Star Fox Zero

 Wii U
User Score
7.4

Mixed or average reviews- based on 767 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 520 out of 767
  2. Mixed: 106 out of 767
  3. Negative: 141 out of 767
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  1. theBobKnows
    May 1, 2016
    0
    I beat the and STILL didn't feel like I master the controls! If you want a game you can just pick up and play and not have to play hours of the game to understand the controls then this game is not for you.
  2. Tounsim
    Apr 23, 2016
    0
    A space game (intergalactic fights) for a realization and graphics from the last century (bouuhh) ... And all because of the stubbornness of Nintendo that want to force us to use that damn GamePad. But it just doesn't work !!! It's not good, not natural, not pleasant !!! Another big disappointment about Wii U. This game just deserve a 0.
  3. multiplat_gamer
    Jul 4, 2016
    0
    I don’t know where to begin with. The controls are absolutely broken, they are not immersive as I expected but unnecessary complicated, feels more a gimmick than anything. Not that I feel inside a Arwing arcade thanks to the GamePad screen but like somebody gave me two different controllers and two different screens for playing a simple game. Frustration is the word.

    The visuals are    I don’t know where to begin with. The controls are absolutely broken, they are not immersive as I expected but unnecessary complicated, feels more a gimmick than anything. Not that I feel inside a Arwing arcade thanks to the GamePad screen but like somebody gave me two different controllers and two different screens for playing a simple game. Frustration is the word.

    The visuals are meh, 720p with frames dropping frequently. The level design is certainly uninspired. It’s not a pretty game. About the sound, it’s almost impossible to hear well what Fox’s friends are saying because the sound comes from the GamePad so I miss a lot of important information.
    It looks like a launch Wii U game that was designed for showing off what the GamePad can be used to, but I wonder if the Wii U wouldn’t have a worse reputation if Star Fox Zero was released in 2012.

    Probably as a GameCube game with a normal controller it would have impressed and gain more excitement, but as it is, it’s quite bad. I feel extremely disappointed. Save your money. If you have a 3DS get Star Fox 64 3D for much less money. Why would you prefer Star Fox Zero that only recycles ideas and have so many issues? Even if you only have a Wii U, you can get Star Fox 64 that is much better for 10 bucks.

    Conclusion: mediocre soundtrack with mediocre remixes, boring dialogues, lifeless environments, poor replay value, no real multiplayer mode, no online mode, tiresome boss battles, really poor story and connection between characters, cumbersome tracking system, horrible sound design with lack of options, horrible visual design... And I haven't mentioned the controls.    … Expand
  4. Zuldak
    Apr 23, 2016
    0
    The most important part of a game is being able to play it. Star Fox Zero is a great game. A spectacular game that, unfortunately is hard to control.

    I am one of those nostalgia buyers who remembers loving SF 64 back in the day but was cool to most of the newer star fox games. I did play and beat both Adventure and Assault but both were not quite up to the high standards that 64 set.    The most important part of a game is being able to play it. Star Fox Zero is a great game. A spectacular game that, unfortunately is hard to control.

    I am one of those nostalgia buyers who remembers loving SF 64 back in the day but was cool to most of the newer star fox games. I did play and beat both Adventure and Assault but both were not quite up to the high standards that 64 set.

    It's been many years since we have seen a star fox game. I had heard about the controversy about the controls but I disregarded them. I am a gamer and I can get used to any controls. I will love this game.

    That is where I was wrong. You see, the motion controls are not the only problem with the basic design philosophy of SFZ. The fire button is the right trigger button, not the A button so your index finger is going to get a work out, especially if you plan to try and rapid fire. And before you ask, no there is no button remapping. You can have any control scheme you want as long as you want the one that the developers want you to have. Maneuvers like the Barrel Roll, Somersault and U-turn are all mapped to the right analog stick. A barrel roll was a single tap away on SF 64 however in SFZ it requires a double tap left and right on the stick. It's far slower and harder to pull off when you're trying to avoid taking a hit.

