History VideoGame / StarFoxZero

* DeflectorShields: The Granby has one that it uses in response to the WaveMotionGun on Pepper's flagship, preventing the gun from having any effect. The player has to disable before the ship can be destroyed.

[[quoteright:260:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/star_fox_zero_boxart.jpg]]

** Originating from the unproduced ''VideoGame/StarFox2'', the Arwing can turn into a [[ChickenWalker Walker]]. The Landmaster can also turn into the jet-powered [[TransformingVehicle Gravmaster]].

** Katt now wears an earring on her left ear similar to the one worn by Miyu, a fellow feline from the unproduced ''VideoGame/StarFox2''.

Stated to be a "[[ContinuityReboot re-imagining]]" of the franchise, ''Star Fox Zero'' largely takes the series back to its roots storyline-wise. The original Star Fox team of Fox [=McCloud=], Slippy Toad, Falco Lombardi and Peppy Hare are all active pilots, and they are once again pitted against the forces of the mad scientist Andross. Introduced to the series are transforming vehicles[[note]]which actually originate in the unproduced ''VideoGame/StarFox2'' for the SNES[[/note]], giving Arwings the ability to [[TransformingMecha transform]] into [[ChickenWalker Walker]]s while Landmasters can temporarily transform into [[TransformingVehicle Gravmasters]].

A CG-Anime short titled ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wA2-0nTxaGg Star Fox Zero – The Battle Begins]]'' was released on April 20th to promote the game. The short is animated by Creator/ProductionIG and Wit Studio[[labelnote:*]]and [[Creator/RoughDraftStudios Orange]][[/labelnote]], and adapts the events of the first mission.

* FantasticRacism: While the topic of "racism" (or specism, [[WorldOfFunnyAnimals technically speaking]]) was normally used for jest, parody or comedy in previous continuities, this is definitely ''not'' the case here, [[spoiler:especially during the final battle with Andross, when he calls out Fox for working under the orders of General Pepper and the Cornerians, since they are dogs]]. Oddly enough, the European Spanish dub raises this angle UpToEleven for some bizarre reason.
** [[spoiler:And after defeating Wolf at Venom, he expresses disbelief at suffering defeat at the hands of a fox.]]

A CG-Anime short titled ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wA2-0nTxaGg Star Fox Zero – The Battle Begins]]'' was released on April 20th to promote the game. The short is animated by Creator/ProductionIG and Wit Studio, and adapts the events of the first mission.

--> Falco: [[SarcasmMode Right, because I'm a bird, that means we're friends?]] Come on!

* TimeLimitBoss: Some of the bosses on the alternate paths must be defeated within a time limit.

Included with retail copies is the SpinOff ''VideoGame/StarFoxGuard'', a TowerDefense game starring a VideoGame/{{Mii}} using armed security cameras to defend the precious metals of a mining company owned by Slippy's uncle Grippy from raiding robots. If either game is purchased digitally, the other game has its price lowered if it's also bought digitally, resulting in a combined price that matches the retail version.

** Most of the enemies in ''Star Fox Guard'' qualify as well. One even looks almost exactly like Direct-i.

* DeflectorShields: The Granby has one that is uses in response to the WaveMotionGun on Pepper's flagship, preventing the gun from having any effect. The player has to disable before the ship can be destroyed.

* WaveMotionGun: Carried by several of Andross' larger ships. Pepper's flagship has one large enough to destroy ships of similar size in Andross' fleet with a single shot, even the Granby which the player

* RedemptionDemotion: While the Gigarilla is powerful when its on the player's side [[spoiler: when its back under Andross's control its much more dangerous.]] When an ally it's a lumbering giant that only swats enemies and crushes enemies [[spoiler: but when it's a boss it shows abilities it didn't use when it was an ally. It can actually run fast and far more mobile than its size would indicate, has rapid firing energy weapons in its hands and chest, and fires [[MacrossMissileMassacre a barrage of heat seeking missiles from its back]].]]

* DeflectorShields: The Granby has one that is uses in response to the WaveMotionGun on Pepper's flaghship, preventing the gun from having any effect. The player has to disable before the ship can be destroyed.

* BonusBoss: Most of the secret levels have their own bosses and are generally Boss Only Levels. The secret bosses are [[spoiler:the aquatic Aquarosa, a two-on-one fight with Pigma and Andrew near Sector Alpha, the Cosmic Dodora in the Great Fox stage, the giant warship Salvadora fought by Peppy, and a duel between Fox and Wolf on Fichina]].

*** The multi-legged mecha that Andross uses to attack Corneria, and specifically General Pepper's command tower, bare a slight resemblance to [[VideoGame/StarFoxAssault Aparoids]].

