History VideoGame / Starfox

Currently, there are six released games and one spin-off in the series. [[http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2012/09/want_to_know_the_real_reason_star_fox_was_renamed_in_europe Earlier games had different titles in PAL territories due to perceived issues with the German company [=StarVox=].]]

The series has had two separate [[ContinuityReboot continuity reboots,]] resulting in three different timelines.

[[AC:Timeline 1]]

* '''''[[VideoGame/StarFox1 Star Fox]]''''' (PAL: '''''Starwing'''''), for the [[UsefulNotes/SuperNintendoEntertainmentSystem SNES]]. Technologically advanced for the time - Nintendo worked with Creator/ArgonautSoftware to manufacture a million-dollar co-processor chip in the game cartridge to handle the 3D rendering.
* '''''VideoGame/StarFox2''''', for the [[UsefulNotes/SuperNintendoEntertainmentSystem SNES]]. Infamously, this [[VideoGame/StarFox2 direct sequel]] was worked on from the end of the first game's development until mid-1995. It completely averted Star Fox's typical RailShooter mechanics, introduced WalkingTank forms for the Arwing, and focused on strategic gameplay. Despite being fully complete, it was never [[KeepCirculatingTheTapes officially]] released. However, concepts such as all-range mode, an overworld map and [[TransformingMecha transforming]] [[ChickenWalker walker]] were revisited and incorporated in subsequent games.

[[AC:Timeline 2]]

[[AC:Timeline 3]]

* ''ComicStrip/StarFox'', authored by Benimaru Itoh, was released in Magazine/NintendoPower as an adaptation of the 1993 video game of the same name. Itoh also illustrated the [[http://starfox.wikia.com/wiki/Star_Fox_Mission_File_Printout licensed Japanese strategy guide]], which showed an [[AdaptationExpansion expanded]] {{canon}}.

* * BattleCouple: [[AlternateContinuity Depends on the timeline.]] In the first timeline, Fox and Fara. In the second timeline, it's Fox and Krystal, at least part of the time. Slippy and Amanda count too.
* BattleshipRaid: Too many times to count, on both sides.

** Really, this is ONLY because Fox is the player character. In ''Star Fox Command'' and ''Star Fox 2'', this trope easily applies to the entire Star Fox team, because all of them are independently playable. In ''Star Fox Zero'', [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oz8a-WctBS8 Peppy demonstrates that he can singlehandedly destroy a]] [[TheBattlestar Superdreadnought and its fighter squadrons]] with just his Arwing. It's safe to say the Star Fox pilots are ''all'' the [[WorldsBestWarrior best damn pilots in the galaxy.]] [[MyFriendsAndZoidberg Even Slippy.]]

** General Pepper not only owes his name, but also his very outfit, to the landmark album by Music/TheBeatles; Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Heart's Club Band.

*** Captain Shears, a character from ''Farewell, Beloved Falco'', is similar in both physical appearance and attire to Pepper and appears to have a name derived from "Billy Shears", the fictitious leader of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.

* '''''VideoGame/StarFox2''''', for the [[UsefulNotes/SuperNintendoEntertainmentSystem SNES]]. Infamously, this [[VideoGame/StarFox2 direct sequel]] was worked on from the end of the fir's game's development until mid-1995. It completely averted Star Fox's typical RailShooter mechanics, introduced WalkingTank forms for the Arwing, and focused on strategic gameplay. Despite being fully complete, it was never [[KeepCirculatingTheTapes officially]] released. However, concepts such as all-range mode, an overworld map and [[TransformingMecha transforming]] [[ChickenWalker walker]] were revisited and incorporated in subsequent games.

* '''''[[VideoGame/StarFox2]]''''', for the [[UsefulNotes/SuperNintendoEntertainmentSystem SNES]]. Infamously, this [[VideoGame/StarFox2 direct sequel]] was worked on from the end of the fir's game's development until mid-1995. It completely averted Star Fox's typical RailShooter mechanics, introduced WalkingTank forms for the Arwing, and focused on strategic gameplay. Despite being fully complete, it was never [[KeepCirculatingTheTapes officially]] released. However, concepts such as all-range mode, an overworld map and [[TransformingMecha transforming]] [[ChickenWalker walker]] were revisited and incorporated in subsequent games.

* '''''[[VideoGame/StarFox1 Star Fox]]''''' (PAL: '''''Starwing'''''), for the [[UsefulNotes/SuperNintendoEntertainmentSystem SNES]]. Technologically advanced for the time - Nintendo worked with Creator/ArgonautSoftware to manufacture a million-dollar co-processor chip in the game cartridge to handle the 3D rendering. Infamously, a [[VideoGame/StarFox2 direct sequel]] was worked on from the end of development until mid-1995, but was never [[KeepCirculatingTheTapes officially]] released; however, concepts such as all-range mode, an overworld map and [[TransformingMecha transforming]] [[ChickenWalker walker]] were revisited and incorporated in subsequent games.

* ''ComicStrip/StarFox'', authored by Benimaru Itoh, was released in Magazine/NintendoPower as an adaptation of the 1993 video game of the same name. Itoh also illustrated the [[http://starfox.wikia.com/wiki/Star_Fox_Mission_File_Printout licensed Japanese strategy guide]], which showed a [[AlternateContinuity similar yet separate]] [[AdaptationExpansion expanded]] {{canon}}.

* AnyoneCanDie: In both ''[[VideoGame/StarFox1 Star Fox]]'' and [[Videogame/StarFox2 its unproduced sequel]] any pilot shot down was KilledOffForReal. This was dropped with ''VideoGame/StarFox64'' and [[AvertedTrope hasn't been seen since]]. [[http://www.glitterberri.com/star-fox/message-from-god/ According to Takaya Imamura]], the reasoning behind this element of the game was to make the player ''[[PlayerPunch feel]]'' the tragedy when they lose a wingman [[VideogameCaringPotential they've grown attached to]].

* BattleCouple: In Nintendo Power's ''ComicStrip/StarFox'', it's Fox and Fara. In later games, it's Fox and Krystal, at least part of the time. Slippy and Amanda count too.

* BigBad: Andross during [[VideoGame/StarFox1 the]] [[VideoGame/StarFox64 Lylat]] [[VideoGame/StarFoxZero Wars]] and [[ComicStrip/StarFox derivatives]]. General Scales appears to be this throughout ''Adventures'', [[spoiler:before he gets [[HijackedByGanon replaced by Andross right at the end]]]]. The aparoid queen for ''Assault'', and the Anglar Emperor for ''Command''.

** Both {{Continuity Reboot}}s might have done this, but it is hard to tell since they only reboot one game's worth of material each ([[VideoGame/StarFox2 officially]]). It's generally agreed that the games' comic adaptations are not and probably were never canonical.

* ChargedAttack: From the unproduced ''VideoGame/StarFox2'' onward.

* ConservationOfCompetence: The size of a force of spacecraft is inversely proportional to its effectiveness. Thus, Corneria's massive fleet is useless (at one point being destroyed by ''one'' aparoid, a creature so flimsy it's ''Assault'''s second boss), while a rag-tag team can do anything.

** Really, this is ONLY because Fox is the player character. In ''Star Fox Command'' (and ''Star Fox 2''), this trope easily applies to the entire Star Fox team, because all of them are independently playable. In ''Star Fox Zero'', [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oz8a-WctBS8 Peppy demonstrates that he can singlehandedly destroy a]] [[TheBattlestar Superdreadnought and its fighter squadrons]] with just his Arwing. It's safe to say the Star Fox pilots are ''all'' the [[WorldsBestWarrior best damn pilots in the galaxy.]] [[MyFriendsAndZoidberg Even Slippy.]]