    Next, my issue is with the camera. The motion controls control both the shooting AND the cockpit camera independent of the ship's direction. That means you have a 180 degree view and range to shoot. That sounds great until you realize that you're going to have to keep the camera at weird angles on the boss to know when you're supposed to dodge and shoot. What's worse is that the game is desperate to show you set pieces but the camera is in YOUR control so you can miss critical telegraphs.

    The motion control shooting is bad. This is my opinion, but if you don't like motion controls there is nothing for you here. The bosses are designed to take advantage of the above 18 degree firing arc. Flying straight towards the boss will get you shot down 90% of the time. The game encourages strafing and targeting with the game pad. It is literally impossible to defeat many bosses without taking advantage of the firing angles provided with the game pad motion controls so unless Nintendo releases a patch redesigning half of the bosses, there is not going to be an easy fix for this game.

    Speaking of bosses, let's talk about them. The first thing you will notice is that many of them are long. Some are over 8 min with multiple phases and a death will force you to repeat the entire fight over again. Many old bosses from SF 64 make their return here but are re imagined. One complaint I have is that their hit boxes are somewhat small and that makes hitting them relatively hard. Also most of the bosses provide cover fire over their weak spot, thus requiring the player to fly parallel to the weak point and use the game pad to rotate to fire rather than the traditional 'point the ship at the weak point and fire' mechanics of most shooters.

    One boss in particular gave me problem with a reoccurring area of effect attack that got faster as the boss lost health. I beat it by cheesing the fight and firing from out of range of the shield. The boss couldn't hit me and the hardest part was finding the next weak point. Very boring way compared to the in and out weaving that got me killed but was entertaining.

    One last gripe about bosses: Their attacks are very hard to dodge at times. Because of the manual nature of the camera in all range mode (and a complete lack of a radar that SF 64 had) you will easily lose track of the boss and miss critical telegraphs thus getting you hit in the back. Or even if you do see the telegraph, the awkward controls mean that you have to hope to be fast enough to get your input in.

    I came into SFZ with no fear. I can master these controls. It will be no problem. But then as I was playing I realized that forcing myself to play this isn't the answer to anything. I was not having fun. I was not enjoying the experience. I was forcing myself to play as if it was a choir.

    If you like it good for you, but don't force yourself to like it. This game will never be what it hoped to recreate. You will never be able to kill a couple hours with a SFZ run. You will always have to deal with these controls.

