Fox McCloud is probably better known as a Super Smash Bros. fighter than the protagonist of the Star Fox franchise these days, but last week saw two unexpected developments for the anthropomorphic hero: 1) Glen Powell announced he voices Fox in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, and 2) There’s a reported Star Fox game coming out soon for Switch 2 . According to the Star Fox leak, the upcoming game will supposedly feature “classic-style” action. In other words, it will play like Star Fox 64 and be an on-rails shooter. That’s fine and dandy, but I’d argue Nintendo needs to take a different flight path with this new Star Fox.
Rather than retread old territory, this rumored Switch 2 game should look to Hades 2 for inspiration, as the critically acclaimed roguelite best exemplifies how to mix story with replayability–two things Fox and his flight crew’s upcoming adventure to take out Andross will need. Though this might seem like a departure from the original Star Fox, Star Fox 64 already incorporated roguelite aspects, as saving Slippy in a level could lead to alternate pathways through the Lylat System. Plus, the arcade nature of the 1997 title leads to a very short playtime to complete, something that arguably would be deemed unacceptable today–especially if Nintendo charges a premium price of $70.
So let’s get started with our roguelike recommendations for this new, but unofficial, Star Fox game. The Great Fox can act as a main hub, where Fox can chat with General Pepper about his overall mission before heading out in the Arwing. Obviously, this flagship will serve as an important location that Fox returns to whenever he gets shot down on his adventure. It’d be nice to maybe see Falco Lombardi, Peppy Hare, and Slippy Toad hanging out here, too. Maybe Fox can only choose one wingmate at a time, with each companion offering different power-ups or abilities on a run. For example, bringing along Falco ups your Arwing’s firepower, while picking Peppy leads to more tactical debuffs on enemies.
Once Fox takes to the skies, the game could dole out collectible materials throughout levels that offer more permanent upgrades to Fox’s Arwing. For instance, enemy drops could include a type of metal that increases the ship’s armor, allowing for players to take on more hits, while a different substance could be utilized to alter the Arwing’s laser firepower. Basically, as with modern roguelites, it’d be important to balance run-based powerups with overall upgrades for Fox.
Last but not least, let’s see Katt Monroe and Bill Grey show up randomly as squadmates during an Arwing run for Fox. In fact, a roguelike Star Fox game would offer the opportunity to expand the franchise’s cast of cute animal characters. Can we get a capybara pilot or maybe a bison mechanic? On the flip side, maybe a permanent boss encounter could introduce a new villain, like a puma pilot who teams up with Wolf O’Donnell.
A new Star Fox game sticking to the on-rails roots of the series works, but Nintendo really needs to do more in this era of gaming. And no, I’m not angling for a controller gimmick like Star Fox Zero. Instead, I want story, variety, and unique runs with Fox that has me itching for one more shot at saving the Lylat System. That’s why Hades 2 should be the blueprint.