*** Captain Shears, a character from ''Farewell, Beloved Falco'' (and possibly ''VideoGame/StarFox2''), is similar in both physical appearance and attire to Pepper and appears to have a name derived from "Billy Shears", the fictitious leader of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.

* BigBad: Andross during [[VideoGame/StarFox1 the]] [[VideoGame/StarFox64 Lylat] [[VideoGame/StarFoxZero Wars]] and [[ComicStrip/StarFox derivatives]]. General Scales appears to be this throughout ''Adventures'', [[spoiler:before he gets [[HijackedByGanon replaced by Andross right at the end]]]]. The aparoid queen for ''Assault'', and the Anglar Emperor for ''Command''.

* ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wA2-0nTxaGg Star Fox Zero – The Battle Begins]]'', produced by [[Creator/ProductionIG Wit Studio]] under Miyamoto's supervision, was an adaptation of the first mission in ''Star Fox Zero''. It was first released online April 20, 2016, during a Nintendo Treehouse livestream.

Currently, there are six released games and one spin-off in the series. [[http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2012/09/want_to_know_the_real_reason_star_fox_was_renamed_in_europe Earlier games had different titles in PAL territories due to perceived trademark issues with the German company [=StarVox=].]]

Currently, there are six released games and one spin-off in the series. Earlier games had different titles in PAL territories due to perceived trademark issues with the German company [=StarVox=].

* ''ComicStrip/StarFox'', authored by Benimaru Itoh, was released in Magazine/NintendoPower as an adaptation of the 1993 video game of the same name. Itoh also illustrated the [[http://starfox.wikia.com/wiki/Star_Fox_Mission_File_Printout licensed Japanese strategy guide]], which showed a similar yet separate [[AdaptationExpansion expanded]] {{canon}}.

* '''''VideoGame/StarFoxCommand''''' co-developed by Nintendo EAD and Creator/QGames for the UsefulNotes/NintendoDS; the series' first portable installment. Featuring mostly free-roaming combat, the game introduced Touch Screen controls, a strategic map, multiple playable characters with unique aircraft, and MultipleEndings.
* '''''VideoGame/StarFoxZero''''' co-developed by Nintendo EPD and Creator/PlatinumGames for the UsefulNotes/WiiU, was another [[ContinuityReboot reboot]] that followed similar story beats as the previous [[VideoGame/StarFox1 Lylat]] [[VideoGame/StarFox64 Wars]] titles. Creator/ShigeruMiyamoto himself headed the project (as he had personally wanted to revive the series since the UsefulNotes/{{Wii}} generation).

* '''''VideoGame/StarFoxCommand''''' for the UsefulNotes/NintendoDS; the series' first portable installment. Featuring mostly free-roaming combat, the game introduced touch screen control, a strategic map, multiple playable characters with unique aircraft, and MultipleEndings.
* '''''VideoGame/StarFoxZero''''' for the UsefulNotes/WiiU, another [[ContinuityReboot reboot]] that follows similar story beats as the previous [[VideoGame/StarFox1 Lylat]] [[VideoGame/StarFox1 Wars]] titles. The game was co-developed by Nintendo EPD and Creator/PlatinumGames, and Creator/ShigeruMiyamoto himself headed the project (as he had personally wanted to revive the series since the UsefulNotes/{{Wii}} generation).

* MarketBasedTitle: In PAL territories, ''Star Fox'' was known as ''Starwing'' and ''Star Fox 64'' was known as ''Lylat Wars''. Contrary to popular belief, this was not due to an existing 1983 UsefulNotes/Atari2600 game of the same name, [[http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2012/09/want_to_know_the_real_reason_star_fox_was_renamed_in_europe but rather because of Nintendo's worry that the European company [=StarVox=] would have an identical pronunciation in German.]] This issue was dropped by ''VideoGame/StarFoxAdventures''.

** In ''Farewell, Beloved Falco'', one of the FREE AS A BIRD members (Falco and Katt's old gang of space hot-rodders) is [[VideoGame/SuperMarioBros2 Mousor]] -- as seen on the back of his jacket.

** In ''Farewell, Beloved Falco'', one of the FREE AS A BIRD members (Falco and Katt's old gang of space hot-rodders) is [[VideoGame/SuperMarioBros2 Mouser]] -- Mouser's name is even on the back of his jacket.

* LegacyCharacter: Fox [=McCloud=] is the son of James [=McCloud=]. Both are considered the best pilots of their universe and generation and both leaders of their teams. There's also Marcus [=McCloud=], the son of Fox and Krystal and leader of a new Star Fox team, as a possible future opened up by ''Command''.

* KilledOffForReal: Your wingmen won't be harmed by your own blasts in the original SNES games, but they will die permanently if you don't save them. On the plus side, their kills ''do'' count towards your final score in this game, and even Slippy is a fairly competent pilot compared to the N64 version.

** Vixy Reinard [=McCloud=] and Vivian Hare.

* BritishAccents: Krystal and pretty much the entire population of Sauria besides Tricky. This can be attributed to ''VideoGame/StarFoxAdventures'' being created in the United Kingdom.

** Both {{Continuity Reboot}}s might have done this, but it is hard to tell since they only reboot one game each ([[VideoGame/StarFox2 officially]]). It's generally agreed that the games' comic adaptations are not and probably were never canonical.

** If one thinks about it enough, the entire Venomian fleet in Sector Y of ''Star Fox 64'' could be considered as expies from ''Mobile Suit Gundam''. You have a force of what are essentially mobile suits backed by capital ships tearing their way through the Cornerians, suits that look a lot like a more simian version of the RX-78 (especially the boss of the level), and about 2/3 in you encounter a red version of the attacking mecha that moves three times faster. As an added bonus, while not the pilot of the red mech, the boss is also wearing sunglasses. Hmmmm...

** Don't forget all the obvious ''StarWars'' expys, namely the [[BattleshipRaid Space Armada]] Star Destroyer-alikes (also other ships with {{cores| and turrets boss}} to destroy in a similar manner to ''Return of the Jedi'') and similar ships in Area 6 (which in itself is an expy of the Space Armada stage to a certain extent).

*** [[http://i47.tinypic.com/2vl18pd.png This screenshot]] from ''Star Fox 2'' shows that Wolf does indeed have a left (right?) eye. However, it has a scar over it, and seems to be in pretty bad shape, which is why he wears an eyepatch over it.
* {{Fanfare}}: ''Videogame/StarFox1'', ''Videogame/StarFox2'', and ''''Videogame/StarFoxAssault''.
* FaceHeelTurn: According to Star Fox 64's storyline, [[spoiler:Pigma]].
* FantasticRacism: Falco seems to not like monkeys too much. [[BigBad It's not like he doesn't have a good reason to, though.]]
** Andross openly hates dogs, as seen in ''Videogame/StarFox2'' and ''Videogame/StarFoxZero''.

* FourTemperamentEnsemble: Fox (sanguine/choleric), Falco (choleric), Slippy (melancholic), Peppy (phlegmatic), Krystal (sanguine), and R.O.B. (leukine).

* FunWithAcronyms: Has nothing to do with the games themselves, but rather the special chip that was used to created the original Super NES game. The Super FX chip was originally called the "'''M'''athematical, '''A'''rgonaut, '''R'''otation, (and) '''I/O''' Chip 1", or the "[[SuperMarioBros MARIO]]" Chip 1 for short.

** Panther's official last name in Japan is Caluroso. This spelling is used in ''Assault'', ''Command'', and ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros Brawl''. In localization, however, his last name is changed to Caroso. Again, another translation mishap occurred in ''Command'' and changed his last name into Caruso. In the localization of ''Super Smash Bros Brawl'', they used Caroso, confirming Caroso being the official last name for Panther outside Japan. ''Command'' has a large amount of translation errors. For instance, Panther speaks in third person in the English translation, yet speaks normally in other languages.