    Mario Kart 8 was the savior of the Wii U. Star Fox Zero is what is going to finally kill it. If the control controversy is splitting hardcore gamers, the general public is going to want none of it. And honestly if the NX follows this path, I am thinking about skipping the entire next nintendo generation entirely.    … Expand
  5. kipkun
    Apr 24, 2016
    0
    A long time fan of the series this latest installment controls makes for an unplayable game. It's not just the motion controls, though they are a large part of it. The use of both joysticks to control the a-wing makes no sense. I do not know why they changed the button for a barrel roll. I am so use to double tapping R for the barrel roll I end up dying and wasting all my bombs.A long time fan of the series this latest installment controls makes for an unplayable game. It's not just the motion controls, though they are a large part of it. The use of both joysticks to control the a-wing makes no sense. I do not know why they changed the button for a barrel roll. I am so use to double tapping R for the barrel roll I end up dying and wasting all my bombs. Terrible terrible controls.… Expand
  6. dracoalnatural
    May 10, 2016
    0
    There's a fun game in Star Fox Zero. Not exactly complex but an enjoyable arcade romp we've sorely missed. However, the control system only ever gets in the way, making sections of the game a massive chore to play. I can see what they're trying to emulate, but it just doesn't work very well.
  7. karlamendez
    May 10, 2016
    0
    solo una cosa que decir los controles, este titulo lo esperaba desde el game cube es una lastima en lo que ha quedado nintendo no lo recomiendo para nada
  8. Robsonpr
    May 24, 2016
    0
    Dumb, **** lazy, confuse, short, and the list goes on.. The game lacks of a good story (it's a remake) and the gameplay is boring and confuse... it makes no sense..!
  9. MasterPhantom
    May 20, 2016
    0
    Take Star fox 64 and times it by zero and you would have this steaming pile of fox excrement. Don't be fooled by the pretty graphics and reviews, this game is pure garbage and may very well kill the Star Fox franchise as well as being death knell for both Nintendo and Platinum studios.
  10. JonathanDA
    Nov 23, 2016
    0
    This game is so horribly broken, yes you can adjust to the **** controls... But why would you want too? My review of the first two StarFox games SNES and N64 would be 90+% This one I am not even sure how it got past the play testing stage with out some one saying "Hey can't we just have normal controls?" The game is gorgeous and has fantastic sound. Had it a normal control scheme like itThis game is so horribly broken, yes you can adjust to the **** controls... But why would you want too? My review of the first two StarFox games SNES and N64 would be 90+% This one I am not even sure how it got past the play testing stage with out some one saying "Hey can't we just have normal controls?" The game is gorgeous and has fantastic sound. Had it a normal control scheme like it screams for... This is a fantastic example of why people say they hate motion controls (I like them when they are done right) StarFox Zero and also my score... *cries*… Expand
  11. rott484
    Mar 4, 2017
    0
    Worst controls i`ve ever seen in a video game. GTA IV with drunk camera effects is better than this piece of trash. This game is so bad that people should actually get paid to play it instead of paying to play it.
  12. RascalRaven
    Mar 8, 2021
    0
    The Game is really Good, great Story, badass and funny dialouge, awesome graphics, actually it would be even better than the N64 Version but there are two things which dont allow that. 1. It was released on the Wii U a console which sold poorly which affected the gamesales and 2. The controls of the game should have an option where u can play it with an Controller instead of the Wii UThe Game is really Good, great Story, badass and funny dialouge, awesome graphics, actually it would be even better than the N64 Version but there are two things which dont allow that. 1. It was released on the Wii U a console which sold poorly which affected the gamesales and 2. The controls of the game should have an option where u can play it with an Controller instead of the Wii U Gamepad. So i really hope Nintendo does make a Deluxe Version for the Nintendo Switch.… Expand
  13. PatiKunTom
    Oct 25, 2022
    0
    This game is just awful. How did Platinum Games screw this game up so much, this is worst Star Fox game ever, heck this is one of the worst Wii U games of all time.
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Awards & Rankings

13
#13 Best Wii U Game of 2016
1
#1 Most Discussed Wii U Game of 2016
1
#1 Most Shared Wii U Game of 2016

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
69

Mixed or average reviews - based on 82 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 36 out of 82
  2. Mixed: 43 out of 82
  3. Negative: 3 out of 82
  1. Easy Allies
    Dec 1, 2016
    80
    Star Fox Zero is a wonderful re-imagining of one of the most beloved games in the series, blending elements from its early history in a tasteful manner. The meatier story mode leaves you with a better sense of fulfillment over its predecessors, and while there isn’t an online leaderboard to compare best times or scores, there are other extras to keep you playing. Adapting to the new controls might take more patience than some players are willing to give, but those who stick it out are rewarded with a higher-degree of precision than previously possible. It’s by no means perfect, but it’s safe to say Miyamoto’s latest experiment is a success.
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  2. IGN Denmark
    Aug 22, 2016
    73
    A rather halfhearted remake of a true classic, with less focus on the story of epic teamwork than one would have expected. A frustrating release for the fans, but nonetheless a fine addition to the Wii U roster.
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  3. GameSpew
    Jun 13, 2016
    80
    If you can handle the gyroscope, you’re in for a quality thrill ride through the Lylat System, difficult but rewarding.
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