have to put yourself in the line of fire to shoot. That gives a back-and-forth pace of jumping in front of foes, firing a few lasers, then barrel rolling away when the enemy fires back.
This rhythm makes the charge shot central to play. Star Fox Zero decouples aiming from steering, which changes that pace. The source contrasts the classic feel with the arcadey feel of Space Harrier.
More in Games
GamesNintendo
A Zelda adventure where Princess Zelda copies objects and monsters as echoes to solve puzzles and fight.
GamesThe Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Nintendo's long-running action-adventure series about Link exploring Hyrule, solving puzzles and fighting Ganon.
GamesDead Space
A major video game publisher and the guest's employer.
G
29 sources · 94 tipsMind Over Magnet
A puzzle platformer where you escape a factory using a magnet and a magnetic field.
GamesFar Cry 2
An open world action game where you recruit and play any of London's citizens.
GamesGod of War
A combat-focused action adventure game from Santa Monica Studio with Norse mythology and light puzzles.
Mind Over Magnet
Mark Brown's first game, a puzzle game he made while learning Unity.
GamesDishonored
A first-person stealth action game from Arkane with supernatural powers and the Clockwork Mansion level.