* AlternateContinuity: ''Zero'' is a [[ContinuityReboot reboot]] akin to ''VideoGame/StarFox64'', but there are differences even compared with that entry. Most noticeably, the ''reason'' for Andross's banishment has been changed to a [[RevealingCoverUp cover-up]] (instead of a bio-weapon experiment unleashed on Corneria's capital city as in ''Star Fox 64'', [[spoiler:he had performed dangerous teleportation experiments and gone mad with power,]] which is closer to the [[VideoGame/StarFox1 original game]]), Venom looks much different from its prior appearance [[spoiler:existing in Andross's banished dimension and apparently isn't actually [[ThatsNoMoon a natural planet]]]]), Arwings, Landmasters and Wolfens all have TransformingMecha capabilities, and ''The Battle Begins'' also reveals that [[VideoGame/StarFoxAdventures Sauria]] is already known to the team, rather than them discovering it eight years down the line.

* AlternateContinuity: ''Zero'' is a [[ContinuityReboot reboot]] akin to ''VideoGame/StarFox64'', but there are differences even compared with that entry. Most noticeably, the ''reason'' for Andross's banishment has been changed to a [[RevealingCoverUp cover-up]] (instead of a bio-weapon experiment unleashed on Corneria's capital city as in ''Star Fox 64'', he had performed dangerous teleportation experiments and gone mad with power, which is closer to the original game), Venom looks much different from its prior appearance [[spoiler:existing in Andross's banished dimension and apparently isn't actually [[ThatsNoMoon a natural planet]]]]), Arwings, Landmasters and Wolfens all have TransformingMecha capabilities, and ''The Battle Begins'' also reveals that [[VideoGame/StarFoxAdventures Sauria]] is already known to the team, rather than them discovering it eight years down the line.

* {{Retraux}}: Scanning a Fox Toys/{{amiibo}} or getting all medals provides the Retro Arwing, which look and sounds like the ones from the original ''[[VideoGame/StarFox1 Star Fox]]'' on the SNES. Corneria's track is also replaced with its original one, and the Walker mode even becomes the design from ''VideoGame/StarFox2''

Stated to be a "[[ContinuityReboot re-imagining]]" of the franchise, ''Star Fox Zero'' largely takes the series back to its roots storyline-wise. The original Star Fox team of Fox [=McCloud=], Slippy Toad, Falco Lombardi and Peppy Hare are all active pilots, and they are once again pitted against the forces of the mad scientist Andross. Introduced to the series are transforming vehicles[[note]]which actually originate in the unreleased ''VideoGame/StarFox2'' for the SNES[[/note]], giving Arwings the ability to transform into {{Chicken Walker}}s while Landmasters can temporarily transform into flying jets.

Included with retail copies is the SpinOff ''Star Fox Guard'', a tower defense game that stars Slippy and his uncle Grippy as they must defend against waves of robots. If either game is purchased digitally, the other game has its price lowered if it's also bought digitally, resulting in a combined price that matches the retail version.

A CG-Anime short titled, ''Star Fox Zero: The Battle Begins'' was released on April 20th to promote the game. The short is animated by Creator/ProductionIG and Wit Studio, and adapts the events of the first mission.

** Character-wise, the guy running the tutorial from Star Fox 64 (3D) is nowhere to be seen, his role being taken over by Peppy and ROB 64.
* AlternateContinuity: The game is a ContinuityReboot of the series that started from ''VideoGame/StarFox64'' onwards, but even compared with that entry, there are differences. Notably, the timeline date of Andross's banishment and James [=McCloud=]'s supposed death are slightly changed compared to previously, the ''reason'' for Andross's banishment is also different (dangerously experimenting with teleportation and going power hungry rather than unleashing a bio-weapon on Corneria's capital city), Venom apparently exists as part of another dimension rather than as a barren planet that exists within the Lylat System (it also looks much different from its prior appearance [[spoiler: and isn't actually [[ThatsNoMoon a natural planet at all here]]]]), Arwings, Landmasters and Wolfens all have TransformingMecha capabilities right from the start, and ''The Battle Begins'' also reveals that [[VideoGame/StarFoxAdventures Sauria]] is already known to the team, rather than them discovering it eight years down the line.

* ArtisticLicenseEngineering: The series uses a unit of measurement called "space meter (sm)" which originated from an exclusive set of cards for Nintendo Power subscribers at the time of ''64'' and seems to be equivalent to real-life meters (Two official height measurements for Fox, 5'8" and 1.73 sm. Meaning that 1 sm is ~3.28 ft). With this in mind, the official measurements of the playable vehicles are implausibly big. For example, the Arwing has a height of 5.5 sm (~18 feet) and a length of 28 sm (91 feet). If the listed length is actually correct, then Fox is flying, what is effectively, a small house! However, if the length is incorrect due to including the swept-back wings in the measurement, then it's probably shorter which would be a more plausible explanation.