** Doctor Andorf--er, Andross.
** The ice planet in ''Star Fox 64'' is Fichina, but was called "Fortuna" -- an unrelated planet from the original game -- in localization. The correct name is used in ''Star Fox Assault'', since it includes both planets.
** Also in ''Star Fox 64'', planet Katarina was localized as "Katina" -- and is still referred to as such in ''Assault''.

* GreenHillZone: WelcomeToCorneria, planet of Greenishness™

* HeroicSacrifice: Quite a few in Assault.

* MarketBasedTitle: In PAL territories, ''Star Fox'' was known as ''Starwing'' and ''Star Fox 64'' was known as ''Lylat Wars''. Contrary to popular belief, this was not due to an existing 1983 UsefulNotes/Atari2600 [[NamesTheSame game of the same name]], [[http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2012/09/want_to_know_the_real_reason_star_fox_was_renamed_in_europe but rather because of the worry that the European company [=StarVox=] would have an identical pronunciation in German.]] This issue was dropped by ''VideoGame/StarFoxAdventures''.
* MeaninglessLives: ''Adventures'', where there are more Bafomadads (the 1-Ups) in the game than you can carry at once. Averted in all of the other games, though.

* MissingMom: Fox's mother, Vixy, is never seen or mentioned in the actual games. One comic series reveals she was accidentally killed by Andross, who was attempting to MurderTheHypotenuse.
** Lucy Hare's mother (Peppy's wife), Vivian, was revealed to have died sometime after the events of ''Star Fox 64'' due to an unknown illness.
** Slippy's mother is absent with no exaplanation; only his dad, Beltino, is ever seen.
* MissionControl: Primarily Rob, who controls the Great Fox, and to a degree General Pepper and Peppy (especially in ''Assault'', where he made room for newcomer Krystal).
* {{Mordor}}: Venom. ''Command'' proves that terraforming it is possible, though.[[note]]The unproduced ''Star Fox 2'' sees Venom terraformed.[[/note]]

* MultipleChoicePast: Were Fox, Falco, and Slippy expelled from the Corneria Defense Force and lived years of exile as bandits on Venomian-occupied Papetoon who rejoined Corneria to fight the Lylat War? Or were they PrivateMilitaryContractors who inherited daddy's independent battle arsenal and worked with the Corneria Army to defeat Andross? Depends on the {{continuity| reboot}}.
* MultipleEndings: Six versions of the Normal ending and the [[spoiler:Out of this Dimension]] ending in the original, Good and Standard in ''Star Fox 64'', no less than ''nine'' in ''Command''.
* MySensorsIndicateYouWantToTapThat: At the end of ''VideoGame/StarFoxAdventures'', Rob notices Fox's..."reaction" to Krystal's presence.

* NotAllowedToGrowUp: Averted. Slippy is apparently still a kid in ''Star Fox 64'' (although The Inevitable Wiki claims that he's the same age as Fox), but has a noticeably deeper voice in ''Adventures'' and gets married after the events of ''Assault''.

** Also a meta-example in the same game: Thanks to the previous games, especially ''VideoGame/StarFoxAdventures'', and to a certain extent the next game (since it is implied that Andross created the Anglar Menace), you'd think that Andross might somehow be pulling the strings on the new menace. Turns out, the aparoids have absolutely no affiliation with Andross.

* OfficialCouple: Slippy and Amanda. Peppy and Vivian. And, in spite of their unclear status due to ''Command'', as far as Nintendo is concerned, Fox and Krystal seem to be this for now (whether that will change in later installments is unknown).

** While averted in levels where the player is flying within the atmosphere of a planet, this becomes glaringly apparent when you see an Arwing or Wolfen execute a banking turn in a supposedly zero-G vacuum environment.
* OneHitPointWonder: The wings of the Arwing in Expert Mode. Bruise something and you lose a wing and any laser upgrade.
* OneManArmy: Fox [=McCloud=] (the player character) saves the day single-handedly, often with no noticeable contribution from his teammates or the Cornerians.
** Really, this is ONLY because Fox is the player character. In ''Star Fox 2'' and ''Star Fox Command,'' this trope easily applies to the entire Star Fox Team, because all of them are independently playable. In Star Fox Zero, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oz8a-WctBS8 Peppy demonstrates that he can singlehandedly destroy a]] [[TheBattlestar Superdreadnought and it's fighter squadrons]] with just his Arwing. It's safe to say the Star Fox pilots are ''all'' the [[WorldsBestWarrior best damn pilots in the galaxy.]] [[MyFriendsAndZoidberg Even Slippy.]]

* PlotHole: It's never particularly clear how Andross's exile is supposed to have worked; he was either a dangerous megalomaniac sent to go screw an inhabited planet with massive natural resources around, or Venom went from being barren and deserted to fully industrialised within five years.

* UsefulNotes/PolygonalGraphics: The original for the SNES is probably one of the first games to popularize this.

* PrivateMilitaryContractors: The ''Star Fox'' teams, and ''Star Wolf''. At the end of ''StarFox64'', Star Fox gets a check for how many enemies they shot down, multiplied by 64.
* PuttingTheBandBackTogether: Poor Fox ends up all alone by the time ''Command'' starts, leading him to do this. Exactly how the band gets back together depends. For extra fun, one ending will get the entire original Star Fox team together, including Peppy, who's been retired since the past two games. This is also the one that ends with the whole team officially disbanding, however.
* RaceLift: Katt Monroe changed from a pink cat in ''Star Fox 64'' and ''Farewell, Beloved Falco'' to a Siamese cat with different colorings and markings in ''Star Fox Command''. Unknown if this change will be {{Canon}}ical.

* RescueRomance: Fox falls in love with Krystal when he sees her trapped in a crystal. After he rescues her at the end of the game, the two become a couple.

** Wolf vs Fox, who are implied to have some history between their rivalry
** Leon vs Falco, also implied to have met before
** Pigma vs Peppy, both original members of the Star Fox Team, and both stopped being regular pilots by the time of Asssault. Peppy retired, Pigma was forced off of his team
** Andrew vs Slippy, more a case of Pairing the Spares
** Panther vs Krystal, both [[NubileSavage attractive]] [[LatinLover 'ethnic']] new members of the team by the time of Assault. Also in the only dogfight in the game four Star Fox pilots are present, but Slippy is told to stay behind making it a 3 on 3.

* ReusedCharacterDesign: Octoman from ''VideoGame/{{F-Zero}}'' appears as a boss in ''Command''. While one of the drivers in F-Zero looks like a human version of Fox's father.
* RivalsTeamUp: Wolf and Fox do this in the recent games, though usually after a short dogfight.
* RockBeatsLaser: Averted in ''Assault''. The high-technology hive-minded aparoids attack the calm, magical, dinosaur planet Sauria, where the last game took place. The aparoids just steamroll the dinosaurs. The dinosaurs mount a resistance, but it's said that they suffer horrific loses. To quote Slippy:

*** In their cameo appearances in ''Super Smash Bros Brawl'', [[TheCasanova Panther]] attempts flirting with Krystal. One of his lines involved the declaration that he would fling himself in front of an asteroid to protect her should one come near her ship. Her response of 'Oh I feel ''so much better'' hearing that. You're ''such a gentleman'', Panther', sounded very sarcastic to say the least.
*** In the original version, it's apparently a different matter, as Krystal appears to be sincere.

* {{Scanlation}}: The only way ''[[NoExportForYou Farewell, Beloved Falco]]'' [[http://arwinglanding.net/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=3 made it to English]].
* SciFiWritersHaveNoSenseOfScale: [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avgYsIKkBLQ#t=0m38s This]] video briefly analyzes the Landmaster. Apparently it's an enormous target with relatively thin armor. No wonder Falco prefers the sky.