* AscendedExtra: Caiman, a minor character who only appeared in Area 6 in ''VideoGame/StarFox64''. In this game, he has a larger role, acting as the commander of the enemy forces in at least two levels. He's even the pilot of the Aquarosa, a hidden boss located in Corneria. He's unnamed here, though.

* BigDamnHeroes: Fox [=McCloud=] and his team show up just in time to turn the tide of battle in several engagements with Andross' army.
** [[spoiler: Once again, James [=McCloud=] shows up during the finale to help out Fox.]]

** This also happens when [[spoiler: James flies past Fox to distract Andross as Fox makes his escape.]]

** In his solo mission, Peppy will shout "Barrel Roll!" whenever you DoABarrelRoll.

* TheCameo: During ''The Battle Begins'' short, Katt Monroe appears in one of the crowd shots of Cornerian citizens.
* CameraLockOn: In all-range mode, the game includes a ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZelda Zelda]]''-esque Target Mode that centers the camera on any important features on the map.

** Wolf has the personality and eyepatch of his ''VideoGame/StarFox64'' incarnation, while his design and voice are heavily based on ''VideoGame/StarFoxAssault'' and ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosBrawl''. Certain details from his appearance in ''64'' (and its [[VideoGameRemake 3DS remake]]) are retained, namely the bridge of his "hair" to his muzzle and an absence of a beard.

** A more obscure one is Katt being given an earring on her left ear, Miyu from ''VideoGame/StarFox2'' was a cat who also wore an earring on her left ear.

** After you disable the Granby's shield in Sector Beta, the Cornerian fleet will initiate a countdown to fire on the ship, giving you some time to escape before you go down with it (resulting in a NonStandardGameOver). However, if you escape from the Granby before the countdown even starts (both getting out of the interior and away from the ship itself), General Pepper will tell the fleet to skip it and fire immediately.
** The boss of Sector Omega [[spoiler:can be taken out either the traditional way or by shooting the parts of the turrets that connect it to the ship in its first phase. Doing so the new way awards more points]].

* EpisodeZeroTheBeginning: Being a reboot, and all.
* TheExile: Like in ''64'', Andross was exiled for his crimes, [[spoiler:except this time, he was banished to another ''dimension'' rather than another planet.]]

* JustOneMan: the Salvadora's commander gives this reaction upon seeing a single ship flying at the dreadnought to attack it. Given that the one ship is an Arwing piloted by Peppy Hare, no guesses how this turns out.
* LawOfChromaticSuperiority: Averted by [[spoiler:Cosmic Dodora]]. With the Great Fox's assistance, the battle ends up being much easier than the previous [[spoiler:Dodora]] fight.
* LegacyBossBattle: The iconic Attack Carrier from the original ''[[VideoGame/StarFox1 Star Fox]]'' as well as ''64'' appears once again as a boss fight in Sector Omega. Only this time, it's an all-range fight instead of an on-rails battle. It even has an orchestration of "Boss B" from ''64'' playing as its theme!

* MeaningfulName: In the same vein as Star Fox 64's Area 6, Star Fox Zero introduces us to Area 3, which, if visited during an Arcade Mode playthrough, will always be the third stage (and is the mandatory third stage during your first time playing the main game).

** The Battle Begins short includes;

** Katt now wears an earring similar to the one worn by Miyu from the cancelled ''VideoGame/StarFox2''.
** As in ''Star Fox 64'', after the credits is Fox's invoice for services rendered. This time around, Fox is charging ten times as much; $640 per kill.
** Sector Omega has the appearance of a black hole and is described as a ‘Space Graveyard’ - The Awesome Black Hole was described in the exact same way by General Pepper in the original game.
** In Fichina, the Mother Strider boss fight plays out very similarly to the Aparoid Ship boss fight in ''VideoGame/StarFoxAssault'', even using the Landmaster to get on top.
** Wolf’s one-on-one rematch takes place on Fichina, complete with a time limit like in ''64''. The way to get to this stage is by investigating Star Wolf activity on Fortuna, which is the name Fichina was incorrectly given in the original ''64'' translation.
** Part of the Main Theme from the original ''Star Fox'' can be heard in Corneria's stage theme and the level select screen.