* ShoutOut: The ''Star Fox'' series seems to have a number of reciprocal Shout Outs in relation to ''VideoGame/{{F-Zero}}''. For starters, Fox [=McCloud=] and Falco Lombardi may have ''originally'' been Shout Outs, being an anthropomorphic ''Golden Fox'' and ''Blue Falcon'' respectively. Then, James [=McCloud=] (outfit and all, but in non-anthropomorphic human form) became a character in the ''F-Zero'' series starting with ''F-Zero X''. Then ''Star Fox Command'' references ''F-Zero'' yet again, [[spoiler:where one of its nine possible MultipleEndings has Fox and Falco becoming racers in a high-speed racing league called G-Zero]].
** On the SNES version, the main villain Andross' design looks remarkably similar to the recurring boss that you fight in the arcade game I, Robot.
** Even the anime ''F-Zero The Legend of Falcon'' has O'Donnell being referenced as James's deceased friend.

*** Captain Shears, a character from "Farewell, Beloved Falco", is similar in both physical appearance and attire to Pepper and appears to have a name derived from "Billy Shears", the fictitious leader of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.

** In ''Farewell, Beloved Falco'', one of the Hot Rodders (Falco and Katt's old gang) is [[VideoGame/SuperMarioBros2 Mouser]] -- Mouser's name is even on the back of his jacket.
** In ''Assault'', there are classic Namco arcade references and cameos littered in the game, one being the yellow S flag from Rally X; after all, Namco did develop this game.
** In ''Star Fox 64'', shortly after you enter Meteo's WarpZone, you'll be treated to several waves of bee/butterfly-like enemies that fly in formations very reminiscent of ''{{Galaga}}''. You get bonuses if you can nail them all.
** ''Star Fox 64'' has Katina, which is pretty much the climax scene from ''Film/IndependenceDay'', complete with Bill Gray, a nod to Gen. William Grey, Robert Loggia's character in the movie.
** Fox's [[OutrunTheFireball escape from Andross' lair]] is reminiscent of ReturnOfTheJedi.
** The boss of sector X says "where is the creator?", and in its death throes, says "I must be complete." A referance to V'ger from ''Film/StarTrekTheMotionPicture''.
** The ''Nintendo Power Star Fox Comic'' featured a pet pig robot that belong to Andross named Herbert. His design was an obvious parody of the RX-78-2 of ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam''.

** Zoness (planet of toxic waste) is justified in that Andross has apparently been using it as his personal waste dump. This leaves the crewmen simply aghast when they arrive there:

* SpaceMines: The first few seconds of Sector X has a cloud of mines you have to go through.

* SpeakingSimlish: In the first game and ''Command''. Optionally in the PAL version of ''SF 64''.

* SpinToDeflectStuff: The iconic Barrel Roll move. In ''Command'', deflecting enemy projectiles earns you bonus seconds, and rolling also attracts nearby items. It's even the only way to destroy an enemy mothership.
* SpotlightStealingSquad: While Krystal's role in ''Star Fox Adventures'' was modest, she becomes the main focus of the plot in ''Star Fox Command''. The whole plot of the game revolves around Fox's relationship with Krystal and most of the game's endings revolve around her in some way. She is also the only character that has two Arwings(one for when she joins Star Wolf and another for if she rejoins Star Fox).

* ThrowABarrelAtIt: The robots in the Sargasso Space Hideout roll metal barrels down the ramps you have to walk up. Fortunately, Fox has a blaster and can jump decently high.

* TookALevelInBadass: While technically {{Badass}} already, the Star Wolf as a whole have become better in ''Assault'', and has been like that since. It was also the first game where Wolf gained personality (not counting the non-canonical ''Star Fox 64'' comic).
* TrueCompanions: Fox and his team, and Wolf and his team. Fox's team, however, slowly shows signs of separation (Falco wanting to fly solo, etc.) Ironically, Wolf's removed the two dishonorable characters in his original team, replacing them with a loyal, funny-personified Panther, and the team's been solid since.

** A more minor example occurs with the Attack Carrier in the original game. You fight it at the end of Corneria if you take the first or second routes, but if you take the third route Andross's attack fleet get the opportunity to deploy their Devastator attack tank along with the Attack Carrier. Falco ends up fighting the Attack Carrier himself off-screen, leaving you to deal with the Devastator.

* WorldOfHam: Starting with ''Star Fox 64,'' the series has taken to some extremely hammy voice acting.

There were also four different notable comics:
* ''ComicStrip/StarFox'', authored by Benimaru Itoh, was released in Magazine/NintendoPower as an adaptation of the 1993 video game of the same name.
* ''Star Fox Mission File Printout'', while a Japanese strategy guide, also featured illustrations by Itoh as well as a similar yet separate [[AdaptationExpansion expanded]] {{canon}}.
* ''[[http://khestra.tripod.com/comics/SFX64.html Lylat Wars Comic,]]'' a [[NoExportForYou German]] adaptation of ''VideoGame/StarFox64'', released in 1997 by Nintendo of Europe.
* ''Manga/FarewellBelovedFalco'', an original manga released on the [[NoExportForYou Japanese]] ''VideoGame/StarFoxAdventures'' website that fills in plot details after ''VideoGame/StarFox64'' and before ''Adventures''. As its title suggests, ''Farewell'' expands on Falco's story and background.

* ''Star Fox Zero: The Battle Begins'', produced by [[Creator/ProductionIG Wit Studio]] under Miyamoto's supervision, was an adaptation of the first mission in ''Star Fox Zero''. It was first released online April 20, 2016, during a Nintendo Treehouse livestream.

* BadassBiker: Wolf O'Donnell. While he doesn't actually own a bike—he pilots a Wolfen—he does fit the trope in terms of his design and [[ClothingReflectsPersonality personality.]] He wears the black leather attire that is standard for the trope in every game he's in, excepting Star Fox 64. His design is still based on this in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, but it goes a step further by giving him at least one accessory traditionally associated with the biker motif, including a chain that connects to the belt around his waist and to the holster for his blaster.
* BadassBookworm: Lucy Hare, she taught Astrophysics during the events of ''Star Fox Command''.
* {{Badbutt}}: Starting with ''Videogame/StarFox64,'' about half the cast became this, but most noticeably Falco "Time to kick some tail!" Lombardi and Wolf "What the heck!?" O'Donnell.

* BigBad: Andross for the first game, as well as the first game of the rebooted series. General Scales appears to be this throughout ''Adventures'', [[spoiler:before he gets [[HijackedByGanon replaced by Andross right at the end]]]]. The Aparoid Queen for ''Assault''. And the Anglar Emperor for ''Command''.
** Andross fills the role again for the Wii U game.

** Wolf's English dubbing in ''64'' has an aristocratic English accent, but since ''Assault'', he has spoken in a Southern accent.

* CanonDiscontinuity: At this moment, apparently ''Command''. WordOfGod states that should the next ''Star Fox'' game be made, it will take place either immediately after ''Assault'', or will simply keep the prologue or plot outline from ''Command'' and ignore the major events that happened in the game (which, considering the MultipleEndings, would probably be a good thing). It remains to be seen if this is still accurate with the upcoming WiiU game.
** The original ''Star Fox'' for the SNES and it's related materials are this since ''Star Fox 64'' acted as a ContinuityReboot. This includes Fara Phoenix, and all of the other exclusive characters from the [[http://starfox.wikia.com/wiki/Category:Comics tie-in comic.]] Also Miyu, Fay and Algy, who only appeared in the unproduced ''Star Fox 2'', which is a direct sequel to the first game.
* CanonImmigrant: Technically Krystal, since she was the original protagonist of the Rare game ''Dinosaur Planet'' before it was [[DolledUpInstallment made into a]] ''[[DolledUpInstallment Star Fox]]'' [[DolledUpInstallment game]].

** Basically, Katt asks Falco if he has a lover, using a [[GenderAndJapaneseLanguage gender-neutral Japanese term,]] so as to avoid any ExactWords situations. Falco responds that he doesn't have, [[CelibateHero and is wholly uninterested in lovers.]] Both versions of the manga as a whole paint Falco as someone who can be platonic friends with someone, but is strongly (and even angrily) averse to anything closer than that.
* ChargedAttack: From ''2'' onward.

* ClipItsWings: Depending on the game, Arwings can lose their wings when damaged, particularly if you fly too close to something big and clip them off. Even without wings, the ships can stay airborne and under the control of the pilot (albeit with much greater difficulty), due to the G-Diffuser systems installed in them, though maneuvering becomes more difficult.
* ColorCodedCharacters: So you know who needs rescuing. Fox is Yellow, Falco is Blue, Slippy is Green, Peppy is Red, and Krystal is Purple.

** The games play with ChromaticArrangement in their outfits mismatching their character color (which is usually based on their body color) for contrast. In their default uniforms Fox wears green, Slippy blue, and Falco orange or yellow. Peppy is the only one who's shirt color matches his character color consistently. In their Assault armor Fox kept green, Falco became red, Slippy yellow and Krystal blue.

* ConservationOfCompetence: The size of a force of spacecraft is inversely proportional to its effectiveness. Thus, Corneria's massive fleet is useless [at one point being destroyed by ''one'' Aparoid, a creature so flimsy it's ''Assault'''s second boss], while five mercenaries can do anything.

** Special mention goes to ''Videogame/StarFox2'': you get two Arwing pilots to start, and can switch between them freely to mitigate damage. "Continuing" means [[AnyoneCanDie a pilot got shot down,]] and the remaining pilot [[InTheEndYouAreOnYourOwn must continue alone.]]
* ContinuityNod: The page picture, a piece of artwork from ''Command'', is essentially a redrawing of original promotional material for the original SNES ''Star Fox'' (which was actually the boxart for the Japanese and European releases). Given that the SNES game was [[{{Retcon}} retconned]] out of the continuity by ''64'', and the somewhat OffModel appearance of Slippy and Peppy, this is more of a nod than anything else.

* ConvenientlyAnOrphan: Fox. His dad was killed by Andross ([[NeverFoundTheBody most likely]]). The old Nintendo Power comic reveals that Andross (accidentally) killed his mother as well.

* CoolStarship: The ''Great Fox'' definitely qualifies, as does it's unnamed predecessor from [[VideoGame/StarFox2 Star Fox 2.]] Both ships serve to transport, service and repair the [[SpaceFighter Arwings,]] making them functionally equivalent to an [[AirborneAircraftCarrier aircraft carrier]] [[RecycledINSPACE in space!]]
* CoresAndTurretsBoss: Bolse (and how!)
** Also the "Atomic Base" cores in the original.
* CrewOfOne: The Landmaster and the Blue Marine. The Great Fox might also count, being operated solely by Rob 64 in most games.
* DarkerAndEdgier: ''Assault''. The Aparoids weren't like any of the other antagonists of the series, as if successful, they literally would have wiped out every single form of life in the Lylat system, replacing it with their own, and then moving on to wherever else had life. And unlike the other villains, Andross had absolutely no involvement in their scheme at any point (Even the Anglars, the villains in ''Command'', were implied to be one of Andross's creations.)
** The original SNES games and its tie-in comic were Darker And Edgier than the subsequent games and spin-offs. Even though the basic plot was the same as ''Star Fox 64'', it was delivered in a much grimmer, less humorous style. The only real laughs in the games come from the crew's dialogue, and even that's a lot less pronounced than in the following games.

* DefeatMeansFriendship: Happens a to Star Wolf in ''Assault'' and ''Command''.
* DetachmentCombat: The Great Commander boss from the original ''Star Fox'', though he preferrs to fight you in its combined mode more than in its detached form.

*** She gets another one, in the same way (Telepathic contact) from Sauria in ''Assault''.
*** The first game of the second continuity (''Star Fox 64'') began with a call for assistance. You ''are'' playing as a mercenary team, so it makes sense that most games start with your services being called for.
* DoABarrelRoll: The TropeNamer. Although technically it isn't a barrel roll.

** The Aparoids are an expy of the QB from ''Slipheed: The Lost Planet'', themselves based on ''VideoGame/RType''[='s=] Bydo Empire.

* GoshDangItToHeck: Not that there are a lack of vocal outbursts, but the sheer volume of G-rated curses in ''Videogame/StarFox64'' is as corny as any Utah slang. [[AvertedTrope This is averted in the older games.]]

* GutPunch: According to [[http://www.glitterberri.com/star-fox/message-from-god/ Takaya Imamura]], this is the reason behind the AnyoneCanDie element of the first games: to make the player ''[[PlayerPunch feel]]'' the tragedy when they lose a wingman [[VideogameCaringPotential they've grown attached to.]]

** Star Wolf in ''Assault''. By this time it consists of Wolf, Leon, and Panther.
** ''Command'' disregards this, which further supports the CanonDiscontinuity listed above..

** General Pepper's flagship is top-to-bottom infected by Aparoids. Instead of letting his own body succumb, [[spoiler:he would rather let his star mercenary kill him.]]
** After [[spoiler:fighting and defeating General Pepper (I.E. a crap-ton of plasma bullets later)]], his flagship explodes and hurtles toward the sea in a mangled wreck. However, [[spoiler:Peppy Hare, formerly retired Star Fox member, saves him in an Arwing by redirecting his trajectory to crash in a field. They both narrowly survive the following blast.]]
** [[spoiler:Peppy]] saves the day again in level 10. [[spoiler:After the first part, a shield builds up over the way to the center of the planet, much to the party's annoyance. All of a sudden, Peppy orders everyone to stand way back, and for good reason. As the camera pans toward the Great Fox, it's broken, mangled, and riddled with Aparoids. So what does he plan to do? [[TookALevelInBadass Crash that mother of a ship through the barrier so the crew could get through.]] ROB 64 says they won't survive the impact, but Peppy does it anyway, against not only ROB's analysis, but also the pleas of his ship mates. Fox manages to snap the team out of it and blast through the Great Fox-sized hole. (Surprisingly, with the Wolf following them.) After they boost through the hole in the barrier, it gradually repairs, eventually cutting through the Great Fox, causing it to explode. The only thing left of it as Star Fox heads toward the core is a blinding light and a thunderous roar. [[SubvertedTrope He and ROB survived. Apparently, the tip of the Great Fox also works as an escape pod.]]]]
** [[spoiler:Star Wolf]] risks their lives keeping the attention and heat of nigh invincible enemies away from Star Fox, and weren't seen escaping the planet [[spoiler:as it exploded]]. [[spoiler:They survive, but apparently [[CanonDiscontinuity continue their rivalry with Star Fox]].]]
** Thanks to AnyoneCanDie, this can be ''anyone's'' fate in ''Videogame/StarFox1'' or ''Videogame/StarFox2'', depending on the player's actions.

* IdenticalStranger: Fara Phoenix, from the comics, looks very much like his deceased mother, Vixy, despite Fara being a Fennec Fox and Vixy being a Red Fox. [[spoiler: They're twin-like enough to inadvertently fool Andross into revealing that he accidentally killed Vixy in his attempt to MurderTheHypotenuse.]]

* InertialDampening: The G-Diffuser System.

** The Aparoids.

** James [=McCloud=] may or may not be dead, since they NeverFoundTheBody. [[spoiler: According to the SNES comic and Star Fox Zero, he's alive, trapped in an AnotherDimension.]]