** In Sector Beta, the Granby ship is somewhat like a LoadBearingBoss. If you don't leave the ship before General Pepper fires his cannon, you'll be blown to bits along with it.
** In Sector Gamma, there are three Copperhead Missiles which need to be shot down before they reach a portal. If one of the missiles reaches the portal, ROB will sacrifice the Great Fox to stop it, forcing you to restart the level.

-->'''Caiman (Aquarosa Pilot)''': You beat us AGAIN?! I'm NEVER gonna live this down...

%%* {{Retcon}}: Previous games suggested that Pigma had been a part of Star Fox for some time before his betrayal, and a friend of James and Peppy. In this game, it's said that Pigma ''volunteered'' for the assignment to investigate Venom, and was working for Andross the whole time, making his betrayal less personal.
* {{Retraux}}: Scanning a Fox Toys/{{amiibo}} or getting all medals provides the Retro Arwing, which look and sounds like the ones from the original ''Star Fox'' on the SNES. The Walker mode becomes the design from ''Star Fox 2'', and Corneria's track is replaced with its original one.
* RiddleForTheAges: Is James [=McCloud=] truly dead or did he somehow survive his battle with Andross prior to the game's events? [[spoiler: James [=McCloud=]'s appearance in Venom, particularly during the last segment of the final battle with Andross seem to offer evidence that points in ''both'' directions. While it was likely an apparition crafted by Venom's Corridor of Illusion, Andross' final words seem to imply that James ''is'' still alive in some form.]]
-->[[spoiler: '''Andross:''' Curse you, James [=McCloud=]! ''Why won't you stay dead?!'']]

* ThatsNoMoon: [[spoiler:In this continuity, Venom is actually a BabyPlanet-sized teleportation device, though it's unclear if Andross built it from the ground up or if he mechanized the planet beyond recognition, or if it was even originally part of the Lylat System or transported to it from an alternate dimension.]]

** [[spoiler:The Attack Carrier. In the first two games, it was pathetically easy to take down and had virtually no way to harm Fox for a majority of the battle. In Zero, it's one of the last bosses and a very real threat for those who are not prepared.]]

** [[spoiler:Caiman. Beginning in Star Fox 64 as a simple mook among many in the Venomian Fleet at Area 6, not only is he now a recurring foe, he even gets his own secret boss fight piloting the Aquarossa, one of the HARDEST bosses in the game. Not bad for a memetic mook.]]
* TakingYouWithMe: As in Star Fox 64, Andross takes one last shot at killing Fox after being defeated. [[spoiler: James [=McCloud=] swoops in with other ideas.]]

* TransformingVehicle:
** Originating from the unreleased ''VideoGame/StarFox2'', the Arwing can turn into a [[ChickenWalker Walker]]. The Landmaster can also turn into a jet.

** In Sector Omega, Slippy has this to say [[spoiler: about the sudden warp zone swallowing up Venom]]:
--->'''Slippy''': [[spoiler: [[OhCrap D-did Venom just...disappear?!]] ]]
** Upon re-visiting Corneria, [[spoiler: you're stopped from following General Pepper by one of Andross' weapons: ]]
--->'''[[spoiler: Andross]]''': [[spoiler: Ah, ah, ah!]]

* AndNowForSomeoneCompletelyDifferent: The hidden Salvadora boss fight has you playing as Peppy, in a solo mission.

Stated to be a "[[ContinuityReboot re-imagining]]" of the franchise, ''Star Fox Zero'' largely takes the series back to its roots story-wise. The original Star Fox team of Fox, Falco, Slippy, and Peppy are all active pilots, and they are once again pitted against the forces of the mad scientist Andross. Introduced to the series are transforming vehicles[[note]]which actually originate in the unreleased ''VideoGame/StarFox2'' for the SNES[[/note]], giving Arwings the ability to transform into {{Chicken Walker}}s while Landmasters can temporarily transform into flying jets.

A CG-Anime short titled, ''Star Fox Zero: The Battle Begins'' was released on April 20 to promote the game. The short is animated by Creator/ProductionIG and Wit Studio, and adapts the events of the first mission.

* BigDamnHeroes: Fox McCloud and his team show up just in time to turn the tide of battle in several engagements with Andross' army.

* SoProudOfYou: When Fox decides to take one last charged shot at Andross, [[spoiler:James McCloud]] gives Fox these parting words:

'''''Star Fox Zero''''' is the latest installment in the ''VideoGame/StarFox'' video game series, released for UsefulNotes/WiiU on April 22, 2016. For the first time since ''VideoGame/StarFox64'', it is directly developed in-house at Creator/{{Nintendo}} EPD (formerly EAD), in partnership with Creator/PlatinumGames.