* LighterAndSofter: ''[[ContinuityReboot Star Fox 64]]'' was this compared to ''Star Fox'' and ''Star Fox 2''. The series became DarkerAndEdgier again with ''Assault''.
** Once change that went lighter and has (thus far) not come back is that in the original SNES games, a wingmate who was shot down was KilledOffForReal. From Star Fox 64 onwards, a wingmate going down means that they'll just return to the docking bay of the Great Fox for a few missions before returning.

** While ''64'' doesn't mention this, about half of his henchmen with dialogue are some sort of Lizards.

* ManiacMonkeys: Andross, Andrew, Dash Bowman in a couple of endings in ''Command''.
* MarketBasedTitle: Due to a series of title trademarks for home computer games, the series went through three names in Europe. The original ''Star Fox'' was released as ''Star Wing'' due to sharing a title with an Atari 2600 game, and some references to "Star Fox Team" in text were changed to "Star Wing Team". Unfortunately, it turned out this was ''also'' the title of an existing game, and ''Star Fox 64'' was duly released under the much-ridiculed title of ''Lylat Wars''. By ''VideoGame/StarFoxAdventures'', the whole mess had been sorted out, and other than the ''Star Fox 64'' Wii re-release all EU games have shared the US titles.

* MindScrew: Out of this Dimension in the original. [[spoiler: A ''Slot Machine'' for the boss? '''''Really?''''']]

* MultipleChoicePast: Were Fox, Falco, and Slippy CDF expellees who lived years of exile as bandits on Venomian-occupied Papetoon who rejoined the CDF to fight the Lylat War in their late 20s? Or were they mercenaries who inherited daddy's private battle arsenal and contracted with the CDF to defeat Andross in their late teenage years? Depends on the {{continuity| reboot}}.

* NoOntologicalInertia: [[spoiler:All Aparoids are destroyed along with the Aparoid Queen]].
** Although to be fair, [[spoiler:destroying the Aparoid Queen allows the virus to kill them all via apoptosis and taking advantage of their HiveMind]].

** Also a meta-example in the same game: Thanks to the previous games, especially ''VideoGame/StarFoxAdventures'', and to a certain extent the next game (since it is implied that Andross created the Anglar Menace), you'd think that Andross might somehow be pulling the strings on the new menace. Turns out, the Aparoids have absolutely no affiliation with Andross.

** This is the excuse Wolf gives Fox for saving him from a large group of Aparoids in ''Assault''.

** It's worth noting, however, that General Pepper is a ''very'' kind and honorable man, with his profile even noting that he is well-liked and respected by his men. He has no problems with turning over the reins when it's time for him to retire, and rejects the idea of living if it means he will be forced to attack the people he cares about. Considering that the other options for leadership were ''[[BigBad Andross]]'', the [[HiveMind Aparoid Queen]], or the [[SmugSnake Anglar Emperor]], he was probably the best bet for keeping the system out of an ''actual'' dictatorship, all unsavory aspects applied.

* RockBeatsLaser: Averted in ''Assault''. The high-technology hive-minded Aparoids attack the calm, magical, dinosaur planet Sauria, where the last game took place. The Aparoids just steamroll the dinosaurs. The dinosaurs mount a resistance, but it's said that they suffer horrific loses. To quote Slippy:

** Panther utters this towards Wolf in ''Assault'' after the canine catches Fox from the Aparoids, knowing that Wolf was just hiding his intentions for saving the main character.

** Of course, that video forgets the Landmaster has an [[DeflectorShields Energy Shield]] in the place of armor and the fact that the armor could easily be an [[MadeOfIndestructium advanced alloy far stronger than anything the modern military uses.]]

* SecretCharacter: Wolf in ''Assault''. [[spoiler:James in ''Command'']].

* SpaceWhale: In ''Videogame/StarFox1'' if you shoot all the small orange stingrays in Sector Y, a space whale shows up and drops a slew of powerups just before you encounter the boss. In the tie-in [[ComicStrip/StarFox Nintendo Power comic,]] this is said to actually be [[http://oldgamemags.tumblr.com/post/135740771372/nintendo-power-51-august-1993-star-fox-comic the visual manifestation of a trans-dimensional spaceship]] that saved Fox's father, Fox [=McCloud=] Senior, leaving him [[YouCantGoHomeAgain permanently shifted to that dimension.]][[note]][[AdaptationNameChange Fox Senior was renamed James [=McCloud=] in the reboot.]][[/note]]
* SpaceZone: Lylat system.

* TheVirus: The Aparoids.

* YouWillBeAssimilated: What the Aparoids, or at least their Queen, say.

* ''[[http://khestra.tripod.com/comics/SFX64.html Lylat Wars,]]'' an adaptation of ''VideoGame/StarFox64'' released in 1997 by Nintendo of Europe.

* ActionGirl: Fara Phoenix [[ComicStrip/StarFox in the comics]], and Miyu and Fay before their game's cancellation; Katt Monroe, Krystal, Lucy Hare and Amanda after.

** The team first uses it in ''Star Fox 2'', although the most memorable example is the Great Fox which appears from ''Star Fox 64'' through to its replacement in ''Star Fox Command''.

** Katt was pink in ''64'' and suddenly changed to black in ''Command''. Maybe she stopped bleaching her fur? Maybe she started dyeing?

* AntiHero: The Star Wolf team, in ''Assault'' and ''Command''.
* AnyoneCanDie: This is true for all of the games in Timeline 1, which is generally DarkerAndEdgier than it's successors. In both ''Videogame/StarFox1'' and ''Videogame/StarFox2,'' any pilot shot down was KilledOffForReal. This was dropped with ''VideoGame/StarFox64'' and [[AvertedTrope hasn't been seen since.]] [[http://www.glitterberri.com/star-fox/message-from-god/ According to Takaya Imamura]], the reasoning behind this element of the game was to make the player ''[[PlayerPunch feel]]'' the tragedy when they lose a wingman [[VideogameCaringPotential they've grown attached to.]]

* ArtEvolution: While the main characters follow a mildly consistent appearance throughout 5 games and 2 comic books, they still change appearance a whole lot more than, say, Mario or Kirby.
* ArtificialLimbs: The pilots of the Star Fox Universe [[http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r0oKdhp4ENs/UC6GKyqvpXI/AAAAAAAABK8/uaSpSU2Q58k/s1600/robot+legs.jpg have]] [[http://vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/starfox/images/7/7e/Star_Fox_Nintendo_Power.png/revision/latest?cb=20120211162252 metal]] [[http://amiiboplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Ssbm_fox_render_by_machriderz-d56n3ki.png legs]] [[http://geekmelee.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Title-Photo.png to]] [[http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/ssb/images/6/6d/Fox_(SF643D).png/revision/latest?cb=20140912071720 replace]] [[http://65.media.tumblr.com/a224d06a8948c45c3dea4973dac2a050/tumblr_nw0f0xF4TS1rkrwaco4_1280.jpg their]] [[http://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/starfox/images/4/44/Andrew.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20080227063016 normal]] ones. For years fans have created theories as to their purpose, ranging from [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6Np3_ZLOH8 augmenting the pilots for field work,]] to [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rk78nrxHqvc helping the pilots deal with extreme G-Forces.]] Years later, [[WordOfGod creator Miyamoto]] finally confirmed why the Star Fox team had metal legs: it was an attempt to make his PettingZooPeople [[https://youtu.be/1z6a8Oswk1s?t=429 appear more human to the player]] and [[RuleOfCool look cool.]] [[note]]However, on foot, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aX-pGlStTZw the Star Fox pilots]] [[https://youtu.be/ncImCSfwZZE?t=34 all move VERY fast,]] so some fieldwork bonuses can be reasonably assumed.[[/note]]

** The first timeline averts this trope. The order of the planets is directly mentioned in the ''VideoGame/StarFox1'' game manual, and ''Videogame/StarFox2'' had a map screen [[http://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/starfox/images/c/cd/Stafox_2_map.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20090617054703 with rather obvious planetary orbits, as well as an asteroid belt.]]

* AscendedMeme: "DO A BARREL ROLL" was used in the subject line for a ad e-mail advertising ''Star Fox 64 3D''.

* BattleCouple: [[AlternateContinuity Depends on the timeline.]] In the first timeline, it's Fox and Fara. In the second timeline it's Fox and Krystal, at least part of the time. Slippy and Amanda count too.

** The original ''Star Fox'' for the SNES and it's related materials are this since ''Star Fox 64'' acted as a ContinuityReboot. This includes Fara Phoenix, and all of the other exclusive characters from the [[http://starfox.wikia.com/wiki/Category:Comics tie-in comic.]] Also Miyu, Fay and Algy, who only appeared in the unreleased ''Star Fox 2'', which is a direct sequel to the first game.

* {{Mordor}}: Venom. ''Command'' proves that terraforming it is possible, though.[[note]]The cancelled Star Fox 2 sees Venom terraformed and colonized by Corneria.[[/note]]

''Star Fox'' is a long-running Creator/{{Nintendo}} [[ShootEmUp space shooter]] franchise starring the Star Fox mercenary team, and their leader, Fox [=McCloud=]. Usually set in the Lylat System, they battle MadScientist Andross, their rival counterpart Star Wolf, and other threats.

There are currently six games and one spin-off in the series. Some of the games had different titles for European releases due to trademark issues.

[[AC:Timeline 1]]
* '''''[[VideoGame/StarFox1 Star Fox]]''''' (released as '''''Starwing''''' in Europe), for the SuperNES. Technologically advanced for the time - Nintendo worked with Argonaut Software to put a million-dollar co-processor chip in the game cartridge to handle the 3D rendering.
* '''''VideoGame/StarFox2''''' began development immediately after the predecessor until mid-1995 and had extra features such as evasive maneuvers and free-roaming levels, but was ultimately never released and some of the new features were incorporated in the next game in the series.

[[AC:Timeline 2]]
* '''''VideoGame/StarFox64''''' (released as '''''Lylat Wars''''' in Europe), a KillerApp for the Nintendo 64, was a [[ContinuityReboot reboot]] of the original game. Notable as the first game to support the N64's Rumble Pak (the first mainstream vibrating controller accessory, coming out before Sony's Dualshock), which came bundled with it. An [[VideoGameRemake enhanced port]] of this game was released for the Nintendo 3DS in 2011, which added little other than a graphical update.
* '''''VideoGame/StarFoxAdventures''''' is the [[OddballInTheSeries black sheep of the series.]] It originally wasn't a ''Star Fox'' game at all. Instead, its origins lie in an unrelated N64 adventure game known as ''[[DolledUpInstallment Dinosaur Planet]]'', which was shifted to the [=GameCube=] and inserted [=Fox McCloud=] at the eleventh hour of development by Nintendo's urging. The game did introduce Fox's on-again-off-again love interest, Krystal, who was integrated into the main series. Incidentally, this game was the last Rare-developed game for a Nintendo console before they were immediately bought out by Microsoft.
* '''''VideoGame/StarFoxAssault''''', developed by Creator/{{Namco|Bandai}} for the UsefulNotes/NintendoGamecube. It returned to ''Star Fox 64'''s linear ShootEmUp style of gameplay and mixed it with ThirdPersonShooter segments.
* '''''VideoGame/StarFoxCommand''''' for the UsefulNotes/NintendoDS; the series' first portable installment. Featuring mostly free-roaming combat, the game introduced touch screen control, a strategic map, and multiple playable characters with unique aircraft. It also had MultipleEndings.

[[AC:Timeline 3]]
* '''''VideoGame/StarFoxZero''''' for the UsefulNotes/WiiU, a second ContinuityReboot. For the first time since ''Star Fox 64'', the game was developed in-house at Nintendo EAD, and Creator/ShigeruMiyamoto himself headed the project (as it was a pet project he had been wanting to do since the Wii generation).
* '''''Star Fox Guard''''', a TowerDefense game released alongside ''Zero''. Beginning as another pet project of Miyamoto's and adapted for the ''Star Fox'' universe, ''Guard'' sees Slippy try to defend his uncle's precious metals from raiding robots by using armed security cameras.

There were also three notable comic releases:
* ''ComicStrip/StarFox'', which was released as an adaptation of the 1993 video game of the same name.
* ''[[http://khestra.tripod.com/comics/SFX64.html Lylat Wars,]]'' an adaptation of ''StarFox64'' released in 1997 by Nintendo of Europe.
* ''Manga/FarewellBelovedFalco'' was bundled with ''VideoGame/StarFoxAdventures'' [[NoExportForYou only in Japan]], and fills in plot details after ''VideoGame/StarFox64'' and before ''Adventures''. As its title suggests, ''Farewell'' expands on Falco's story and background.

* ArtisticLicensePhysics: The Lylat System is messed up in the fact that ''planetary orbits do not exist''.

* DarkerAndEdgier: ''Assault''. The Aparoids weren't like any of the other antagonists of the series, as if successful, they literally would have wiped out every single form of life in the Lylat System, replacing it with their own, and then moving on to wherever else had life. And unlike the other villains, Andross had absolutely no involvement in their scheme at any point (Even the Anglars, the villains in ''Command'', were implied to be one of Andross's creations.)
** The original SNES games and it's tie-in comic were Darker And Edgier than the subsequent games and spin-offs. Even though the basic plot was the same as ''Star Fox 64'', it was delivered in a much grimmer, less humorous style. The only real laughs in the games come from the crew's dialogue, and even that's a lot less pronounced than in the following games.

* SpaceZone: Lylat System.

* TheObiWan: Peppy. In ''Assault'', [[spoiler:Wolf also advises Fox, which helps him in the final battle]].
** [[spoiler:James]], even, in ''64''. "Never give up. Trust your instincts."
** This line was also spoken earlier by Peppy, one of several references to his being an "original member" of the team.

* ActionGirl: Fara Phoenix [[AlternateContinuity in the comics]], and Miyu and Fay before their game's cancellation; Katt Monroe, Krystal, Lucy Hare and Amanda after.

* AmazingTechnicolorWildlife: It's not clear what kind of bird Falco is, but if he really is a falcon, well... there aren't too many bright blue examples of those. Krystal ''is'' a fox, but foxes aren't blue either (except for arctic foxes in certain regions, which have ''kind of'' blue winter coats). Don't forget pink frogs and cats too.

* AntiHero: The Star Wolf team in the later games.

** Also, the original ''Star Fox'' for the SNES is usually considered this since ''Star Fox 64'' largely acted as a ContinuityReboot. This includes Fara Phoenix, and all of the other exclusive characters from the [[http://starfox.wikia.com/wiki/Category:Comics tie-in comic.]] Also Miyu, Fay and Algy, who only appeared in the unreleased ''Star Fox 2'', which is a direct sequel to the first game. It is unlikely that any of these characters will ever appear in a future game.

*** Falco and Katt are LikeBrotherAndSister though, since they've known each other for most of their lives.

** The original SNES games were Darker And Edgier than the subsequent games. Even though the basic plot was the same as ''Star Fox 64'', it was delivered in a much grimmer, less humorous style. The only real laughs in the games come from the crew's dialogue, and even that's a lot less pronounced than in the following games.

** Leading to [[http://www.vgcats.com/comics/?strip_id=221 this.]]

* ArtificialLimbs: The pilots of the Star Fox Universe [[http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r0oKdhp4ENs/UC6GKyqvpXI/AAAAAAAABK8/uaSpSU2Q58k/s1600/robot+legs.jpg have]] [[http://vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/starfox/images/7/7e/Star_Fox_Nintendo_Power.png/revision/latest?cb=20120211162252 metal]] [[http://amiiboplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Ssbm_fox_render_by_machriderz-d56n3ki.png legs]] [[http://geekmelee.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Title-Photo.png to]] [[http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/ssb/images/6/6d/Fox_(SF643D).png/revision/latest?cb=20140912071720 replace]] [[http://65.media.tumblr.com/a224d06a8948c45c3dea4973dac2a050/tumblr_nw0f0xF4TS1rkrwaco4_1280.jpg their]] normal ones. For years fans have created theories as to their purpose, ranging from [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6Np3_ZLOH8 augmenting the pilots for field work,]] to [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rk78nrxHqvc helping the pilots deal with extreme G-Forces.]] Years later, [[WordOfGod creator Miyamoto]] finally confirmed why the Star Fox team had metal legs: it was an attempt to make his PettingZooPeople [[https://youtu.be/1z6a8Oswk1s?t=429 appear more human to the player]] and [[RuleOfCool look cool.]] [[note]]However, on foot, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aX-pGlStTZw the Star Fox pilots]] [[https://youtu.be/ncImCSfwZZE?t=34 all move VERY fast,]] so some fieldwork bonuses can be reasonably assumed.[[/note]]

* ArtificialLimbs: The pilots of the Star Fox Universe [[http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r0oKdhp4ENs/UC6GKyqvpXI/AAAAAAAABK8/uaSpSU2Q58k/s1600/robot+legs.jpg have]] [[http://nintendoeverything.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/nintendo_power_star_fox_cover.jpg metal]] [[http://amiiboplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Ssbm_fox_render_by_machriderz-d56n3ki.png legs]] [[http://geekmelee.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Title-Photo.png to]] [[http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/ssb/images/6/6d/Fox_(SF643D).png/revision/latest?cb=20140912071720 replace]] [[http://vignette4.wikia.nocookie.net/starfox/images/f/f0/Star_Fox_Nintendo_Power.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20091110195710 their]] normal ones. For years fans have created theories as to their purpose, ranging from [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6Np3_ZLOH8 augmenting the pilots for field work,]] to [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rk78nrxHqvc helping the pilots deal with extreme G-Forces.]] Years later, [[WordOfGod creator Miyamoto]] finally confirmed why the Star Fox team had metal legs: it was an attempt to make his PettingZooPeople [[https://youtu.be/1z6a8Oswk1s?t=429 appear more human to the player]] and [[RuleOfCool look cool.]] [[note]]However, on foot, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aX-pGlStTZw the Star Fox pilots]] [[https://youtu.be/ncImCSfwZZE?t=34 all move VERY fast,]] so some fieldwork bonuses can be reasonably assumed.[[/note]]

* ArtificialLimbs: The pilots of the original ''VideoGame/StarFox1'' and its associated Timeline 1 comics [[http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r0oKdhp4ENs/UC6GKyqvpXI/AAAAAAAABK8/uaSpSU2Q58k/s1600/robot+legs.jpg have]] [[http://nintendoeverything.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/nintendo_power_star_fox_cover.jpg metal]] [[http://amiiboplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Ssbm_fox_render_by_machriderz-d56n3ki.png legs]] [[http://geekmelee.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Title-Photo.png to]] [[http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/ssb/images/6/6d/Fox_(SF643D).png/revision/latest?cb=20140912071720 replace]] [[http://vignette4.wikia.nocookie.net/starfox/images/f/f0/Star_Fox_Nintendo_Power.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20091110195710 their]] normal ones. For years fans have created fan theories as to their purpose, ranging from [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6Np3_ZLOH8 augmenting the pilots for field work,]] to [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rk78nrxHqvc helping the pilots deal with extreme G-Forces.]] Years later, [[WordOfGod creator Miyamoto]] finally confirmed why the Star Fox team had metal legs in that timeline: it was an accident of making his PettingZooPeople [[https://youtu.be/1z6a8Oswk1s?t=429 appear more human to the player]] and [[RuleOfCool look cool]], resembling the ''Series/{{Thunderbirds}}'' puppets Miyamoto is a big fan of.[[note]]However, on foot, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aX-pGlStTZw the Star Fox pilots]] [[https://youtu.be/ncImCSfwZZE?t=34 all move VERY fast,]] so some fieldwork bonuses can be reasonably assumed.[[/note]] In the current timeline, the Ar-wings have a device called a G-diffuser, which cancels out G-forces—leaving the robot leg theory questionable at best. In all media from ''VideoGame/StarFox64'' onward, no mention is made of any such replacement limbs.

* ArtificialLimbs: The pilots of the ''VideoGame/StarFox'' universe [[http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r0oKdhp4ENs/UC6GKyqvpXI/AAAAAAAABK8/uaSpSU2Q58k/s1600/robot+legs.jpg have]] [[http://nintendoeverything.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/nintendo_power_star_fox_cover.jpg metal]] [[http://amiiboplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Ssbm_fox_render_by_machriderz-d56n3ki.png legs]] [[http://geekmelee.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Title-Photo.png to]] [[http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/ssb/images/6/6d/Fox_(SF643D).png/revision/latest?cb=20140912071720 replace]] [[http://vignette4.wikia.nocookie.net/starfox/images/f/f0/Star_Fox_Nintendo_Power.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20091110195710 their]] normal ones. For years fans have created fan theories as to their purpose, ranging from [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6Np3_ZLOH8 augmenting the pilots for field work,]] to [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rk78nrxHqvc helping the pilots deal with extreme G-Forces.]] Years later, [[WordOfGod creator Miyamoto]] finally confirmed the ''real'' reason the Star Fox team have metal legs, it was so the PettingZooPeople would [[https://youtu.be/1z6a8Oswk1s?t=429 appear more human to the player.]] That, and they [[RuleOfCool looked cool]].[[note]]However, on foot, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aX-pGlStTZw the Star Fox pilots]] [[https://youtu.be/ncImCSfwZZE?t=34 all move VERY fast,]] so some fieldwork bonuses can be reasonably assumed.[[/note]]

** Actually, they do. The order of the planets is mentioned in the ''VideoGame/StarFox1'' game manual, and Star Fox 2 [[http://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/starfox/images/c/cd/Stafox_2_map.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20090617054703 had a map screen with rather obvious orbits.]]

* SpaceWhale: In Sector Y in the original SNES game if you shoot all the small orange stingrays, a space whale shows up and drops a slew of powerups just before you encounter the boss. In the Nintendo Power comic, this is said to actually be the visual manifestation of an extra-dimensional spaceship that saved Fox [=McCloud=] Sr.[[note]][[AdaptationNameChange Renamed James [=McCloud=] in the reboot.]][[/note]], leaving him permanently shifted to that dimension.

*** {{Lampshaded}} in the [[http://arwinglanding.net/gallery/displayimage.php?album=1&pos=41 Nintendo Power comic]].

* SigilSpam: Giant posters of General Pepper are everywhere in ''64'', leading some to conclude that he's [[AlternateCharacterInterpretation a Big Brother-esque military dictator]]. This theory was {{Jossed}} by the epilogue of ''Assault'', however, which mentions civilian government.

* SomethingAboutARose: Panther Caroso. He even proves this by having the best weapon in ''Command!''

* SpaceWhale: In Sector Y in the original SNES game if you shoot all the small orange stingrays, a space whale shows up and drops a slew of powerups just before you encounter the boss. In the Nintendo Power comic, this is said to actually be the visual manifestation of James [=McCloud=] permanently shifted to a different dimension.

** Of course, that video forgets the tank has an Energy Shield in the place of armor and the fact that the armor could be an advanced alloy far stronger than anything the modern military uses.